Sunday, 11/28/10 to Saturday, 12/4/10

I ran 4 times this week, 39.6 miles.
Month of November: 12 runs out of 30 days, 79.9 miles, 6.7 miles/run
Up to November 2010: 144 runs out of 334 days, 929.95 miles, 6.5 miles/run

Sun, 11/28: 3.1 miles, 21:58, 7:05 pace, 36F, cloudy, calm, no stops, no pain.

CJ wasn't feeling too well so I headed down to Honeoye Falls for the first Polar Cat race of the season. I signed up for the series, link here. I met up with the usual Polar Cat runners. I headed out fast on the flat course, 6:48 first mile. I held on with a 7:17 and 7:08. I finished strong with a sprint to the line to get in under 22 minutes, my fastest 5K of the year!

I am at 4:45

I finished 9th out of 38, results here. I was 2nd out of 7 in my age group, results here. After the race, Bob Hamilton gave me a pic of my Newark Turkey Day 5 Mile Race finish ... a much appreciated present!

Yes, the Buffalo Bills lost again in OT to the Pittsburgh Steelers... yes, again by a FG! The best but worst snake bit 2-9 team in the NFL!

Mon, 11/29: Rest night. I didn't sleep well on Sunday night ... I must have slept but coffee surely helped during work.

Tue, 11/30: 6.1 miles, 49:46, 8:10 pace, 48F, light rain, calm, no stops, no pain.

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

I went down to Fleet Feet for the Winter Warrior Kickoff Party. Yes, it was a light rain ... but it was a warm rain. Yes, over 100 runners and walkers showed up. Yes, we are probably crazed. We all did the usual Cobbs Hill run. I did the usual 3 Y's, slightly slower than last week by 16 seconds ... probably because I went out slower. When I got back to Fleet Feet I changed right in front of the store into dry clothes, except for my shorts and socks. I just barely got over an almost two week long cold so I wasn't going to take any chances.

CJ had a supper of pizza all ready when I got home. We caught up on a DVR'ed episode of Chuck and The Mentalist. I have my man card ... so I watched The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. CJ watched it too ... she said it was elaborate, full of fluff. She would like to see real women out there instead of models.

Wed, 12/1: Rest day. The overnight rain turned into sleet, then light wet snow by 9:30AM ... and kept snowing until mid afternoon. We got about two to three inches.

Thu, 12/2: Another rest day. CJ made a most excellent dinner of salmon, rice, peas along with salad with tomatoes and cucumbers. Yum!

Fri, 12/3: 4.2 miles, 32:55, 7:50 pace, 28F, night, calm, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF Happy Hour run

I went down to Fleet Feet for the usual Friday night Happy Hour run. I went and ran a bit hard, savoring the run. A light snow started as I headed down Monroe Ave which was a bit pretty.

Sat, 12/4: 26.2 miles, 4:50:59, 11:02 pace, 30F, cloudy, a bit of snow and a light snow at times, a bit windy at times, more stops later, aches and pains later.

Garmin Connect Activity for Old Indian Trail Fat Ass 50K/50M - 26.2 Miles

I woke up early and went down to the Seneca Park Zoo to the Old Indian Trail Fat Ass 50K/50M. I learned about it from Facebook. I showed up around 7:55AM. Each loop was 8 miles from the park entrance to Thomas Ave and back ... 4 loops were 32 miles. My plan was to gel at miles 4, 8, 12, etc and hydrate when needed.

A little bit after 8AM, around 15 fellow crazy runners started out; some faces were a bit familiar, some were not. I stayed with the lead group of 5 runners for a couple of miles until we strung out, then I was second ... by an ever increasing margin from the first runner who seemed to run like a machine. Some runners only ran 1 or 2 loops. The first loop was 1:16, the second was a slower 1:24, total 2:40. The wheels came off on the third loop ... my legs ached, my walks became more frequent. I finished the third loop in 1:42, total 4:22. I was so close to a marathon so I went out for 1.1 miles and back, total 4:50:59.

I got into my car, cranked up the heat and drank any water and food that I could find in my bag. Four runners were going out for their fourth loop when I left. I called CJ to meet me at the door to help me into the apartment. She helped me out of my clothes and into my sweats. I found a bloody left big toe, dirty toes from my trail shoes and my right fingertips were white down to my second knuckle. I eventually warmed up, ate lunch and took a brief nap. I took a shower/bath and examined my feet. I could not find any reason why I had a bloody toe. I did see that my 2nd left toenail was black along with a blister or callus at the end of my 3rd left toe. The joys of being a runner, I guess.

I was tired, achy and went to bed early after watching a guy's movie, Troy. CJ did say that she appreciated Brad Pitt's muscles ... maybe I should start working out?

Keeping active, Doug

Sunday, 11/21/10 to Saturday, 11/27/10

I ran 3 times this week, 16.1 miles.

Sun, 11/21 & Mon, 11/22: More sick days from the crud.

Tue, 11/23: 6.1 miles, 49:31, 8:07 pace, 46F, night, windy, no stops, no pain.

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

I just had to get out after 9 days off from running. I headed down to Fleet Feet for the usual Tuesday night Cobbs Hill workout. I ran easy to warm up then a bit hard like usual. I did 3 Y's like usual. I did pay for it though ... I coughed enough to cough up one of my lungs when I went inside after the run.

Wed, 11/24: Another day with the crud. I took the day off work. I didn't take my DayQuil ... and ended up with a severe sinus headache right above my right eyebrow. CJ helped me to bed and I put a cold washcloth on my eyebrows. I think I took a nap.

CJ cooked our turkey today instead of tomorrow. We had drumsticks and cranberry sauce for supper ... yummmm!

Thu, 11/25: 5 miles, 37:29, 7:30 pace, 32F, cloudy, a bit windy, no stops, no pain.


A pic by Bob Hamilton with the finish line in my sights!
CJ and I headed down to Newark for the 34th annual Newark Turkey Day 5 Mile Race. It was cold but I was going to run ... I was already signed up. I ran hard ... 7:30 first mile. The hill at mile 4 almost broke me up but didn't. I finished in 37:29, 33rd out of 161. I didn't cough as much after the race. I think it was because I stayed outside after the race. I called all my kids to tell them of my results and to wish them a Happy Thanksgiving.

Kudos to all the other runners that ran in the Rochester area who ran on Thanksgiving Day ... the 308 at the Rochester Thankgsiving Run 8K, the 2043 at the Webster Turkey Trot 4.4 mile, 1293 at the Webster Turkey Trot 2.5 mile and the 910 at the Race with Grace 10K.

Fri, 11/26: 5 miles, 39:33, 7;55 pace, 30F, cloudy, windy, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF Backward Happy Hour run + 1 loop

CJ and I headed down to Fleet Feet to the usual Happy Hour run. Only one other runner showed up ... probably every one else showed up at the Black Friday run at 8AM. CJ and I slept in. Anyway, I headed out backward since it was the last Friday of the month. It was cold and windy but I soon warmed up. I added a loop around the Cobbs Hill reservoir. I took off my hat and mittens ... but my hands were a mite cold the last mile.

Sat, 11/27: A rest day. We had wanted to go out to Lyons to see my father but I did make it a local barber shop to get my hair a much need hair cut. I have lived up in Rochester for 2 years ... but this was my first local barber shop visit. We ended up watching a depressing, post-apocalypse DVD named On the Beach with Armand Assante and Rachel Ward. Then we went to a romantic comedy DVD named Ghosts of Girlfriends Past with Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner.

Keeping active, Doug

Sunday,11/14/10 to Saturday, 11/20/10

I ran 1 time this week, 10.6 miles.

Sat, 11/20: Yet snother sick day from we have called the crud ... just a general feeling of no energy due to sinus headache, cough and sore throat. CJ and I both feel like crap. We did discover the joys of PrimeTime on Demand, on Time Warner channel 735. We caught up on the latest episodes of Castle, Hawaii Five-O, NCIS, NCIS LA, The Defenders, Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice before crashing for the night. We didn't even have enough energy to use the DVR. My daughter down at Houghton College donned a Harry Potter scar and death eater tattoo and went off to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I and called it "EPIC".

Fri, 11/19: Yet, yet, yet another rest ... better known as a sick day. I woke up worse than the day before with my left eye wet and a severe pain in the back of my neck that got worse every time I bent over. I got a doctor's appointment at 1PM and was sent home with pink eye and a pinched nerve in my neck. Joy o joy! It turns out that I am not the easiest person to give eye drops to according to CJ!

Thu, 11/18: Yet, yet another rest day. I am getting better ... I feel better than crap and a lot better than death warmed over. I think going to bed last night at 7:17PM helped. I kept on dosing myself up on NyQuil every 4 to 5 hours. I did manage to get CJ sick. It sounds like she feels like I did yesterday.

Wed, 11/17: Yet another rest day. I think I only got about 4 hours of interruppted sleep on the coach recliner. I am progressively getting worse. CJ was an angel ... she went out at 5AM to get me some OTC medicine so I could get a bit of sleep before I went to work. I am living on DayQuil and cough drops. I felt crappy so of course ... I had to deal with crappy weather. It was in the mid 40s with a misty rain and high winds all day and most of the night. Neither CJ or I had much appetite, we had French toast for supper and pumpkin pie for dessert.

Tue, 11/16: Another rest day. Still not feeling well. I only got about 4 hours of sleep on the coach recliner. CJ made a nice supper of rotisserie chicken, sweet potatoes and brussels sprouts.

Mon, 11/15: Rest day. I not feeling so well. I have a sinus headache, sore throat and cough. Maybe I got too much fresh air this past weekend!

Sun, 11/14: 10.6 miles, 1:52:50, 10:39 pace, 58F, walking stops, no pain.



Before the start of Stage #3

Start of Stage #3
CJ and I went down to our home away from home, Mendon Ponds Park, for the Dirt Cheap Stage Race 3 on a beautiful Sunday morning. I had a bit of time to stretch but not warm up. I wore my amber shades again. The early part of the race was quite hilly and I just hung on as I warmed up. My strategy was as usual ... walk the uphills when they were steep, run the downhills and flats. I had a gel at miles 5 and 7 which helped in the flat sections of the course. I contemplated taking my shirt off but didn't. I picked up the pace a wee bit and passed a few runners. I hung on with a slight right calf tightness during the last few miles. I finished 64th out of 115, results here. I was 10th out of 16 in my age group, results here. I felt almost human at the end unlike last year when I needed to be helped to a chair.


Just after the start

Somewhere in Stage #3
Everyone who completed the Dirt Cheap Stage Race received a way cool green hoodie. I won a Salamon Hydration System with the triangular water bottle at the raffle. Two for two, baby!

Again, many thanks to Fleet Feet for putting on another most excellent event! Also, many thanks to CJ for helping me out this weekend. She is a real trooper ... she waits for me while I am running around in the woods. Thank you, sexy!

Later, the Buffalo Bills won their first game of the season against the Detroit Lions (now 0-25 in away games)... in typical Bills fashion. They won 14-12. Detroit scored a TD with 14 seconds to go and were a 2 point conversion from forcing the game to OT. But a win is a win ... the Bills have had their share of bad luck this year.
Keeping active, Doug

Sunday, 11/7/10 to Saturday, 11/13/10

I ran 4 times this week, 19.35 miles.

Sun, 11/7: Rest day. I watched the Bills (0-8) lose their latest, 19-22, to the Bears. They have lost their last three games by 3 points. Their offense is putting up points , their defense is giving up more ... especially during the four quarter or overtime.

Mon, 11/8: Another rest day. CJ made turkey burgers, cauliflower and salad for supper.

Tue, 11/9: 6.8 miles, 53:29, 7:52 pace, 40F, cloudy, no stops, no pain.

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

CJ and I went down to Fleet Feet for the usual Cobbs Hill run ... the first one in the dark. I dressed a bit cool: ls, ss tech shirt, shorts, hat and light gloves. I wore my reflective vest and headlight ... of course. I went up the long way, did 3 Y's, then blazed down Monroe Ave back to the store. A sweet run! CJ did 1.5 Y's, 3.1 miles ... 53 minutes, a PR! Afterward, we had the usual pasta dinner ... yum like usual!

Wed, 11/10: Rest day.

Thu, 11/11: 5 miles, 39:51, 7:58 pace, 44F, night, calm, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Data for Remington's Run #7

CJ and I headed down to Reminton's for the final Remington's Run of the year. I ran the usual 5 miles. Along Winton I encountered CJ resting on the sidewalk. She had tripped on uneven sidewalk. I helped her up. She dusted herself off and walked back to Remington's. I ran on into the night. She was no worse for the wear I found out later. She was a bit peeved because she was really moving ... 11 minutes/mile pace!

Later, after a supply run to the usual Wegmans, CJ made an excellent late dinner of pan-fried catfish, sweet potato fries and salad with shrimp as an appetizer ... yummmmm!

Fri, 11/12: Rest day. CJ would not let me run or even walk. We had a nice pre Dirt Cheap Stage Race pasta dinner.

Sat 9AM, 11/13, 3.15 miles, 29:52, 9:25 pace, 60F, sunny, calm, walked hills, no pain.



Picking my way up one of the steep uphills

After Stage #1
CJ and I had some logistics problems at the first race. We just didn't get out the door quite early enough. I had to pick up my tag at Stewart Lodge, drive the mile over to the corner of Pond Rd and Douglas Rd, then walk a quarter mile up to the start with my gym bag. I arrived about two minutes before the start still needing to put on my trail shoes. I didn't get a chance to stretch or warm up. I looked up at the clock and realized that they were starting people. Lucky for me, it was a time trail start, one runner every 10 seconds. I walked up ... looking for my place in the line. I slipped in my place one person behind the next one to go off. Fifteen seconds later, I was my turn and off I went ... totally unprepared and unstretched. It was a difficult 3 mile course ... it seemed like it was all uphill. I know it's not possible but that's how it seemed. I did OK ... I finished 49th out of 109, results here. I finished 5th out of 13 in my age group, results here. I won a pair of Hex Ryder sunglasses at the raffle after the race.

CJ and I stayed down at Mendon Ponds Park between Race #1 and #2. There was a nice breakfast of pancakes and muffins for the runners after Race #1. It was nice to just chill and rest. The weather warmed up quite nicely.

Sat 1PM, 11/13, 4.45 miles, 40:52, 9:11 pace, 60F, sunny, calm, walking stops, no pain.


The start of Stage #2

The second race at Devil's Bathtub went off well at 1PM. I wore the amber shades in my sunglasses. They really helped me pick out the rocks and roots among all the leaves. I motored along ... walked the hills that I needed to walk, ran the downhills and flats. After a bit, I started running right through the mud ... seeking the straightest line to the finish. The infamous up the stairs finish was tough but I survived. I finished in 48th out of 125, results here. I was 5th out of 13 in my age group, results here.



Many thanks to Fleet Feet for putting on another most excellent event!

Later, after some rest, we had my youngest son over for quick dinner of rotisserie chicken and potato salad. He was the first person who has eaten supper at our apartment ... well, besides us that is!

Keeping active, Doug