Sunday, 9/18/11 to Saturday, 9/26/11

I ran 2 times this week, 10.4 miles.

Sunday, 9/18/11: 7 miles, 1:05:36, 9:20 pace, 60F, sunny, calm, no stops, really mild hip pain after 5 miles

Garmin Connect Activity for Summit County Bike-Hike Trail plus lots of off road trail

Everyone was still asleep when I headed out at 10AM for the nearby Barlow Rd trailhead of the Summit County Bike-Hike Trail in OH. I met up by chance with a guy named Joey who showed some sweet and pretty trails off the pavement. I learned that he is a sort of running pied piper, head of Phillips Phylers and has run in 15 Bostons. It was great to run with him, he showed some things I would never seen. The level bike-hike trail would have been OK but really, really boring and a lot harder on my hips. A nice happenstance on a really sunny morning!

A long day in Ohio before we headed back at 6PM ... Christine wanted to upload wedding pictures, we saw her father, her older brother and ate supper at a Subway in Ravenna. We pulled into our parking lot at 11:45AM, bushed.

I later learned that the Buffalo Bills won their home opener versus Oakland Raiders in thrilling fashion 38-35 ... scoring 5 consecutive TDs in the 2nd half with the winner at 14 seconds to go! Still, they had to sweat it out at the end when a simulaneous reception in the Oakland endzone was ruled a touchback instead of a touchdown. Later, I saw replays that showed it was clearly an interception.

Monday, 9/19/11: Rest day.

A really hectic day at work after taking Friday off! There was lots of tedious work getting more printers deployed. It's harder than just unboxing the printer.

Tuesday, 9/20/11: A "No-Bo" walk with Christine.

Garmin Connect Activity for Genesee Valley Park - "No-Bo" walk

Christine and I were 10 minutes late getting down to Genesee Valley Park and found that everyone had left already. So Christine convinced me to head out for a "No-Bo" walk with her. She was hurting a bit with shin splints for most of the walk but she continued onward.

Wednesday, 9/21/11: 3.4 miles, 36:06, 10:31 pace, 76F, cloudy, calm, not humid in the woods, some walks up hills, a bit of pain.


Christine was feeling very sad, so I headed out the final Fleet Feet Dirt Cheap of 2011 solo. The usual crowd of trail runners were gathered at McGregor's. I started out kind of hard down the dirt road. A left hand turn after 1/4 miles put us on single track quickly. I kept up until I came upon a steep, slippery downhill ... I slipped and fell on my butt and right side. I collected myself and ran on. I could feel that I hurt one of my right ribs. I slowed a bit but I didn't feel any sharp pain when I ran ... so I continued onward. Some of the turns were pretty quick and slippery but I didn't fall again. I took a look at my right arm when I got done ... it was covered in mud. I was sure that other parts of me were mud covered also, ;-).

I did OK ... even after falling, 50th out of 206, link here and 4th out of 17 in my M50-54 age group. I was 3rd out of 20 in my M50-54 age group in the series, link here. I didn't stay long at the post race party. My right side was hurting. I didn't break anything, just bruised and battered. It kind of hurt all night when I moved.

Thursday, 9/22/11: Rest day.

A busy day at work ... even though I hurt when I moved. Christine fixed a nice supper of spare ribs, rice and broccoli. Mmmm!

Friday, 9/23/11: Another rest day.

An even busier day at work ... I deployed another 6 printers before noon. I should have taken Christine out for a "No-Bo" and I should have done a Happy Hour run down at Fleet Feet but I was beyond tired. We watched our latest DVD from NetFlix, Tron: Legacy. It was a bit scratched so Christine's DVD player played it with frequent flashes of blue screen. My DVD player called it a Bad Disc. We put up with it for a while before I tried it in my laptop where it played just fine.

Saturday, 9/24/11: Yet another rest day.

Christine and I woke up around 6:40AM for her "No-Bo" workout out at Durand Eastman beach. She didn't want to do go ... I heard "I am not a runner" before she left. I really wanted to go but my ribs still hurt plus I needed more sleep. She was so proud of herself when she came back. She had a great workout with several bursts of running!

Later we managed to get out for Groupon aided late lunch / early supper at McGraw's Irish Pub in East Rochester. The Guiness and Sherpard's Pie were excellent! Afterward, we watched the original True Grit with John Wayne and Glen Campbell. A bit later, we watched the two most recent episodes of Battlestar Galactica.

Sunday, 9/11/11 to Saturday, 0/17/11

I ran 2 time this week, 12.8 miles.

Sunday, 9/11/11: Rest day.

Christine and I just rested. I didn't even go out and get the Sunday paper or donuts! I watched the Bill beat the hapless KC Chiefs, 41-7.

Monday, 9/12/11: Another rest day.

I kind of needed another day off from running ... though I did think about it.

Tuesday, 9/13/11: 6.6 miles, 59:28, 9:01 pace, 78F, cloudy, windy, no pain during the workout.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF speed workout, 8x400m repeats

I took a nice, slow run up from the store to the Cobbs Hill reservoir, maybe 7:45 pace. I did 4 400m repeats around 1:36. Then I met up with Bill Beyerbach and picked up the pace ... we did 4 more around 1:26 which is under 6:00 mile pace. We did them going both upwind and downwind ... sweet! Then we took a slower run back to the store. I nursed a bit of a left quad cramp ... which I ignored until it went away. We ran back in some sprinkles. The wind is blowing in cooler weather ... it will be in the high 50s by Thursday.

Bill told me all about his 1:39:30 at the Onondaga Half on Saturday, results here. He was 59th out of 438 and took first in his M55-59 age
group! Awesome!

Wednesday, 9/14/11: 6.2 miles, 51:23, 8:17 pace, 74F, cloudy, 2 stops, some hip pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Genesee Valley Park out the Greenway Trail 10K

Christine and I headed down to Genesee Valley Park for her "No-Bo" workout. She headed out for a 2 mile walk with 4 runs of 30 seconds. She said she got some pain in her shins while she ran. I headed out the Greenway Trail until almost the railroad crossing on Sottsville Road before I turned back. My hips started hurting after a couple of miles.

After a nice dinner, we watched a DVRed King Arthur, then went to bed.

Thursday, 9/15/11: Rest day

A hectic day at work ... the usual before I take a day off. After a relaxing, enjoyable evening, I watched a DVRed McLintock! with John Wayne ... the Duke!

Friday, 9/16/11: Another rest day

I took a day off to celebrate my 54th birthday. I took a side trip out to Newark to pick up some stuff that my daughter out in Kent OH needed and to see my youngest son. Christine and I don't start out on trips well. We eventually got started on our trip to OH at 5:13PM. We only stopped to change drivers for 2 minutes and go to Cuyahoga Falls, OH at 9:45PM. We ate supper at the Wing Warehouse and had some beverages before bunking out at her daughter's apartment. Many thanks to her and her boyfriend, Nick, for letting us stay with them for 2 nights!

Saturday, 9/17/11: 1.3 miles, "No-Bo" walk with Christine

Garmin Connect for Summit County Metro Park - Hampton Hills

We slept in and had a leisurely morning. It got a bit hectic when we all got dressed up for the wedding. It was an outdoor wedding with his father doing the minister duty. There was a 3.5 hour gap between the wedding and reception. Christine and I changed and got out to one of the Summit County Metro Parks. We "No-Bo"ed on a semi-gnarly up and down walk on a trail loop. Christine threw in 3 30 second runs ... she is a trooper!

We changed back into our dress clothes and headed to the reception. We had a good time. I met more of her relation ... this time as her fiancee! We danced one dance before the music turned too young for our tastes. I am beginning to know my way around the Cuyahoga Falls, Kent and Ravenna area. All in all, a pretty nice day out in OH.

Sunday, 9/4/11th to Saturday, 9/10/11

I ran 4 times this week, 28.3 miles

Sunday, 9/4/11: Rest day.

A definite rest day. Christine and I just lazed around. I did the hunter/gatherer thing at Wegmans and got some ribs for supper.

I learned from my ex that my daughter got fired from her new job in OH. She couldn't get to work (3.7 miles away according to Google). Though if she had tried to walk as the crow flys it would have been less. She said that: a) she couldn't get a ride from her roommates; b) the buses weren't running often enough; c) she didn't want to walk. Maybe she should get a used bicycle. Well, she learned that she was just a number with lots of other people that would take her job. Hopefully she will find another job closer to her apartment.

Kudos to all my running peeps who did long runs, ran the Oak Tree Half down in Geneseo or the Monster Half or Full Marathon down in Virgil. You know who you are ... I salute you!

Monday, 9/5/11: Another rest day.

I thought about running ... not very hard obviously! Christine and I just relaxed and chilled. We like being engaged ... but beginning to plan a wedding makes eloping sound attractive!

Tuesday, 9/6/11: 6.7 miles, 1:02:36, 9:20 pace, 64F, cloudy, calm, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF speed workout, 5x800 repeats with 400m recovery

Christine and I headed down to Fleet Feet to partake in the usual FF speed workout. I ran up to the Cobbs Hill reservoir nice and easy ... but slowly picked up the pace. The workout was 800m repeats with 400m recovery. Up on the reservoir I teamed up with Bill Beyerbach. We just built off of each other and ran some great splits: 3:13, 3:15, 3:11, 3:09 and 3:07. We ran each repeat hard but somehow they felt easy ... it was hard to describe. It was a super sweet run!! I ran nice and easy back to the store while Bill did some hill repeats in preparation for the upcoming Virgil Crest 50M on 9/24.

Wednesday, 9/7/11: Rest day.

Just your average rest day, with a supper before 8PM(!) and some DVRed crime dramas.

Thursday, 9/8/11: 5 miles, 37:04, 7:25 pace, 74F, cloudy, calm, 4 traffic stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Remington's Run

Christine and I headed down to Remington's for the usual Remington's Run. I headed out with Bill Beyerbach for 5 miles. We ran negative splits for 4 out of 5 miles: 7:39, 7:29, 7:34, 7:12, 7:07. Nice! Now if I could do this in a race! Christine walked the 2 mile route. We stayed for some rehydration and to talk about wedding plans. Nothing was decided.

Friday, 9/9/11: 4.1 miles, 30:58, 7:33 pace, 76F, sunny, calm, not humid, 1 traffic stop, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF Happy Hour run

I headed down to Fleet Feet solo for the usual Happy Hour run. It was a No Boundaries graduation night so there were a lot of "No-Bo"s there. I headed out a bit slow but soon limbered up and put a hurt on the pavement ... lol! I just ran nice and easy then cranked it up like usual. It felt nice to get out and sweat after a long Friday at work.

Saturday, 9/10/11: 2 runs of 6.2 miles, first of 53:21 at 8:36 pace, second of 56:09 at 9:04; 70F, sunny, calm, not humid, mild hip pain on the way back

Garmin Connect Activity for Genesee Valley Park - 10K west on the Canal Trail
Garmin Connect Activity for Canal Trail East, 10K back to Genesee Valley Park

Christine and I headed down to Genesee Valley Park at 8AM. She has enrolled in the the latest Fleet Feet No Boundaries program. She walked 2 miles her first time out. While she was "No Bo"ing I went out the Canal Trail for 10K at a nice and easy pace. I had some Gu at the turn, then headed back at a slower nice and easy pace. My hips started hurting about halfway back. I think a new pairs of running shoes are in my near future ... 533.8 miles are on my current pair.

After a brief rest I headed out to Newark to pick up my father's mail at the post office, then out to the Wayne County Nursing Home to see him.

Sunday, 8/28/11 to Saturday, 9/3/11

I ran 2 times this week, 15.38 miles

Sunday, 8/28/11: 7.58 miles, 1:34:50, 10:46 pace, 70F, cloudy, windy, multiple stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Durand Eastman Park run

I headed out to Durand Eastman Park for a run with the Fleet Feet Endurance Team. Rochester was feeling minor effects of Hurricane (then Tropical Storm) Irene. Namely, it was cloudy and there was a stiff north wind that really whipped up the waves on Lake Ontario. About 30 runners showed up. I stayed with the lead group. We ran really nice and easy as we explored the many trails. I had an option to run another 5 miles but chose to just head up to the west end of the beach and ran back on the beach to add another couple more miles. There were a couple of wind surfers running on the surf, it looked like they were having fun!

Monday, 8/29/11: Rest day.

CJ and I did laundry after work. My Casio G'zOne Commando came today via FedEx. I activated it, downloaded my contacts using Backup Assistant, set up Yahoo, Gmail and Facebook, and paired my Bluetooth. It will take a bit of getting used to.

Tuesday, 8/30/11: 7.8 miles, 1:04:48, 8:18 pace, 74F, sunny, calm, not so humid, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for 4x1000m repeat with 400m recovery

CJ and I headed down to Fleet Feet for the usual speed workout up on Cobbs Hill Reservoir. I warmed up running up to the hill nice and easy. The workout was 1000m repeats with 400m recovery. I did 4 loops. My times were around 4:00 (I had trouble with the lap button), 4:12, 4:12 and 4:13. I took the long way back. I started nice and easy, then started to push it a bit. CJ walked up to the corner of Monroe and Highland and back. Hopefully she will find her Nike+ soon.

Wednesday, 8/31/11: Rest day.

Just your average rest day. I watched Killers, a NetFlix Instant movie on my new phone. Kinda cool ... I had to hook up headphones.

I ran 100.71 miles during the month of August
9 races, 55.8 racing miles, in the month of August
16 days out of 31 days, 6.3 miles/run.
To the end of August 2011: 122 runs out 242 days, 765 miles, 6.3 miles/run

Thursday, 9/1/11: Another average rest day.

Friday, 9/2/11: 4.2 miles 33:35, 7:58 pace, 85F, sunny, calm, humid, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF Happy Hour run

I just had to run so I headed down to Fleet Feet for packet pickup for tomorrow's Summerfest 12K and also CJ's 5K and for the usual Happy Hour run. Only 5 other runners showed up so per usual, I was on my own. I tried to hold back and for the most part succeeded. I was dripping wet when I got done ... it was very muggy.

Saturday, 9/3/11: 1:00:41, 8:09 pace, 82F, sunny, calm, muggy, 4 walks, no pain.

 

The start ...

 

Just after the start ...

 

Just before the turn back onto Douglas Rd ...

Gritting my teeth for the finish!

Christine (henceforth CJ is Christine) and I headed down to our home away from home, Mendon Ponds Park, for the Fleet Feet Summerfest. I ran the 12K. The conditions were brutal ... just like at the Hamlin Half. I went out a bit fast like always, a 6:58 first mile. I was passed by Bill, Wilt and Heather just before the first mile. John passed me when I walked through the water stop at mile 2. I walked through the other two water stops to make sure I stayed hydrated ... I did not handle the heat and humidity well. I soldiered on, Wendy passed me around mile 6 but I kept her in view. I kept on running and crossed the line in under 1:01, a 24 second PR from last year. I had wanted to break one hour but I considered it a good effort considering the conditions. I finished 65th out of 325, results here. I was 6th out of 25 in my age group, results here. Christine walked/ran the 5K in 56:43, results here. She may have finished last but she told herself that she was going to finish. She lapped the people that weren't there!

Ellen, the race director, calling in the racers!

I had asked Ellen, the race director, if I could make a special announcement before the awards ceremony. I had not expected her to hand me the microphone. I managed to ask Christine to join me. I told her (and everyone else) that we had been together since Summerfest 2009 2 years minus 2 days ago after being separated 32 years ago, then I asked her to marry me. She was crying (she said she was sweating) as she said yes! Everyone thought it was so sweet! She was completely surprised that I had asked her to marry me so publicly! I can keep a secret!

Asking Christine to marry me!

  

Putting the engagement ring on her finger!

A post engagement kiss ... after she said yes!

Engaged!

Ellen gave us 2 tickets to tonight's Red Wings game. On the way home we stopped at Starbucks. When Christine mentioned that I had asked her to marry me, they gave us free coffee! She called her 2 kids, father and 2 brothers while she sipped her iced tea. I called my 3 kids, ex, brother and sister when we got home. A nice bath and shower helped cool us down from all the excitement.

Later, we went to Red Wings game. We ate supper there, then settled in the excellent front row seats down the first base side that a Fleet Feet Brooks Racing Team member donated. It was an excellent game. The Red Wings fell behind 3-0 early but rallied to tie in the 7th, go ahead 6-3 in the 8th and win by going 1-2-3 in the top of the 9th, link here. We enjoyed the post game fireworks before celebrating our new status of being engaged!!