About the same

My big toe joint was about the same today.  I met up with the group at the park this afternoon and ran a slow and limpy 1.4 miles on the trails.

Inflammation

I woke up this morning with inflammation in my right big toe joint.  So, I ran a gimpy and painful mile at the track.

Back with the group

With the park open again, we resumed our Tuesday and Thursday group runs, starting today.  Since the park closes at 5 p.m., we met at 3 p.m.  Of course, that leaves out some people that have to do that thing called "work."  It was me, Glen and Lorie this afternoon.  I ran 2.5 miles on the trails and tripped and fell without breaking the stitches in my wrist.

Crowded trails

I ran 2.5 miles on the trails at Huntsville State Park this afternoon.  Lots of hikers on the trail.

Bearkat Country Crawfish 5K - Virtual

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Late this morning, my 4-year old grandson and I ran the Bearkat Country Crawfish Virtual 5K here in Huntsville.  It was his first 5K and he did well.  We finished in 48:17 and did not have to even be around nasty crawfish.  Then, after a dreaded trip to Wal-Mart, I went out to the state park and ran trails.  I did not get started until about 4:35 and I got stopped on the trails by a park policeman on a 4-wheeler about 4:45 to remind me that the park closes at 5:00.  I finished up a 1-mile+ run and left the park at 5.

Around town

This morning, I ran a 2.7-mile loop around town, the prison and the campus.

Catching up

My good friend, Jane, of Houston emailed me today to ask if I was okay since I had not blogged for a couple days.  I really appreciate her checking on me and reading my blog.  I let her know this evening that my PC was in the shop, so I could not post.  I had surgery Wednesday morning to remove a spot from my wrist.  I ended up with a 2 1/2-inch incision and 20 stitches.  I ran laps at the track Wednesday afternoon, 2 miles around the campus on Thursday and a little over 2.5 miles on the trails in Lufkin this morning.  Running at Huntsville State Park will take more planning.  Tomorrow and Sunday morning are already booked.  I hope this lock down is over soon.

Finally made it back to Huntsville State Park

I got through to Austin early this morning and they merged my two accounts on their system.  I was able to register for a pass this afternoon.  The trails really took a hit from the storms last week and it looks like the park staff worked hard to get them cleaned up.  I ran 2.5 miles.

The park is open again

Huntsville State Park reopened today for day use.  However, you must reserve online, wear masks, maintain social distancing and no more than 5 to a group.  So, I tried to reserve online, but it does not recognize my annual pass and wants me to pay $7 for entry.  Apparently, there are two accounts on the state system and I have to call Austin to merge the two accounts, so my annual pass will be recognized.  I called twice today, but never got a call back.  Looks like a lot of other folks have the same problem.  With all that said, I ran a 2-mile loop around the campus this morning.

Old neighborhood

I drove to my old neighborhood late this morning and ran a 1.7-mile loop on streets that I have run on a zillion times before.

3 miles in the avenues - 10.5 years

Late this morning, I ran a 3-mile loop through the hilly avenues.  My streak is now 10.5 years.

Laps

In between naps today, I ran laps at the track.

Blue Bell 10K - Virtual

Blue Bell was changed to a virtual race this year.  I went over to Lufkin this morning and ran 10K partly on the roads and partly on the trails at Kit McConnico Park in Lufkin.  My time was 1:43:44.  This slow heart rate is really slowing me down.  Hopefully, the pacemaker, when I ever get one implanted, will improve my time.

Laps at the track

I plan on a longer run tomorrow, so I ran laps at the track this morning.

Campus loop

I ran the 2-mile loop around the campus this afternoon.  Normally, it is difficult to cross Sam Houston Ave. twice, but with so little traffic due to the lock down, it is so easy.  It is good to see so many others out running.  Guess there is not much else to do.

Cooler weather

Cooler weather returned today and it was clear.  I ran a 3.2-mile loop around town and the campus this afternoon.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter.  My heel felt better today, so I ran my 2-mile loop around the campus this afternoon with very little traffic to contend with.

Laps, again

I still have the inflammation in my right heel, so I went to the track this afternoon and ran laps.

Back from the dark

Yesterday afternoon, I ran 2.2 miles in the avenues.  About 6 p.m. yesterday, a bad storm blew through Huntsville.  There a lot a trees down all over town, including one falling on a house two doors down from my place.  We lost power during the storm and it was finally restored just before 10 tonight.  I spent part of the day making two trips in town to get ice, trying to save food in the refrigerator and freezer.  The inflammation in the back of my right heel returned, so I went to the track and ran laps this afternoon.  If I have to break my streak for the pacemaker, maybe I need to get the spur removed at the same time.

Lufkin

To break up my Huntsville routine, I drove and hour and a half to Lufkin this morning to run trails at Kit McConnico Park.  I ran there once a few years ago with some friends.  My friend, Mariam from Lufkin, joined me  I ran part of the Race for Hope Half Marathon with her in February.  My GPS said 4.7 miles.  Since GPS does not work well on the trails, it was probably closer to 5 miles.  Nice trails, not as "rooty" as Huntsville State Park.  Looking forward to getting back over there again soon.

Campus loop

Late this morning, I ran a 2-mile loop around the campus and then went home and took a nap.

The end of my streak may be in sight

For the last few weeks, I have been tired and sleepy all day and my resting pulse rate has been averaging about 42..  Getting started on a run is tough.  I had a regular appointment with my cardiologist today.  Despite being on a CPAP machine to eliminate sleep apnea, which was suppose to be the cause of my Afib, the Afib continues and is resulting in a low pulse rate.  The doctor says that I need a pacemaker.  He said that there is no way I can run for two weeks after the implant, since it includes implanting wires into the chest.  They have to heal.  Because of COVID19, only emergency surgery is allowed in Texas.  So, I have to wait until this is all over.  In the meantime, I will keep my streak going.  This afternoon, I mowed the yard and ran 1.3 miles in the avenues.

Old neighborhood

This afternoon, I ran a 2.8-mile loop around Forest Hills, my old neighborhood.

2 Wet miles

It rained pretty much all day.  So I ran the 2-mile loops around the campus this evening in the rain.

2.2 in the Avenues

I ran an unplanned route through the avenues this afternoon.  It turned out to be 2.2 miles.

Campus loop

The foot was better today, so I ran a 2-mile loop around the virtually empty campus.

Doctor appointment in Conroe

I had an appointment with my skin doctor in Conroe this afternoon.  I left early and picked up a pair of new shoes from Fleet Feet (delivered to the door) in The Woodlands.  After all this being stuck at home due to the virus, it was almost nice to get out of town for a while.  This morning, I went to the track and ran laps, trying to get the inflammation out of my big toe joint.