Right foot problem, again

I woke up this morning with inflammation in my right big toe joint.  I took medication a couple times today to head it off and ran 1.9 miles in the avenues this afternoon.

Avenues

This afternoon, I ran an unplanned course in the very hilly avenues.  It turned out to be 2.2 miles, including going up and over the highest point between Houston and Dallas.

Foot is better

As I expected, the foot was better today.  This afternoon, I ran an unplanned course from the track to downtown, around the prison and through the campus.  It turned out to be 3.3 miles.  Just before finishing, I was stopped by a Huntsville Police Officer.  I thought I was going to get a speeding ticket, but it was my friend, Stacy.  We had a nice visit, with a lot of talk about the closing of Huntsville State Park (she biked out there, a lot).

Rainy track run

My foot was still hurting today, so I went to the track early this afternoon and ran laps in the rain.

Laps

I had pain in another place in my right foot today.  Am confident that it is not serious, but I decided just to run laps at the track this afternoon.

Avenues

I forgot to blog last night, but I ran the 2-mile loop around the campus yesterday afternoon.  Today, I ran an unplanned course through the hilly avenues.  It turned out to be 2 miles.

And, again

This afternoon, I ran the same 2-mile loop around the campus.

Campus, again

While in town for a stop at the drug store, I drove to the track and ran a 2-mile loop around the campus.

Old neighborhood

I went over to Forest Hills (my old neighborhood) this afternoon and ran a loop around the sub-division.  I turned out to be 1.9 miles.

Campus loop

I drove to the track this afternoon and ran a 2-mile loop on the streets around an empty campus.  This was the first time in months that I ran this course.  Of course, I was suppose to be running a 10K in Tyler this morning, the first race of several that I signed up for that got cancelled or rescheduled because of the virus.

Trying to stay motivated

With this virus thing going on and all my races through April cancelled or postponed, plus the uncertainty of it all, it is hard to stay motivated.  It rained pretty much all day.  I ran some errands in town this afternoon and drove to the track to run from there.  However, it started lightning with the heavy rain.  So, I went home and ran on the new street next to my house.  I am not sure of the distance, but it was about 1.5 miles.

Getting out of the park habit

I have gotten so use to running at the state park in-between races.  Now, with the park closed, I had to run elsewhere.  This afternoon, I ran 2 miles on the sidewalk along Veterans Memorial Parkway.  With so much traffic whizzing by, it does not feel very safe.  I probably need to go back to the avenues.

Last trail run for a while

When I arrived at the state park this afternoon, the superintendent came out to my truck to tell me that starting tomorrow, the park would be closed indefinitely because of the coronavirus.  Only overnight camping will be allowed.  So, I ran my last trail run (at least at the state park) for a while.  Got in 2.4 miles.  All 5 races that I am signed up for during the remainder of March and April have all been canceled or postponed.  But the streak continues.  Today was 10 years and 5 months.

Short trail run

My right heel was worse today.  I ran 1.5 miles on the trails this evening and then iced it.

Working run

I forgot to post last night, but I did get in a 2.2-mile working run yesterday.  I was trying to find the 2-mile mark on an old course I measured years ago.  So, I ran part of the course, but never found the mark.

Different Sunday

My church asked people over 60 not to attend Mass this morning due to the virus.  So, I went out to the state park and ran 2.4 miles on the trails at the time I would normally be in church.  Encountered my first snake of the season, a large rat snake.

Green Ultra 10K Trail Run - Running Streak Day 3,800.

I drove nearly an hour to Milligan this morning to run the Green Ultra 10K Trail Run.  Never ran this race before and I enjoyed the experience.  The inflammation in my heel was better this morning.  The course was pretty technical and I feel lucky that I only took one light fall.  Lots of rocks and a few steep embankments.  The course, according to my GPS, was 6.33.  Since GPS normally measures short on trails, the course may have been longer than that.  In any case, I finished in 1:52:19 and was 1st of 1 in the 70 and over age group.  In fact, I was the only runner over 57.  This was my 3,800 consecutive day of running.  With so many races being cancelled due to the virus, I am not sure when my next race will be.

Not any better

I ran laps at the track this morning and have iced my heel twice today and have taken Ibuprofen.  My right heel is still inflamed.  My plan is to run the 10K trail run tomorrow and then take it easy for as long as necessary to get rid of the inflammation.  Guess the first thing I need to do if I every break my streak is to get the bone spur and floating bone in my heel removed.

Darn heel inflammation, again

I ran 4 miles on the trails yesterday and another 2.5 today and now my heel is getting inflamed again (from a bone spur).  Not sure what brought it on, but I iced it tonight and will take some Ibuprofen tomorrow.  I have a 10K trail run this Saturday and it is still on, considering the virus scare.  However, the Azalea 10K in Tyler the following weekend has been cancelled or maybe postponed until May.

80 degrees

It was 80 degrees when I went out to the park this afternoon.  Summer is almost here.  I ran 4 miles on the trails.

Another 2.5

I met up with the group at the park this evening (it was just me, Glen and Jacob).  I ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

2.5 in the rain

After Iron Works this afternoon, I went to the park and ran 2.5 miles on the trails - in the rain.  I've been asked many times by non-streakers, "What do you do when it rains?"

Back to trails

I went out to the park this afternoon and ran 2.4 miles on the trails.

The Woodlands Half Marathon

I ran The Woodlands Half Marathon this morning and finished in 3:16:26.  I was 2nd of 3 in the 75 and over age group and was the oldest runner of over 3,000 in the race.  It was my 106th half marathon and I keep thinking that it may be my last.

Friday rest

With a half marathon tomorrow, I ran 1-mile+ on the new road next to my house with my 4 year old grandson.  He tells me that I am slow.  After that, I met up with my daughter and two other grandkids in The Woodlands for lunch.  Then, picked up my packet for tomorrow.

New shoes out of the box

I put on a new pair of shoes out of the box today and ran 2 miles on the park roads.  For many years, I have worn Asics Fortitude (neutral shoe for wear with custom orthodics).  They quit making them, so I switched to another neutral shoe (Saucony Echelon).  Terribly uncomfortable shoe and they wear out fast.  If anybody knows of a good neutral shoe to wear with custom ortodics, please let me know.

Rainy day

After a doctor's appointment in Conroe this morning, I drove back to Huntsville in a heavy rain.  Later this afternoon and after the rain, I ran 2.4 miles on the trails at the park.  No mud or standing water.

Met up with the group

As usual for Tuesdays, I met up with the group at the park this evening.  I ran 2.5 miles on the trails.

Course measurement

This afternoon, I finished measuring a new course for a club run in May by walking the course with an engineer wheel for about 2.5 miles (I had already done part of it earlier).  That was tiring; I'm not use to walking.  Later this afternoon, I worked out at Iron Works and then went to the park and ran 2.4 miles on the trails.

Sunday Night 5K

I went back down to The Woodlands this evening to run the Sunday Night 5K, put on by The Woodlands Running Club.  My friend, Jon Walk, ran with me and we finished in 43:25.