Sunday, July 25th to Saturday, July 31st

I ran 4 times this week, 36.9 miles.
I ran 15 times out of 31 days in July, 100.4 miles, 6.7 miles/run
So far in 2010, I have run 83 days out of 212, 504 miles, 6.1 miles/run

Sun, 7/25: 12.4 miles, 1:47:11, 8:38 pace, cloudy, calm, 72F, 80% RH, 2 long stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for 12.4 miles to get the Sunday paper

I got out at 8:23AM for a long run. I went up Seneca to Titus to Winona Blvd to St Paul like usual. After I passed Cooper I turned left on Seneca Park Ave and went down in the flats, came back up to Thomas and across the Roarke Bridge. I went down the River Trail on the west side, down Lake, cross the 104 bridge, up St Paul to Collingwood, down Seneca, down Ridge right to where I get my Sunday paper, 12.4 miles exactly. I stopped to take off my shirt, hydrate and take a gel at mile 6, another gel at mile 8. I slowed a bit but kept it going. I was drenched when I stopped. The run was sweaty and sweet!

Mon. 7/26: Definite rest for me.

Tue, 7/27: It could have been a run night but I decided to bag it because I was dog tired. I didn't sleep well the past two nights so I just went to bed early.

Wed, 7/28: 7 miles, 1:01:13, 8:42 pace, Zoo Trail, cloudy to rain, 72F, humid, a bit windy, 1 stop, a blister.

Garmin Connect Activity for Zoo trail in the rain

CJ and I went out to the Seneca Park Zoo ... even though we both knew that a line of thunderstorms was coming. We parked down below the zoo by the pond so CJ could walk around Trout Pond. I went back up the road so I could break into the east zoo trail by the playground then I headed out to the O'Rorke bridge and back on the west zoo trail. On the way to the bridge it started sprinkle, then rain and wind. I ran on, noticing that my right pinkie toe was starting to hurt. By the time I got back to the car, I was drenched. CJ had walked 2 miles before heading to the car. When we got home, I noticed that I had a large blood blister on top of my right pinkie toe ready to pop. I showered, bandaged it, ate and ready to bed way early. A good run in the rain regardless.

Thu, 7/29: Rest night. After a bit, we headed out to Wegmans for a bit of late night grocery shopping. We saved $16.44 on grocery coupons.

Fri, 7/30: 5 miles, 38:34, 7:43 pace, 72F, sunny, Happy Hour run, calm, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Happy Hour with a loop run

CJ and I went down to Fleet Feet for the usual Happy Hour run, this time backwards. I did the usual 4.1 but spiced it up with a loop around the Cobbs Hill reservoir. I ran pretty hard, 7:43 pace. CJ walked 3 miles with 2 mini-runs.

The weather has cooled off the past couple of days. We actually have the windows open and aren't running the AC!

Sat, 7/31: 10.5 miles, 1:29:32, 8:31 pace, 72F, sunny, calm, not so humid, 1 long stop, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for To the lake and back run

At the lake after 4.75 miles ... not exactly the best pic!
I got out around 9:30Am for a "shortish long run" ... I knew it would be at least 10.1 miles since I wanted to get at least 100 miles for July. So I headed down to the lake ... it is downhill to the lake after all. It really was a tale of two runs. I ran 4.75 miles, 38:30, 8:06 pace to the lake and dipped my running shoes in. I took in two gels and hydrated before I headed back. I took it real easy ... 5.75 miles in 51:02, 8:53 pace. I had my Camelbak on ... filled with the usual ice cubes keeping my water cold. It was really a great run!

One disturbing thing ... I seem to have lost my RoadID. I last saw when I came back from a long run on Sunday. So I am pretty sure that it is in apartment ... somewhere. I have run twice without it ... feeling naked each time.

Keeping active, Doug

Sunday, July 18th to Saturday, July 24th

I ran 3 times last week, 12 miles.

Sun, 7/18: Another rest day out in Cleveland.

We both enjoyed the baby shower / family picnic of CJ's niece in Strongville. I met more of her family. We puttered around Cleveland before we headed back. We drove and walked around the large Lake View Cemetery where CJ has a plot. I marveled at the architecture of the tombstones. We also drove around Case Western Reserve University where I went to school from '75 to '78 and Little Italy. Lastly, we took an impromptu tour of the Phi Kappa Theta fraternity house where we met way back in February 1977 ... yes, we have pictures to prove it! Then we drove back home to Rochester. A long weekend but very enjoyable.

1976
1977
1978
1978 and today

Mon & Tue, 7/19 & 7/20: Rest days. The left side of my left foot hurts. I think that my work shoes are not supporting my feet. The funny thing is that I can run just fine.

Wed, 7/21: 4.6 miles, 44:11, Fleet Feet Dirt Cheap #4, 75F, cloudy, a bit humid, calm, no pain.

Thunderstorms rolled through all afternoon and there were some rumbles before the race. So ... there was "some" (read lots) mud to be found in the Devil's Bathtub area of Mendon Ponds. We started in time trail fashion every 5 seconds down the steps in reverse alphabetical order so I was 181st to head out. My trail shoes were drenched before I had gone a half mile ... and not just once did I find mud up to my ankles! I just kept on running regardless, didn't fall, had a good race. I did walk some of the hills but not very many. CJ volunteered at the water stop. Her smiling face and words of encouragement were most welcome halfway into the race. I ended up 78th out of 199, results here. I finished 9th out of 19 in my age group, results here.

Thu, 7/22: 3.1 miles (actually 3.3 miles), 24:58, 7:34 pace, Fleet Feet Aqua Cheap #2, 75F, cloudy, humid, 1 stop, no pain.

Crossing the finish line
CJ and I went down to Durand Eastman for Aqua Cheap #2. I went out pretty hard on the sand, had to stop to tie my shoelaces before I got back on the sand, slowed a bit on the 2nd loop but held it together, finished strong. I ran a 24:58, good for 9th overall out of 39, results here. I was 2nd in my age group, results here.

Fri, 7/23: 4.1 miles, No Garmin, Fleet Feet Happy Hour run, 82F, cloudy, 81% humidity, no stops, no pain.

CJ and I went down to Fleet Feet for our usual Happy Hour run. I didn't have my Garmin, so I went out and just ran ... fast like usual. I am pretty sure that I ran sub 8 min pace like I usually do on short runs. CJ came back early from her usual 3 mile run ... she threw in 5 mini runs!! Yahoo! She shouted out to me as I passed Winton ... I did hear something but kept on running. So she did have a faster pace for sure!

Sat, 7/24: A definite rest day for CJ and I. We spent our energy doing other more enjoyable pursuits.

Keeping active, Doug

Sunday, July 11th to Saturday, July 17th

I ran 4 times this week, 29.3 miles
A big increase from last week.

Sun, 7/11: 10 miles, 1:22:10, 8:13 pace, 72F, sunny, calm, 1 stop, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for 10 miles up to the lake and back

I haven't had a long run lately so I ran up to Lake Ontario. I ran 4.8 miles up to the lake and dipped my toes in the lake in 37:56, 7:54. I stopped to have a gel and hydrate for a couple of minutes. Then I ran back 5.2 miles in 44:14, 8:30 pace. A nice, sweet workout! Kudos to all the Rochester runners who ran the Boilermaker 15K in Utica, results here.

Later, after some much needed rest and a shower, CJ and I did laundry at a local laundromat.

Mon, 7/12: A rest day. CJ made a nice supper of chicken Florentine ... ymmm!

Tue, 7/13: 7.3 miles, 1:02:14, 8:31 pace, FF Distance Workout, 75F, 86% humidity, a few stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Fleet Feet Distance Workout

CJ and I went down to Fleet Feet for our first Distance Workout. We ran up to Cobbs Hill for 800m repeats around the reservoir. I ran 5, the second was the fastest. Chris walked up to the base of the reservoir and back. It was certainly a sweet and sweaty workout, for sure.

Thu, 7/15: 6 miles, 59:37, 9:58 pace, Mendon Ponds, 82F, sunny, calm, some stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Mendon Ponds Green & Blue Trails

CJ and I went down to Fleet Feet to help celebrate their 6th anniversary. We had some cake and vanilla ice cream. We worked it off by headed down to Mendon Ponds. I ran 6 miles on the Blue and Green trails. CJ hiked 3.3 miles on the Blue trail. Sweaty and sweet!

Fri, 7/16: 4.1 miles, 32:14, 7:52 pace, FF Happy Hour run, 80F, sunny, a bit windy and humid, 2 traffic stops, no pain.

CJ and I went down to Fleet Feet for the Friday night Happy Hour run. I did a 7:19 1st mile, then slowed as the heat got to me. I did an extra 2 miles looking for Chris. She did her own route, criss-crossing around for 2.3 miles. It's all good!

Sat, 7/17: A definite rest day for my feet. CJ and I motored to Cleveland for a baby shower / family picnic on Sunday. We stayed at a nice Hampton Inn & Suite on Engle Rd south of Cleveland. We didn't get to use the pool but enjoyed the nice and soft bed along with the quiet air conditioned room.

Keeping active, Doug

Sunday, July 4th to Saturday, July 10th

I ran 2 times this week, 9.1 miles

Sun, 7/4: Happy July 4th! CJ and I went for a walk in the Ellison Park Wetlands. It was pretty hot, mid 80s and humid. A bit shady back in the woods. We went back in for a mile on the white trail, managed not to get lost and came back out.

Garmin Connect Activity for 1 mile Hike into Ellison Park Wetlands

Mon, 7/5: A real lazy day spent avoiding the heat, sometimes successful, sometimes not. We had turkey burgers with rice and peas for supper.

Tue, 7/6: Back to work. Too hot and humid to run after work. We had pasta for supper.

Wed, 7/7: Another rest day ... starting to get itchy for a run.

Thu, 7/8: 5 miles, 42:36, 8:31 pace, Remington's Run, 90F, sunny, humid, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Remington's Run #3

CJ and I headed down to Remington's for a 5 mile run. I carried my Camelbak, went out slow, kept it going through a real hot and sweaty run. CJ waited for me inside. She had some blisters that prevented me from walking.

Fri, 7/9: 4.1 miles, no Garmin, Happy Hour run, 75F, light rain, humid, no stops, no pain.

CJ and I headed down to Fleet Feet for the usual Happy Hour run. I didn't pack my Garmin because of the rain so I ran 'naked'. I ran my usual 4.1 miles in a 8-ish mile pace or better. CJ walked 3 miles. I walked back out after I finished to walk back with CJ. I am very happy that CJ came out with me ... she needed to get out. We loved playing in the rain! We had the usual pasta supper after a run ... mmm!

Sat, 7/10: A late start on a drive out to Newark to get my haircut, see my father in my hospital and see my oldest son (he was the only one there). Yes, my father is back in the NWCH again for the same reason of bowel obstruction, a monthly occurrence lately. He was OK, kinda of talkative. CJ was the tourist, enjoying some of the sights of Newark with her camera.

Keeping active, Doug