recover

I'm definitely making some progress towards getting in shape.  I'm fairly sure I was around 1:10 or so this morning for the 7 mile loop at Townlake.  I forgot to start my watch at the start.  I could really tell I felt stronger but the weather was much cooler and less humid than last week.  Regardless, I'll take it!!  I'm shutting down this month with 77 miles.  For the months of Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb and March my grand total was 153 miles.  The last 2 Saturday's we've done 9 and 11 miles.  I gonna get in a few rest days and let my body recover.  I'll be ready to get fired back up next Monday.  I'm barely hanging onto my 20 mile weeks but the streak is intact.  I need to make sure I maintain that for 13 more months.  That will be 20 full years of 20 mile weeks!!

Ruska

Misty and I got in 11 miles on the Goodwater Trail at Lake Georgetown last Saturday.  It's almost always a good time exploring new trails and we sure did have a good time.  There were some hikers but not too many.  We're definitely going to go back.

This morning me and doggie went looking for Ruska and Samuel on our 5mile hood run but we unsuccessful.  We had a good run anyway!

running

Out of shape but I'm running!!  Samwell and I did the the Mopac/ I-35 7 mile loop this morning in 1:15:20.  Pretty darn slow but I'M RUNNING with seemingly no ill effects!!  I'll take it!!

I think I'm a runner again...

Time for an update, I've been super busy the last week.

The last couple of weeks I've been experiencing some really severe pain in my lower left back and left hip.  Very unusual for me.  I didn't know if it was my office chair, my new truck or our bed.  I made 2 trips to Richard M. but that didn't seem to do any good.  I thought a thorough massage from Renie might help so she worked me over really good Thursday morning.  I was fine the rest of that day but by Friday I was in some pretty bad pain again.  I went ahead with our run plans for Saturday with Misty and Karah.  We did a super easy 9 miles in Barton Creek.  I had no difficulty running at all and did some very thorough stretching and foam roller afterwards.  By the time we got ready to leave for Bulverde that afternoon I felt pretty good.  My foot felt fine, my back and hip were a bit tight but not bad.  After the drive to Bulverde my back and hip were hurting again.  I started getting scared that it was my truck seat bothering me but I'd driven a 400 mile round trip to Lake Livingston in the days right after I got the truck and I made a 1000 mile round trip to Arkansas the next weekend with no ill effects.  I was pretty dumbfounded and frustrated.  We stayed the night in Bulverde Saturday night and slept well on their spare bed.  I woke up with minimal back and hip pain.  That made me seriously question our bed.  We drove back to Austin that afternoon and I felt pretty good which really made me wonder about our bed even more.  A very good development was that my foot felt pretty well okay.  Still not perfect but much much better than it has been. 

After we'd been home for a while Sunday I started wondering if my back and hip could be a strength issue.  I did some lunges Sunday evening and then doggie and I had an easy 3 mile run Monday morning.  I did more lunges Monday morning after our run and what do you know.  About halfway through my Monday morning I realized I'm just about pain free in my hip and back!!  I have to chalk it up to the lunges!  That confirms that I have to keep doing lunges regularly!

I've been concerned about keeping  doggie hydrated on some longer runs so we did something new on a little neighborhood adventure this morning.  My big UD bladder pack has a vertical sleeve on the bottom for a 20oz bottle along with room for at least a 100oz bladder.  I put doggie's fold up water bowl in the outside portion of the back of the pack and took a 20oz bottle of water specifically for her.  We stopped at the 2.3 and 4.1 points for water breaks for doggie.  The first time I took my pack off  completely but the 2nd time I just rolled the bowl up and it fit fine in one of the zip up front pockets!!  I'm really glad I have a system now for keeping her hydrated on our morning runs.  She did great too by the way.

I think I've just about got my right foot fixed.  I'm pretty well pain free now most of the time now but will keep wearing the plantar boot at night.  I think I'm a runner again!!

she doesn't even know

3 mile run in the 'hood with Mrs. Farrell and doggie this morning.  My plantar pain has mostly moved into my heel so I'm trying to figure that out too.  It was a bit painful this morning so we cut our run short.  I'm going to have a one hour Thai floor massage with Renie tomorrow morning and we'll work on my foot too.  Doggie's next run gets her over 200 miles since we got her and she doesn't even know.....

weekend

Had a good 10 mile weekend.  Misty and I did 7 in Barton Creek yesterday morning.  Yesterday afternoon doggie and I did a 1 mile walk in the 'hood and this morning after cleaning carpets me and doggie did the 2 mile version of Ken's.  I experimented last night with not wearing the plantar boot and it didn't go well, my foot hurt this morning.  Back to the boot every night.  No worries, it's not a big deal.

shape

Mark L and I did the Mopac/ Congress loop this morning in exactly 50 minutes.  I'm definitely out of shape after my layoff.  Mark took it pretty easy on me.  I think my foot is okay....

run like the wind

Me and doggie got in a solid 5 miler in the 'hood this morning!  We saw Samuel and Ruska walking along Duval and snuck up on them.  I'm sure they were very impressed when they saw me and doggie running like the wind right by them!