Happy New Year's Eve, 12/31/11

Happy New Year!

What happened running-wise during 2011?

I ran 1136.9 miles, 184 runs in 364 days, 6.2 miles/run.
I ran 53 races during the year with 296.2 racing miles, 5.6 miles/race.

I lowered my 5K PR from 21:58 in 2010 to 20:31.
I lowered my 5 mile PR from 36:44 in 2010 to 34:18.
I lowered my 10K PR from 46:22 in 2010 to 43:48.
I lowered my 12K PR from 1:01:05 in 2010 to 1:00:41 ... when I was engaged to my beautiful Christine!
I lowered my 7.5 miles PR from 1:02:33 in 2009 to 57:24.
I established an 8 mile PR of 1:01:36.
I lowered my 15K PR from 1:17:05 in 2010 to 1:10:20
I lowered my Half Marathon PR from 1:46:43 in 2010 to 1:40:11.
A personal PR ... 131 in 2011 from 124 in 2010.

One might think that all I think about is running and PRs. Well, yes, this year has been a special year. I seem to be getting a bit faster. I basically try to just run as fast as I can as far as I can when I race. Thus pacing was a problem, but I have tried to learn to start slow. I ran a lot more races this year, 53, versus 35 in 2010. I enjoy running, enjoy the competition of racing and competing in my competitive M50-54 age group.

I thank my darling Christine for all her support during this past year. I was so proud of her running this past year in the Fall No Boundaries program. She is trying to become a runner! Yea, baby girl!

What am I looking forward to in 2012? Well, I would like to go sub 20 in the 5K if I can find a fast, flat 5K and latch onto someone to pace with or draft off. Also ... I would like to lower my PR in my only marathon, 4:29:27, set during the hot as blazes Rochester Marathon way back in 2008. However ... I seem to handle anything under a Half Marathon pretty OK. Anytime I have attempted anything greater than 13.1 miles ... things have not turned out so well. Sehgahunda  I in 2010, Mendon Ponds 50K in 2010, Sehgahunda II in 2011 come to mind.

Can I slow down enough to accomplish the greater distance? Well, I DO intend to take on Sehgahunda III in 2012 and the Rochester Full Marathon in 2012 ... come hell or high water

Sunday, 12/25/11 to Saturday, 12/31/11

I ran 4 times this week, 27.3 miles
During the month of December I ran 14 times, 86.2 miles, 6.2 miles/run.

Sunday, 12/25/11: 6.2 miles, 7:42 pace, 32F, sunny, calm, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Beth's Apt - Out to 303

We woke after a restful sleep and nice morning stretch out in Cuyahoga Falls at Beth and Nick's apartment. I slipped out before breakfast for a nice run. I just run up towards the canal path on Barlow Rd but just get going on Akron-Cleveland Rd to Rt 303 instead which turned out to be 3.1 miles. It was a nice and easy run.

We had a bit of navigation argument on the way to her brother's, Bill, house in Ravenna since my smart phone decided to reboot right when we needed it. The usual folks were over. I slipped out after lunch to see my daughter in Kent. I brought all the boxes I could fit in Chris's car. We had a nice conversation. Later I had to go back so I could give her my Christmas card and the tape gun to put together all the boxes when she needs to pack.

Monday, 12/26/11: Travel day.

We packed and got on the road around 10AM. The first stop was Bob Evan's for breakfast, another chain restaurant that we had a bad experience in. Yes, they had a lot of customers and seemed to be understaffed. But I was starving ... so their blueberry pancakes did fill me up. We paid cash and fled. Their waiting room was full ... poor suckers! The trip home was uneventful ... once I got to the left hand seat. We got home at 3PM. We really should have gone out for a run but we just stretched for a while.

Tuesday, 12/27/11: 6.0 miles, 47:34, 7:56 pace, 38F, night, light mist, no stops, no pain.

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

Christine and I really needed sleep and slept in until 12:22PM. Breakfast was a couple tall cups of coffee and some Cinnamon Toast Crunnch. Later we had pasta around 5PM. Which was a bit of a problem considering we went running at 6PM.

Yes, it was a light mist. Yes, it was just above freezing. Yes, we were Winter Warriors. Yes, we went out anyway! We felt better for it ... but we were still glad when we finished! Just a bit sluggish but still sweet!

Wednesday, 12/28/11: 9.1 miles, 1:21:39, 8:58 pace, 20F, night, a bit crisp, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for East Zoo trail out to Thomas Ave

I really needed to get out for reasons that were obvious to Christine and I. Yes, it was cold, a bit windy and had snowed during the day. But a bit after six out I was. I put on my Salamon XT Wings 2 along with my Yaks and headed to the east Zoo trail. There was about 1 inch of snow when I started. The snow slowly increased the further north I got toward Thomas Ave where there was about 4 to 5 inches. I ran the 4.55 miles down to Thomas Ave, nice and easy, 39:01, 8:35 pace, with no stops. I walked for a bit at the turn, then headed back at a slower pace. I walked a couple more times on the way back. There was a bit of wind at times but nothing too much.

Thursday, 12/29/11: Rest day.

Just a usual rest day. We rented an On Demand movie though, Cowboys and Aliens. It was pretty good with Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford and Olivia Wilde.

Friday, 12/30/11: 6.0 miles, 44:14, 7:22 pace, 45F, night, calm, a real light sprinkle, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF Ridgeway - Hendrick loop with another loop

Christine has developed a head cold so I headed out to FF Ridgeway solo. I headed out out a bit slow then picked it up and held it most of the way. I headed out to Pickdale Drive and did the Hendrick. When I got to Dolores I headed back to Pickdale Drive for a second loop. I didn't slow too much on the second loop.

Saturday, 12/31/11: Rest day ... well, maybe not.

I headed out to Newark to help my youngest son move to his grandparents in Lyons. It went OK. He had to go to work at Byrne Dairy in Phelps from 2-9, then 6-2 tomorrow morning. My ex was feeling poorly so I helped my ex vacate her old apartment. We took 2 trips to her new apartment. Some may question how I can help my ex ... I have an amicable situation with her. If she needs help I will help. My 3 kids are still needing help on occasion. Because if I help her she will be more able to help my kids.

Later, Christine and I dined on barbeque ribs, potato salad and sweet potato to celebrate New Year's Eve while watching Marie Antionette with Kirsten Durnst.

Sunday, 12/18/11 to Saturday, 12/24/11

I ran 3 times this week, 12.7 miles

12/18/11: 4.4 miles, 30:21, 7:01 pace, 20F, sunny, crisp, no stops, no pain.


Christine and I headed out to the Webster Town Park at the corner of Lake and Hold Rd for Polar Cat #2. Yes, it was my 52nd race of the year. Yes, it was sunny, cold and crisp ... but it was a race morning so off we went! Some non-runners would have stayed in their beds ... but we are certifiably crazy! We met up with all the usual Polar Cat runners and got our series hoodie sweatshirts. It was Christine's first one so she is quite proud of it.

Christine got an early start around 9:35AM. The rest of us started at 10AM, a two loop 2.2 mile route. I started out kind of hot, passed a few runners, mile 1 at 7:04. Then I just kept it amped, chased a blond ponytail that I never caught, mile 2 in 6:56, the halfway point was around 15:00, mile 3 in 7:09, mile 4 in 6:57. The last 0.4 mile was up an incline in 6:55 pace. I was perfectly dressed and didn't overheat at all. I passed Christine just before mile 3. She was running in good form, she finished in 1:18:14. She was very happy with her effort and knows this course like the back of her hand after practicing on it before and running the Turkey Trot.

Our overall results can be found here, the age group results here. I finished 6th out of 55 and 2nd out of 4 in my M50-54 age group.

We had chicken and rice for lunch, then subs later. The Buffalo Bills lost to the Miami Dolphins, 13-30, their 7th in a row, link here. Thankfully, this home game was not on TV. Later, we watched a DVR'd episode of The Mentalist. Christine watched a TCM classic, Gypsy ... I went to bed.

Monday, 12/19/11: Rest day. Nothing unusual.

Tuesday, 12/20/11: Another rest day. I should have run ... but I just didn't have the energy. I just dragged all day so I just bagged it, went to bed early and got 8 hours of sleep.

Wednesday, 12/21/11: 2.9 miles, 29:20, 10:07 pace, 52F, night, windy, no pain.



Christine and I headed down to Cobbs Hill for the first Snow Cheap of the 2011/2012 season. Christine gave some thought to running this race ... but wisely reconsidered given that it would be her first trail race and it was dark, wet and slippery. Her day will come! It was warm (above 50F) and windy so I wore shorts, short sleeve tech top, my Brooks Racing Team singlet and arm warmers, light gloves and my headlight (of course).

The race was two loops of roughly 1.45 miles. The race started out in a bit of a scrum with some tight quarters when we edged by the tennis courts and up some hills. It took a bit to get into trail racing mode with the lots of ups and downs. I did pick off some runners when we got up to the reservoir loop. Then we headed into Washington Grove when it got muddy, rocky and rooty quickly. Luckily I put the brakes on and stepped wisely. Everyone called out hazards as best we could. I came through loop 1 in 14:27, heard Christine yell, "Go, Doug, go!" and headed back out. I passed Bill Beyerbach shortly afterward. The second loop was more strung out but similar with more of the same ... with wetter mud it seemed. I ended loop 2 in 14:53 for a total of 29:20. Stats ... I was 35th out of 165 in the No Snowshoe category, link here. I was 1st out of 13 in my M50-59 age group, link here.

Afterward, we went into Riley Lodge for the obligatory and always filling post-race grub. I relaxed and talked with fellow runners ... always a pleasure. Over 200 runners took part in the festivities ... we are getting out there! It may be winter according to the calendar but not tonight! It will get colder, hopefully there will be more snow by the next race on January 4th ... but it won't stop us!

Thursday, 12/22/11: Rest day.

I really should have gone out for a run ... but Christmas is coming so I went to my company's get together. Then while watching The Santa Clause and The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause I worked on my annual Christmas letter. I hope to mail them before Christmas!

Friday, 12/23/11: 5.4 miles, 40:37, 7:31 pace, 24F, night, calm, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF Greece run

Christine wasn't feeling it, so I headed out to Fleet Feet Greece for the usual Friday night Happy Hour run. It was a bit cold than usual ... but if you dress for 20F warmer ... it's all good! I went out for the Hendrick route, than wrapped back in at Cobbleskill Drive for another 2 miles. I just ran ... sweet!

Then I went out some surgical grocery shopping at Wegmans which resulted in a frozen pizza supper with apple pie for dessert ... though we never got around to eating the apple pie, :-(

Saturday, 12/24/11: Travel day.

I had to go out to Newark to get my father's mail and to see my youngest son. His car was having left front tire issues ... the out of round kind. I tried to pump it up with my mini air compressor but air was going out as fast as it was going in. I couldn't do too much on Christmas Eve plus he had to go to work 2-10 and 6-2 on Christmas.

I have learned that I have to wait for Christine to get ready on her own. Pressuring her to get ready to travel only results in her getting ready slower. We started out for Cuyahoga Falls, OH around 4:45PM and got there sometime around 9:30PM. We used my Google Maps off my smart phone for navigation once we got close ... kind of cool!

Sunday, 12/11/11 to Saturday, 12/17/11

I ran 4 times this week, 19.8 miles.

Sunday, 12/11/11: 5 miles, 34:18, 6:52 pace, 28F, sunny, crisp, no stops, no pain, PR!



I headed out solo for the first Freezeroo out in Spencerport. Christine wanted to sleep in. It was sunny, cold and crisp with just a breath of wind. I wore my tights, long sleeve tech shirt, Brooks racing singlet and Brooks nightlife jacket. I also wore my heavy running gloves and stocking hat. In retrospect I could have not wore the jacket and gone with lighter gloves and just a hat.

I went out easy at the start, sticking with and just ahead of Heather who I heard wanted to run sub 34. The first mile was announced as 6:58, my Garmin said 6:47. I picked up the pace a bit and picked off some runners ... too early, mile 2 and 3 were 6:51 and 6:46. Heather passed me around mile 2.5. I had a lull around mile 4, 7:04. I was running but not flat out. I did pick it up a bit around mile 4.5 until the finish, mile 5 was 6:44. I sprinted to the line at 5:51 pace as I tried to hold off a runner ... who turned out to be 14! I forgot to turn off my Garmin for a bit ... it said 34:50 when I did. So I figured that I was close to my  5 mile PR of 34:35 that I set at Johnny's Runnin o' the Green way back in March.

I couldn't wait so I checked the side of the Fleet Feet van when I left and saw that I ran a 34:18 ... a PR by 17 seconds! Sweet! So ... I was pretty pumped when I got back home and told Christine. I was 43rd out of 240, results here. I was 4th out of 30 in my M50-54 age group, results here.

Christine and I went for what probably is our last ride in my 1999 Pontiac Grand Am with 254K miles on it. That was my mother's car ... may she rest in peace. I have had that car since it had 40K. It needs brakes, has transmission seals that don't really let it change gears when turning left except when it gets warm and gets abysmal gas mileage. We had to jump it to get it started and then drove it out to Williamson and back. I am looking into selling it for scrap. I have heard that you can get about $200 ... which isn't bad.

Afterwards Christine agreed that I deserved ribs ... so she got some when she endured the crowds at BJs. I stayed home to take a shower and wash the dishes. Mmmmm ... ribs and sweet potatoes!

Why do I believe? The Buffalo Bills lost their 6th game in a row to the San Diego Chargers, 10-27, to go to 5-8 and officially eliminate themselves from playoff contention, link here. They might have a bit of trouble selling tickets to the rest of the home games this season at the Ralph.

Monday, 12/12/11: Rest day.

Just your average rest day. After a production pre-dinner stretch, Christine fixed up a nice dinner of leftovers: chicken, broccoli, rice along with macroni and cheese. We spent some time with the TV off before we watched some classic DVR'd episodes of ST:TNG, The Best of Both Worlds, Part 1 and Part 2.

Tuesday, 12/13/11: 3.1 miles, 24:52, 8:02 pace, 42F, night, calm, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF Greece run

Christine and I headed out the new Fleet Feet Greece store for the official ribbon cutting ceremony, Winter Warrior kickoff and ... cake! I felt like a rookie runner again ... being handed a sheet of instructions at Fleet Feet and just heading out into the night. I did find all the turns for the 3 mile run OK. Christine headed out for a 2.6 mile run. She said she ran pretty well and didn't overheat at all.

Wednesday, 12/14/11: Rest day.

A busy day at work. I would have loved to go for a run after work but instead headed out to Fleet Feet Greece for Dudes night where dudes hung out, ate dude food, drank dude beverages and played dude games like Tic-Tac-Toe (won a pair of Darn Tough socks) and table pong. Dudes rule! Or as I was corrected ... Girls rule, guys drool! Just as long as we all know and celebrate the differences, ;-)

Christine made a nice late dinner of pulled pork sandwiches and salad. We watched a DVR'd episode of The Mentalist before going to bed ... late, like usual.

Thursday, 12/15/11: 6.2 miles, 45:42, 7:22 pace, 54F, night, windy, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Out to Cooper Rd

Upstate New York's unusual December weather continues for another day! It was 54F when I went out at 6:22PM for a run. I wore just shorts, long sleeve tech top, hat and light gloves. I had my headlight and flasher on, of course! I just ran ... hard and concentrated on form, flying through the night, sweet!

We caught up on DVR'd episodes of Hawaii Five-O and NCIS. We do like our crime dramas!


Friday, 12/16/11: 5.5 miles, 41:22, 7:31 pace, 34F, night, calm, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Greece run, Hendrick + Barbara Lane

What a difference a day makes! 20F cooler and a cold wind by nightfall!

Christine and I headed down to Fleet Feet Greece for the usual Friday night Happy Hour run ... just in a different location. The new Greece location in the Long Pond - Ridgeway location does have its advantages: an ESL ATM, a bridal shop (that Christine noticed), a pizza shop named Pizzeria 5, a nail salon, a hair salon, a liquor store, a sit down restaurant, a BurgerKing, and a Tim Horton's. All you need in life, I guess.

We got there about ten minutes early. I headed out on the Hendrick route of 3.5 miles, then tacked on an extra 2 mile by looping back to Barbara Lane at a nice and easy 7:31 pace. I kind of like the new Greece Happy Hour routes; a more residential, less business route.Christine headed out on the 2 mile route, I gave her a touch as I passed her on the Hendrick route.

Christine and I got a medium pizza from Pizzeria 5 and ... it was nice and tasty!! We watched a nice DVD that I found ... Battlestar Galactica - The Plan. Awesome!

Saturday, 12/17/11: Rest day.

Christine and I don't like to get out too much on non-race Saturdays. Kudos to all the runners out at Fleet Feet at Brighton and Greece who went out for long runs.

We finally emerged so Christine could go to her nail salon, New Nails. We headed out to Quaker Steak & Lube for a nice supper, thanks to a coupon from Living Social. Then we caught up with DVR'd episodes of Chuck, NCIS: LA and Battlestar Galactica.

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

I ran 3 times this week, 26.4 miles.

Sunday, 12/4/11: 13.1 miles, 1:49:33, 8:22 pace, 55F, sunny, a bit windy, 3 stops, foot pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Up and Down the Genesee River

Christine and I really don't get out early to exercise ... but after some pre-run stretches we did. Christine headed to Planet Fitness for a hard cardiac workout on the bicycle.

I christened my new pair of Brook Adrenaline GTS 12s and headed out.

 I stopped for two packets of Gu at 6.43 miles, 51:53, 8:03 pace. I adjusted the sock on my right foot. I continued onward on the west side of the Genesee River. My feet started to hurt around mile 10 but I just continued onward. I did slow, the last 6.67 miles were in 8:34 pace. I made it up the stairs to the apartment and just about collapsed. Christine gave me a bottle of Powerade, then I just sat. I discovered that I had a small blister on my 2nd left toe.

Yes, the Buffalo Bills lost yet another game ... 17-23 to the Tennessee Titans to go 5-8, link here.

A nice supper of spare ribs, rice and broccoli also helped wit the post-run recovery. We watched our latest Redbox.com DVD, The Adjustment Bureau.

Monday, 12/5/11: A most definite rest day!

I definitely felt the effect of yesterday's impromtu half marathon. My right foot and left hip twinged at various points in the day. Plus I didn't get enough sleep the night before. The combination made for a long day. Christine didn't feel up to snuff either.We should have gone to bed early but we stayed up to watch a DVR'd episode of Pan Am and Hawaii Five-O. It's how we roll.

Tuesday, 12/6/11: 6.0 miles, 46:02, 7:40 pace, 37F, night, calm, no stops, no pain.

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

A busy day at work so I was more than ready for a run. I picked up Christine at the doctors and then we headed down to Fleet Feet in Brighton just in time. We headed out from where we parked. I wound my way through the middle of the pack up Monroe Ave, mile 1 was 7:46. I caught up with Bill Beyerbach just as I got to Cobbs Hill. We pounded out 2 Y's (miles 2, 3 and 4 were 8:14, 7:51 and 7:58) before he headed back. He is still getting over a cold. I pounded out another Y, mile 5 was 7:25, then I sped down Monroe Ave back to the store, mile 6 was 6:48. Sweet! The new Adrenalines felt a lot better than last Sunday. Maybe I had my Zensah compression socks on too tight.

Wednesday, 12/7/11: Rest day.

Just your average rest day after a day of work. Christine and I had a marvelous supper of leftover ribs, chicken, rice and salad. We settled down to watch DVR'd episode of Castle, NCIS: LA and Pan Am.

Thursday, 12/8/11: Rest day.

A slow day at work plus  my right thigh was tight during the day plus I was incredibly hungry after I shopped at Wegmans. Christine and I had a quick supper of rotisserie chicken and salad. We ended up watching a old James Bond movie, A View to a Kill.

Friday, 12/9/11: 7.3 miles, 56:33, 7:45 pace, 33F, night, a bit windy, real light snow, 1 stop for hydration, small blister on 2nd left toe.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF Happy Hour run, 4.2 + 3.1

A slow day at work is usually followed by a busy day ... so it was very busy today. I definitely needed a run so Christine and I headed down to Fleet Feet. I headed out just nice and easy and just kept running. I did the 4.2 mile route, then followed it up the 3.1 mile route. I found that you have to have an eye out for small potholes in the dark ... and even then you can't really see them. I caught the edge of several of them. My blister was caused by a bunched sock. Christine headed out for a 2 mile run.

Christine made a very nice (and late) supper of salmon burgers, potato pancakes along with a salad of spinach, mushrooms and tomatoes.

We were kind of tired for some odd reason ... and went to bed early.

Saturday, 12/10/11: Rest day.

After a nice morning stretch, I headed out to Newark to get my father's mail, sort and pick up my oldest son's stuff that he left behind when he moved to UMass and see my father at the Wayne County Nursing Home. He seemed alert but slurred his words a bit more than when I last saw him.

Back home, we had leftovers for supper. Then we watched the current DVR'd episodes of Battlestar Galactica. Just gotta get our weekly fix!