Sunday, 10/31/10 to Saturday, 11/6/10

I ran 3 times this week, 29.2 miles.
Month of October, 18 runs in 31 days, 127.55 miles, 7.1 miles/run.
I have run 100 miles a month for the past 4 months!
Up to end of October 2010, 132 runs in 304 days, 850.05 miles, 6.4 miles/run.

Sun, 10/31, run #1: 3.15 miles, 36:10, 11:26, 44F, cloudy, calm, multiple stops, a bit of ankle pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for DCSR #1 - Group run

I headed down to Mendon Ponds Park for a group run of the Dirt Cheap Stage Race, Stages 1 and 2. It was an easy run with lots of stops, lots of leaves, lots of stuff to tweak my left ankle on. Somewhere it happened. I kept on running but I could feel it somewhere during this run.

Sun, 10/31, run #2: 1.15 miles, 9:22 pace, 44F, cloudy, calm, a bit of ankle pain.

Group run from DCSR #1 to DCSR #2 - Devil's Bathtub

We ran from the start of DCSR #1 over to Devil's Bathtub where DCSR #2 starts. In hindsight, I should have turned around and went back to my car ... my ankle was starting to hurt.

Sun, 10/31, run #3: 2.65 miles, 33:22, 12:33 pace, 44F, cloudy, calm, more ankle pain.

About 1/2 of DCSR #2 - Group run

We started to run the DCSR #2 course with the infamous up the stairs finish. My left ankle started to feel worse, I started to lag behind and eventually lost contact with the group. I kind of knew where I was so I started walking onward. Eventually, I saw where I was in relation to Douglas Rd and walked back to my car. Back home, I started to RICE ... rest, ice, compression and elevation. It aches a bit.Mon, 11/1: Rest night. CJ and I did laundry at the laundromat. Then we had a quiet dinner of leftover chicken, baked potato and salad. Leftover rotisserie chicken is tasty! My left ankle feels much better.

I signed up for the Mendon Trails 50K on Saturday, 11/6. Just 5 loops of 10K with 1100 feet of vertical climb per loop. I am certifiable for sure!

Tue, 11/2: 6.2 miles, 50:21, 8:07 pace, 42F, clear, calm, no stops, no pain.

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

CJ and I went down to Fleet Feet for the usual Cobbs Hill run. It was a bit chilly ... but I still work a ls tech with a ss tech over it and shorts. I went out a bit slow. I warmed up as I did 3 Y's. I saw CJ on her trips up the reservoir.

Afterward, we went out and voted for the candidates of our choice. Later, we caught up on the latest episode of Castle.

Wed, 11/3: Rest night. CJ made a most excellent supper of round steak, stuffing and salad ... mmmm!

Thu, 11/4: Rest night. CJ made another excellent supper of fish and shells! A nice relaxing night ...

Fri, 11/5: 4.1 miles, about 8:30 pace, 38F, dusk, light mist, no stops, no pain.

It rained a steady mist all day but I headed down to Fleet Feet for the usual Friday night Happy Hour run. I met up with John and told him that I would like run easy. We did. It was a dreary run but enjoyable, good for a pre-50K tuneup. CJ went down separately and walked with the walking group. We prepared the usual pre-race pasta dinner.

Sat, 11/6: 19.3 miles, 36F, light mist and snow, multiple stops, some joint pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Mendon Trail 50K attempt

I went down to the East Lodge at Mendon Trails 50K, 5 loops of 10K. CJ was my support crew. It was cold with a light mist. I started out with a ls and ss tech top, jacket, shorts and pants. I wore light gloves. I started out OK with a first loop of 1:05 along with Chris. I slowed a bit on the second loop of 1:12. A light snow started to fall during the first loop and part of the second loop. I changed my gloves and hat before I started the third loop. During the third loop ... the wheels started to come off. All of a sudden I started to run out of energy and had some joint pain on the right side. I finally came in at 1:25. I tried to eat and drink enough to go back out again but decided that I had been through enough for the day. The results are here ... I am down at the bottom with the DNFs.

CJ helped me over the East Lodge to eat something. When I took off my light gloves I saw that I had white fingertips on my right hand which CJ tried to warm up. CJ drove home. I had some lunch and went to bed for a long nap. My mistakes were many ... I didn't hydrate enough, didn't carry gels (I forgot), didn't dress properly. I probably could have continued to walk the next two loops but I wanted to run but just could not ... it hurt to run or even shuffle. Clint as Dirty Harry said in Magnum Force, "A man has to know his limitations". There will be other races, other days.

After I woke up, CJ made an excellent supper of ribs, sweet potatoes and Brussels sprouts. Mmmm ... tasty!

Sunday,10/24/10 to Saturday, 10/30/10

I ran 4 times this week, 25.9 miles.

Sun, 10/24: 12 miles, 2:05:44, 10:29 pace, 65F, cloudy, calm, multiple stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Running Around Mendon Ponds

CJ and I managed to get out to Mendon Ponds at 3PM. It was a perfect day, 65F and cloudy. We parked up on the hill at the Devil's Bathtub. I set out ... got lost several times. The trails in that area of the park at not too well marked. I ran on the bright blue, red, pink and green trails at various. I tried to make it to the bottom of Devil's Bathtub so I could run up the stairs. I eventually made it back, then ran down and back up the stairs. A long run ... I found mud for sure! CJ hiked 1.78 miles.

Mon, 10/25: Rest night. We learned via Facebook that a fellow runner, Dave, was murdered on Sunday night, link here and here. Senseless violence ... words escape me. I had said "Hi" to him, CJ had talked with him.

Tue, 10/26: 6.8 miles, 55:03, 8:06 pace, 68F(!), dusk, a bit windy, 2 stops for hydration, no pain.

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

CJ and I headed down to Fleet Feet for the usual Cobbs Hill run. CJ dropped me off and then up to Riley Lodge for her walking group. Ellen said some heartwarming words about Dave before we headed off. I did the usual 3 Y's, ran hard a bit with Bill, went the long way back. My headlight was needed on the way back. The usual supply run to Wegmans ensued as well as a pasta dinner.

We watched Iron Man 2 from redbox.com after supper. Then I tried to watch the Lakers first home game of the season versus Houston ... I was mostly successful. They ended up winning by 2 with some drama at the end ... that I slept through.

Wed, 10/27: Rest night. We watched Twilight from Netflix.com. A pretty good movie!

Thu, 10/28: Another rest night. It was a long day at work and my feet were killing me. CJ cooked up a beef stew and biscuits. We had German chocolate with pecan coconut frosting ... yum! We caught up on some DVRed shows: Castle, Hawaii Five-O and NCIS.

Fri, 10/29: 4 miles, 30:02, 7:30 pace, 44F, dusk, a bit windy, just traffic stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF Backwards Happy Hour run

CJ and I headed down to Fleet Feet for the usual Friday night Happy Hour run. Since it was the last Friday of the month, we ran it backwards. I started out a bit slow but kept it on. Good warm up for Pumpkins in the Park tomorrow morning!

Sat, 10/30: 3.1 miles, 22:12, 7:10 pace, 46F, cloudy, calm, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Pumpkins in the Park 5K ... forgot to turn off the Garmin

CJ and I headed down to Cobbs Hill for our first Pumpkins in the Park. A whole bunch of people in costume for sure! I headed out hard, 7:04 pace. I slowed a bit in the hills, then up the reservoir, 15:00. Then downhill to mile 3, 21:30. I finished in 22:12 ... pretty darn good for such a hilly course. I cooled down, then walked out to CJ and walked her in at 56:56, a PR! Afterward, I checked the results, found that I had finished 31st out of 467 and 1st in my 50-54 age group, link here! I got a plaque at the award ceremony!


Before the start

The bling ... my first plaque! Meet Fleet Feet Pete!
The rest of day we just lazed around. CJ went to bed early after we wated a DVR'ed NCIS-LA. Then I watched Transformers ... kind of loud, it's a guy thing.



Keeping active, Doug

Sunday, 10/17/11 to Saturday, 10/23/10

I ran 5 times this week, 33.6 miles

Sun, 10/17: 10.2 miles, 1:43:39, 10:06 pace, 60F, some stops, no pain.

FLT north from Parade Grounds

CJ and I went down to the Parade Grounds entrance of Letchworth State Park to try the Finger Lakes Trail from the south going north. I headed out, made it through 2 gates ... and went to what I thought was the trail which went into the mud of a creek. I tried to backtrack but got sort of lost. I ended running in a loop to put in mileage so I wouldn't get totally lost. CJ walked my straight line route and turned around before she headed into the mud that I went into. Now that I have looked at the Garmin satellite view and the FLT map, we can see where we went astray. Oops!

My compliments to CJ, she is the girl for me! Some girls would have liked to stay home ... she went down to Letchworth and walked trail on a beautiful fall day! She wants to be a active girl ... yahoo! I'll make a trail runner out of her yet!

Sun: 6.4 miles, 1:10:22, 10:59 pace, 58F, 1 stop for hydration and gel at the turn, no pain.

FLT south from the dam


Another view of the gorge

A view of the gorge

A view from the edge, a mile south from the dam

After the run from the dam

On the way back, we stopped at the dam entrance. I went back out 3.1 miles, then back 3.3 miles. I was very careful not to trip on roots ... especially on the way back when I knew I was tired.Mon, 10/18: Well deserved rest day. I didn't sleep well on Sunday night, felt like crap all day, survived on caffeine and determination. I think I am bit allergic to fall. Went to bed early.

Tue, 10/19: 6.7 miles, 53:24, 7:58 pace, 50F, dusk, calm, 1 stop for hydration and light, no pain.

FF Cobbs Hill run, 3 Y's, long way back

CJ and I headed down to Fleet Feet for the Tuesday night Cobbs Hill run. I did 3 Y's and took the long way back. I stopped at the bottom before I headed back to hydrate and put on my headlight. CJ did a 1.8 mile walk with the walking group.

I felt a bit better today but still had allergies. But staying home from a run was not even an option. A rolling stone gathers no mosss. We stopped at Wegmans for supplies. We ate a leisurely chicken and potato salad dinner. Later, we had cherry pie and vanilla ice cream for dessert. Yummm!

Wed, 10/20: 3.2 miles, walk with CJ, 55F, sunny, a bit windy, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Walk with CJ

CJ and I got out for a nice walk around the neighborhood. It got a bit chilly by the time we got done.

Thu, 10/21: 6.2 miles, Garmin died, 42F, dusk, light rain at the start, no stops, no pain.

I got home and knew I needed to run, no matter what. It was tough getting out the door. My Garmin died pretty quickly but I continued onward. There was a light rain at the start that went away after 20 minutes. I think I ran about a 8:00 pace. I ran up Seneca to Titus to Winona, then up to Cooper Rd. I ran back down St Paul to Ridge and back. It felt good to get out.

Fri, 10/22: 4.2 miles, 31:40, 7:32 pace, 50F, dusk, cloudy, calm, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF Happy Hour run

CJ and I headed down to Fleet Feet for the usual Friday night Happy Hour run. I had someone keeping my pace for a little over 2 miles. I pushed up the Highland Ave slight grade, lost him and blazed down Monroe Ave like usual. A sweet run! CJ walked 2.2 miles. She has been out four times this week!

Sat, 10/23: A perfect rest day ...

Sunday, 10/3/10 to Saturday, 10/9/10

I ran 3 times this week, 25.3 miles.

Sun, 10/3: 9 miles, 1:29:23, 9:56 pace, 50F, cloudy, a bit windy, damp, no pain.

CJ and I headed down to Mendon Ponds Park for the Autumn Classic Trail Race. There was a lot of stuff going on ... a 4.5 and 9 mile trail race and a Formula 1 and Sprint Duathlon. I was there for the 9 miler, 2 loops of 4.5 miles on the hilly Blue and Green trail. It was a long, hard course .. but I settled in with a good speed and finished strong. I was 31st out of 67, results here. I was 6th out of 14 in my age group, results here.

The rest of the day was lazy ... reading the Sunday paper, watching a bit of the Bills going down to 0-3 against the Jets, taking a nap. We watched Alice in Wonderlandfrom Netflix later in the evening.Tue, 10/5: 6.8 miles, 56:13, 8:17 pace, 48F, cloudy, a light mist, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF Cobb's Hill run, 3 Y's, long way back

CJ and I headed down to Fleet Feet for the Tuesday Cobb's Hill run. I ran up, did 3 Y's and took the long way back. CJ went to the walking workout and did 30 minutes. We hit up Little Casear's for $5 pizza on the way back.

On the positive side, I got my new RoadID. I choose a blue Wrist ID Elite Interactive. CJ almost cut the wrist band too tight but it fits ... barely. Here is a link to a $1 off coupon good until 10/30.

Thu, 10/7: Another rest day. I wanted to run but was held up until 5:30PM at work due to a meeting that ran long (which meeting doesn't?) and then finished up some paperwork.

Fri, 10/8: 9.5 miles, 1:17:22, 8:08 pace, 68F, sunny, windy, dry, 3 mini stops for hydration, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Up to Cobbs Hill, 5 loops, back long way

CJ and I headed down to Fleet Feet for the usual Friday night Happy Hour run. I had decided that I needed to run long so I warned CJ that I would be a while before I was back. I ran up the usual route to the Cobbs Hill reservoir ... then did 5 loops and took the same way back. It was so dry that I barely worked up a sweat but I did stop 3 times for a mini hydration break. CJ went out with the walking group for 2 miles.

Sat, 10/9: Rest day. Didn't do much.

Sunday, 10/10/10 to Saturday, 10/16/10

I ran 4 times this week, 30.7 miles

Sun, 10/10: 12.4 miles, , 8:49 pace, 42-60F, sunny, calm, 3 stops , no pain.

20K - Up to the lake

I wanted to run at least 10.1 miles on 10/10/10 at 10:10 AM. So I headed down to the lake ... more or less straight down St Paul St, 5.2 miles. When I got to the lake I dipped my Brooks in the lake and ran along the beach. I thought about the runners I knew in the Chicago and Steamtown marathons. One of these days I will run another marathon ... maybe. My left knee ached a bit after my run.Mon, 10/11: Rest day. CJ said I deserved a steak dinner. Who am I to argue? We headed out to Kennan's Restaurant for dinner. I had steak and cake, CJ had scallops. Yummm!

Tue, 10/12: 9.2 miles, 1:19:22, 8:30 pace, 48F, sunny to dusk, clear, no wind, 1 stop, no pain.

Zoo trail up to Thomas Ave

I needed to run trail. I didn't want to drive so I headed out to the east Seneca Park Zoo trail out to Thomas Ave and back. I ran at a pretty good pace out (4.55 miles, 37:04, 8:09 pace, hydrated at the turn and an easy 8:52 pace back. Dusk was setting in on the way back ... I thought my headlight didn't need batteries. Boy, was I wrong! I am lucky that I didn't trip or worse! A nice run, nicely dressed in shorts, a long sleeve tech top, reflective vest, light gloves and my orange hat.

Wed, 10/13: Rest day. CJ made a most excellent pot roast along with a baked potato and broccoli. She is a good cook, I am so glad that she is in my life since Labor Day, 2009. Hugs and kisses, my darling!

Thu, 10/14: 5 miles, 39:01, 7:48 pace, 48F, a light mist, no stops, no pain.

Remington's Run #6

CJ and I headed down to Remington's. It was a bit damp, a light mist to light rain was falling ... but we went regardless. I headed out for 5 miles, ran easy and turned a 7:48 pace. CJ walked two miles.

Fri, 10/15: 4.1 miles, 31:32, 7:40 pace, 48F, a light mist, a bit windy, no stops, no pain.

FF Happy Hour run

I headed down to Fleet Feet for the usual Friday night Happy Hour run. I gave a thought or two of bagging it since it was kind of a raw night, a light mist to a light rain, a bit windy, maybe 50F. But when I came home from work, CJ was still washing clothes so I went forth. There were only 7 runners and maybe a few more walkers. I found someone who wanted to run my pace ... we were both cold and needed to run fast to keep warm, no detour up the reservoir this time. An easy 7:58, a 8:04, a 7:49 and a quick 6:58 down Monroe Ave.

Sat, 10/16: Rest day. CJ and I went out to Newark to see two of my kids. I had a bit of allergy headache that was made worse by exposure to cats and trying to fix a vacuum cleaner which had a broken belt. Then we went over to see my father at the Wayne County Nursing Home. He was happy to see us.