Sunday, 1/22/12 to Saturday, 1/28/12

I ran 5 times this week, 34.87 miles.
Sunday, 1/22/12: Polar Cat #3, 19:44, 6:36 pace, 16F, sunny, calm, no stops, no pain.

Christine and I did our pre-race stretches (which ran late) and had to rush to get out to Powder Mill Park for the frosty Polar Cat #3. It was clear and cold. Luckily it was also calm. 45 runners lined up for the usual understated Polar Cat start. The 5K course was shortened to 3 miles because of ice in the parking lot. I started out hot because I wanted to warm up. Soon I was 4th, just behind a girl in a brunette ponytail. She slowly pulled away after mile 1. I just kept it going all the way. I heard rapid footsteps behind me in the last mile. Soon Bob Haas passed me. I did well, 19:47, 6:36 pace. I finished 5th out of 45, link here. I finished 2nd out of 3 in my M50-54 age group, link here. I think that my 5K lifetime PR of 20:31 could have been in jeopardy if the race was really a 5K. Alas ... but there will be other 5Ks this year.

After I finished I set out to rerun the race so I could find Christine. I was a bit worried that she would get lost. I was also concerned with how the cold would affect her since she had not ran a race since Polar Cat #2. I found her just before mile 2. She wanted me to run in front of her. She said that was helpful. Though I could not pace her very well. She finished in 53:11. She said that she was determined to finish and finish she did!

Afterward we met up with Bill Beyerbach. He had rushed over from an hour swim at RIT to start the race a minute late. Even so, he ran a 22:54 and won his M55-59 age group. He wanted to treat us to breakfast so we all drove over to the Liberty Family Restaurant. He dines there a lot so all the waitresses knew him.

Later after a nap and shower, Christine and I watched football and ate spare ribs. The AFC championship game was pretty exciting. The New England Patriots beat the Baltimore Ravens, 26-23, link here. The NFC championship game was just as exciting.  The NY Giants beat the SF 49ers in OT, 20-17, link here. So the Super Bowl will be a rematch of three years ago when the NY Giants spoiled the New England Patriots run at a perfect season. Later, Christine and I watched the latest Castle off the DVR.

Monday, 1/23/12: 10.3 miles, 1:21:50, 7:54 pace, 47F, night, a bit windy, 1 stop, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Out to the Lake

I needed a long run so I headed north to Lake Ontario on a route that I know is good for 10 miles. It was a warm night so I just wore compression shorts, a long sleeve tech top and my Brooks Racing Team arm warmers. I headed north to the Lake which is downhill so I ran the 5 miles at 7:34 pace. I took a couple of seconds to drink some water then headed back slower. I ran the 5.3 miles back at 8:07 pace. All in all, long run ... check! Sweet!

Tuesday, 1/24/12, Wednesday, 1/25/12

Just your usual rest day. My daughter came back from her trip to New York City where she saw Darren Criss twice in the Broadway musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and went to the Bronx Zoo. We just had to stop at the Barnes and Noble to get the latest magazine with Darren Criss in it, lol!

Karen putting the squeeze on Darren!

A sleepy snow leopard at the Bronx Zoo

A grizzly bear at the Bronx Zoo

A peacock at the Bronx Zoo

She had quite the time and told her mother and I about it once I got her to her mother's apartment in Newark. She also visited Times Square. She bought an Eeyore stuffed animal and mug at the Disney store and lots of candy at the M&M store.

Wednesday, 1/25/12: Another rest day

I really wished I had run. I came home very hungry on Wednesday, ate right away and never got up from the couch the rest of the night. Bummer!

Thursday, 1/26/12: 7.0 miles, 53:19, 7:37 pace, 35F, night, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Out to Cooper Rd

Today was my darling Christine's birthday. She turned 54 today. I gave a couple of presents before I headed out for a much needed run. Yes, it was dark and there was a real light mist. I just struck a fast, nice and easy pace and ran in the night. I almost had an argument with a SUV ... the usual woman who was looking to make a right turn onto St Paul St. I stopped, she stopped, I went across the crosswalk. I had my headlight on. I think I need a flasher in front too ... not just the back.

Christine made a delicious BLT supper using turkey bacon. She is not a fan. Later we watchedDVR'd episodes of the The Mentalist, NCIS: LA and Grey's Anatomy.

Friday, 1/27/12: 5.15 miles, 38:20, 7:27 pace, 37F, night, calm, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF Ridgeway - Hendrick + Weber loop

Christine wasn't feeling up to heading out so I headed out to Fleet Feet Ridgeway solo. I headed out a bit after everyone else. I just ran my usual fast pace and passed everyone. I just run ... it probably is not social but it is what I do. When someone can run my pace I run with them. I did cut the run short and only looped at Weber instead of another Hendrick. After I cooled down I purchased another flasher and a Amphipod Xinglet Pocket. I want to amp up my reflectivity.

Saturday, 1/28/12: Freezeroo #4, 6.42 miles, 47:07, 7:21, 34F, cloudy, pretty calm, 3 stops, no pain.


Christine was still a bit under the weather but still made it down with me to Powder Mill Park for Freezeroo #4, aka the Hearnish 10K. We got there about 40 minutes early so we got a great parking spot opposite the post-race lodge. I was surprised along with everyone else by the black ice that coated parts of the road around the start. We were warned of icy conditions on the roads. I did warm up a bit before the race but not so much.

The obligatory pre-race growl of Matthew Roberts

Just after the start

Taken by Christine from the car as I sped past

Anyway ... I started out a bit slow then cranked it up for mile 1 of 6:43. I got to the long hill before mile 2 before I had to walk for a bit. I just didn't feel good running ... maybe running 3 days in a row? Anyway, I walked again in the housing development off Probst Rd (where Heather Danielson passed me) ... and at the sharp hill just before Fishers Rd just before mile 5. I did pick up the pace carefully on the downhills to the finish. But I always had my eye out for black ice. I just never felt comfortable in the race ... I finished in 47:07.


Both Bill Beyerbach and Chris Washburn told me that it was a minute faster for me than last year. It turned out to be a 1:15 faster. It sure didn't feel it. Which means on a day when I feel comfortable during a future Freezeroo #4 who knows what is possible? Anyway, I did OK. I finished 72nd out of 277, link here. I finished 9th out of 32 in my M50-54 age group, link here.

Chris Washburn and I close to the start

Somewhere during the last 2 miles

Carefully sprinting toward the finish



Chris Washburn



Heather Danielson



Karen Kryder



Charlie Sabatine

Bill Beyerbach

Bob Haas



Tom Butler sans shirt



Wilt Altson

Proof of the slippery conditions ... for cars

 Christine had a headache so we bid a hasty retreat back to our apartment where we just hung out. The GRTC banquet at the Diplomat Banquet Center was at 5PM. We didn't start to get ready until 4:10PM ... so we got there just before 6PM. I was given an award sheet to fill out which I hurriedly filled out with Johnny's as my favorite race and no unusual running moment. We sat with Bill Beyerbach, DebWyspianski along with Tom Butler and his wife, Amy.


Tim Dywer (1st), myself (3rd) and Wilt Alston (5th?) in the RROY M50-54

Plus a $10 gift certificate to the Otter Lodge

Tom (1009.6 miles), Bill (292.3 miles), and I (296.2 miles) all received our 2011 Gold Milestone patches for greater than 200 racing miles. Link to all the recipents here. Then Coach Reif started to announce the Rochester Runner of the Year (RROY) awards. I was astonished to place 3rd in my M50-54 age group. Coach announced what I wrote in my award sheet. Bill also placed 3rd in his M55-59 age group. He mentioned that his unusual running moment was when he was getting ready to run the Hospice 5K on Sunday when Deb called to tell him that I had run a PR in the Hospice 5K on Saturday (the day when the race was actually held). Later I corrected my award sheet and asked Coach to announce that my favorite face of 2011 was Summerfest where I got engaged to my darling Christine. Christine was more than a bit embarrassed!

All in all, a pretty good day! I think tomorrow will be a rest day. I upped my mileage sharply this week to 34.87 ... rest is warranted.

Sunday, 1/15/12 to Saturday, 1/21/12

I ran 3 times this week, 14.67 miles

Sunday, 1/15/12: Moving day

A long day. I picked up a 5'x8' trailer from UHaul in Kent OH around 9AM. Then my daughter, Karen, and I helped pack her stuff into the trailer. The day was definitely chilly, about 15F and sunny ... but I did work up a sweat. We packed it about 90% full. The drive was uneventful. We unpacked at her mother's apartment. Then I headed back up to Rochester, dropped off the trailer and headed home for a well deserved evening off. I was done and with my feet up around 7:30PM. Three weekends in a row of moving a kid, check.

Kudos to all those running friends of mine that were out and about with their snowshoes! You know who you are!

Monday, 1/16/12: Rest day.

Well ... I think the snow in Rochester will be short lived. The temp started out cold but it warmed up above freezing and will stay there for a couple of days. Wednesday's Snow Cheap #3 will probably be a Mud Cheap.

Just your average rest day. Christine and I settled in for a pizza and salad. Then we watched just one episode of Battlestar Galactica before we headed to bed ... early for once. We both needed our sleep.

Tuesday, 1/17/ 12: FF Cobbs Hill run, 6.05 miles, 45:54, 7:35 pace, 50F, night, a bit windy, no stops, no pain.

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

Christine had pulled a muscle while she was cross-training, ;-), so I headed down to the Fleet Feet store on Monroe Ave for the usual Tuesday night Cobbs Hill run. The warmth and light rain of the past day has done a good job of melting most of the snow. I couldn't resist wearing compression shorts, a long sleeve tech top and arm warmers. The store was full with at least 100 Winter Warrior runners and walkers ... some were dressed like it was 20F instead of 50F! The sidewalk up Monroe Ave had some puddles in spots but they were easily avoided. I did the usual 3 Y's and headed back. Next time I think I will take the back way up and back to avoid all the congestion and possible accidents waiting to happen as 100 or more runners run up and down Monroe Ave. All in all, a sweet run!!

It was a good thing that this run got done by 7PM. A severe cold front moved in around 7:15PM which brought winds of 40mph with a wind gust of 76mph. The wind howled all night!

Wednesday, 1/18/12: Snow Cheap #3, 2.62 miles, 24:57, 9:31 pace, 18F, night, no windy, no pain.

Christine and I headed down to the Riley Lodge of Cobbs Hill for Snow Cheap #3, which will be better known as Ice Cheap #3. I have learned not to overdress and to be cool at the start. So I just wore pants, a ss and ls tech top, Brooks Racing Team singlet and arm warmers along with a heavy hat and gloves. The rain of yesterday froze and produced lots of ice on the hills and flats of the course. We were warned several times to take it easy and be careful. So I ran nice, easy and was careful. I stayed upright the whole way and did OK. I finished 44th out of 207 raw. I was 32nd out of 171 in the no snowshoe, results here. I finished 3rd out of 14 in my M50-59 no snowshoe age group, results here.

Thursday, 1/19/12: Rest day.

Just your usual rest day. Christine and I watched a DVR'd movie, V for Vengeance with Natalie Portman. I stayed up a bit to watch the LA Lakers get beat by the Miami Heat by 11 (it really wasn't that close), link here. LeBron had a monster game: 31 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 steals.

Friday, 1/20/12: 6.0 miles, 48:12, 8:02 pace, 18F, night, a bit windy, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF Ridgeway - Hendrick route + another loop

Christine wasn't feeling up to the cold so I headed out to Fleet Feet Ridgeway solo. I headed out out into the cold. The footing was a bit variable with one inch of snow on the sidewalks so I ran nice and easy. Just another sweet run in the running bank!

Saturday, 1/21/12: Rest day

Just a usual rest day. I got my haircut, drove out to Newark to pick up my father's mail, out to Lyons to see him at the Wayne County Nursing Home and then to Palmyra to see my youngest son, David. My father was alert and talkative. David was tired after working 6AM to 2PM. He was going to take a nap then go back to work 11PM-6AM. Later, Christine and I caught up with 3 DVR'd episodes of Battlestar Galactica and 2 episodes of Chuck. Bedtime came late.

Meanwhile, my daughter in the middle of a road trip to New York City. She saw Darren Criss in the musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying on Broadway on Friday night. She waited in the cold outside the stagedoor for hours on Saturday night and was rewarded with this photo.

"So this happened. He looked me in the eye and smiled at me. Yes, I cried afterwards. Standing in the freezing cold for 13 hours? Worth it." - Her Facebook post.

She is going to see the musical again on Sunday night. She also has tickets to the Bronx Zoo. It does sound like she is having a good time!

Sunday, 1/8/12 to Saturday, 1/14/12

I ran 2 times this week, 14.4 miles.

Sunday, 1/8/12: Rest day.

Another moving day for my youngest son, David. I drove down to Lyons to move him from his grandparents to his new apartment in Palmyra. He only stayed there 8 days. I drove the 10' UHaul truck and provided the muscle. It didn't take long ... he doesn't have much stuff. Hopefully he will keep it organized ... though I am not hopeful.

After I got back up to Rochester, laundry night ensued. We absolutely had to do it by hook or crook. I was out of clean clothes and the dirty ones ... well, begged to be washed. Afterward, a yummy dinner of barbequed spare ribs and sweet potato chips was well deserved. Mmm ... Christine and I love ribs! I love Christine ... even with barbeque sauce on her lips!

Monday, 1/9/12: Rest day.

Christine and I just settled for some down time, getting stuff done and watching 3 episodes of Battlestar Galactica. I think I have her hooked on Syfy!

Tuesday, 1/10/12: 7.9 miles, 1:01:09, 7:45 pace, 38F, night, 1 stop, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Out to Cooper Rd

I had another commitment so I couldn't make it down to Fleet Feet for the Winter Warrior Cobbs Hill workout. So I slipped out for a nice night run around Irondequoit. I dressed for the weather and my speed ... tights, long sleeve tech top with arm warmers, light gloves and hat. Just warm enough but not too hot!

After I cooled down, Christine made a yummy BLT supper. We watched the latest Netflix DVD, Fatal Attraction. Kinda scary! Bedtime came late like usual but so enjoyable!

Wednesday, 1/11/12: Rest day.

At long last I junked my 99 Grand Am. It had 254,000 or so miles on it. I think I put on 210,000 of them. My parents originally had it on a lease for my mother (may she rest in peace). When the lease was up they bought it. When I needed a car they gave it to me. When I lived in Newark and worked up in Rochester I put a lot of miles on it. Over the miles it did develop some problems. I hadn't driven it in months. It got atrocious gas mileage, it needed brakes (again, because one of the calibers dragged) and the transmission didn't shift well when it was cold. I am a bit saddened but life goes on.

A long day of work ensued. Christine made a nice supper of marinated fish, sweet potato chips and some type of spinach salad with mushrooms and walnuts that was quite tasty!

We watched a movie off the DVR, Groundhog Day with Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell.

Thursday, 1/12/12: Another rest day.

I really should have gone out for a run. The temp was 45F and just a light sprinkle. But I was very hungry when I got home and we ate some leftover pasta immediately. Then Christine and I just lazed around and sat next to each other on the couch as we just chilled all evening. I straightened up my magazines (Runner's World, Running Times, PC World, Maximum PC, Competitor and a couple of Trail Magazine). I hope I did read all the articles!

Friday, 1/13/12: Another rest day

Finally a snowy day in Rochester. But ... yet another day I wish I had gone for a run instead no matter what. Things have a way of being better if you go for a run but ... no I didn't. Enough ...

Saturday, 1/14/12: A zoo run instead of Freezeroo #3, 6.5 miles, 55:40, 8:34 pace, 18F, light snow, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Out to the Zoo, 3 loops

A long day. I had wanted to head up to Camp Eastman for Freezeroo #3 but after brushing 4 inches of fluffy snow off my car and thinking of the drive up Kings Highway to Lake Rd, running Freezeroo #3, then heading out to Cleveland by noon and arriving by 6PM just didn't compute. So I since I was already dressed for running I just ran nice and easy out to the Zoo and went 3 times around the pond. Just as enjoyable and cold but a bit more time efficient plus it left more time for saying goodbye to Christine.

Then after packing I was on the road to Cleveland for my trip to pack up my daughter to move back to Newark NY by 12:15PM. The drive grew a bit nervous as I got into PA with light snow, then more intense as I drove into OH. A one point, I was driving around 45 mph in a construction area where we were squeezed together as a tracker-trailer passed me on the left and caused a white out for about 10 seconds before I could see where the road was. An awfully long time!! Then all of a sudden the road was clear and the snow stopped! I got to Christine's daughter's apartment without any further ado. I helped my daughter pack her stuff at her apartment to get ready for the move on Sunday. Though I did miss the 4 touchdowns that the 49ers and the Saints scored in the final 2:11 as the 49ers won, link here.

Sunday, 1/1/12 to Saturday, 1/7/12

I ran 4 times this week, 23.5 miles

Sunday, 1/1/12: Freezeroo #2, 7.5 miles, 53:26, 7:07 pace, 2 stops, no pain.



Christine was still felling poorly with a head cold so I headed down to Mendon Ponds Park solo. I got there about 20 minutes early and got ready. This Resolution race is always well attended.


Coming down Douglas Rd, I appear around 1:00.

I started out hot with a 6:36 first mile as we ran out Douglas Rd, then Canfield Rd toward Clover Rd. I slowed a bit with mile 2 and 3 at 7:02 and 7:17. Mile 3 was announced as 20:50. I took a couple of cups of water around mile 3. I also took a slight walk of 10 seconds around the halfway point. Two people passed me so I kicked back into gear with mile 4 at 7:33. I exchanged pleasantries with Steve Levitsky as he passed me during the hills on Mendon Center Rd. I shortly passed him back on a downhill and kept him behind me on the uphill, mile 5 and 6 at 7:20 and 7:07. I started to "tunnel run" ... just kept it cranked and put one foot in front of the other. The uphill turn up onto Canfield Rd almost broke me. Heather Danielson was amused about how I talked to myself as she passed me. I just gutted out the uphill without giving into the urge to stop, mile 7 at 7:10. I knew the race was almost over. I cranked it up more and finished the last half mile at 6:22 pace. I crossed the line at 53:26 ... about 50 feet behind Heather. I did pretty well, I set a 4 minute PR from 57:24 last year. I was 43rd out of 375, results here. I was 6th out of 43 in my M50-54 age group, results here. The post race grub was excellent. Though I thought I should have gone out for another 7.5 miles after I polished off 2 donuts, bread, pasta and an apple. I met up with Bill Beyerbach and Tom Butler and talked about running and our past exploits before I ended home.

Afterward, I actually thought that the Buffalo Bills, 6-9, had a chance going into facing  the New England Patriots, 11-4. The Bills were playing out the string, the Patriots were playing for a 1st round bye and home field advantage throughout the NFL playoffs. The Bills jumped out to a 21-0 lead by the end of the 1st quarter. The Patriots climbed back to 21-17 by half, then just poured it on in the 2nd half to win 21-49, link here. Why do I root for the Bills, now 6-10? The New England Patriots are now 12-4 with the Bills just a speed bump after spotting the Bills 21 points.

Monday, 1/2/12: Rest day.

Just a lazy day with my darling Christine. We watched a bit of college football, OSU vs Florida (17-24) and a bit of college basketball, SU vs DePaul (87-68). Christine cooked a delicious lamb roast with sauerkraut and potatoes. Later we watched Blind Side before hitting the hay a bit early. A week off from week from work was quite nice ... though I did not get quite done what I wanted to get done. Do I ever?

Tuesday, 1/3/12: Rest day.

A week of vacation between Christmas and New Year's made for a hectic catch-up day of work. I felt run down during the day. I think that I caught the head cold that Christine had. I really didn't try to avoid it ... ;-) Christine went out to Macy's and bought me some dress shirts on clearance. Unfortunately she bought them in 16-16 1/2 neck instead of 15-15 1/2 neck. I love that she tried! Anyway, I declared a rest night and we went to bed at 8:45PM after a late supper.

Wednesday, 1/4/12: Snow Cheap #2, 2.7 miles, 23:07, 8:35 pace, 28F, night, calm, a bit of snow, no pain.

Christine was still feeling sick and so was I. A head cold ... but tonight was a race night. So I headed down to Cobbs Hill solo for Snow Cheap #2. The usual night trail racing types were there, 240 strong. It was 28F, just a bit of snow on the ground, so no snowshoes. I wore just running pants, long sleeve tech top, heavy cap, heavy gloves along with my Brooks Racing Team arm warmers and singlet ... which was just enough after I warmed up. The start was fast on a familiar course ... just backwards. I ran pretty well, I only tripped twice. I think I need a brighter headlight. I was passed by a handful of runners ... mostly I kept up. My Garmin gave me fits trying to upload. I tried a soft and hard reset but it just froze up during the upload. So I ended up just deleting all the data.

Tom Butler, me and Christine

Me, Brendan (Bill's son) and Bill Beyerbach

I did OK, I was 33rd overall out of 240, 24th out of 185 - link here, 1st out of 13 in my M50-59 age group - link here. I thought I tweaked my left knee a bit but when I woke up there was no pain.

Thursday, 1/5/12: Rest day.

Christine and I really have to do several things ... laundry, have her nails done and take the dress shirts she got at Macy's back ... but things just kept popping up to get in the way. I really can't breathe too well ... oh well!

Friday. 1/6/12: FF Greece, 6.0 miles, 44:17, 7:23 pace, 48F, night, a bit windy in spots, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF Ridgeway run, Hendrick with another loop

Christine was still feeling down so I headed out to Fleet Feet Ridgeway for the usual Happy Hour run. I went out a bit easy but kicked it up and did the Hendrick route with a loop. My lips were a bit chapped but I soldiered onward.

Christine and I did venture forth to Walgreens and Wegmans after I got home. We happened upon an accident when we got to Walgreens. A truck had just hit a woman pedestrian just outside the door. She was moaning on the ground. Soon a lot of emergency crew were there: an ambulance, fire truck and 3 police cars. We were blocked in for a bit. Hopefully the woman is OK. Then it was onward to Wegmans for food, then a late supper.

Saturday, 1/7/12: Hearnish 10K route, 7.3 miles, 59:23, 8:09 pace, 46F, sunny, a bit windy, 2 or 3 stops, no pain.

Christine and I are not early Saturday morning risers on non race mornings ... so we slept in. But I did have a plan for a practice run in the afternoon.

Garmin Connect Activity for Hearnish 10K + 1 mile

Bill Beyerbach came over and he drove us down to Powder Mills Park. We parked at the Fish Hatcherie, stretched and headed out on the Hearnish 10K course. Just nice and easy ... as much as I could. I am not a nice and easy runner. The major hills were challenges met especially the one at mile 5. We got a bit lost at the end and had to backtrack but all in all, another great run with Bill! Maybe next time we can do a second loop for a Hearnish Half?

Afterward a quick shower and supper Christine and I headed out to get her nails done, exchange the shirts she got at Macy's for three that fit me and hit BJ's for a bit of groceries.