Sunday, 9/8/2013 to Saturday, 9/14/2013 - Dirt Cheap #6

I ran 4 times this week, 22.61 miles.

Sunday, 9/8/2013: Travel day from Cuyahoga Falls, OH

We slept in so we didn't get to use the pool or exercise room. We did stop for a bit of breakfast before we left the Country Inn & Suites in Cuyahoga Falls OH for the home of Christine's brother, Bill and his wife Patty in Ravenna OH. Brunch was at 10:30 AM. We saw her father, her niece Jamie and her husband Michael and their children John and Jordan; her nephew Michael and his wife Brooke and their son Mikey. Her daughter and son didn't make it to the brunch nor tell us of their plans. We enjoyed a brief visit with everyone. Then her brother took us on a tour of the Ravenna High School.  He was the Director of Building Operations when it was built 3 years ago. Very interesting with lots of high tech features like cameras and geothermal cooling and heating. We also looked at the new blue turf that was being installed at the football field. We were on the way back to Rochester by 3 PM and arrived back at 8:09 PM with a very brief stop at the Presque Isle Downs & Casino. Unbelievable that they have smoking sections in there!

Oh, the Buffalo Bills almost won but found a new way to lose to the New England Patriots, 23-21, link here. A stupid move was playing hurry up offense with 5 minutes to go with a slim 21-20 lead. A 1-2-3 and out gave the ball back to Tom Brady and the Patriots with plenty of time to go down and kick a winning field goal ... which they did with 5 seconds to go ... game over.

Monday, 9/9/2013: Coulda, shoulda but didn't ... rest day

My darling Christine bought me a Garmin Forerunner 310XT as a combination birthday and Christmas present. I had a bit of trouble loading the drivers onto my laptop So by the time I had it all set it was almost dark and I passed on a run.

Tuesday, 9/10/2013: 6.2 miles, 50:29, 8:08 pace, 90F, 59% RH, hazy, humid, calm.

Garmin Connect Activity for 10K around the streets of Irondequoit

The weather turned hot, hazy and humid during the day so by the time I got out for my run it was really hot and humid. I wore my new Garmin Forerunner 301XT. The first 5K was a fast 7:48 pace. Then I got a little hot and thirsty on the second 5K and stopped for three gulps of water so the second 5K was a slower 8:29 pace. I was drenched with sweat after I stopped. When I threw my new 310XT next to my laptop it automatically uploaded to connect.garmin.com. Runningahead.com worked but dailymile.com didn't work. I emailed dailymile.com for help and found that if I take out my flash drive that it would work.

Wednesday, 9/11/2013: 2 runs of 0.85 and 3.56 miles, 84F, 68% RH, hot, hazy, humid, calm.

Christine wanted to go to a book discussion at the Irondequoit Public Library so I dropped her off before I went down to Dirt Cheap #6 at Lucien Morin Park. The plan was for me to run the race and then pick her up afterward.

It was hot, hazy and humid but when I am signed up for a race ... I race. I got there about 5:20 PM and parked in the super secret parking spot for Brooks Racing Team members behind Bay Front Restaurant. It was just a short walk over to Lucien Morin Park next to MacGregors' on Empire Blvd.

Garmin Connect Activity for Warmup before Dirt Cheap #6
Just a nice, easy and sweaty run before the race to get the blood pumping.



What can I say about racing? Besides it's what I do no matter the season. Anyway ... I started out fast but under control.

The mens start

Running next to Jim McLaughlin ... for a couple of seconds before he disappeared ahead.

I jumped ahead of Bill Beyerbach just before the single track began. He passed me back just after one mile. I tried to keep up with everyone but had to take strategic power walks up some hills when I had to. So some guys did slip by me. I just tried to keep up with the person I was behind. I wasn't trying to pass too many people but did when I felt I was being slowed down. I also didn't want to do anything stupid like get hurt ... which I didn't. There wasn't any chatter in my group except when we had to pass.

Running up the second to last hill before the finish

I finished the course in 3.56 miles, 37:06, 10:25 pace. I was dripping with sweat when I got done just like everyone else. But still ... a great night to run! I was 35th out of 247, link here. I was 2nd (35 seconds behind Bill Beyerbach) out of 10  in my M55-59 age group. Bill also won the Dirt Cheap series in our M55-59 age group.

Thursday, 9/12/2013: Rest day.

An interesting tidbit ... Patrick Stewart aka Jean-Luc Picard of Star Trek The Next Generation (among lots of other roles) wed his 4 year girlfriend Sunny Ozell, links here and here. The marriage was officiated by his long time friend, Ian McKellen aka Gandalf (among lots of other roles). Another tidbit is that Patrick is 73 and Sunny is 35. They do seem happy!

Friday, 9/13/2013: Rest day.

I got word from the Wayne County Nursing Home that my father had had a episode and was sent to the Newark Wayne Community Hospital. Soon my brother in Syracuse, Don; my sister in Lexington KY, Diane and I were all calling each other to find out more. Diane was able to find out that he was dehyrated, had a mini-stroke and a heart attack. He was going to be at NWCH for a couple of days to be checked out.

Saturday, 9/14/2013: 12 miles, 1:39:50, 8:19 pace, 50F, 88% RH, overcast, a slight breeze.

I got up and out just before 8 AM for my last(?) long run before the Rochester Marathon. It was 50F so I didn't know what to wear for a bit. I settled on my Brook short tights, Brooks racing team t-shirt, Brooks racing team arm warmers, light gloves, hat and Zensah socks.

Garmin Connect Activity for 12 mile run around the streets of Irondequoit

I was surprised how cool the light breeze felt but soon warmed up. I forgot my water and IT support bands but I didn't go back and get them. So I concentrated on nice smooth strides and just running nice and easy. My pace was 8:03, 8:14, 8:14, 8:23, 8:08, 8:19, 8:22, 8:23, 8:27, 8:27, 8:28 and 8:22. I was pretty steady. I hope I can keep my pace this steady when I run past 12 miles and continue on for 14.2 more miles.

I woke up my darling Christine and each had a mug of coffee and a bagel. We read the paper and plotted our day. Our plan turned out to met my brother Don at the NWCH to see my father. He seemed in fine spirits. We had a nice visit. Afterward we saw my daughter, Karen, in Newark and my youngest son, David, in Palmyra before heading back up to Rochester. A long day.