Doug's Running Blog

Sunday, 1/15/12 to Saturday, 1/21/12

2012-01-22T16:30:00.000-05:00

I ran 3 times this week, 14.67 miles

Sunday, 1/15/12: Moving day

A long day. I picked up a 5'x8' trailer from UHaul in Kent OH around 9AM. Then my daughter, Karen, and I helped pack her stuff into the trailer. The day was definitely chilly, about 15F and sunny ... but I did work up a sweat. We packed it about 90% full. The drive was uneventful. We unpacked at her mother's apartment. Then I headed back up to Rochester, dropped off the trailer and headed home for a well deserved evening off. I was done and with my feet up around 7:30PM. Three weekends in a row of moving a kid, check.

Kudos to all those running friends of mine that were out and about with their snowshoes! You know who you are!

Monday, 1/16/12: Rest day.

Well ... I think the snow in Rochester will be short lived. The temp started out cold but it warmed up above freezing and will stay there for a couple of days. Wednesday's Snow Cheap #3 will probably be a Mud Cheap.

Just your average rest day. Christine and I settled in for a pizza and salad. Then we watched just one episode of Battlestar Galactica before we headed to bed ... early for once. We both needed our sleep.

Tuesday, 1/17/ 12: FF Cobbs Hill run, 6.05 miles, 45:54, 7:35 pace, 50F, night, a bit windy, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF Cobbs Hill run, 3 Y's

Christine had pulled a muscle while she was cross-training, ;-), so I headed down to the Fleet Feet store on Monroe Ave for the usual Tuesday night Cobbs Hill run. The warmth and light rain of the past day has done a good job of melting most of the snow. I couldn't resist wearing compression shorts, a long sleeve tech top and arm warmers. The store was full with at least 100 Winter Warrior runners and walkers ... some were dressed like it was 20F instead of 50F! The sidewalk up Monroe Ave had some puddles in spots but they were easily avoided. I did the usual 3 Y's and headed back. Next time I think I will take the back way up and back to avoid all the congestion and possible accidents waiting to happen as 100 or more runners run up and down Monroe Ave. All in all, a sweet run!!

It was a good thing that this run got done by 7PM. A severe cold front moved in around 7:15PM which brought winds of 40mph with a wind gust of 76mph. The wind howled all night!

Wednesday, 1/18/12: Snow Cheap #3, 2.62 miles, 24:57, 9:31 pace, 18F, night, no windy, no pain.

Christine and I headed down to the Riley Lodge of Cobbs Hill for Snow Cheap #3, which will be better known as Ice Cheap #3. I have learned not to overdress and to be cool at the start. So I just wore pants, a ss and ls tech top, Brooks Racing Team singlet and arm warmers along with a heavy hat and gloves. The rain of yesterday froze and produced lots of ice on the hills and flats of the course. We were warned several times to take it easy and be careful. So I ran nice, easy and was careful. I stayed upright the whole way and did OK. I finished 44th out of 207 raw. I was 32nd out of 171 in the no snowshoe, results here. I finished 3rd out of 14 in my M50-59 no snowshoe age group, results here.

Thursday, 1/19/12: Rest day.

Just your usual rest day. Christine and I watched a DVR'd movie, V for Vengeance with Natalie Portman. I stayed up a bit to watch the LA Lakers get beat by the Miami Heat by 11 (it really wasn't that close), link here. LeBron had a monster game: 31 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 steals.

Friday, 1/20/12: 6.0 miles, 48:12, 8:02 pace, 18F, night, a bit windy, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF Ridgeway - Hendrick route + another loop

Christine wasn't feeling up to the cold so I headed out to Fleet Feet Ridgeway solo. I headed out out into the cold. The footing was a bit variable with one inch of snow on the sidewalks so I ran nice and easy. Just another sweet run in the running bank!

Saturday, 1/21/12: Rest day

Just a usual rest day. I got my haircut, drove out to Newark to pick up my father's mail, out to Lyons to see him at the Wayne County Nursing Home and then to Palmyra to see my youngest son, David. My father was alert and talkative. David was tired after working 6AM to 2PM. He was going to take a nap then go back to work 11PM-6AM. Later, Christine and I caught up with 3 DVR'd episodes of Battlestar Galactica and 2 episodes of Chuck. Bedtime came late.

Meanwhile, my daughter in the middle of a road trip to New York City. She saw Darren Criss in the musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying on Broadway on Friday night. She waited in the cold outside the stagedoor for hours on Saturday night and was rewarded with this photo.

"So this happened. He looked me in the eye and smiled at me. Yes, I cried afterwards. Standing in the freezing cold for 13 hours? Worth it." - Her Facebook post.

She is going to see the musical again on Sunday night. She also has tickets to the Bronx Zoo. It does sound like she is having a good time!

Sunday, January 8th to Saturday, January 14th

2012-01-15T22:34:00.001-05:00

I ran 2 times this week, 14.4 miles.

Sunday, 1/8/12: Rest day.

Another moving day for my youngest son, David. I drove down to Lyons to move him from his grandparents to his new apartment in Palmyra. He only stayed there 8 days. I drove the 10' UHaul truck and provided the muscle. It didn't take long ... he doesn't have much stuff. Hopefully he will keep it organized ... though I am not hopeful.

After I got back up to Rochester, laundry night ensued. We absolutely had to do it by hook or crook. I was out of clean clothes and the dirty ones ... well, begged to be washed. Afterward, a yummy dinner of barbequed spare ribs and sweet potato chips was well deserved. Mmm ... Christine and I love ribs! I love Christine ... even with barbeque sauce on her lips!

Monday, 1/9/12: Rest day.

Christine and I just settled for some down time, getting stuff done and watching 3 episodes of Battlestar Galactica. I think I have her hooked on Syfy!

Tuesday, 1/10/12: 7.9 miles, 1:01:09, 7:45 pace, 38F, night, 1 stop, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Out to Cooper Rd

I had another commitment so I couldn't make it down to Fleet Feet for the Winter Warrior Cobbs Hill workout. So I slipped out for a nice night run around Irondequoit. I dressed for the weather and my speed ... tights, long sleeve tech top with arm warmers, light gloves and hat. Just warm enough but not too hot!

After I cooled down, Christine made a yummy BLT supper. We watched the latest Netflix DVD, Fatal Attraction. Kinda scary! Bedtime came late like usual but so enjoyable!

Wednesday, 1/11/12: Rest day.

At long last I junked my 99 Grand Am. It had 254,000 or so miles on it. I think I put on 210,000 of them. My parents originally had it on a lease for my mother (may she rest in peace). When the lease was up they bought it. When I needed a car they gave it to me. When I lived in Newark and worked up in Rochester I put a lot of miles on it. Over the miles it did develop some problems. I hadn't driven it in months. It got atrocious gas mileage, it needed brakes (again, because one of the calibers dragged) and the transmission didn't shift well when it was cold. I am a bit saddened but life goes on.

A long day of work ensued. Christine made a nice supper of marinated fish, sweet potato chips and some type of spinach salad with mushrooms and walnuts that was quite tasty!

We watched a movie off the DVR, Groundhog Day with Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell.

Thursday, 1/12/12: Another rest day.

I really should have gone out for a run. The temp was 45F and just a light sprinkle. But I was very hungry when I got home and we ate some leftover pasta immediately. Then Christine and I just lazed around and sat next to each other on the couch as we just chilled all evening. I straightened up my magazines (Runner's World, Running Times, PC World, Maximum PC, Competitor and a couple of Trail Magazine). I hope I did read all the articles!

Friday, 1/13/12: Another rest day

Finally a snowy day in Rochester. But ... yet another day I wish I had gone for a run instead no matter what. Things have a way of being better if you go for a run but ... no I didn't. Enough ...

Saturday, 1/14/12: A zoo run instead of Freezeroo #3, 6.5 miles, 55:40, 8:34 pace, 18F, light snow, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Out to the Zoo, 3 loops

A long day. I had wanted to head up to Camp Eastman for Freezeroo #3 but after brushing 4 inches of fluffy snow off my car and thinking of the drive up Kings Highway to Lake Rd, running Freezeroo #3, then heading out to Cleveland by noon and arriving by 6PM just didn't compute. So I since I was already dressed for running I just ran nice and easy out to the Zoo and went 3 times around the pond. Just as enjoyable and cold but a bit more time efficient plus it left more time for saying goodbye to Christine.

Then after packing I was on the road to Cleveland for my trip to pack up my daughter to move back to Newark NY by 12:15PM. The drive grew a bit nervous as I got into PA with light snow, then more intense as I drove into OH. A one point, I was driving around 45 mph in a construction area where we were squeezed together as a tracker-trailer passed me on the left and caused a white out for about 10 seconds before I could see where the road was. An awfully long time!! Then all of a sudden the road was clear and the snow stopped! I got to Christine's daughter's apartment without any further ado. I helped my daughter pack her stuff at her apartment to get ready for the move on Sunday. Though I did miss the 4 touchdowns that the 49ers and the Saints scored in the final 2:11 as the 49ers won, link here.

Sunday, January 1st to Saturday, January 7th

2012-01-01T20:33:00.000-05:00

I ran 4 times this week, 23.5 miles

Sunday, 1/1/12: Freezeroo #2, 7.5 miles, 53:26, 7:07 pace, 2 stops, no pain.

Christine was still felling poorly with a head cold so I headed down to Mendon Ponds Park solo. I got there about 20 minutes early and got ready. This Resolution race is always well attended.

I started out hot with a 6:36 first mile as we ran out Douglas Rd, then Canfield Rd toward Clover Rd. I slowed a bit with mile 2 and 3 at 7:02 and 7:17. Mile 3 was announced as 20:50. I took a couple of cups of water around mile 3. I also took a slight walk of 10 seconds around the halfway point. Two people passed me so I kicked back into gear with mile 4 at 7:33. I exchanged pleasantries with Steve Levitsky as he passed me during the hills on Mendon Center Rd. I shortly passed him back on a downhill and kept him behind me on the uphill, mile 5 and 6 at 7:20 and 7:07. I started to "tunnel run" ... just kept it cranked and put one foot in front of the other. The uphill turn up onto Canfield Rd almost broke me. Heather Danielson was amused about how I talked to myself as she passed me. I just gutted out the uphill without giving into the urge to stop, mile 7 at 7:10. I knew the race was almost over. I cranked it up more and finished the last half mile at 6:22 pace. I crossed the line at 53:26 ... about 50 feet behind Heather. I did pretty well, I set a 4 minute PR from 57:24 last year. I was 43rd out of 375, results here. I was 6th out of 43 in my M50-54 age group, results here. The post race grub was excellent. Though I thought I should have gone out for another 7.5 miles after I polished off 2 donuts, bread, pasta and an apple. I met up with Bill Beyerbach and Tom Butler and talked about running before I ended home.

Afterward, I actually thought that the Buffalo Bills, 6-9, had a chance going into facing the New England Patriots, 11-4. The Bills were playing out the string, the Patriots were playing for a 1st round bye and home field advantage throughout the NFL playoffs. The Bills jumped out to a 21-0 lead by the end of the 1st quarter. The Patriots climbed back to 21-17 by half, then just poured it on in the 2nd half to win 21-49, link here. Why do I root for the Bills, now 6-10? The New England Patriots are now 12-4 with the Bills just a speed bump after spotting the Bills 21 points.

Monday, 1/2/12: Rest day.

Just a lazy day with my darling Christine. We watched a bit of college football, OSU vs Florida (17-24) and a bit of college basketball, SU vs DePaul (87-68). Christine cooked a delicious lamb roast with sauerkraut and potatoes. Later we watched Blind Side before hitting the hay a bit early. A week off from week from work was quite nice ... though I did not get quite done what I wanted to get done. Do I ever?

Tuesday, 1/3/12: Rest day.

A week of vacation between Christmas and New Year's made for a hectic catch-up day of work. I felt run down during the day. I think that I caught the head cold that Christine had. I really didn't try to avoid it ... ;-) Christine went out to Macy's and bought me some dress shirts on clearance. Unfortunately she bought them in 16-16 1/2 neck instead of 15-15 1/2 neck. I love that she tried! Anyway, I declared a rest night and we went to bed at 8:45PM after a late supper.

Wednesday, 1/4/12: Snow Cheap #2, 2.7 miles, 23:07, 8:35 pace, 28F, night, calm, a bit of snow, no pain.

Christine was still feeling sick and so was I. A head cold ... but tonight was a race night. So I headed down to Cobbs Hill solo for Snow Cheap #2. The usual night trail racing types were there, 240 strong. It was 28F, just a bit of snow on the ground, so no snowshoes. I wore just running pants, long sleeve tech top, heavy cap, heavy gloves along with my Brooks Racing Team arm warmers and singlet ... which was just enough after I warmed up. The start was fast on a familiar course ... just backwards. I ran pretty well, I only tripped twice. I think I need a brighter headlight. I was passed by a handful of runners ... mostly I kept up. My Garmin gave me fits trying to upload. I tried a soft and hard reset but it just froze up during the upload. So I ended up just deleting all the data.

Tom Butler, me and Christine

Me, Brendan (Bill's son) and Bill Beyerbach

I did OK, I was 33rd overall out of 240, 24th out of 185 - link here, 1st out of 13 in my M50-59 age group - link here. I thought I tweaked my left knee a bit but when I woke up there was no pain.

Thursday, 1/5/12: Rest day.

Christine and I really have to do several things ... laundry, have her nails done and take the dress shirts she got at Macy's back ... but things just kept popping up to get in the way. I really can't breathe too well ... oh well!

Friday. 1/6/12: FF Greece, 6.0 miles, 44:17, 7:23 pace, 48F, night, a bit windy in spots, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF Ridgeway run, Hendrick with another loop

Christine was still feeling down so I headed out to Fleet Feet Ridgeway for the usual Happy Hour run. I went out a bit easy but kicked it up and did the Hendrick route with a loop. My lips were a bit chapped but I soldiered onward.

Christine and I did venture forth to Walgreens and Wegmans after I got home. We happened upon an accident when we got to Walgreens. A truck had just hit a woman pedestrian just outside the door. She was moaning on the ground. Soon a lot of emergency crew were there: an ambulance, fire truck and 3 police cars. We were blocked in for a bit. Hopefully the woman is OK. Then it was onward to Wegmans for food, then a late supper.

Saturday, 1/7/12: Hearnish 10K route, 7.3 miles, 59:23, 8:09 pace, 46F, sunny, a bit windy, 2 or 3 stops, no pain.

Christine and I are not early Saturday morning risers on non race mornings ... so we slept in. But I did have a plan for a practice run in the afternoon.

Garmin Connect Activity for Hearnish 10K + 1 mile

Bill Beyerbach came over and he drove down to Powder Mills Park. We parked at the Fish Hatcherie, stretched and headed out on the Hearnish 10K course. Just nice and easy ... as much as I could. I am not a nice and easy runner. The major hills were challenges met especially the one at mile 5. We got a bit lost at the end and had to backtrack but all in all, another great run with Bill! Maybe next time we can do a second loop for a Hearnish Half?

Afterward a quick shower and supper Christine and I headed out to get her nails done, exchange the shirts she got at Macy's for three that fit me and hit BJ's for a bit of groceries.

Happy New Year's Eve, December 31st, 2011

2011-12-31T21:04:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year!

What happened running-wise during 2011?

I ran 1136.9 miles, 184 runs in 364 days, 6.2 miles/run.
I ran 53 races during the year with 296.2 racing miles, 5.6 miles/race.

I lowered my 5K PR from 21:58 in 2010 to 20:31.
I lowered my 5 mile PR from 36:44 in 2010 to 34:18.
I lowered my 10K PR from 46:22 in 2010 to 43:48.
I lowered my 12K PR from 1:01:05 in 2010 to 1:00:41 ... when I was engaged to my beautiful Christine!
I lowered my 7.5 miles PR from 1:02:33 in 2009 to 57:24.
I established an 8 mile PR of 1:01:36.
I lowered my 15K PR from 1:17:05 in 2010 to 1:10:20
I lowered my Half Marathon PR from 1:46:43 in 2010 to 1:40:11.
A personal PR ... 131 in 2011 from 124 in 2010.

One might think that all I think about is running and PRs. Well, yes, this year has been a special year. I seem to be getting a bit faster. I basically try to just run as fast as I can as far as I can when I race. Thus pacing was a problem, but I have tried to learn to start slow. I ran a lot more races this year, 53, versus 35 in 2010. I enjoy running, enjoy the competition of racing and competing in my competitive M50-54 age group.

I thank my darling Christine for all her support during this past year. I was so proud of her running this past year in the Fall No Boundaries program. She is trying to become a runner! Yea, baby girl!

What am I looking forward to in 2012? Well, I would like to go sub 20 in the 5K if I can find a fast, flat 5K and latch onto someone to pace with or draft off. Also ... I would like to lower my PR in my only marathon, 4:29:27, set during the hot as blazes Rochester Marathon way back in 2008. However ... I seem to handle anything under a Half Marathon pretty OK. Anytime I have attempted anything greater than 13.1 miles ... things have not turned out so well. Sehgahunda I in 2010, Mendon Ponds 50K in 2010, Sehgahunda II in 2011 come to mind.

Can I slow down enough to accomplish the greater distance? Well, I DO intend to take on Sehgahunda III in 2012 and the Rochester Full Marathon in 2012 ... come hell or high water

Sunday, December 25th to Saturday, December 31st

2011-12-26T08:46:00.001-05:00

I ran 4 times this week, 27.3 miles
During the month of December I ran 14 times, 86.2 miles, 6.2 miles/run.

Sunday, 12/25/11: 6.2 miles, 7:42 pace, 32F, sunny, calm, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Beth's Apt - Out to 303

We woke after a restful sleep and nice morning stretch out in Cuyahoga Falls at Beth and Nick's apartment. I slipped out before breakfast for a nice run. I just run up towards the canal path on Barlow Rd but just get going on Akron-Cleveland Rd to Rt 303 instead which turned out to be 3.1 miles. It was a nice and easy run.

We had a bit of navigation argument on the way to her brother's, Bill, house in Ravenna since my smart phone decided to reboot right when we needed it. The usual folks were over. I slipped out after lunch to see my daughter in Kent. I brought all the boxes I could fit in Chris's car. We had a nice conversation. Later I had to go back so I could give her my Christmas card and the tape gun to put together all the boxes when she needs to pack.

Monday, 12/26/11: Travel day.

We packed and got on the road around 10AM. The first stop was Bob Evan's for breakfast, another chain restaurant that we had a bad experience in. Yes, they had a lot of customers and seemed to be understaffed. But I was starving ... so their blueberry pancakes did fill me up. We paid cash and fled. Their waiting room was full ... poor suckers! The trip home was uneventful ... once I got to the left hand seat. We got home at 3PM. We really should have gone out for a run but we just stretched for a while.

Tuesday, 12/27/11: 6.0 miles, 47:34, 7:56 pace, 38F, night, light mist, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF Cobbs Hill run, 3 Y's

Christine and I really needed sleep and slept in until 12:22PM. Breakfast was a couple tall cups of coffee and some Cinnamon Toast Crunnch. Later we had pasta around 5PM. Which was a bit of a problem considering we went running at 6PM.

Yes, it was a light mist. Yes, it was just above freezing. Yes, we were Winter Warriors. Yes, we went out anyway! We felt better for it ... but we were still glad when we finished! Just a bit sluggish but still sweet!

Wednesday, 12/28/11: 9.1 miles, 1:21:39, 8:58 pace, 20F, night, a bit crisp, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for East Zoo trail out to Thomas Ave

I really needed to get out for reasons that were obvious to Christine and I. Yes, it was cold, a bit windy and had snowed during the day. But a bit after six out I was. I put on my Salamon XT Wings 2 along with my Yaks and headed to the east Zoo trail. There was about 1 inch of snow when I started. The snow slowly increased the further north I got toward Thomas Ave where there was about 4 to 5 inches. I ran the 4.55 miles down to Thomas Ave, nice and easy, 39:01, 8:35 pace, with no stops. I walked for a bit at the turn, then headed back at a slower pace. I walked a couple more times on the way back. There was a bit of wind at times but nothing too much.

Thursday, 12/29/11: Rest day.

Just a usual rest day. We rented an On Demand movie though, Cowboys and Aliens. It was pretty good with Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford and Olivia Wilde.

Friday, 12/30/11: 6.0 miles, 44:14, 7:22 pace, 45F, night, calm, a real light sprinkle, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF Ridgeway - Hendrick loop with another loop

Christine has developed a head cold so I headed out to FF Ridgeway solo. I headed out out a bit slow then picked it up and held it most of the way. I headed out to Pickdale Drive and did the Hendrick. When I got to Dolores I headed back to Pickdale Drive for a second loop. I didn't slow too much on the second loop.

Saturday, 12/31/11: Rest day ... well, maybe not.

I headed out to Newark to help my youngest son move to his grandparents in Lyons. It went OK. He had to go to work at Byrne Dairy in Phelps from 2-9, then 6-2 tomorrow morning. My ex was feeling poorly so I helped my ex vacate her old apartment. We took 2 trips to her new apartment. Some may question how I can help my ex ... I have an amicable situation with her. If she needs help I will help. My 3 kids are still needing help on occasion. Because if I help her she will be more able to help my kids.

Later, Christine and I dined on barbeque ribs, potato salad and sweet potato to celebrate New Year's Eve while watching Marie Antionette with Kirsten Durnst.

Sunday, December 18th to Saturday, December 24th

2011-12-21T23:08:00.000-05:00

I ran 3 times this week, 12.7 miles

12/18/11: 4.4 miles, 30:21, 7:01 pace, 20F, sunny, crisp, no stops, no pain.

Christine and I headed out to the Webster Town Park at the corner of Lake and Hold Rd for Polar Cat #2. Yes, it was my 52nd race of the year. Yes, it was sunny, cold and crisp ... but it was a race morning so off we went! Some non-runners would have stayed in their beds ... but we are certifiably crazy! We met up with all the usual Polar Cat runners and got our series hoodie sweatshirts. It was Christine's first one so she is quite proud of it.

Christine got an early start around 9:35AM. The rest of us started at 10AM, a two loop 2.2 mile route. I started out kind of hot, passed a few runners, mile 1 at 7:04. Then I just kept it amped, chased a blond ponytail that I never caught, mile 2 in 6:56, the halfway point was around 15:00, mile 3 in 7:09, mile 4 in 6:57. The last 0.4 mile was up an incline in 6:55 pace. I was perfectly dressed and didn't overheat at all. I passed Christine just before mile 3. She was running in good form, she finished in 1:18:14. She was very happy with her effort and knows this course like the back of her hand after practicing on it before and running the Turkey Trot.

Our overall results can be found here, the age group results here. I finished 6th out of 55 and 2nd out of 4 in my M50-54 age group.

We had chicken and rice for lunch, then subs later. The Buffalo Bills lost to the Miami Dolphins, 13-30, their 7th in a row, link here. Thankfully, this home game was not on TV. Later, we watched a DVR'd episode of The Mentalist. Christine watched a TCM classic, Gypsy ... I went to bed.

Monday, 12/19/11: Rest day. Nothing unusual.

Tuesday, 12/20/11: Another rest day. I should have run ... but I just didn't have the energy. I just dragged all day so I just bagged it, went to bed early and got 8 hours of sleep.

Wednesday, 12/21/11: 2.9 miles, 29:20, 10:07 pace, 52F, night, windy, no pain.

Christine and I headed down to Cobbs Hill for the first Snow Cheap of the 2011/2012 season. Christine gave some thought to running this race ... but wisely reconsidered given that it would be her first trail race and it was dark, wet and slippery. Her day will come! It was warm (above 50F) and windy so I wore shorts, short sleeve tech top, my Brooks Racing Team singlet and arm warmers, light gloves and my headlight (of course).

The race was two loops of roughly 1.45 miles. The race started out in a bit of a scrum with some tight quarters when we edged by the tennis courts and up some hills. It took a bit to get into trail racing mode with the lots of ups and downs. I did pick off some runners when we got up to the reservoir loop. Then we headed into Washington Grove when it got muddy, rocky and rooty quickly. Luckily I put the brakes on and stepped wisely. Everyone called out hazards as best we could. I came through loop 1 in 14:27, heard Christine yell, "Go, Doug, go!" and headed back out. I passed Bill Beyerbach shortly afterward. The second loop was more strung out but similar with more of the same ... with wetter mud it seemed. I ended loop 2 in 14:53 for a total of 29:20. Stats ... I was 35th out of 165 in the No Snowshoe category, link here. I was 1st out of 13 in my M50-59 age group, link here.

Afterward, we went into Riley Lodge for the obligatory and always filling post-race grub. I relaxed and talked with fellow runners ... always a pleasure. Over 200 runners took part in the festivities ... we are getting out there! It may be winter according to the calendar but not tonight! It will get colder, hopefully there will be more snow by the next race on January 4th ... but it won't stop us!

Thursday, 12/22/11: Rest day.

I really should have gone out for a run ... but Christmas is coming so I went to my company's get together. Then while watching The Santa Clause and The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause I worked on my annual Christmas letter. I hope to mail them before Christmas!

Friday, 12/23/11: 5.4 miles, 40:37, 7:31 pace, 24F, night, calm, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF Greece run

Christine wasn't feeling it, so I headed out to Fleet Feet Greece for the usual Friday night Happy Hour run. It was a bit cold than usual ... but if you dress for 20F warmer ... it's all good! I went out for the Hendrick route, than wrapped back in at Cobbleskill Drive for another 2 miles. I just ran ... sweet!

Then I went out some surgical grocery shopping at Wegmans which resulted in a frozen pizza supper with apple pie for dessert ... though we never got around to eating the apple pie, :-(

Saturday, 12/24/11: Travel day.

I had to go out to Newark to get my father's mail and to see my youngest son. His car was having left front tire issues ... the out of round kind. I tried to pump it up with my mini air compressor but air was going out as fast as it was going in. I couldn't do too much on Christmas Eve plus he had to go to work 2-10 and 6-2 on Christmas.

I have learned that I have to wait for Christine to get ready on her own. Pressuring her to get ready to travel only results in her getting ready slower. We started out for Cuyahoga Falls, OH around 4:45PM and got there sometime around 9:30PM. We used my Google Maps off my smart phone for navigation once we got close ... kind of cool!

Sunday, December 11th to Saturday, December 17th

2011-12-11T19:01:00.001-05:00

I ran 4 times this week, 19.8 miles.

Sunday, 12/11/11: 5 miles, 34:18, 6:52 pace, 28F, sunny, crisp, no stops, no pain, PR!

I headed out solo for the first Freezeroo out in Spencerport. Christine wanted to sleep in. It was sunny, cold and crisp with just a breath of wind. I wore my tights, long sleeve tech shirt, Brooks racing singlet and Brooks nightlife jacket. I also wore my heavy running gloves and stocking hat. In retrospect I could have not wore the jacket and gone with lighter gloves and just a hat.

I went out easy at the start, sticking with and just ahead of Heather who I heard wanted to run sub 34. The first mile was announced as 6:58, my Garmin said 6:47. I picked up the pace a bit and picked off some runners ... too early, mile 2 and 3 were 6:51 and 6:46. Heather passed me around mile 2.5. I had a lull around mile 4, 7:04. I was running but not flat out. I did pick it up a bit around mile 4.5 until the finish, mile 5 was 6:44. I sprinted to the line at 5:51 pace as I tried to hold off a runner ... who turned out to be 14! I forgot to turn off my Garmin for a bit ... it said 34:50 when I did. So I figured that I was close to my 5 mile PR of 34:35 that I set at Johnny's Runnin o' the Green way back in March.

I couldn't wait so I checked the side of the Fleet Feet van when I left and saw that I ran a 34:18 ... a PR by 17 seconds! Sweet! So ... I was pretty pumped when I got back home and told Christine. I was 43rd out of 240, results here. I was 4th out of 30 in my M50-54 age group, results here.

Christine and I went for what probably is our last ride in my 1999 Pontiac Grand Am with 254K miles on it. That was my mother's car ... may she rest in peace. I have had that car since it had 40K. It needs brakes, has transmission seals that don't really let it change gears when turning left except when it gets warm and gets abysmal gas mileage. We had to jump it to get it started and then drove it out to Williamson and back. I am looking into selling it for scrap. I have heard that you can get about $200 ... which isn't bad.

Afterwards Christine agreed that I deserved ribs ... so she got some when she endured the crowds at BJs. I stayed home to take a shower and wash the dishes. Mmmmm ... ribs and sweet potatoes!

Why do I believe? The Buffalo Bills lost their 6th game in a row to the San Diego Chargers, 10-27, to go to 5-8 and officially eliminate themselves from playoff contention, link here. They might have a bit of trouble selling tickets to the rest of the home games this season at the Ralph.

Monday, 12/12/11: Rest day.

Just your average rest day. After a production pre-dinner stretch, Christine fixed up a nice dinner of leftovers: chicken, broccoli, rice along with macroni and cheese. We spent some time with the TV off before we watched some classic DVR'd episodes of ST:TNG, The Best of Both Worlds, Part 1 and Part 2.

Tuesday, 12/13/11: 3.1 miles, 24:52, 8:02 pace, 42F, night, calm, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF Greece run

Christine and I headed out the new Fleet Feet Greece store for the official ribbon cutting ceremony, Winter Warrior kickoff and ... cake! I felt like a rookie runner again ... being handed a sheet of instructions at Fleet Feet and just heading out into the night. I did find all the turns for the 3 mile run OK. Christine headed out for a 2.6 mile run. She said she ran pretty well and didn't overheat at all.

Wednesday, 12/14/11: Rest day.

A busy day at work. I would have loved to go for a run after work but instead headed out to Fleet Feet Greece for Dudes night where dudes hung out, ate dude food, drank dude beverages and played dude games like Tic-Tac-Toe (won a pair of Darn Tough socks) and table pong. Dudes rule! Or as I was corrected ... Girls rule, guys drool! Just as long as we all know and celebrate the differences, ;-)

Christine made a nice late dinner of pulled pork sandwiches and salad. We watched a DVR'd episode of The Mentalist before going to bed ... late, like usual.

Thursday, 12/15/11: 6.2 miles, 45:42, 7:22 pace, 54F, night, windy, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Out to Cooper Rd

Upstate New York's unusual December weather continues for another day! It was 54F when I went out at 6:22PM for a run. I wore just shorts, long sleeve tech top, hat and light gloves. I had my headlight and flasher on, of course! I just ran ... hard and concentrated on form, flying through the night, sweet!

We caught up on DVR'd episodes of Hawaii Five-O and NCIS. We do like our crime dramas!

Friday, 12/16/11: 5.5 miles, 41:22, 7:31 pace, 34F, night, calm, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Greece run, Hendrick + Barbara Lane

What a difference a day makes! 20F cooler and a cold wind by nightfall!

Christine and I headed down to Fleet Feet Greece for the usual Friday night Happy Hour run ... just in a different location. The new Greece location in the Long Pond - Ridgeway location does have its advantages: an ESL ATM, a bridal shop (that Christine noticed), a pizza shop named Pizzeria 5, a nail salon, a hair salon, a liquor store, a sit down restaurant, a BurgerKing, and a Tim Horton's. All you need in life, I guess.

We got there about ten minutes early. I headed out on the Hendrick route of 3.5 miles, then tacked on an extra 2 mile by looping back to Barbara Lane at a nice and easy 7:31 pace. I kind of like the new Greece Happy Hour routes; a more residential, less business route.Christine headed out on the 2 mile route, I gave her a touch as I passed her on the Hendrick route.

Christine and I got a medium pizza from Pizzeria 5 and ... it was nice and tasty!! We watched a nice DVD that I found ... Battlestar Galactica - The Plan. Awesome!

Saturday, 12/17/11: Rest day.

Christine and I don't like to get out too much on non-race Saturdays. Kudos to all the runners out at Fleet Feet at Brighton and Greece who went out for long runs.

We finally emerged so Christine could go to her nail salon, New Nails. We headed out to Quaker Steak & Lube for a nice supper, thanks to a coupon from Living Social. Then we caught up with DVR'd episodes of Chuck, NCIS: LA and Battlestar Galactica.

Sunday, December 4th to Saturday, December 10th

2011-12-04T17:20:00.001-05:00

I ran 3 times this week, 26.4 miles.

Sunday, 12/4/11: 13.1 miles, 1:49:33, 8:22 pace, 55F, sunny, a bit windy, 3 stops, foot pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Up and Down the Genesee River

Christine and I really don't get out early to exercise ... but after some pre-run stretches we did. Christine headed to Planet Fitness for a hard cardiac workout on the bicycle.

I christened my new pair of Brook Adrenaline GTS 12s and headed out.

I stopped for two packets of Gu at 6.43 miles, 51:53, 8:03 pace. I adjusted the sock on my right foot. I continued onward on the west side of the Genesee River. My feet started to hurt around mile 10 but I just continued onward. I did slow, the last 6.67 miles were in 8:34 pace. I made it up the stairs to the apartment and just about collapsed. Christine gave me a bottle of Powerade, then I just sat. I discovered that I had a small blister on my 2nd left toe.

Yes, the Buffalo Bills lost yet another game ... 17-23 to the Tennessee Titans to go 5-8, link here.

A nice supper of spare ribs, rice and broccoli also helped wit the post-run recovery. We watched our latest Redbox.com DVD, The Adjustment Bureau.

Monday, 12/5/11: A most definite rest day!

I definitely felt the effect of yesterday's impromtu half marathon. My right foot and left hip twinged at various points in the day. Plus I didn't get enough sleep the night before. The combination made for a long day. Christine didn't feel up to snuff either.We should have gone to bed early but we stayed up to watch a DVR'd episode of Pan Am and Hawaii Five-O. It's how we roll.

Tuesday, 12/6/11: 6.0 miles, 46:02, 7:40 pace, 37F, night, calm, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Cobbs Hill run, 3 Y's

A busy day at work so I was more than ready for a run. I picked up Christine at the doctors and then we headed down to Fleet Feet in Brighton just in time. We headed out from where we parked. I wound my way through the middle of the pack up Monroe Ave, mile 1 was 7:46. I caught up with Bill Beyerbach just as I got to Cobbs Hill. We pounded out 2 Y's (miles 2, 3 and 4 were 8:14, 7:51 and 7:58) before he headed back. He is still getting over a cold. I pounded out another Y, mile 5 was 7:25, then I sped down Monroe Ave back to the store, mile 6 was 6:48. Sweet! The new Adrenalines felt a lot better than last Sunday. Maybe I had my Zensah compression socks on too tight.

Wednesday, 12/7/11: Rest day.

Just your average rest day after a day of work. Christine and I had a marvelous supper of leftover ribs, chicken, rice and salad. We settled down to watch DVR'd episode of Castle, NCIS: LA and Pan Am.

Thursday, 12/8/11: Rest day.

A slow day at work plus my right thigh was tight during the day plus I was incredibly hungry after I shopped at Wegmans. Christine and I had a quick supper of rotisserie chicken and salad. We ended up watching a old James Bond movie, A View to a Kill.

Friday, 12/9/11: 7.3 miles, 56:33, 7:45 pace, 33F, night, a bit windy, real light snow, 1 stop for hydration, small blister on 2nd left toe.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF Happy Hour run, 4.2 + 3.1

A slow day at work is usually followed by a busy day ... so it was very busy today. I definitely needed a run so Christine and I headed down to Fleet Feet. I headed out just nice and easy and just kept running. I did the 4.2 mile route, then followed it up the 3.1 mile route. I found that you have to have an eye out for small potholes in the dark ... and even then you can't really see them. I caught the edge of several of them. My blister was caused by a bunched sock. Christine headed out for a 2 mile run.

Christine made a very nice (and late) supper of salmon burgers, potato pancakes along with a salad of spinach, mushrooms and tomatoes.

We were kind of tired for some odd reason ... and went to bed early.

Saturday, 12/10/11: Rest day.

After a nice morning stretch, I headed out to Newark to get my father's mail, sort and pick up my oldest son's stuff that he left behind when he moved to UMass and see my father at the Wayne County Nursing Home. He seemed alert but slurred his words a bit more than when I last saw him.

Back home, we had leftovers for supper. Then we watched the current DVR'd episodes of Battlestar Galactica. Just gotta get our weekly fix!

Sunday, November 27th to Saturday, December 3rd

2011-11-27T16:46:00.001-05:00

I ran 2 times this week, 10.3 miles
Month of November: 105.6 miles, 17 runs in 30 days, 6.2 miles/run
2011 to date: 1050.7 miles, 170 runs in 333 days, 6.2 miles/run

Sunday, 11/27/11: 3.1 miles, 20:54, 6:45 pace, 62F, cloudy, a bit windy, no stops, no pain.

Christine and I did our usual pre-race stretching before we headed down to the Brewery in Honeoye Falls for the first Polar Cat. Christine and I both signed up for the series. The weather was quite pleasant for late November, certainly not polar! I started out hot at 6:22 pace for the first mile when one runner passed me. I held my position the rest of the way. I felt sluggish during mile 2, 7:05 pace, and mile 3, 6:43 pace, but kept going. I cruised the last tenth in 6:15 pace. I think I should have warmed up better with a mild jog but I did break 21 minutes. I wore my Zensah compression socks for the first time ... they certainly felt funny at first!

I came in around 2:00 on this YouTube video.

I cooled down for a bit, then waited for Christine to come in. I was a bit worried but she come in at just under 1 hour.

I did OK. I finished 9th out of 64, link here. I was 2nd out of 5 in my M50-54 age group, link here. Christine's last name got misspelled but she is in there.

We stopped and looked around the new Fleet Feet store in Greece on our way home. Shortly afterward, the Bills lost to the Jets, 24-28, link here. One glaring cause was an excessive celebration by Stevie Johnson after a Bills TD that gave the Jets a short field to score an easy TD in the 2nd quarter. Hello ... are you brain dead?? Kinda of just like the bicycle riders who wear all black at night with their hoodies up and expect me to see them!

Monday, 11/28/11: Rest day.

Just a tedious day at work. I checked what my company thought the serial number was and what it actually was for 201 printers which took all day. After 3 years, there were some errors. Opps!

Christine and I finally watched our dusty NetFlix DVD, The Fighter. I looked online and found that it has been sitting around since 9/26/11. It was a very good boxing movie ... we were impressed!

Tuesday, 11/29/11: Another rest day.

Not very much sleep ... coupled with a very hectic day at work produced a rest day. Christine and I took a nap before supper then lounged around before we watched a nice DVR'd episode of Battlestar Galactica, Scar.

Wednesday, 11/30/11: 7.2 miles, 56:53, 7:53 pace, 34F, night, a bit windy, 1 stop, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Out to Winona Blvd and back

It was the end of November so I just had to get out for a run. I really wanted to get to 100 miles for the month. I headed out and just ran. I added a bit of hill and took a bit of walk when I came back up. I concentrated on speed and form on the last 2 miles or so. Sweet! Christine went out to Planet Fitness for her workout.

We had a rather late supper of fish, rice and salad while we watched a DVR'd movie, The Rocketeer.

Thursday, 12/1/11: Rest day.

We watched our new NetFlix move, Aeon Flux. A nice movie with Charlize Theron.

Friday, 12/2/11: Another rest day.

I picked up my Brooks Racing Team order from Fleet Feet Sports .. a new pair of Brooks Adrenaline GTX 12 and Brooks Cascadia GTX ... sweet!!!!

A long day that would have better when followed by a run but I bagged it. Christine fixed up a homemade stew for supper, mmm! We watched a Redbox movie, Captain America, The First Avenger. This time I remembered to go past the credits to see the trailer for the follow on movie, The Avengers, coming out in May 2012.

Saturday, 12/3/11: Yet another rest day. But ...... I anticipate a long run on Sunday!

Chistine did some morning stretches before I slipped out to change her 2000 Cavalier's oil, after 5000 miles, at Deltasonic. I managed to deflect their upsells on anti-freeze, power steering and fuel line products. We watched the latest DVR'd episodes of Battlestar Galactica.

Sunday, November 20th to Saturday, November 26th

2011-11-26T23:31:00.004-05:00

I ran 4 times this week, 25.8 miles

Sunday, 11/20/11: 7.4 miles, 1:01:55, 8:22 pace, 58F, cloudy, windy, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Turkey Trot x 2

Christine and I really don't get started very well on weekend mornings when there isn't a race We do like to laze around! We finally got out to somewhere around the start line for the Turkey Trot in Webster sometime around 1:30PM. It was unseasonably warm, cloudy and windy. I ran with Christine until she turned off onto Burnett Rd, then picked up the pace and ran the road course twice. I picked up the pace in the last mile and then sprinted when I got back to the car. I was hauling ... the last pace was 4:51!

We stopped by Fleet Feet on the way back to pick up our Turkey Trot sweatshirts and race bibs. Then we settled down to watch the rest of the Bills-Miami game ... for about 10 seconds. The Bills lost 8-35, link here. The Cowboys-Redskins game was more interesting. The Cowboys won 27-24 in OT, link here.

We had a nice supper of spare ribs, sweet potato and salad. Then we settled in to watch 3 DVR'd episodes of The Mentalist ... Redjohn is back!

Monday, 11/21/11: Rest day.

Just your average rest day ... we watched DVR'd episodes of Hawaii Five-O.

Tuesday, 11/22/11: 10 miles, 1:19:48, 7:59 pace, 38F, cloudy, light rain, 1 stop, no pain.

Lots of stress ... so rather an argument with Christine I went out for a long run. I ran out to the lake nice and easy, 4.8 miles, 37:30, 7:48 pace. I stopped at the lake for a minute to watch the waves come in. I headed back, 5.2 miles, 42:19, 8:08 pace. My headlight appeared to getting dim on the way back plus I was getting drenched ... and a right nipple burn started to bother me. The stress was back at the apartment waiting for me ... the spectre of my relationship with my ex and my children that bothers Christine so much.

I found the door chained when I got back from my run. I had to beg Christine to let me in ... I was cold, wet and tired. When she let me in, I immediately stripped and took a hot shower. I started shivering uncontrollably for a bit, then took a hot tub soak. During the shower Christine left, then came back. We talked and agreed not to argue. Anyway, we kissed, made up and went to sleep.

Wednesday, 11/23/11: Rest day.

Not such a slow day at work as one would expect. We finally did our Thanksgiving grocery shopping ... all the whole turkeys were frozen so we got a huge turkey breast and a couple drumsticks.

Thursday, 11/24/11: 4.2 miles 29:26, 7:00 pace, 40F, sunny, calm, no stops, no pain.

Christine and I made it out the site of the Webster Turkey Trot about an hour early. We parked our car at the Willink Middle School and took a shuttle bus. It was cold and frosty but there were anticipation in the air. The people just kept on coming ... over 4800 raced either the 2.5 or 4.4 mile race.

The No Boundaries graduation pic!

Chilling before the start!

The start of the 4.4 mile race

I got to the start line with about 10 minutes to go ... but people kept on lining up in front of me. There was no start gun that I heard, people just started running. It was tough work getting around the slower runners, but after a 1/2 mile I was up to speed. The trek into the park was longer and more trail than I expected, and I ran out of energy but sloshed through the puddles to the finish line in 29:26.I did OK, I was 205th out of 2535, results here. I was 7th out of 103 in my M50-54 age group, results here.

I took some water and a banana and waited for Christine to finish her 2.5 mile race. She came across in 45:34, 3:01 faster than her practice run 2 weeks ago! She was drenched in sweat but glowing! She set a PR, 44:58, results here. She was 66th out of 75 in her F50-54 age group.

The finish of all 4400 finishers in 5 minutes!

We picked up our drop bags ... and then saw that the line for the shuttle bus to take us back to our cars was very long. So ... we walked 3.77 miles in 1:14 minutes back to our car. It was a long walk!

Later, Christine cooked up a marvelous Thanksgiving dinner ... a turkey breast and drumsticks, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, stuffing, asparagus and cranberry sauce. The sweet thing is the loving touches that she put in each dish!

Mmm!

We ate until we were full ...the finishing touch was pumpkin pie ... much later!

Friday, 11/25/11: 4.2 miles, 30:19, 7:13 pace, 56F, night, calm, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Fleet Feet Backwards Happy Hour run

I, along with Christine, enjoyed a well earned day off from work. I headed down to the Wegmans in Newark to see my daughter. She was enjoying their free wi-fi. We caught up on things.

Christine and I headed down to the Brighton Fleet Feet for the Happy Hour run ... backwards since it was the last Friday of the month. I went out for the run. Christine was sore from her exercise yesterday so she stayed behind to Christmas shop. I ran easy ... for about 100 yards (maybe less), then kicked up into gear. I ran hard into the night and the miles flew by. I was kind of surprised to note my pace of 7:13. Sweet!

Christine and I had turkey leftovers - day 1. We watched DVR'd episodes of NCIS, a couple of Chucks and Castle before we hit the hay.

Saturday, 11/26/11: Rest day.

Christine and I just vegged all day. We watched DVR'd episodes of Greys Anatomy (2), Fringe, Private Practice (3) and Battlestar Galactica (2). By the end of the day, we really needed to get out of the house and be active, trust me!

Monday, November 14th to Saturday, November 19th

2011-11-20T20:05:00.002-05:00

I ran 2 times this week, 11.5 miles.

Monday, 11/14/11: A definite rest day.

A slow day at work. Christine and I stretched our aching muscles before we enjoyed leftovers for dinner. The hard drive in my laptop would not boot ... no worries though. Most of my data was on a thumb drive. I sucked a bit of data from the old hard drive onto another laptop, installed some apps and was soon back in business. We watched DVR'd episodes of Pan Am, and got up to date on Fringe and Charlie's Angels. It is nice just fast forwarding through commercials ... when we remember!

Tuesday, 11/15/11: 5.2 miles, 42:42, 8:13 pace, 44F, night, calm, no stops, mild lower right hamstring pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF Cobbs Hill run, 2 Y's

Christine and I went down to Fleet Feet for the usual Cobbs Hill run. I wore my old Brooks Adrenalines with 550 miles on them and took along my trail shoes. I didn't pound off the mud off my trail shoes like I should have and just ran ... which I regretted after about the first Y. I started to feel a pain in my lower right hamstring. I did another Y and then just ran really nice and easy to the store. The pain stopped as soon as I stopped running so I think it was the shoes and not the Dirt Cheap Stage Race miles over the weekend.

A lot of drama with my youngest son ensued. He is being forced to find a place to live by January 1st because his mother is moving to a 1 bedroom apartment. So he most likely will have to find another job and quit FLCC. One of these days he will start treating other people like he would like to be treated. But he has a lot of anger to work through. One of his beefs with his mother and I is that he has never got the support that his older sibliings had. I had to move them out of state plus going to see them while in college, etc. In retrospect, I think he is correct. I hope he can forgive me some day.

Wednesday, 11/16/11: Rest day.

Christine went out for her "No-Bo" run down at Genesee Valley Park. She said the wind was a bit brutal. She had left a plate of lasagna cooling before she left. We warmed it up and it was delicious! Then we watched an DVR'd episode of NCIS before I fell asleep.

Thursday, 11/17/11: Another rest day.

I got home from work late, the wind was whipping, a light snow was falling ... so I bagged it and we had warmed up lasagna for supper. More DVR'd episodes of NCIS and NCIS: LA ensued.

Friday, 11/18/11: 6.3 miles, 48:43, 7:44 pace, 37F, night, a bit windy, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect for Out to Cooper Rd

Work was particularly bad for a Friday ... time just dragged plus my pay didn't have my travel expenses. So I will be short until next pay period when it was made up. Aargh! So I really needed to run. I finally got out and just ran ... I concentrated on reaching out and noticed that my heart rate went down with the same pace again. I achieved my goal ... zen. Now if non-running life was so easy.

Saturday, 11/19/11: Rest day.

Christine could have gone down to Genesee Valley Park for her last Saturday morning "No-Bo" run but we had other ideas. When we emerged I got my hair cut ... goodbye curls! Then we headed down to Newark. We picked up my father's mail and ate lunch at Wendy's. Then we headed to my ex's where we disassembled my oldest son's digital piano and wrapped the various pieces in blankets. A road trip to UMass Amherst is in our future to deliver this and all his other stuff that he left behind. While we were there my youngest son continued his new silent treatment and slipped out to go to work. Then we headed out to the Wayne County Nursing Home to see my father. Christine had allergies and stayed out in the car. My father looked good. His memory isn't too good so I explained to him again what has happened in my life and what everyone is doing. Later, back up at the apartment, we had leftover lasagna for supper and watched 6 (yes, 6) DVR'd episodes of Battlestar Galactica.

Fleet Feet Dirt Cheap Stage Race, November 12th to 13th

2011-11-16T19:36:00.003-05:00

11/12/11: 3.4 miles, 30:42, 8:59 pace, 38F, sunny, windy, no pain.

The Dirt Cheap Stage Race, 2011 edition. Another excellent Yellow Jacket Racing event! Here are the highlights that I can remember ...

Christine and I made it down to the Beach parking lot of Mendon Ponds Park around 7:55AM just in time for her "No-Bo" workout. She ran the Summerfest 5K course. She did well with a few walks. She faced a stiff headwind on the way back. Later she said that she didn't know she had so many muscles that could ache. I am very proud of her. I can feel the difference in her legs.

The weather was a bit chilly so I wore my tights, long sleeve T and my Brooks Racing Team tank. Of course I wore my lucky orange Fleet Feet hat. I ran/walked the 1.25 miles out to the site of Fleet Feet Dirt Cheap Stage Race (DCSR) #1 on Pond Rd. There I hung out with fellow Brooks Racing Team members before the race started at 9AM.

DCSR #1 was a time trail race with runners going off at 5 second intervals. My bib number was 27 so I went off pretty early. The course was mostly uphill for the first 1/2 mile or so but I settled into a rhythm.

Up and down went the tough course ... but as I went over a rise I followed the runner in front of me and missed a hard right turn (marked by at least 10 flags). I heard some yells behind me but just followed the runner in front of me for a bit and other runners followed me. Hey, I was on a wide trail ... then I saw flags in front of me and thought I was just coming up on a marked trail. But then I saw runners coming up that trail in the opposite direction. Then I put 2 and 2 together and figured out that I had missed a turn. I turned around and tried to tell the runners who were following me. I saw the turn (and the 10 flags) I missed and went back on course. Judging from the Garmin map I think I went about 1/4 mile off course and lost about 2 to 3 minutes. Oh well! I continued on and finished.

Even with the detour, I did OK. I finished 68th out of 146, results here. I was 12th out of 24 in my M50-59 age group, results here. I had run this stage three times now and missed that turn twice ... this time I turned back and ran the course as it should be ran. Boots uploaded a video of runners walking up one of the steep hills, I am at the end of the 30 second video, link here.

Christine and I hung out at Stewart Lodge where I chowed down on 2 pancakes, scrambled eggs and a banana. Then we headed out the site of DCSR #2, the Devil's Bathtub, so we could get a good parking spot. There we hung out some more until the race started at 1PM. The weather warmed up nicely before the race.

11/12/11: 4.63 miles, 42:13, 9:07 pace, 50F, sunny, not as windy, no pain.

The pre-race instructions by Ellen included "It's up to you to follow the trail, don't follow the runner in front of you or you will get LOST". It was kind of funny! DCSR #2 was a mass start with 176 runners. It was a bit crowded at first but soon opened up as I settled into a trail groove. One of the steep downhills was very slippery due to the fallen leaves. The path soon entered a muddy creek bed right next to the twisty trail. I chose the mud most of the time, it seemed easier and safer than the roots on the twisty trail. The familiar trail went on as we came upon new challenges (roots, mud, leaves, etc).

The infamous climb up the Devil's Bathtub stairs was enjoyed by all, lol!

I enjoyed the post race feat of hot dogs, cucumbers, carrots, cookies and an apple as we all talked about the day. I did OK. I finished 47th out of 176, link here. I finished 6th out of 29 in my M50-59 age group, link here.

Christine and I had an excellent dinner of spare ribs, baked potato and salad. Good food to stick to my ribs before tomorrow's DCSR #3. Afterwards, we got up to date with DVR'd episodes of Pan Am before hitting the hay. We are enjoying this 60s period drama with the women in dresses, heels and gloves ... it may only last a season though.

Sunday, 11/13/11: 10.43 miles, 1:45:51, 10:09 pace, 56F, cloudy, windy, some stops, a bit of pain.

Christine and I headed back down to Mendon Ponds Park for DCSR #3. We arrived around 8:40AM. The weather was warmer than yesterday morning. I wore compression shorts, a short sleeve T and my Brooks Racing Team tank. I pounded off yesterday's mud off my trail shoes, picked up my race bib and tag.

Me, Mark, John & Heather

The pre-race instructions by Ellen were even funnier than yesterday with 4 different "... or you will get LOST!" Here is a link to Ellen's instructions here.

The start was a bit tricky with lots of leaves and rocks but I soon settled into a fast trail groove as we ran along the beach for a bit.

I was soon ahead of Heather, Mark and Bill. I knew I was going out a bit hot but I felt good. I ran with Heather for about a mile when she caught me around mile 3ish.The course took us over a lot of the same trails that I ran for DCSR #1 and #2. This time I made that sharp right uphill turn that I had trouble with in DCSR #1. I had a couple of Gu packets stashed in the back of my shorts but with my gloves on I couldn't get them out when I approached a water stop at mile 5. Luckily they had some Powerbar Gel on the table. I gulped one and some water while Bill and about 10 other runners passed me. I had a bit of trouble getting back into the groove but put mind over matter and continued. I felt a cramp in my right thigh at times but I just ignored it and it just came and went. I had water at mile 7. I ran in the same muddy creek bed as DCSR #2 at one point while the trail was right next to it all twisty and full of roots ... and found a LOT of mud as my right foot went down in the mud to about mid calf ... nice! I ran with Holly who is moving to Cali for a bit at mile 8, Mark passed me after she talked with him for a bit. I had asked Christine to meet me up at Devil's Bathtub. She was there with a jug of water and encouragement at mile 9.

Heading into the Devil's Bathtub at mile 9

I had been slowly catching up to Bill and soon passed him shortly afterward. I gave him encouragement as I passed. The finish line was soon in sight. Christine just made it back to Stewart Lodge before I steamed up the final hill to finish in 1:45:51, a 7:03 minute PR from last year. Sweet!!

Gritting my teeth and digging for the finish!

I took a couple drinks of water after the finish and then realized that I really had to refuel right now! I chowed down on a full plate of pasta, salad, cookies, cucumbers, carrots along with apple cider and felt much better. The swag was a 2011 DCSR hooded sweatshirt in navy blue. As Ellen said, "We earned it!".

My muddy legs ... my right leg is not really a different color, just a trick of the lighting

I wiped off the mud and changed my muddy trail shoes, socks and sweaty top for my road shoes, fresh socks and new swag. I talked with fellow runners as we cooled down from a most excellent DCSR. I noticed some trail wounds on other runners ... scratches, scrapes and a sprained ankle but nothing serious.

Here are more pics of finishers charging up the last hill to the finish.

I know that some people would think that my running and this blog is all about competition between myself and others but it is about fun too. Yes, I run hard and I try to run competitively but I thoroughly enjoyed running this weekend.

So ... I did pretty well. I finished 56th out of 164, link here. I was 9th out of 31 in my M50-59 age group, link here. For those keeping score, I was 45th out of 126 in the series, link here.

Christine and I made it home shortly after noon and collasped. She took a nap, she was still hurting from yesterday's 5K "No-Bo" run. I uploaded my Garmin, followed all the various comments about the DCSR on Facebook and continued writing this post on Blogger. When Christine woke up, she uploaded her pics and video to her Kodakgallery site and fixed a tasty supper of homemade beef and vegetable soup, mmm! We tried to watch TV but just couldn't concentrate. I couldn't stay awake so we went to bed at 9PM.

What a sweet weekend of trail running ... long live the Dirt Cheap Stage Race! Thanks to everyone at Fleet Feet, Yellow Jacket Racing and all the volunteers for a fanastic event!

Sunday, November 6th to Friday, November 11th

2011-11-13T12:55:00.004-05:00

I ran 3 times in 6 days, 15.1 miles

Sunday, 11/6/11: A rest day that turned into 3.6 miles, 29:21, 8:09 pace, 44F, night, calm, no stops.

Garmin Connect Activity for Out to Wegmans for quarters

This day started out so well but went downhill. It was the end of Daylight Savings Time so we got an extra hour of sleep ... so Christine and I got more sleep than usual; 14 and 9, respectively. I headed out to get the Sunday paper (which is getting worth less and less) and Dunkin Donuts for 2 coffee danishes. Then we watched the Buffalo Bills lose to the New York Jets, 27-10, link here. It was a beautiful afternoon so I vacuumed out our cars.

Meanwhile Christine and I had started a disagreement about ... what else? The only thing we disagree about is my relationship with my ex and my children. I love her dearly but I made the mistake of telling her stuff that shall remain best kept in private. Suffice to say that the disgreement continued while we started laundry and ate supper. Supper was excellent though: spare ribs and sweet potatoes. When Christine misplaced the purse with the quarters in it she just up and left with her car. I pondered what to do as I folded the towels. My solution was that I ran to Wegmans to get $3 worth of quarters so I could dry the 2nd load. While I was typing this Christine came home from who knows where ... just saying that she was looking for quarters. There was a bit of tension between us but we kissed, made up and went to bed.

Monday, 11/7/11: Rest day.

I took Christine to get her nails done. Then we settled down for an excellent pasta dinner, just relaxed and listened to some jazz.

Tuesday, 11/8/11: 6.1 miles, 49:21, 7:46 pace, 55F, night, calm, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF Cobbs Hill run, 3 Y's

Christine and I headed down to Fleet Feet for our usual Cobbs Hill run. Two reps from Craft were there. Christine noticed that I had on my long sleeve half zip tech shirt on wrong-way out so she had some fun stripping me so I could try on one of their Craft baselayers, (my impression after wearing it during the workout was that it was nice but way too hot for a 55F night). I headed up nice and easy but that is faster than everyone else. I just motored up each Y and cruised down each Y. I carried a hand bottle of water this time so I was OK. My nice and easy this year used to be my fast last year.

We had leftovers for supper and then settled down to watch a couple of DVR'd episodes of Battlestar Galactica.

Wednesday, 11/9/11: 5.4 miles, 41:28, 7:41 pace, 56F, night, calm, no stops, no pain.

Genesee Valley Park - east on the Canal Trail, back on streets

Christine and I headed down to Genesee Valley Park for her "No-Bo" workout. We got there with 5 minutes to spare. I saw her heading north before I headed south to the Canal Trail, then out east. I went out 2.55 miles in 20:00, 7:51 pace. I was a bit concerned about how dark and desolate the Canal Trail was so when I got to East Henrietta Rd I headed back on streets just making up my own way ... 2.85 miles, 21:28, 7:32 pace. I just ran nice and easy, enjoying the night. Christine enjoyed her workout ... she said her breathing was good and that she didn't have a problem with shin splints.

Afterward, Christine and I stopped at the Distillery in Greece for a couple of turkey burgers and hydration. When we got home listened to jazz, stretched again and fell into a satisfied sleep.

Thursday, 11/10/11: Rest day.

A very hectic day at work turned into a kind of hectic night as I just puttered around the apartment getting stuff done ... stuff like balancing my checkbook and doing a little work from home. Christine made an excellent supper of haddock, baked potatoes and brussel sprouts.

Friday, 11/11/11: Rest day.

I headed down to Fleet Feet after work to pick up my race bib for tomorrow's Dirt Cheap Stage Race #1 and to pick up Christine's pink No-Bo shirt. It was the last one in her size ... sweet!

Sunday, October 30th to Saturday, November 5th

2011-11-06T09:20:00.006-05:00

I ran 4 times this week, 30.85 miles.

Sunday, 10/30/11: 6.45 miles, 59:21, 9:12 pace, 52F, sunny, calm, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Mendon Ponds Park - Blue and Green trail loop

I never get up too early on Sunday mornings. I made it out to Mendon Ponds Park around 1:30PM. I met up there with Bill Beyerbach. We ran out on the now familar Blue and Green trail with a loop out to the East Lodge. There were a lot of horseback riders on the trail. We passed a group of three and a group of four several times. I do feel a lot safer when I see horses coming towards me instead of catching them from behind. I am feeling more confident about running 20K in the Mendon Trail runs next Saturday. Bill suggested that I treat the first 10K loop as a warm up and then start picking off runners on the second 10K loop. Maybe, maybe not.

It is truly unbelievable ... the Buffalo Bills are 5-2 after running over the hapless Washington Redskins 23-0, link here.

Monday, 10/31/11: Rest day.
I ran 19 times in 31 days during October, 112.6 miles, 5.9 miles/run. 5 out of 10 months > 100 miles!
Up to the end of October 2011, 153 times in 303 days, 945.1 miles, 6.2 miles/run

I wanted to get our laundry done ... but we never seemed to want to leave the apartment. So we did a couple of loads down in the basement. My dress clothes and our tech running wear are clean at least! We watched a DVR'd episode of Greys Anatomy before hitting the hay.

Tuesday, 11/1/11: 5.7 miles, 48F, dusk, no pain.

Christine and I headed down to Fleet Feet for the usual Cobbs Hill run. I ran up with Bill Beyerbach nice and easy, 1.65 miles. Our plan was to run loop repeats of 3/4 mile on the reservoir road. I tried to use the lap function on my Garmin which was unsuccessful so all the info is from Bill's Garmin. The first loop was 6:36 pace, the second loop was 6:38 pace. We didn't take any water so I was parched. I had to take the third loop easy, 7:20 pace. The 1.8 mile run back to the store was nice and easy at first, then a bit harder. Next time I will just reset my Garmin for each loop, no worries. Christine's legs bothered her so she ran up to the corner of Monroe Ave and Highland Ave and back, about 2 miles.

We watched Primetime On Demand episodes of NCIS, NCIS LA and Castle before hitting the hay. I guess we like crime dramas!

Wednesday, 11/2/11: Rest day.

I convinced Christine to go out to her "No-Bo" workout at Genesee Valley Park without me. I stayed home to do the dishes and clean the bathroom. She came back all glowing about her workout: 1 minute walk, 6 minutes run times 6. She said she did every run except one in the middle and picked off runners in the last one. I am so proud of her!

We watched more Primetime On Demand: 3 episodes of NCIS: LA to get caught up before going to bed. 45 minutes per episode with only one commercial per break versus 60 minutes with tons of commercials certainly was nice!

Thursday, 11/3/11: 6.3 miles, 49:48, 7:54 pace, 50F, dusk, a bit windy, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Out to Cooper Rd

Christine and I headed in different directions for our runs. She headed out to Planet Fitness for a treadmill. I headed out onto the roads of Irondequoit. I did just your ordinary run: 6.3 miles. The first 5K was 24:28, 7:54 pace. The next 3.2 miles was 25:20, 7:55 pace. I did concentrate on my form, stretching out. pushing off with my ankles and trying to pump my arms (which I ordinarily don't do). My heart rate was interesting, it spiked right away up to 160 with a max of 171 which is normal for me. Then after 10 minutes it leveled off to around 140 for the rest of the way ... I didn't decrease my effort or speed. Maybe concentrating on form led to more efficient and less strenuous running ... hmm! I did find out that my old and reliable (up to now) Princeton Fuel headlight would not stay on unless I held the on/off button down ... oh well! I really could have used it once it got dark, eek!

Christine made an old family recipe for supper called potato chip casserole. Mmm, it was good! Then we settled down to watch DVR'd episodes of The Mentalist, Pan Am and Hawaii Five-O.

Friday, 11/4/11: Rest day.

I stopped by Fleet Feet to pick up my race number for tomorrow's Mendon Trail Run. I also purchased a Black Diamond Cosmo 55 lumen headlight to replace my faulty Princeton Fuel headlight. We watched DVR'd episodes of Castle and Greys Anatomy after a pizza supper.

Saturday, 11/5/11: 12.4 miles, 1:55:25, 9:18 pace, 27-40F, sunny, calm, no pain.

I took Christine out to her "No-Bo" workout out in Webster. She ran the 2.5 mile Turkey Trot course in 48 minutes. She was quite happy and very glad to be out on such a beautiful morning. Then she caught a ride with a No-Bo mentor down to Mendon Ponds Park to meet back up with me and her car which I had driven down there.

The start ...

I made it down to Mendon Ponds Park around 9:15AM for the start of the 5K, 10K and 20K Mendon Trail Runs at 9:30AM. The 50K run had already started at 8AM. I was surprised that the course was backwards ... I had practiced for the past month but in the opposite direction so all the ups were now down and all the downs were now ups. The start was frosty and very sunny. I struck out a fast trail pace as I settled into the pack of runners. I still managed to not stop on loop 1 as I had planned. I slapped hands with Bill Beyerbach as I finished loop 1 in 54:44, 8:50 pace. I didn't see Christine, I later learned that she was making a run to Wegmans for the race organizers. I quickly changed my heavy gloves for a lighter pair, took a slug of water and headed back out for loop 2. Wilt Alston passed me around mile 8, then I passed and exchanged pleasantries with shirtless (of course) Tom Butler who was in his loop 3 of 5. I did trip but managed not to fall a couple of times so I knew I was getting tired. I focused on my footing the rest of the way and did walk a couple of hills. I looked at my Garmin at about a mile to go, 1:46. I knew the course was relatively flat until the end so I just put it in gear and knew that sub 2 hour finish was mine. I managed a loop 2 of 1:00:41, 9:47 pace, for a total time of 1:55:25, 9:18 pace. I last ran this 20K way back in 2006 with a time of 2:12:55. I felt pretty good afterward with some minor stiffness.

Loop 1

Loop 2 (my light gloves are a different color)

All in all, what a beautiful and frosty morning for a race! I did OK. I was 32nd out of 69, results here. I was 8th out of 13 in my M50-59 age group, results here.

Wilt Alston, cruising in about 2 minutes ahead of me ... 5th in my age group.

Gritting my teeth for the finish line ... like usual!

Shirtless Tom Butler ... cruising in after 5 loops of 10k!

3 ultra ladies with "What you think, you become" T shirts

We stopped by Starbucks on the way home so we could relax, have a couple of skinny vanilla lattes and warm up my hands. We lounged around for a long while as we uploaded our Garmins and updated our status to Facebook. Since we had a Groupon deal that begged to be used, we headed out to the Crab Shack. I had lobster and Christine had fish fry. The manager gave us a free dessert so we shared chocolate cake ... Mmm! Then we enriched the local economy at BJ's, Walgreens and Wegmans before calling it a day. For some reason, we were kind of tired. I should have went to bed early like Christine did but instead stayed up and puttered around. All in all, a pretty enjoyable Saturday!

Sunday, October 23rd to Saturday, October 29th

2011-10-30T17:03:00.005-05:00

I ran 4 times this week, 28.9 miles.

Sunday, 10/23/11: 15.5 miles, 3:00:07, 11:38 pace, 57F, sunny, calm, stops for food and hydration, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Mendon Ponds Park - BGBGB trails

I set my alarm for 6:45AM so I could head down to Mendon Ponds Park for the Fleet Feet - Saloman Endurance Team hosting the final training run for the upcoming Dirt Cheap Stage Race. Well ... I turned off the alarm and went back to sleep.

After a nice pre-run stretch, I finally got up and out to Mendon Ponds Park around 12:30PM. I took Christine's Garmin with me, so I was sporting 2 Garmins! I wanted to make sure that it captured my run. I started off nice and easy, just motoring up and down the familiar Blue and Green trails. I didn't stop at all on the first lap ... nice! I walked and had a energy bar after the first lap. I started to run a few of the major hills on the second lap. I also walked and had another energy bar after the second lap. By this time I was a bit tired. I finished up with just a loop of the Blue trail for 15.5 miles. I called ahead so Christine had a lunch of a sandwich, carrots and celery waiting for me when I got home.

Later, we watched a DVR'd The Black Stallion with Mickey Rooney. Kind of nice that the final race was 2 miles so that "The Black" could catch 'em and win going away!

Monday, 10/24/11: Rest day.

A most definite rest day for me. Christine impressed me by heading off to Planet Fitness after supper for a "No-Bo" workout on the treadmill. I stayed home and moved my computers from her dining table to my smaller computer desk ... she wants to put plants there. Christine did have a bit of trouble getting to sleep with all the exercise endorphins coursing through her body!

Tuesday, 10/25/11: Rest day.

I felt a twinge in my right hip so I decided to run tomorrow instead. After a nice stretch Christine said I deserved a tunafish sandwich supper! We watched DVR'd episodes of Charlie's Angels, Greys Anatomy and Private Practice.

Wednesday, 10/26/11: 6.2 miles, 46F, cloudy, calm, a light mist, 1 stop at the turn, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Genesee Valley Park - 5K west on the Canal Trail and back

The first 30 minutes or so on the Garmin are from a sweet and very productive aerobic workout that Christine and I did the day before that I forgot to upload before I started out.

Christine and I headed down to Genesee Valley Park for her "No-Bo" workout like usual. It was a Wednesday ... rainy like the past 2 Wednesdays. Christine was nervous, like usual before a workout. She was overdressed since I told her to dress like me instead of her. She is always warmer that I am. Her workout was impressive: 2 minutes walk, 5 minutes run times 5 with a walking warmup and cooldown. I am so proud of her! Mine was just a nice and easy run 5K west out on Canal Trail and back for 10K total.

We settled for heating up a frozen pizza for dinner while we watched a Redbox DVD that Christine got as a surprise. I only tried Thor on 2 of our DVD players before we settled down to watch it on my laptop.

Thursday, 9/27/11: Rest day.

Christine and I didn't do much ... we watched our DVR of Basic Instinct with Sharon Stone and went to bed.

Friday, 9/28/11: 4.1 miles, 31:01, 7:34 pace, 44F, dusk, calm, a couple of traffic stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF Backwards Happy Hour run

After a typically busy Friday at work, Christine and I headed down to Fleet Feet for the usual Happy Hour run - backwards since it was the last Friday of the month. Christine was not feeling up to par so she stayed behind. I ran off with Bill Beyerbach. We started out nice and easy ... which didn't last long knowing Bill and I. We picked it up after the hills on Cobbs Hill Drive with negative splits. We ran splits of 7:45, 7:53, 7:31, 7:16 and a final .1 of 6:17. Bill and I just seem to run well together!

Saturday, 9/29/11: 3.1 miles, 21:51,7:03 pace, 36F, cloudy, calm, no stops, no pain.

Christine and I headed down early to Riley Lodge at Cobbs Hill for her "No-Bo" workout and the Pumpkins in the Park 5K. It was chilly for sure! I hung out in the lodge looking at all various Halloween costumes and keeping warm while Christine was out doing her "No-Bo". She is doing quite well! She said that she felt good and had no pain.

I didn't shed my Brooks jacket before the race and regretted it on the climb up to the reservoir. Ellen said the race was "2 miles up and 1 mile down". She was right! My splits were: 6:57, 7:45, 6:34 and 5:00 over the last tenth. I put it into a full sprint over the last tenth as I saw a guy that I wanted to pass ... and did at the line ... sweet! I did OK, 45th out of 656, link here. I was 5th out of 27 in my M50-54 age group, link here. I did notice that I would have won the M55-59 age group.

Jim Roche and his "bicycle" costume

John and Holly

Heather in her bumble bee costume with a sharp stinger!

I was in full sprint ... my Garmin said 5:00 pace over the last tenth.

What we were all sprinting towards ... the finish line!

We stopped by IHOP for a nice post-race breakfast of omelots and coffee. The service and food was good but I was rather surprised at the price. Next time we will go to a Mom and Pop place like Uncle Danny just around the corner. Christine and I had a really sweet post-race stretch. We finally emerged in the late afternoon. Later, we watched a Redbox movie named Hanna. We ended up watching this DVD on my laptop again ... but this time I hooked up some speakers!

Sunday, October 16th to Saturday, October 22nd

2011-10-23T16:32:00.003-05:00

I ran 4 times this week, 27.03 miles

Sunday, 10/16/11: 10.7 miles, 01:51:34, 10:25 pace, 56F, cloudy, windy, light sprinkles, 1 stop for water and fuel, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Mendon Ponds Park - Blue, Green, Blue, Blue trail

Christine and I spent a leisurely Sunday morning together before we headed down to our home away from home, Mendon Ponds Park. Christine went out on the road for her "No-Bo" workout. I headed up to the Blue and Green trails. My plan was also to head out to the East Lodge to simulate running the Mendon Trails run on 11/5/11. I am still trying to figure out what version (20K or 50K) of this race to run. I did feel a twinge in my right hip once.

After a quick shower and lunch, I headed out to Newark to pick up my youngest son, David, then to Palmyra to pick up a friend, Harold, of my ex. Then I headed back up to my apartment so Harold could teach David how to drive stick.

Meanwhile, the Buffalo Bills lost by a FG to the New York Giants, 24-27, link here. David listened to the game via NFL Mobile on the way back up to Rochester.

I was saddened to hear that Indy Car driver Dan Wheldon died as a result of a horrendous 15 car crash at the final race of the season, youtube line here.

After a nice BLT dinner, we settled down to DVR'e episodes of Fringe, Hawaii Five-O, Pan Am and Charlie's Angels.

Monday, 10/17/11: Rest day.

A well deserved rest day. We just settled in to watch Scream 4 again with a polish sausage, potatoes and green beans supper. Later, a DVR'd episode of Castle fit the bill.

Tueday, 10/18/11: 6.03 miles, 46:50, 7:46 pace, 52F, cloudy, calm, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF Cobbs Hill run, 3 Y's

Christine had a headache but I convinced to come on down with me to our usual Tuesday night haunt, Fleet Feet for the Hills workout. It was a Mizuno night with the opportunity to test drive Mizuno shoes and clothes. I headed out with Bill Beyerbach so I knew we would run well. We started a slow run up to Cobbs Hill, then pounded up and eased down the hills. We just seemed to glide along. We looked at the splits when we got back to Fleet Feet and were impressed: 7:50, 8:13, 8:05, 7:44, 7:31, 7:15. We ran negative splits from mile 2 on even on the hills at miles 3 and 4! Half of mile 5 and all of mile 6 were running back to the store.

When we got back to the store, we also met up with and heard stories from runners who were back from the Columbus Marathon and the Toronto Marathon.

Wednesday, 10/19/11: 6.2 miles, 47:29, 7:40 pace, 52F, cloudy, a bit windy, light mist, 1 stop at the turn, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Genesee Valley Park - East on the Canal Trail

After a vigorous pre-run stretch, Christine and I headed down to Genesee Valley Park for her "No-Bo" workout. We got there just in time. I headed out easy at first, then hard out east on the Canal Trail. I ran hard 5K in 23:06, 7:28 pace. I walked a couple of minutes, then headed back. I ran easy back ... 5K in 24:23, 7:52 pace. Yes, it was a light mist ... but we know how to have fun! Christine walked/ran over 2 miles during her workout.

Afterward, we enjoyed a rotisserie chicken along with some DVR'd episodes of The Mentalist and Private Practice.

Thursday, 10/20/11: Rest day.

Just your average rest day. We didn't do much besides watch a DVR'd episode of Pan Am.

Friday, 10/21/11: 4.1 miles, 50F, cloudy, calm.

Christine and I headed down to Fleet Feet for the usual Happy Hour run. Christine picked out her new pair of Mizuno's, a pair of Wave Inspires. I headed out with Bill Beyerbach and some new guys. We started out nice and easy. I felt a twinge in my right hip and knee around mile 1 so I slowed for a bit until it settled out. I kept it nice and easy, maybe around 7:45 pace. My Garmin was full of data so it stopped recording new data. Afterward, we somehow found our way to Fairport High School to hear a GVH talk by Joan Benoit Samuelson and John Tuttle. Quite interesting with some good stories. Then Bill invited us out to Pizza Hut for some late dinner. A late night ... usually we are at home by 8PM.

Saturday, 10/22/11: A rest day ... though I didn't want to.

Christine got up and went for her "No-Bo" workout at Ontario Beach Park. I still needed sleep so I stayed home. Christine tried to upload data from her Garmin but it didn't record anything.

Congratulations to Becky Duberry for her 4th place finish in 21:04 at the USA Track and Field's National Masters Cross Country Championships held at Center Park in Fairport, link here. Christine and I are sorry we missed it. "Yeah, baby!" as Becky would say!

We got out and about after a nice post-run stretch. We picked up my father's mail at the Newark post office. I really need to get all his mail sent up to Rochester. I live practically next door to a post office for heavens sakes! Then we saw my youngest son at Bryne Dairy. He told me all the little(?) things that are wrong with his car: headlights have no low beam, O2 sensor is bad, muffler is not attached, right passenger windows doesn't work (though it worked on the way down from Rochester) and the sunroof doesn't open. The first three need to be fixed before the car can pass inspection. He says that the headlights will be half the price if he gets them off eBay. Ahh, the joys of buying a car from a private individual ... let the buyer beware! Then we saw my father at the Wayne County Nursing Home in Lyons. On the way back up to Rochester we enriched the local economy by stopping at Wal-Mart, Jo-Ann's Fabric and Crafts and Wegmans. We had a nice barbeque rib and potato salad supper while we caught up on all the Battlestar Galactica episodes that we hadn't watched yet.

Sunday, October 9th to Saturday, October 15th

2011-10-16T18:49:00.005-05:00

Sunday, 10/9/11: 6 miles, 1:03:10, 10:32 pace, 72F, sunny, calm, 1 trip, 1 stop, slight upper hamstring pain

Garmin Connect Activity for Mendon Ponds Park - Blue and Green trail

I got a good 9 hours of sleep then got up and hunted on the internet until I found a live feed of the Chicago Marathon. I saw Mose Mosop finish, link here. Then I decided to head out ... thinking of all the 45000 people who ran the Chicago Marathon.

I didn't get an early start but I did make it down my familiar trail haunt, Mendon Ponds Park. My plan was to run two loops. I was a creature of habit and ran the Blue and Green trail like usual. I ran nice and easy, just motoring up and down the familiar hills. I tripped on an unfamiliar root at mile 4.5 and picked up a scrape on my left elbow. By this time my upper right hamstring was giving me a twinge. So when I got to the end of the first loop I decided that one loop was enough. When I got home I iced it, then sat on a heating pad all night. At first, I was pretty hombled but by the end of the night I was walking OK. I felt this twinge before yesterday's Scarecrow 5K but didn't feel it during the race. Hopefully I will be able to do the Mendon 50K Trail Run in early November.

I caught most of the Bills - Eagles game. The Bills had a 17 point lead but it got exciting. Buffalo intercepted Vick yet again during the last minutes then got an incroachment penalty due to a 4th down "hard" count to preserve a 31-24 victory, link here. The Bills, 4-1? "Bill-lieve" it!

Christine and I got sucked into watching live TV on FX ... the end of Jurassic Park and all of Transformers: Rise of the Fallen. I really missed not being able to fast forward through the commercials.

Monday, 10/10/11: Rest day.

Garmin Connect Activity for No-Bo walk with Christine

Christine and I headed out to Durant Eastman Park beach for a change of scenery for her "No-Bo" workout. I am not the best coach but I did advise her to stretch more before she heads out. Maybe that will help her shin splints.

Tuesday, 10/11/11: A cautious rest day.

I decided to stay in. When I was walking during work I felt a twinge in my upper right leg when I was moving my right leg forward.

Christine made an excellent dinner of pork chops, green beans and zucchini. Then we settled down and watched a DVR'd movie: El Dorado with John Wayne, Robert Mitchum and James Caan.

Wednesday, 10/12/11: 5.4 miles, 43:22, 8:02, 56F, cloudy, light sprinkles, calm, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Out to the Zoo, 2 loops

I helped my youngest son buy his first car, a red 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT coupe with 87K miles, 5 speed and sunroof. I remember my first car, a 1969 Chevy Nova ... decidedly not as good looking!

Christine had already headed out to her No-Bo workout at Genesee Valley Park. She had a good workout ... she did a light jog during the runs! Before the run, she bought a used Forerunner 305 from Krista who upgraded to a Forerunner 610.

So I headed out to the Zoo with 2 loops in a light sprinkle. Nothing hard, nice to out for a run, just nice and easy!

Thursday, 10/13/11: 5 miles, 37:09, 7:24 pace, 66F, cloudy, calm, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Remington's Run

Christine and I headed down to Remington's for the final Remington's run of the year. Christine headed out first on her "No-Bo" workout wearing her Forerunner 305. I started slow, then hiked it up. I concentrated on stretching out with each stride and on my form. I seemed to glide ... I didn't look at my Garmin until the end. Sweet!

Friday, 10/14/11: Rest day.

Christine and I got Black Swan from Redbox last night but didn't get to see it. I wanted to see it before 9PM ... we tried on all three of our DVD players, no go. So we watched it on my laptop. I must say it was nice, dark and twisty ballerina flick with Natalie Portman! I took it back just before 9PM ... to get Scream 4. A nice sequel to the Scream franchise!

Saturday, 10/15/11: 3.1 miles, 21:07, 6:49 pace, 48F, cloudy, windy, no stops, no pain

Christine and I headed out to north Greece for my first try at the Run for Hospice 5K. It was a Rochester Runner Of the Year (RROY) race so your typical fast group of runners showed up. The weather was a bit raw ... 48, cloudy, windy with a bit of spitting rain during the race. I started out fast with a first mile of 6:26. During the second mile Wilt passed me. During the second mile mile we turned back into the wind ... the second mile was 13:54. I passed Bill around mile 2.5, third mile at 20:20. I finished just behind Wilt at 21:07.

I did OK, 67th out of 614, results here. I finished 3rd out of 30 in my M50-54 age group, results here. There was a mixup at the awards, I was posted and announced 2nd. Kudos to my darling Christine for sticking with me while I waited during the tedious award ceremony for my award ... a $25 gift certificate to Jim Dalberth Sporting Goods. It turned more windy and cold during the morning. We were shivering ... luckily we know enough to bring warm and dry clothes to running events.

We enjoyed the rest of the day and evening by watching a DVR'd The Sons of Katie Elder, eating ribs, and a DVR'd Fringe.

Sunday, October 2nd to Saturday, October 8th

2011-10-04T19:35:00.215-05:00

I ran 3 times this week, 18.5 miles

Sunday, 10/2/11: 6.31 miles, 1:01:26, 9:44 pace, 50F, partly cloudy, 3 walks, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Mendon Ponds Park - Blue and Green trail

The weather Sunday morning was quite wet ... around the mid 40s and a driving rain. I thought of the people who were doing the Du down at Mendon Ponds Park. I felt like a wuss but stayed in. The weather improved and I made it down to Mendon Ponds Park around 1:30PM. I decided to wear my Garmin like usual and also try out the iMapMyRun app on my Commando. So I started up the app, stowed the phone in my Spibelt, kicked off my Garmin and headed out. I just ran nice and easy. I avoided the mud initially but after a while ... not so much. The sun actually came out for a bit and it warmed up. I thought about heading out for another run of the Blue but decided that 6.3 miles was enough ... maybe next week.

I am not so enthused with the iMapMyRun app. It took about a minute to mess with my phone to start and stop the app but it only tallied 6.07 miles. My Garmin ... just hit the Start/Stop button twice. Though it was geeky and cool to upload my run to Facebook before I headed home.

Well, the Buffalo Bills won't be going undefeated. They headed down to play the Cincinnati Bengals. They had a 14 point halftime lead. Then the Bengals did the same thing to the Bills as the Bills did to the Raiders and Patriots ... kick a game winning field goal as time expired, link here. Alas!

Christine cooked up the shoulder roast, potatoes and peas ... yummmm! We settled in to watch DVR'd episodes of Charlie's Angels and Grey's Anatomy.

Monday, 10/3/11: Rest day.

A very busy day at work with lots of running around. Then we headed out to do laundry. Like last week, Christine headed out to do her "No-Bo" workout ... this time on the treadmill at Planet Fitness. She said that the 'mill was easier on his legs.

We ate leftover chicken, potatoes and peas ... still yummy! We settled in to watch DVR'd episodes of The Mentalist and Pan Am.

Tuesday, 10/4/11: 6.01 miles, 47:03, 7:50 pace, 60F, partly cloudy, calm, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF Cobbs Hill run, 3 Y's

Christine had a rest night from "No-Bo", so I headed down to Fleet Feet solo. I was already signed up for next Saturday's Run for Hospice 5K so I put in race entries for this Saturday's Scarecrow 5K, Pumpkins in the Park on 10/29, the Dirt Cheap Stage Race on 11/12-13 and the Webster Turkey Trot on 11/24. I got Brooks Fleet Feet Racing Team discounts on the last three entries ... sweet! I also signed Christine up for her "No-Bo" graduation race, the Webster Turkey Trot. Then I headed out with Bill Beyerbach. We started slow up Monroe Ave, then started picking off runners. When we got up to Cobbs Hill we settle into a routine ... pounding up each Y and running easy down each Y. Then we jetted down Monroe Ave back to Fleet Feet. So ... it was a tempo run at pretty much full throttle!

Christine cooked up a roaster chicken with peas for supper ... mmmm! Then after catching up on what was going on internet-wise, we settled down to watch a DVR'd episode of Private Practice.

Just a shout out to my darling, Christine. Thank you for dragging me into 123Shoes so I could buy a pair of black Clarks Wave shoes. They were a way bit more than I wanted to pay but after a month I would have to say I haven't complained about my feet hurting ... and I do a lot of walking!

Wednesday, 10/5/11: 6.2 miles, 47:38, 7:40 pace, 60F, sunny, calm, 1 stop at the turn, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Genesee Valley Park - East on the Canal Trail

Christine and I went down to Genesee Valley Park for her usual Wednesday "No-Bo" workout. I went out east on the Canal Trail for 5K in 23:37, 7:37 pace. I took a break at the turn before heading back in 24:01, 7:45 pace. A nice workout! Christine had a painful workout ... her left thigh and both shins were hurting.

Thursday, 10/6/11: Rest day.

Just your average day. I rented Transformers: Dark of the Moon from the local Redbox. Excellent flick ... Shia LaBeouf is still the man, Megan Fox was quickly forgotten since Rosie Huntington-Whiteley just oozes curves and sex appeal. Yes, we knew who was going to win but it's a sci-fi action movie and yes, I like to play it loud! Yeah, baby!

Friday, 10/7/11: Rest day.

I walked with Christine during her 4800 step "No-Bo" workout around our neighborhood. She has made progress. Afterward, we had a leftover dinner of chicken, stuffing and corn. We settled down with DVR'd episodes of Hawaii Five-O and Castle.

Saturday, 10/8/11: 3.1 miles, 20:41, 6:40 pace, 60F, sunny, calm, no stops, no pain.

We went in separate directions in the morning and met up afterward. Christine was off first to her "No-Bo" workout at the JCC. I headed off with Bill Beyerbach to Fairport for the Scarecrow 5K, a RROY race. My idea was run with Heather and Bill. The race started out fast. We were all together at mile 1, 6:25 pace. Heather pulled away first, then Bill. I caught Bill at mile 2, 6:43 pace. I just hung on in mile 3, 6:49 ... I just hoped that the finish line was somewhere close. I ran the last tenth in 6:23. I was kind of disappointed to run a 20:41 (10 seconds off my PR) but I did the best I could. Heather ran a 6 second PR at 19:58 and Bill ran a 13 second PR at 20:52.

The start!

Heather en route to a 19:58 PR!

Me en route to a 20:41.

Bill en route to a 20:52 PR!

I ran well, 53th out of 539, results here. I placed 3rd out of 31 in my M50-54 age group, results here. Bill picked up my award, a SafeJourney handtowel.

Christine and I met up after the race, once she found a parking spot in the bustling and busy village of Fairport. We toured a farmer's market that was being held nearby. We headed to the Starbucks on Monroe Ave before heading out to Newark to see my youngest son before he went off to work. We stopped by my Aunt Pat's house in Palmyra before heading home.

Meanwhile down in Canandaigua, the Can Lake 50 went on for the ultrarunner gang in unseasonably high temperatures.

Autumn in the Finger Lakes

Chris Washburn

Tom Butler finishing the 50 miles!

Kudos to all those who ran!

Sunday, September 25th to Saturday, October 1st

2011-10-02T18:49:00.003-05:00

I ran 3 times this week, 13.80 miles

Sunday, 9/25/11: Yet, yet another rest day.

My right rib still hurts when I move. I really wanted to run this morning down in Mendon Ponds Park. But ... it seems to be getting better.

Christine and I spent the usual lazy Sunday morning when I don't run. She made french toast for breakfast ... mmmm! Then we settled into watching the Buffalo Bills play the New England Patriots. The Bills were down 21-0 quickly but pulled withing 21-10 at half, then 21-17. The Patriots went to 24-17 but the Bills scored 2 TDs to go to 31-24 before the Patriots pulled even at 31-31. Then the Bills scored on the last play to win 34-31, link here, to go to 3-0! Later, we caught up on Rooster and the latest episodes of The Mentalist, Hawaii Five-O and Fringe.

Monday, 9/26/11: Yet, yet, yet another rest day.

Christine and I did laundry. While I babysat the laundry, Christine went out for a "No-Bo" workout. I was so proud of her! A late pasta supper ensued plus some DVR'd episodes of NCIS and NCIS: LA.

Tuesday, 9/27/11: Yet, yet, yet another rest day.

I really wanted to go down to Fleet Feet for the first Hills workout but my right rib still hurt. It has really distressed me … but then I realized that back in May 2009 when I cracked a right rib due to a fall doing the Sehgahunda that I didn’t run for 8 days. It has only been 6 days.

Christine went down to Fleet Feet for the Women's Health Talk. Afterward, we watched some DVR’d Charlie's Angels and Grey’s Anatomy.

Wednesday, 9/28/11: 4.6 miles, 39:05, 8:30 pace, 70F, cloudy, light rain, calm, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Genesee Valley Park – out the River Trail, back the Greenway Trail

It was raining and it rained even more on the way to Genesee Valley Park … but it was “No-Bo” night so out we went. Other people might have stayed home. The rain let up a bit once we got there. I went out for a really nice and easy run out the Riverway Trail to where the Greenway Trail hits Scottsville Rd and back. On the way back I passed a lot of the “No-Bo” 2.0 people on their way back. I gave encouragement to most of them as I passed. My right rib didn't bother me but I didn't push it either.

We stopped at Wegmans for supplies on the way home. We got done with a late supper of rotisserie chicken and beans before the real excitement started to happen. During the morning, a tree was taken down in the apartment complex next door. Maybe they jiggled a wire, maybe they didn’t.

Well, while we sat down and started to watch a DVR’d Pan Am, we started to hear pops, the lights started to flicker and the TV started to turn off and on. Christine wanted to unplug everything … I should have listened. She wanted to call Maintenance. Well, within 10 minutes I heard a weird noise. I got up and found smoke coming from the surge protector behind my night stand! I pulled its plug quickly, opened the window and turned on the fan. More pops and flickering ensued. Then the surge protector by the computer desk started to smoke! I pulled its plug too. Christine started to pull every plug out of the wall she could find. She called Maintenance and we waited in the dark. A fire truck pulled up out in front around this time. We thought we were the only ones affected. Maintenance came and he started to check the voltage at the outlets. Most of the outlets were around 90V, one which powered all the electronics (TV, DVD players, converter box, cable modem, wireless router, wireless printer, radio/DVD/tape player) was 150V. We turned off all our breakers. Other people in the building started to complain about surge protectors and TVs blowing. He went out to the fire truck and found out that a transformer with a bad neutral was arcing which affected several buildings. By this time it was past 10:30PM. We lit a romantic candle for a while and went to bed.

Thursday, 9/29/11: Rest day.

I got up early and looked over most of our electronics and found another 2 dead surge protectors for a total of 4.

I hooked everything back up and found that almost everything still worked ... which was a relief.

Just your usual rest day. We found out that Christine's microwave also didn't work anymore. We watched DVR'd episodes of Pam Am (from last night), Castle, Hawaii Five-O.

Friday, 9/30/11: Rest day.

Month of September: 67. miles, 12 runs in 30 days, 6.1 miles/run
So far in 2011: 832.6 miles, 134 runs in 272 days, 6.3 miles/run

My badge at my client company didn't work until 11:30AM ... even thought everyone knew that it would be renewed I had to wait. Then a hectic day ensued. Then I had trouble logging into my company's domain and logging into their new email address. Suddenly I had over 7000 emails that I had deleted from the old email address that reappeared in the new email addres that had to be dealt with. We watched DVR'd episodes of NCIS and NCIS: LA.

Saturday, 10/1/11: 2 runs!

3.25 miles, 52F, cloudy, calm, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF Brooks Pure Project midnight run

I headed down to Fleet Feet for their Brooks Pure Project Midnight run. Brooks launched its new line of Pure Project shoes on October 1st. So Fleet Feet decided to hold a party at midnight with a run, snacks and mimosas! At least 50 people showed up. I headed out on the run (a backward 3 mile Happy Hour) nice and easy and soon picked off some runners. I caught up with the lead group of 5 and hung with them. Soon we slowly, almost imperceptibly picked up the pace ... at the end we were running a 7:03 pace. Afterward I tried on a pair of PureCadence shoes. The shoes were very light and only had a 4mm rise from toe to heel. They felt a bit different. Ellen made a big announcement! Fleet Feet is going to open a second store at Ridgeway and Long Pond in late November!

5.85 miles, 47F, cloudy, light mist, a bit windy, 1 stop at the turn, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Unity at Ridgeway - Out the Canal Trail to Manitou Rd

Christine and I got up early and made it out to Unity at Ridgeway for her "No-Bo" workout. I went out on the Canal Trail to Manitou Rd and back while she did her walk. She said that pain in her upper left thigh and shin splints was worse. Afterward I thought I had lost my RoadID. After a lot retracing my steps I found that I had left it home and didn't even have it on!

I went out to Wegmans to do the hunter/gather thing and picked up ribs, shoulder roast and a roaster chicken. So we had ribs and baked potato for supper ... mmmmm!

Sunday, September 18th to Saturday, September 26th

2011-09-24T19:45:00.005-05:00

I ran 2 times this week, 10.4 miles.

Sunday, 9/18/11: 7 miles, 1:05:36, 9:20 pace, 60F, sunny, calm, no stops, really mild hip pain after 5 miles

Garmin Connect Activity for Summit County Bike-Hike Trail plus lots of off road trail

Everyone was still asleep when I headed out at 10AM for the nearby Barlow Rd trailhead of the Summit County Bike-Hike Trail in OH. I met up by chance with a guy named Joey who showed some sweet and pretty trails off the pavement. I learned that he is a sort of running pied piper, head of Phillips Phylers and has run in 15 Bostons. It was great to run with him, he showed some things I would never seen. The level bike-hike trail would have been OK but really, really boring and a lot harder on my hips. A nice happenstance on a really sunny morning!

A long day in Ohio before we headed back at 6PM ... Christine wanted to upload wedding pictures, we saw her father, her older brother and ate supper at a Subway in Ravenna. We pulled into our parking lot at 11:45AM, bushed.

I later learned that the Buffalo Bills won their home opener versus Oakland Raiders in thrilling fashion 38-35 ... scoring 5 consecutive TDs in the 2nd half with the winner at 14 seconds to go! Still, they had to sweat it out at the end when a simulaneous reception in the Oakland endzone was ruled a touchback instead of a touchdown. Later, I saw replays that showed it was clearly an interception.

Monday, 9/19/11: Rest day.

A really hectic day at work after taking Friday off! There was lots of tedious work getting more printers deployed. It's harder than just unboxing the printer.

Tuesday, 9/20/11: A "No-Bo" walk with Christine.

Garmin Connect Activity for Genesee Valley Park - "No-Bo" walk

Christine and I were 10 minutes late getting down to Genesee Valley Park and found that everyone had left already. So Christine convinced me to head out for a "No-Bo" walk with her. She was hurting a bit with shin splints for most of the walk but she continued onward.

Wednesday, 9/21/11: 3.4 miles, 36:06, 10:31 pace, 76F, cloudy, calm, not humid in the woods, some walks up hills, a bit of pain.

Christine was feeling very sad, so I headed out the final Fleet Feet Dirt Cheap of 2011 solo. The usual crowd of trail runners were gathered at McGregor's. I started out kind of hard down the dirt road. A left hand turn after 1/4 miles put us on single track quickly. I kept up until I came upon a steep, slippery downhill ... I slipped and fell on my butt and right side. I collected myself and ran on. I could feel that I hurt one of my right ribs. I slowed a bit but I didn't feel any sharp pain when I ran ... so I continued onward. Some of the turns were pretty quick and slippery but I didn't fall again. I took a look at my right arm when I got done ... it was covered in mud. I was sure that other parts of me were mud covered also, ;-).

I did OK ... even after falling, 50th out of 206, link here and 4th out of 17 in my M50-54 age group. I was 3rd out of 20 in my M50-54 age group in the series, link here. I didn't stay long at the post race party. My right side was hurting. I didn't break anything, just bruised and battered. It kind of hurt all night when I moved.

Thursday, 9/22/11: Rest day.

A busy day at work ... even though I hurt when I moved. Christine fixed a nice supper of spare ribs, rice and broccoli. Mmmm!

Friday, 9/23/11: Another rest day.

An even busier day at work ... I deployed another 6 printers before noon. I should have taken Christine out for a "No-Bo" and I should have done a Happy Hour run down at Fleet Feet but I was beyond tired. We watched our latest DVD from NetFlix, Tron: Legacy. It was a bit scratched so Christine's DVD player played it with frequent flashes of blue screen. My DVD player called it a Bad Disc. We put up with it for a while before I tried it in my laptop where it played just fine.

Saturday, 9/24/11: Yet another rest day.

Christine and I woke up around 6:40AM for her "No-Bo" workout out at Durand Eastman beach. She didn't want to do go ... I heard "I am not a runner" before she left. I really wanted to go but my ribs still hurt plus I needed more sleep. She was so proud of herself when she came back. She had a great workout with several bursts of running!

Later we managed to get out for Groupon aided late lunch / early supper at McGraw's Irish Pub in East Rochester. The Guiness and Sherpard's Pie were excellent! Afterward, we watched the original True Grit with John Wayne and Glen Campbell. A bit later, we watched the two most recent episodes of Battlestar Galactica.

Sunday, September 11th to Saturday, September 17th

2011-09-20T19:28:00.002-05:00

I ran 2 time this week, 12.8 miles.

Sunday, 9/11/11: Rest day.

Christine and I just rested. I didn't even go out and get the Sunday paper or donuts! I watched the Bill beat the hapless KC Chiefs, 41-7.

Monday, 9/12/11: Another rest day.

I kind of needed another day off from running ... though I did think about it.

Tuesday, 9/13/11: 6.6 miles, 59:28, 9:01 pace, 78F, cloudy, windy, no pain during the workout.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF speed workout, 8x400m repeats

I took a nice, slow run up from the store to the Cobbs Hill reservoir, maybe 7:45 pace. I did 4 400m repeats around 1:36. Then I met up with Bill Beyerbach and picked up the pace ... we did 4 more around 1:26 which is under 6:00 mile pace. We did them going both upwind and downwind ... sweet! Then we took a slower run back to the store. I nursed a bit of a left quad cramp ... which I ignored until it went away. We ran back in some sprinkles. The wind is blowing in cooler weather ... it will be in the high 50s by Thursday.

Bill told me all about his 1:39:30 at the Onondaga Half on Saturday, results here. He was 59th out of 438 and took first in his M55-59 age
group! Awesome!

Wednesday, 9/14/11: 6.2 miles, 51:23, 8:17 pace, 74F, cloudy, 2 stops, some hip pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Genesee Valley Park out the Greenway Trail 10K

Christine and I headed down to Genesee Valley Park for her "No-Bo" workout. She headed out for a 2 mile walk with 4 runs of 30 seconds. She said she got some pain in her shins while she ran. I headed out the Greenway Trail until almost the railroad crossing on Sottsville Road before I turned back. My hips started hurting after a couple of miles.

After a nice dinner, we watched a DVRed King Arthur, then went to bed.

Thursday, 9/15/11: Rest day

A hectic day at work ... the usual before I take a day off. After a relaxing, enjoyable evening, I watched a DVRed McLintock! with John Wayne ... the Duke!

Friday, 9/16/11: Another rest day

I took a day off to celebrate my 54th birthday. I took a side trip out to Newark to pick up some stuff that my daughter out in Kent OH needed and to see my youngest son. Christine and I don't start out on trips well. We eventually got started on our trip to OH at 5:13PM. We only stopped to change drivers for 2 minutes and go to Cuyahoga Falls, OH at 9:45PM. We ate supper at the Wing Warehouse and had some beverages before bunking out at her daughter's apartment. Many thanks to her and her boyfriend, Nick, for letting us stay with them for 2 nights!

Saturday, 9/17/11: 1.3 miles, "No-Bo" walk with Christine

Garmin Connect for Summit County Metro Park - Hampton Hills

We slept in and had a leisurely morning. It got a bit hectic when we all got dressed up for the wedding. It was an outdoor wedding with his father doing the minister duty. There was a 3.5 hour gap between the wedding and reception. Christine and I changed and got out to one of the Summit County Metro Parks. We "No-Bo"ed on a semi-gnarly up and down walk on a trail loop. Christine threw in 3 30 second runs ... she is a trooper!

We changed back into our dress clothes and headed to the reception. We had a good time. I met more of her relation ... this time as her fiancee! We danced one dance before the music turned too young for our tastes. I am beginning to know my way around the Cuyahoga Falls, Kent and Ravenna area. All in all, a pretty nice day out in OH.

Sunday, September 4th to Saturday, September 10th

2011-09-11T13:29:00.002-05:00

I ran 4 times this week, 28.3 miles

Sunday, 9/4/11: Rest day.

A definite rest day. Christine and I just lazed around. I did the hunter/gatherer thing at Wegmans and got some ribs for supper.

I learned from my ex that my daughter got fired from her new job in OH. She couldn't get to work (3.7 miles away according to Google). Though if she had tried to walk as the crow flys it would have been less. She said that: a) she couldn't get a ride from her roommates; b) the buses weren't running often enough; c) she didn't want to walk. Maybe she should get a used bicycle. Well, she learned that she was just a number with lots of other people that would take her job. Hopefully she will find another job closer to her apartment.

Kudos to all my running peeps who did long runs, ran the Oak Tree Half down in Geneseo or the Monster Half or Full Marathon down in Virgil. You know who you are ... I salute you!

Monday, 9/5/11: Another rest day.

I thought about running ... not very hard obviously! Christine and I just relaxed and chilled. We like being engaged ... but beginning to plan a wedding makes eloping sound attractive!

Tuesday, 9/6/11: 6.7 miles, 1:02:36, 9:20 pace, 64F, cloudy, calm, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF speed workout, 5x800 repeats with 400m recovery

Christine and I headed down to Fleet Feet to partake in the usual FF speed workout. I ran up to the Cobbs Hill reservoir nice and easy ... but slowly picked up the pace. The workout was 800m repeats with 400m recovery. Up on the reservoir I teamed up with Bill Beyerbach. We just built off of each other and ran some great splits: 3:13, 3:15, 3:11, 3:09 and 3:07. We ran each repeat hard but somehow they felt easy ... it was hard to describe. It was a super sweet run!! I ran nice and easy back to the store while Bill did some hill repeats in preparation for the upcoming Virgil Crest 50M on 9/24.

Wednesday, 9/7/11: Rest day.

Just your average rest day, with a supper before 8PM(!) and some DVRed crime dramas.

Thursday, 9/8/11: 5 miles, 37:04, 7:25 pace, 74F, cloudy, calm, 4 traffic stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Remington's Run

Christine and I headed down to Remington's for the usual Remington's Run. I headed out with Bill Beyerbach for 5 miles. We ran negative splits for 4 out of 5 miles: 7:39, 7:29, 7:34, 7:12, 7:07. Nice! Now if I could do this in a race! Christine walked the 2 mile route. We stayed for some rehydration and to talk about wedding plans. Nothing was decided.

Friday, 9/9/11: 4.1 miles, 30:58, 7:33 pace, 76F, sunny, calm, not humid, 1 traffic stop, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF Happy Hour run

I headed down to Fleet Feet solo for the usual Happy Hour run. It was a No Boundaries graduation night so there were a lot of "No-Bo"s there. I headed out a bit slow but soon limbered up and put a hurt on the pavement ... lol! I just ran nice and easy then cranked it up like usual. It felt nice to get out and sweat after a long Friday at work.

Saturday, 9/10/11: 2 runs of 6.2 miles, first of 53:21 at 8:36 pace, second of 56:09 at 9:04; 70F, sunny, calm, not humid, mild hip pain on the way back

Garmin Connect Activity for Genesee Valley Park - 10K west on the Canal Trail
Garmin Connect Activity for Canal Trail East, 10K back to Genesee Valley Park

Christine and I headed down to Genesee Valley Park at 8AM. She has enrolled in the the latest Fleet Feet No Boundaries program. She walked 2 miles her first time out. While she was "No Bo"ing I went out the Canal Trail for 10K at a nice and easy pace. I had some Gu at the turn, then headed back at a slower nice and easy pace. My hips started hurting about halfway back. I think a new pairs of running shoes are in my near future ... 533.8 miles are on my current pair.

After a brief rest I headed out to Newark to pick up my father's mail at the post office, then out to the Wayne County Nursing Home to see him.

Sunday, August 28th to Saturday, September 3rd

2011-09-04T19:32:00.008-05:00

I ran 2 times this week, 15.38 miles

Sunday, 8/28/11: 7.58 miles, 1:34:50, 10:46 pace, 70F, cloudy, windy, multiple stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Durand Eastman Park run

I headed out to Durand Eastman Park for a run with the Fleet Feet Endurance Team. Rochester was feeling minor effects of Hurricane (then Tropical Storm) Irene. Namely, it was cloudy and there was a stiff north wind that really whipped up the waves on Lake Ontario. About 30 runners showed up. I stayed with the lead group. We ran really nice and easy as we explored the many trails. I had an option to run another 5 miles but chose to just head up to the west end of the beach and ran back on the beach to add another couple more miles. There were a couple of wind surfers running on the surf, it looked like they were having fun!

Monday, 8/29/11: Rest day.

CJ and I did laundry after work. My Casio G'zOne Commando came today via FedEx. I activated it, downloaded my contacts using Backup Assistant, set up Yahoo, Gmail and Facebook, and paired my Bluetooth. It will take a bit of getting used to.

Tuesday, 8/30/11: 7.8 miles, 1:04:48, 8:18 pace, 74F, sunny, calm, not so humid, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for 4x1000m repeat with 400m recovery

CJ and I headed down to Fleet Feet for the usual speed workout up on Cobbs Hill Reservoir. I warmed up running up to the hill nice and easy. The workout was 1000m repeats with 400m recovery. I did 4 loops. My times were around 4:00 (I had trouble with the lap button), 4:12, 4:12 and 4:13. I took the long way back. I started nice and easy, then started to push it a bit. CJ walked up to the corner of Monroe and Highland and back. Hopefully she will find her Nike+ soon.

Wednesday, 8/31/11: Rest day.

Just your average rest day. I watched Killers, a NetFlix Instant movie on my new phone. Kinda cool ... I had to hook up headphones.

I ran 100.71 miles during the month of August
9 races, 55.8 racing miles, in the month of August
16 days out of 31 days, 6.3 miles/run.
To the end of August 2011: 122 runs out 242 days, 765 miles, 6.3 miles/run

Thursday, 9/1/11: Another average rest day.

Friday, 9/2/11: 4.2 miles 33:35, 7:58 pace, 85F, sunny, calm, humid, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF Happy Hour run

I just had to run so I headed down to Fleet Feet for packet pickup for tomorrow's Summerfest 12K and also CJ's 5K and for the usual Happy Hour run. Only 5 other runners showed up so per usual, I was on my own. I tried to hold back and for the most part succeeded. I was dripping wet when I got done ... it was very muggy.

Saturday, 9/3/11: 1:00:41, 8:09 pace, 82F, sunny, calm, muggy, 4 walks, no pain.

The start ...

Just after the start ...

Just before the turn back onto Douglas Rd ...

Gritting my teeth for the finish!

Christine (henceforth CJ is Christine) and I headed down to our home away from home, Mendon Ponds Park, for the Fleet Feet Summerfest. I ran the 12K. The conditions were brutal ... just like at the Hamlin Half. I went out a bit fast like always, a 6:58 first mile. I was passed by Bill, Wilt and Heather just before the first mile. John passed me when I walked through the water stop at mile 2. I walked through the other two water stops to make sure I stayed hydrated ... I did not handle the heat and humidity well. I soldiered on, Wendy passed me around mile 6 but I kept her in view. I kept on running and crossed the line in under 1:01, a 24 second PR from last year. I had wanted to break one hour but I considered it a good effort considering the conditions. I finished 65th out of 325, results here. I was 6th out of 25 in my age group, results here. Christine walked/ran the 5K in 56:43, results here. She may have finished last but she told herself that she was going to finish. She lapped the people that weren't there!

Ellen, the race director, calling in the racers!

I had asked Ellen, the race director, if I could make a special announcement before the awards ceremony. I had not expected her to hand me the microphone. I managed to ask Christine to join me. I told her (and everyone else) that we had been together since Summerfest 2009 2 years minus 2 days ago after being separated 32 years ago, then I asked her to marry me. She was crying (she said she was sweating) as she said yes! Everyone thought it was so sweet! She was completely surprised that I had asked her to marry me so publicly! I can keep a secret!

Asking Christine to marry me!

Putting the engagement ring on her finger!

A post engagement kiss ... after she said yes!

Engaged!

Ellen gave us 2 tickets to tonight's Red Wings game. On the way home we stopped at Starbucks. When Christine mentioned that I had asked her to marry me, they gave us free coffee! She called her 2 kids, father and 2 brothers while she sipped her iced tea. I called my 3 kids, ex, brother and sister when we got home. A nice bath and shower helped cool us down from all the excitement.

Later, we went to Red Wings game. We ate supper there, then settled in the excellent front row seats down the first base side that a Fleet Feet Brooks Racing Team member donated. It was an excellent game. The Red Wings fell behind 3-0 early but rallied to tie in the 7th, go ahead 6-3 in the 8th and win by going 1-2-3 in the top of the 9th, link here. We enjoyed the post game fireworks before celebrating our new status of being engaged!!

Sunday, August 21st to Saturday, August 27th

2011-08-28T10:45:00.013-05:00

I ran 4 times this week, 27.91 miles

Sunday, 8/21/11: 13 miles, 2:17:56, 10:37 pace, 70F, cloudy with a light to moderate rain then sunny, walked a few hills, a bit of pain after the run.

CJ and I woke up around 5:30AM and made it down to Fleet Feet around 7:05AM where we left my car so we could carpool with Bill Beyerbach down to Mt Morris and the Letchworth Dam for the start of the 'Dam' Good 14 mile Trail Run. The usual long, trail race types were there ... they know who they are! We started off around 8:30AM. We were told that the rain made the mud slippery. That was very true! I started off pretty well. But I just didn't have much energy after mile 3 or so. Still, I soldiered onward through the roots, mud and slop. I had a couple of GUs at the turn which seemed to help for a couple of miles. On way back, it started to rain. The trees helped to break the rain from completely soaking me and it did feel good. I continued onward. I could smell the finish line. I just put my mind to the task of making my feet continue forward.

I am getting pretty good at stopping my Garmin at the end of races this month!

The bling!

By the time I got to the finish line the sun was out. I was completely exhausted ... if a stiff breeze had come up I would have fallen over. I rehydrated and refueled, then some more.I did OK, 43rd of 89, results here. I was 8th out of 19 in my M50-59 age group, results here.I won a year subscription to Trail Runner Magazine at the raffle drawing after the race.Hours later, I was still tired. Trail running is fun but sure can tucker you out! I also discovered that you need to use BodyGlide in other places besides your nipples ... enough said!

Monday, 8/22/11: Rest day.

A most definite rest day, for sure! CJ and I just relaxed. She cooked up some bacon in the electric skillet and fixed up some luscious BLTs while we watched some DVRed crime dramas on TV. I was tired for some odd reason and went to bed early.

Tuesday, 8/23/11: 3.93 miles, 45:57, 8:34 pace, 72F, sunny, calm, a bit dry, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF speed workout, 10x200m repeats, 200m recovery.

CJ and I headed down to Fleet Feet for the usual Tuesday night speed workout. CJ dropped me off at the store while she drove up to the Cobbs Hill reservoir. I ran up nice and easy around 7:50 pace. The workout was down on the rugby field at the base of the hill. The course was your basic 200m loop. I ran each loop pretty hard. I tried to use the lap function on my Garmin but didn't do it correctly. I think I ran most loops in 43, 45, 47 seconds. I think I remember one at 39 when I went all out. A pretty good workout. I ran nice and easy back to the store. CJ was up on the reservoir loop where she walked 3 loops or about 2.1 miles. Afterward, we had the usual pasta dinner ... at 9PM, like usual.

Wednesday, 8/24/11: Rest day in advance of the Tour de Pain

CJ and I just chilled. I made up a Things to Do list and got up the gumption to do all of 11 of them! Most of the things were not very big things but sometimes you have to do the small things just to get them done! Just do it, baby!

I even bit the bullet and ordered a smart phone to replace my ailing Motorola E815 with its busted inside LCD. I have suffered with it for a month (or more according to my darling CJ). Oh, I oould barely still use it for just a phone through direct dialing, voice commands or via Bluetooth. I could not take pics or text.

After much "I don't know which one to pick", "I don't want to pay for a data plan", "Everyone ever loves or hates their smart phone" from reviews and even comtemplating just getting another E815 off Ebay; I picked the Casio G'Zone Commodore through Verizon with my $50 every 2 years that has been waiting for me since 11/2007. It is a ruggedized Android smart phone. It is coming from Verizon via FedEx ... soon. We will see how tough it is, lol!

Thursday, 8/25/11: Tour de Pain!

CJ and I headed down to ... let me guess ... the rugby field below the Cobbs Hill Reservoir for the GVH Tour de Pain, a multiple race event. We got there with time to spare.

The list of events ...

Before the start ...

Trying to chase down Wilt ... it didn't happen!

Bringing it home with the usual grimace!

The 1st race was on the usual XC 5K course. There were no surprises. I ran a 6:54 first mile according to the timekeeper on the hill. I didn't stop at all at the top of the climb to the reservoir. I got passed by Mitch and just was about even with him when we hit the finish. I ran 22:39, a couple of seconds faster than I ran last week. I did OK, 49th out of 154, results here. I was 9th out of 18 in my M50-59 age group. I did notice that I would have easily been first in the M40-49 age group. Anyway, we had about a hour to cool down and get stiff.

Again I am trying to catch up to Wilt.

The 2nd race was a mile run up and around the reservoir with a finish down on the sidewalk on Highland Ave and Monroe Ave. The men over 40 were the last to go off. We had to wait for the high school boys, the open men and the women. My start was slow ... I was still chewing an energy bar plus I was stiff. I warmed up about halfway up and started to pick off slower runners. I let it all out when we got to the downhill by the gate and the sidewalk. I ran a 6:27 which I thought was quite good considering the uphill start. We had about a half hour to cool down.

The 3rd race was a 400m sprint up the hill to the reservoir. Again the men over 40 were the last to go off but at least we had a lot less time to wait. Again I started a bit slow then started to pick off slower runners going up the hill. I ran a 1:09. I was glad to get the "I survived the Tour" tank top at the finish. Overall, I was 6th out of 11 in my M50-59 age group, results here.

CJ and I waited around for the awards ... didn't get anything. Then we slowly walked all the way back to her car. We stopped by Little Caesars for pizza and had a very late supper.

Friday, 8/26/11: A most definite rest day.

The pain from yesterday's Tour de Pain was very evident to me during the day. My left hip and knee hurt. The faster I walked the more it hurt so I had to slow down. Unfortunately ... my job required me to do a lot of walking today.

After work, I ordered some smart phone accessories ... like a couple of car chargers and a case. The only thing is that I will get the phone on Monday but won't get the accessories for at least a week later.

Saturday, 8/27/11: 6.63 miles, 1:03:11, 9:32 pace, 75F, sunny, calm, no pain.

CJ and I headed down to Victor for Charlie's Old Goat Trail Run. It seems that anytime we head south on I590 on Saturday morning we have to go through road construction ... but after dealing with it we made it on time.

The start!

Just after the start ...

Somewhere in the woods ...

On the road before heading back into the woods ...

Hopping into the creek ...

Somewhere in the latter stages ...

Just before the finish ...

The run started easily. I warmed up on the trail and just enjoyed the ups and downs on nice, easily runnable trails. It was nice and sunny, nice temperatures, not too humid ... just a great time on the trails! Charlie had a great number of raffle prizes but I went home empty. I did OK, 21st out of 97, results here.

Charlie with the post race champagne!

Afterward, CJ and I went shoe shopping at 123 Shoes in Fairport where I picked up a pair of Chaco flip flops and preordered a black pair of Wave walking shoes.

We stopped by the Lobster Trap where we picked up a pair of lobster culls (one legged lobsters) for supper. CJ and I celebrated our two year anniversary of her 'friending' me on Facebook! We met for the first time after 32 years back on 9/5/2009 and have been together since!

Sunday, August 14th to Saturday, August 20th

2011-08-19T10:54:00.044-05:00

I ran 3 times this week, 16.0 miles.

Sunday, 8/14/11: A run day that turned into a rest day.

I woke up and wanted to run. I thought about running ... and said, "Not so much". I realized that I had a whole lot of running this week though it might not seem it. I plan on running on Monday, take Tuesday off, race the Dirt Cheap #5 on Wednesday, race the GVH XC 5K #3 on Thursday, take Friday and Saturday off and race the 'Dam' Good 14M Trail race on Sunday. 3 races in 5 days ... sweet!

So CJ and I just chilled ... listened to the torrential downpour and thunderstorms during the afternoon, watched The Day The Earth Stood Still on TNT, ate a late supper, did some late grocery shopping and chilled some more. All in all, a nice and romantic day. Though I did leave my car windows open about an inch ... with predictable results the next morning. I had to drive on a towel for a couple of days!

Monday, 8/15/11: Another rest day.

Man, I felt like a slug! I should have gotten up and ran somewhere, anywhere! Instead ... after supper I went out to a couple of Verizon Wireless stores so I could fondle a Droid Pro. It felt nice but didn't have the endorphins of a sweet run, lol!

Tuesday, 8/16/11: 7.3 miles, 1:00:17, 8:16 pace, 80F, sunny, calm, a bit humid, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF speed workout, 10x400m repeats with 165m recovery.

CJ and I headed down to our usual Tuesday night haunt, Cobbs Hill reservoir, for the FF speed workout. I took an easy run up from Fleet Feet. The workout started fast, I followed the lead guy who is quite fast. I stayed with him for the first 400m ... I looked down and saw a 5:20 mile pace on my Garmin! My average mile paces after that were more mundane: 6:00, 6:00, 6:15, 6:45, 6:30. Then I remembered that I have a Dirt Cheap #5 race tomorrow so I tried to slow it down to 7:00 pace and above. Then I ran slow and long back to the store. CJ walked 1.6 miles around the reservoir.

CJ made the usual postrun pasta dinner but I wasn't really hungry. I was very tired so I tried to go to bed around 10:45AM. Alas, the good people in apartment 22 which is kitty corner to our apartment decided to have a party ... complete with a whiny, crying baby. I got to sleep on the couch around 12:30AM. Oh, well!

Wednesday, 8/17/11: 5.72 miles, 50:00, 8:45 pace, 80F, sunny, calm, a bit humid, no pain until after the race.

CJ and I headed out to the Webster Park for Dirt Cheap #5. I ran pretty well for the majority of the race. You have to pay pretty close attention to your footing ... lots of roots to avoid. I did find some mud and splashed through the water during the run in the stream. I did poop out a bit around mile 4 when I walked a bit of one hill. I was dripping wet when I finished! I did OK, 66th out of 264, results here. I finished 6th out of 22 in my age group. All in all, yet another great race put on by Fleet Feet and a great night to hang out with the XC crowd!

Thursday, 8/18/11: 2.99 miles, 22:51, 7:39 pace, 76F, sunny, calm, a bit humid, no stops, no pain.

A Thursday night in August ... what better way to spend it than down at the rugby field at Cobbs Hill running a GVH XC 5K? I ran pretty well, a 7:02 first mile, a 22:51, 36th out of 97, results here, good for yet another 4th place out of 8 in my M50-59 age group.

I finished right behind the 3rd place guy in my age group, Mitch. Thanks to Bill Beyerbach who came down to cheer us on! All in all, a great August night for a sweet run!

Yes, CJ and I had another 9PM supper after a night of running ... it's what we do!

I have noticed that I grimace in almost any picture taken of me while I am running a race. Hey, it's a race ... the clock is ticking so I put out the maximum effort that I can. It's how I am wired ... even during practice runs. I don't really run 'social' or hold conversations while I run. I really don't know how to run easy. Though I do run trail a lot easier than I run road ... you do have to look out for roots and such. Just saying ...

Friday, 8/19/11: Rest day

Most definitely a rest day after three straight days of hard running. CJ and I just relaxed after I got home from work. We did watch our latest NetFlix DVD, True Grit. An excellent flick that was just as good as the original.

Saturday, 8/20/11: Another rest day in advance of the 'Dam' Good Trail Run

CJ and I totally relaxed all day. We finally surfaced to do a bit of grocery shopping. Then we had a silly argument that resulted from a bit of miscommunication that involved a bit of slipped pizza. We kissed, made up and tried to go to sleep early.