Expo in The Woodlands

 I drove down to Expo in The Woodlands this morning to pick up my packet for The Woodlands 10K tomorrow morning.  The 10K is held in conjunction with the marathon and half marathon.  With my back pain, leg pain and low BP, I was not sure if I could make a 10K.  On the way back, I went a little out of the way and stopped at the Jones State Forest Park for a "test run."  I ran 3.1 miles on the trails and felt okay.  So, my plan is to run the 10K tomorrow.  The 3.1 miles today, gives me 101 miles for the short month of February.  It also gives me 7 full months of running at least 3.1 miles every day.

No Fass tonight

 There was no Fass Brewery Run in Conroe tonight, so I ran 3.4 miles on the roads at the state park this afternoon.

Waited late to run

 The doc told me not to sweat for 2 days after the surgery.  It was up to about 80 degrees today, so I waited to late this evening to run.  Got in 3.2 miles in town.

Surgery today

 I went to my dermatologist in Conroe this morning.  He removed a cancer spot on my face, between my nose and left eye.  I'm not sure how many stitches, but I am not suppose to sweat or otherwise get it wet for 48 hours.  Oops.  The temperature was in the 70's today, not like the 30's a couple days ago.  So, with a sore leg and back, I went to the park this evening and ran 3.4 miles, trying not to sweat.

Tough runs right now

 I was doing some awkward heavy lifting at home on Sunday and I think I messed up my bulging disc, which I had surgery on last July.  Yesterday's run was hard, but today I had strong pains in my back during some movements.  I was not sure what running would do.  I applied heat and ice today.  This evening, I went into town and struggled to run 3.4 miles on the roads.  However, no sharp pains when running.  Am scheduled to run The Woodlands 10K this Saturday.  I would sure hate to miss that.  More ice and heat to come.

Late Sunday afternoon

 I felt lousy this afternoon and did not make it to the park until after 4 p.m.  Ran 3.5 miles on the roads.

The Woodlands 5K

 I ran The Woodlands 5K this morning.  It is held one week before The Woodlands Marathon.  There were 465 runners and it was cold (30's).  I finished in 51:27, about a minute slower than last year.  I was 4th of 6 in the 75 and over age group.

Still cold

 It was still in the 30's this afternoon when I went to the park.  I ran 3.5 miles on the roads, except for about a quarter mile on the trails.  Just could not resist.

Fass Brewery 5K

 I ran the Fass Brewery 5K in Conroe tonight - for the 65th time.

Cold

 For Huntsville, Texas, it was cold today.  It was in the mid-20's went I went to the park late this afternoon.  Got in 3.4 miles on the virtually empty roads.

Another 4.2

 I ran another 4.2 miles on the roads at the park this afternoon (not the same course as yesterday).  Not back to 100 percent yet.

BP still a little low

 My BP was still a little low today, but I managed to get in 4.2 miles on the park roads this afternoon.

Better day

 I loaded up on electrolytes and salt today to get my BP up.  I felt better this afternoon and went to the park and ran 3.7 miles on the roads.

Got a ride in a police car

 I went down to Houston to run the Law Week 8K this morning.  It started at Sam Houston Park in downtown Houston and went out and back on Allen Parkway.  I felt weak when I started and it only got worse.  I made it to the turnaround point and a little further and finishing seemed hopeless.  I even tried walking a bit.  A police officer gave me a ride back to the starting area.  In over 1,400 races, this was my first DNF (did not finish).  I hung around for a while and visited friends and then drove back to Huntsville.  Later this afternoon, I went into town and ran 1.2 miles, just to make sure I had at least a 5K for the day.  I checked my blood pressure this afternoon and it was unusually low.  I suppose that was the cause.

Wet run

 I went to the park this afternoon to run.  With the ongoing back pain and leg pain, I felt weak, like I am coming down with something.  Then, at about 2 miles into the run on the roads, it started raining.  Got soaking wet, but finished up a slow 3.1 miles.

Fass Brewery 5K

 I ran the Fass Brewery 5K social run in Conroe tonight.

After the rain

 It rained all morning, but was cloudy and low 50's this afternoon.  Good running weather..  Got in 4.1 miles on the roads at the park.

Back to the park this Tuesday

 It rained pretty much all day, but it was a light rain when I went back to the state park to run this afternoon.  Got in 4 miles on the roads.

New running venue

 I had a doctor's appointment this morning in Conroe.  I had been wanting to run at Jones State Forest in southern Conroe for a while.  So, after the appointment, I headed for Jones and hit the trails.  I never saw a trail map, so I just headed out and tried to remember how to get back the same way.  Lots of turns and options.  I ran for 1.7 miles and came back in the same way, for a total of 3.4 miles.

Back from Wylie

 I drove up to Wylie (northeast of Dallas) Friday afternoon to visit family and got back to Huntsville late this evening.  On Saturday, I ran 3.2 miles on a concrete trail in Plano and 3.3 miles this afternoon on the same trail.

In town run

 I ran 3.6 miles in town this morning.  The leg is not any better; I may have to cut back.

Fass Brewery 5K

 I ran the Fass Brewery 5K in Conroe tonight. Still limpy.

About the same

 I ran 3.7 slow miles on the roads at the park this afternoon.  The leg pain was about the same as yesterday.  At least, it is not getting worse.

Better

 Even though I started my run at the park in pain, it lessened after a mile or so.  Got in 3.5 miles on the park roads.

Super slow 5K at the park

 I spent some time on a heating pad today, skipped my workout at Iron Works, took some Tylenol and then went to the park late this afternoon.  I was relieved to get to the 1-mile mark, but I kept going and finished with 3.1 miles.  Super slow and painful, but the streak is alive.

Texas 10 Series Sienna 5-Miler and Sunday Night 5K

Long day.  I got up at 5 this morning and drove down to Missouri City (southwest of Houston) to run the Texas 10 Series Sienna 5-Miler.  I finished in 1:25:17 and was first of one in the 70 and over age group.  Nice clear weather with the temperature in the 60's.  I started getting some pain in my upper right leg in the last mile, but did not think much about it.  After the race, I drove up to Cypress and met my son for breakfast.  Then, went to the Asics Store in the Outlet Mall in Cypress and bought a couple pair of new running shoes.  Drove on back to Huntsville, took a shower and a nap.  Later this afternoon, I drove down to The Woodlands to run the Sunday Night 5K.  As soon as I started running, I knew that my leg was worse than I thought.  About 2/10ths of a mile into the race, my right leg collapsed and I fell on the concrete.  I should have quit then, but in over 1,400 races, I have never had a DNF (did not finish), so I got up and kept running.  I almost fell again, but I finished the race in a slow 55:41.  I am not looking forward to tomorrow's run.  I may have to break my "at least 3.1 miles" streak and do at least a mile.  We will see.  Today's total drive was 320 miles.  No wonder my 2016 truck is about to hit 200,000 miles.

Spindle Tree 5K Park Run

 I ran the Spindle Tree 5K Park Run in Magnolia this morning.  Finished in 51:41.