Wrapping up October

 I ran 3.5 miles on the roads and trails at the park this afternoon.  That wraps up October with 111.4 miles, an average of 3.59 per day.  It brings my total to 1,098.6 miles for 2025.  While my running streak (at least 1 mile per day) is nearly four and a half years, today I reached 15 months of running at least 3.1 miles every day.

Fass Brewery 5K

 As usual for Thursday, I ran the Fass Brewery 5K in Conroe tonight.

Late run in town

 Got busy today, with some unexpected errands.  So, I ran in town late this evening.  Did 3.6 miles.

Stayed on the roads

 I stayed on the roads at the park this evening.  Got in 3.7 miles.  Still fighting the sore ankle soreness.  The doctor says it is an extension of the back problem.  The sciatic nerve goes from the back down to the ankle.  Hopefully, it will get better over time.

More physical therapy treatments

 Got a call from the clinic today saying that my insurance company has approved three more treatments for my back.  That's good news.  I went to the park this afternoon and ran 3.7 miles, half roads and half trails.

Sunday at the park

 I went out to the state park mid-afternoon and ran 4.7 miles, almost all on the trails.

Rainy day

 We had a much needed heavy rain very early this morning and another tonight.  I had no race today, but did get out to the park this afternoon and run 3.3 miles, mostly on the trails.  No mud.  The trails were so dry that the rain was quickly absorbed.

Last day before the big rain

 We are suppose to get a lot of rain tomorrow after many weeks of virtual zero rain.  No complaints, but I'll have to squeeze in a run sometime tomorrow.  This afternoon, I went to the park and ran 4.5 miles on the trails.  One trip and fall, but no trip to the ER.  Not even a band aid. 

Fass Brewery 5K +

 I had what might be my last rehab appointment on my back this morning.  Then, worked out at Iron Works.  After that, I received a call from the dermatologist in Conroe.  The  biopsy from a spot on my leg turned out to be cancer and they wanted me there at 4 this afternoon to have it removed.  So, I had it removed quickly at 4 and killed some time at a couple stores in Conroe.  I got to Fass Brewery over an hour before the run  I went ahead and ran 5K and got back to the brewery before the group run started.  Took off again, but only ran a mile.  That gave me 4.1 miles for the day.

Annual physical today

 I went in for my annual physical today.  The doctor looked good, even lost some weight.  As for me, I got my flu shot and blood work.  And, I had to explain my answer in the questionnaire, "Have you fallen in the last year?"  The doctor does not run trails.  I will know the results of the lab work in a few days.  This afternoon, I went to the park and ran 3.6 miles on the trails.

Stayed on the roads

 I stayed on the roads at the park this evening.  Ran 3.8 miles.

Back to Monday

 After a busy weekend, it is back to a relatively slow Monday.  I worked out at Iron Works this morning and went to the park later this afternoon.  Ran 3.5 miles, mostly on the trails.

Pumpkinpalooza 10K Trail Run

 I ran the Pumpkinpalooza 10K Trail Run in Millican this morning.  Very technical trail, with plenty of steep embankments.  There was also a 5K and Half Marathon race.  I am not sure if I got off the 10K course or the 10K course was just long, but my GPS showed to 7.11 miles at the finish line.  Should have been 6.2 miles.  In any case, I finished in 2.38:51 and was first of one in the 80 and over age group.  Really tired tonight.  I think from climbing down and up those embankments.

Hooves & Heels Historic 5K

 I drove 75 miles up to Calvert, Texas this morning to run the Hooves & Heels Historic 5K.  I have no idea where the race name came from, but I am sure the locals in Calvert do.  It is the first time in a long time that I ran a race in a new city.  My long time friend and fellow Vietnam veteran, Dennis Alston, is from Calvert, so I did not want to miss the race.  I finished the course in 53:11.  Dennis and I were the only ones over 80 in the race;  he was first and I was second.  After getting back home and trying to take a nap, I drove down to Humble for my grandson's football game.  Lots of driving today.

Two trips to Conroe today

 After running in Conroe last night, I went back down early this morning for an appointment with the skin doctor.  I left that appointment and went to Carl Barton Park and ran 3.3 miles on their nice concrete trail.  I went back down to Conroe this evening for a family dinner.

Fass Brewery 5K

As usual for Thursday, I ran the Fass Brewery 5K in Conroe tonight. 

Need some rain

 It is getting very dry here; no rain at my house for over a month and the trails at the park are getting sandy in parts.  I went back to the park this afternoon and ran 4.1 miles, 1-mile on the roads and 3.1 on the very dry trails.

Group night at the park

 I met up with the group at the park this evening.  I ran 3.4 miles, mostly on the trails.

Strenuous day

 I had a strenuous physical therapy appointment this morning and then a lot of strenuous yard work this afternoon.  I finally got to the park late this afternoon to run.  Running seemed restful.  Got in 3.5 miles, mostly on the trails.

Sunday afternoon on the trails

 Being a 3-day weekend, the state park was crowded this afternoon.  I ran 4.8 miles, mostly on the trails.  Lots of people in the camping area and out hiking trails.

Heights 5K

 I got up super early this morning and drove down to Houston to run the Heights 5K for the 13th time.  The start time was 7:15 this morning, so the temperature was about 70 degree.  The course is out and back on Heights Blvd. and is very smooth asphalt and flat.  I finished in 52:46.  I was first of two in the 80 and over age group.  I left the race and drove straight back to Huntsville to attend the Seven Hills Running Club 40th Anniversary Party, which was in progress when I got back.  Since I was the co-founder of the club in 1985, it was important that I be there.  Left the party and went direct to my grandson's football game in Huntsville.  After that, a nap.

Early (relatively) Friday run

 With a race tomorrow morning, I ran this Friday morning, 11 something am.  Ran 3.5 miles, all on the trails at the park.

Fass Brewery 5K

 I ran the Fass Brewery 5K social run in Conroe tonight.  With a 7 pm start and less daylight, it is a night run for the next few months.

Met the new trail czar at the park

 I ran 3.7 miles at the state park this afternoon, mostly on the trails.  While on one of the bridges over the swampy area, I met Eric, the new trail czar at the park.  Seem like a nice guy.  He was replacing missing or rotted boards on the bridge.  That's good.  Maybe I can get him to cut all the protruding roots and stumps on the trails.  Gosh, I have spent a lot of time and miles on those trails for nearly 40 years.

15th Rehab appointment

 I had my 15th rehab appointment at physical therapy today since my back surgery on August 4.  Most of it is focused on strengthening the muscles around my spine.  It is difficult to exercise those muscles.  They think my current ankle problem is a sciatic nerve issue caused by the back problem.  I ran 3.5 miles this evening at the park, mostly on the trails.  The ankle still hurts, but not so much that I cannot  run.

Back to the park

 After running elsewhere for a few days and a busy weekend, I returned to the state park this afternoon.   Ran 3.6 miles, about half on the roads and the other half on the trails.

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

After getting home late last night, I got up at 5 something this morning and drove down to Cypress (northwest of Houston) to run the Texas 10 Series 5-Miler.  Nice sunny and relatively cool weather.  I finished in 1:29:32 with some pain in my ankle.  I was 4th of 4 in the 70 and over age group (the other 3 were in their 70's).  While I did not place, I won $50 cash in the door prize drawing.  Later this evening, I drove down to The Woodlands and ran the Sunday Night 5K.  I finished in 55:33.  With these races, I exceeded 1,000 miles for 2025.

Back from Wylie

 Got back from Wylie (north east of Dallas) late tonight.  I ran 3.3 miles in Huntsville Friday morning before leaving for Wylie.  After spending most of today at a Taekwondo Tournament in Allen,  I got in a 3.1-mile run on a city trail in Wylie this evening before driving back to Huntsville.  I have a 5-mile race tomorrow morning and it will be a test on my sore ankle.

Fass Brewery 5K

I ran the Fass Brewery 5K in Conroe tonight.  My ankle felt a little better. 

Limpy run

 When I started running at the park this afternoon, I immediately started feeling pain in my right ankle.  I assumed the pain would go away, but it never did.  I had no idea how I had sprained it or otherwise injured it.  I ran 3.4 limpy miles and then went home and iced it.  We will see how it goes tomorrow.