Sunday, 9/15/2013: Rest day ... and a not so fun day.
A few months ago my darling Christine had bought me a Groupon of a two night stay at Michael's Inn in Niagara Falls, Canada. We chose today, Sunday and tomorrow as the days. Well, we got up and out in nice fashion. Christine surprised me when she was suddenly ready and rushed out from the bedroom to the car. I quickly scooped up the laptops and my running gear and off we went.
We arrived at Michael's Inn just after 3 PM. Well ... as I was getting our stuff out of the car I thought that something was missing. When I got up to our room I asked "Did you bring my suitcase out of the bedroom when you rushed to the car?" ... or some words to that effect. Well ... my suitcase was back in Rochester. So ... I just left her in the hotel room and went back to get it. Which is a full 90 minute trip back to Rochester and then another 90 minute trip back to Niagara Falls plus time crossing the US-Canada border.
On the way back I did listen to the Buffalo Bills - Carolina ... game on WCMF. It was a nail biter and I was on I-490E by Chili Center when the Bill pulled out a miracle finish to win 24-23, link here. I honked my car and the trucker next to me thought I was crazy! I chowed down a bit, scooped up my suitcase and some glasses and was off back to Canada.
I got caught in traffic at the Peace Bridge in Buffalo for a while and then had to navigate on the QEW up to Niagara Falls before I could rejoin my darling Christine. I was not in the best of spirits ... OK, I was not a happy camper. One would even say I was pissed. We went out in a light mist to have a horrible and expensive couple of burgers at Planet Hollywood. Then we went to sleep in separate beds. Our room did have two full beds and we used them on both nights.
Monday, 9/16/2013: 2 runs of 10 and 1.5 miles, 54F, 94% RH, overcast, light mist.
I was wired to wake up early so I was up by 7AM. I got dressed and out for a 10 mile run by 7:30 AM with no breakfast. I did bring a hand bottle of water.
Garmin Connect Activity for 10 mile run on the Niagara Parkway
I looked at a Google map before I headed out and decided to head north up to and past the Horseshoe Falls and stop on the way back for pictures. It was pretty quiet and peaceful on the run. I did bother a lot of seagulls who were near the path by the river.
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| The Horseshoe Falls in the background |
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| Farther away from the Horseshoe Falls |
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| The America Falls |
After I got done taking pictures by the Horseshoe and American Falls I got my stiff legs back in gear and took a nice and easy run back to Michael's Inn. I was almost over my mood of yesterday and tried to be nice to my darling Christine.
Christine and I had a tough time getting up and out but we had to search for breakfast. We took our car up Clifton Hill onto Ferry St. We passed a Hooter's on Ferry St and then pulled into a Wendy's. I remarked that Wendy's was "too safe". Christine said that it was my 56th birthday and that Hooter's would be her treat. So back we went to Hooter's and both had their unlimited wings. Our server, Shannon, was very friendly and made us feel at home. We moved to a better table closer to everyone and had a blast.
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| Our server, Shanon, was the brunette on the far right |
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| Walking down to the boat |
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| The American Falls |
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| A close up of the Bridal Veil of the American Falls |
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| Approaching the Horseshoe Falls |
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| Looking to the right |
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| The phone was covered by mist! |
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| Looking to the left |
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| Going back to the American Falls |
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| Ditto |
A rainbow video
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| Christine and I heading back |
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| The American Falls on the way back |
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| But first the American Falls |
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| A great shot of the Horseshoe Falls |
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| This bird would have made a bundle if it had a tip cup! Everyone was taking pictures of it right by the edge of the Horseshoe Falls. |
A 180 degree from the Horseshoe Falls edge
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| Christine and I by the edge of the Horseshoe Falls |
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| Other people were honeymooning up here as well |
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| A double rainbow! |
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| The Floral Clock |
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| We found a "bear" in Niagara Falls! |
We checked out of the Michael's Inn around 11 AM and headed up Clifton to eat at a Denny's. Food here was a bit expensive too. Then we continued up to Canada One Outlets with 40 stores to wander around in. We did wander ... women's clothing, shoes, suitcases, athletic wear, electronics. I did like going into the Salomon Outlet store. I picked up a running pack with a lot of pockets for 50% off.
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| My new Salomon vest |
We just headed home, collapsed after we made up the stairs with all our luggage in one trip. Later I went out for supplies and pizza. Zzzz!
Wednesday, 9/18/2013: Rest day.
I really should have gone out for a little run but I was so beat after getting to work early and catching up on all that had happened over two days. Zzzz!
Thursday, 9/19/2013: 6.2 miles, 51:25, 8:17 pace, 74F, 54% RH, partly cloudy, calm.
Garmin Connect Activity for Taper 10K around the streets of Irondequoit
Christine and I had a bit of nap before I headed out for a 10K taper run. I tried on my Salomon vest. It does have a lot of pockets but I was unimpressed with its water bottle holder on the right. It swayed a lot so I took out the water bottle that I had in it within a dozen strides. Hmm ... need to carry water.
Friday, 9/20/2013: Rest day, moving on ...
Ellen Brenner, co-owner of Fleet Feet, posted an interesting article on the Fleet Feet Beat blog, Mind over Marathon. Common sense tips about running and surviving a marathon. Hopefully I can heed some of them.
Saturday, 9/21/2013: Getting stuff done, gear run of 3.6 miles, 63F, 94% RH, light mist, calm.
My darling Christine and I do not like to get out of bed early on the weekend without proper reason ... like a race or travel. So ... by the time I got out around noon it had been raining or misting for a while. But I had to get out so ... I got my haircut, went to the Rochester Marathon Expo for bib pickup at the Jubilee Center on 2090 S Clinton St, Medved and BJ's. I picked up a pair of CW-X Stabilyx Ventilator Shorts at the Expo for $15 off. I picked up gels, a pair of black Belega socks and at Medved ... which does have better prices on some things and a different selection than Fleet Feet. I picked up groceries and got our tires rotated at BJ's.
I wanted to wear my new Salomon vest but I needed more water than a hand bottle so I took my bladder out of my Camelbak and put it in the biggest pocket of the Salomon vest. It fit like a glove. Then I loaded the side pockets with gels. I needed to take a gear run so I would know how everything worked together. So I put on my new stuff and headed out into the mist.
Garmin Connect Activity for 3.6 mile gear test run around the block
I tried to take it nice and easy but ... I don't do nice and easy on short runs. So ... I ran a 8:01 pace. I wish I could keep that pace up for a full marathon but I know I won't be able to it. I talked with Bill Beyerbach who ran with me on two recent long runs. He told me to start with the 9:00 pace group and stay with them with 6 to 8 miles and then pick up the pace. But ... I don't think I can do that. I will most likely make it up as I run along ... like usual.
Later, I started stalking the Virgil Crest 50 mile results page, link here. I wanted to see how Stacy Maier, Tammy Abbe, Mark Monachino and Don Palmer were doing. I found out that Stacy finished in 14:47, Tammy and Mark finished in 15:57 and Don dropped at 40.3. A long day in the rain and mud!
We went to bed at 10:30 PM with the alarm set for 5 AM. I wanted to leave at 6:15 AM to get into downtown Rochester around 6:30 AM for the 7:30 AM start. Just a wee bit nervous ... yes.
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