Sun, 7/17/11: 9.45 miles, 1:35:03m 10:04 pace, 88F, sunny, hot, hazy, humid, no pain.
Garmin Connect Activity for Up to the lake
I got out late ... it was already in the mid 80s. Which probably wasn't the best of ideas. I ran pretty well up to the lake, 4.8 miles, 39:03, 8:08 pace. I stopped up there for about 5 minutes. Then I started back. I soon found out that I had no energy left. I settled into a run/walk until 7.7 miles. Then I just gave up and walked back. It was just too hot and wasn't worth it.
CJ was more sensible and went out to Planet Fitness where she walked 3 miles.
We watched the Women's Soccer World Cup final ... CJ took a nap during the 2nd half. The US women gave it their all but ultimately not scoring after numerous chances in the first half plus poor clearing in the 2nd half and extra time did them in. Japan beat them 2-2 tie, 3-1 in PK. Links here and here.
Mon, 7/18/11: Rest day.
So far, July has been very dry. Only 0.05 inches of rain has fallen at the Rochester International Airport this month so far. I looked at the weather forecast for the next 10 days ... after a couple of days in the 80s, it will be above 90 the rest of the week! It looks like it will be hot in the bedroom for sure! CJ and I just put fans on ... then grin and bear it mostly!
CJ and I escaped the heat briefly to go see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 at the Regal Culver-Ridge. It was our first 3D film and it didn't disappoint! The effects were very good and didn't overpower the film. Now that I have seen all the movies I should read the books!
Tue, 7/19/11: 6.1 miles, 78F, sunny, calm, no stops.
Garmin Connect Activity for FF speed workout
I headed down to Fleet Feet for the Tuesday night speed workout. I headed up to Cobbs Hill in a slow jog, maybe 8:30 pace. Mark had us do a 800m run with 200m jog, 6 x 200m sprint with 170m jog, 800m run with 200m jog. I stayed with the lead group. I ran back to the store a bit faster. Then I stayed for a talk about ultra running. It was interesting to hear 4 ultra runners talk about their motivation, prep work, nutrition, DNFs, worst races, etc.
Wed, 7/20/11: approximately 4 miles, 37:11, 90F, sunny, calm, a bit humid, no pain.
A picture taken by Boots somewhere in the middle of the race
Yes, it was hot, hazy and humid! CJ and I headed down to the Devils Bathtub in Mendon Ponds Park for the Dirt Cheap #4. It was run as a time trial since we went down the infamous steps in numerical order every 5 seconds. It was hot so I headed out nice and heat. I didn't believe it possible but we did find ankle deep mud. A part of the course went either in a rather dry, muddy creek or in a twisty path a bit above the creek ... I chose the rather dry, muddy creek. Yes, it still had wet mud that I had to wash off later with a cool shower. I must say it was hot but I had a blast! CJ agreed! I did OK ... 105th out of 239, result here. I counted and I was 9th out of 24 in my age group.
A nice cool shower when we got home helped to wash off the mud and to cool me off. The bedroom was 86F during the night.
Thu, 7/21/11: Rest day.
A definite rest day. The high was 98F ... definitely hot, hazy and humid! Every time I went between buildings during work it seemed to be hotter.
I had a cholesterol test. The results were normal. My blood pressure was 119/71 and my pulse was 44. I guess I am healthy.
Fri, 7/22/11: Rest day.
My youngest son turned 22 today. He celebrated by going up to Niagara Falls for the weekend for a concert. After work I headed down to Fleet Feet to pick up the Shoreline packets for CJ and I. I tried to go to bed early ... the bedroom was hot like usual. Sleep has not come easily this week ... the bedroom has been above 84F all week, sometimes 89F while we are trying to sleep. The fans just blow the hot air around.
Sat, 7/23/11: 13.1 miles, 1:56:13, 8:54 pace, 84F, sunny, hot, humid, windy, no pain.
CJ and I cut it close this morning. I set my alarm for 5:45AM but it was set for Weekday so it didn't go off. CJ woke up at 6:31AM, I woke up at 6:38AM. We rushed around in a frenzy. Luckily, most everything was already in our bags. I had a banana and energy bar for breakfast. We were on the road by 6:56AM and out at Hamlin Beach State Park by 7:35AM.
Where or where is the finish?
Finally ... the finish!
I started out hot like usual. Don't I always? I soon realized that this race would not be a PR ... the conditions were brutal. It was around 84F or so, sunny, humid and windy. The breeze felt nice but it seemed like it was always a headwind. I started taking walk breaks at mile 3 or 4. I walked through every water stop. There seemed to be little shade on this flat course. I ran when I could, walked when I had to ... and endured. The last mile seemed to take forever. I finished in 1:56:13, good for 67th out of 273, link here. I was 9th out of 24 in my age group, link here.
Meanwhile, my darling girlfriend walked the 5K in 57:33, link here. She felt pretty good. Her ankle felt OK at the start but started to hurt after 1/2 mile. She was out there putting in the effort!
Afterward we both walked down to the beach and sat down in the waves of Lake Ontario to cool off ... that was fun and wet!! All in all, a tiring but satisfying way to spend a Saturday morning! Later, my hip joints ached like the dickens!
Later, CJ took me to Red Robin in Webster using her $25 gift card from MyPoints.com. I had the Whiskey BBQ Hamburger with a chocolate milkshake while CJ had the Ultimate Cheeseburger with an iced tea. Yum!
