Sunday, 2/19/12 to Saturday, 2/25/12

I ran 5 times this week, 25.93 miles.

Sunday, 2/19/12: Polar Cat #4, 3.1 miles, 22:14, 7:10 pace, 28F, light snow, calm, no stops, no pain.

Christine and I headed down to one of our homes away from home, Mendon Ponds Park, for the Polar Cat finale. We were at Stewart Lodge this year so the course was modified to be an out and back from the exit of the Beach parking lot on the rolling hills of Douglas Rd which is a bit simpler. We didn't get there too early so neither of us had any time to stretch.

Bob Haas, Marty, myself and Bill Beyerbach

My darling Christine

So the race started out creaky for me. So the mild uphill south on Douglas Rd was a bit painful. It took a bit to get into race speed but I did manage a 7:06 first mile. Bill Beyerbach and I raced side by side for the first 1.4 miles or so. We turned at 1.65 miles and started to come back. I opened it up and started to pick off runners, mile 2 at 7:15. I saw Christine on the way back when she was at about 3/4 mile. I kept it cranked, mile 3 at 7:04. I hit the finish at 22:14 which isn't too bad for such a rolling road. I finished 12th out of 65, link here. I finished 2nd out of 7 in my M50-54 age group, link here.

Sprinting for the finish!

Bill Beyerbach sprinting for the finish!

I headed out for a nice and easy 5k cool down run on the course after a couple of minutes. I saw Christine on the way out and told her she was 1.05 miles from the finish. I came back upon Christine when she was 1/4 mile from the finish and told her that the finish was in sight. I took a pic of her at the finish. Yes, she finished last but she wants to get faster. She is a trooper and lapped everyone on the coach!

Christine at the finish!

I went out with Bill Beyerbach for another cool down run after a bit. We headed out with our Garmins turned off. Later I mapped it out on runningahead.com as 2.3 miles. We wanted to go out nice and easy ... which didn't happen. I think we went out 1.25 miles around 8:00 pace and came back around 7:30 pace or faster. We just don't run slow together. But it felt good!

We all went out to breakfast/lunch at the Liberty Restaurant. Then we went to Bill's house when we showed him how to upload his Garmin. We had some misadventures with not knowing his username or password, plus we had to soft reset his Garmin. But he did manage to upload his 244 runs successfully.

Once Christine and I got home, we just vegged and vegged some more.

Monday, 2/20/12: Rest day.

A rest day for me and a rest day for Christine from her No-Bo. We watched the latest episode of Fringe and and the season finale of Pan Am. Will Pan Am be back next year?

Tuesday, 2/21/12: Sehgahunda Training, 5.33 miles, 1:01:33, 11:33 pace, 38F, night, light snow, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Sehgahunda Training in Washington Grove

Sehgahunda Training ... so it begins. We met up with Boots outside Riley Lodge at Cobbs Hill. We went up into Washington Grove where Boots laid out a loop course in the dark with no flags, just landmarks. He took us through it once real slow. Then he set us loose on it ... so I got lost once before I memorized it so I could concentrate on the footing. I looped it five times before Boots let us stop. Our lessons were: check our batteries before we run in the dark, pick up our feet and pay attention to our surroundings to pick up landmarks. I could have sworn that I turned off my Garmin before I got in the car but ... I guess I didn't. I had to use the Garmin Player to figure out the mileage and time.

A bit of Wegmans shopping ensued afterward. Christine ordered Pizza Hut delivery which soon calmed my hunger.

Oh, I got a new BlueAnt T1 Rugged Bluetooth. It is really cool. It uploaded my contacts so it can tell me who is calling. Plus it can actually understand me and do my bidding ... like call my contacts, send texts, etc.

Wednesday, 2/22/12: FF Ridgeway run, 5.7 miles, 44:28, 7:48 pace, 34F, night, calm, light wet snow, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF Ridgeway run - Pickdale + Pickdale

Christine and I headed down to Fleet Feet Ridgeway for her No-Bo run and my Sehgahunda Training "slow, easy" run. There were the usual crew of No-Bo walkers/runners so I headed out early. I just did my usual Pickdale - Pickdale route kind of nice and easy. The light wet snow became heavier which made me wish I had worn a hat instead of ear warmers. Christine had her own troubles ... blocked in by a bunch of walkers that would not move over, walkers wearing no reflectivity, fogged up glass, a headlight that needed batteries. The net result was that she fell on her left side. Luckily it was into a muddy lawn. She was kind of pissed. Her back started to spasm later. She wants to get out tomorrow on her own so she can pound out her frustrations.

The LA Lakers were on the road playing the Dallas Mavericks ... the result was a win, link here.

Thursday, 2/23/12: Rest day.

Christine didn't make it out during the day or after I came home. USPS delivered an Amphipod Micropack Satallite. It will be good for clipping to my shorts in the summer for holding my cell, money and gels.

I settled down for an evening of NBA basketball. Christine tolerated it. The first game was the NY Knicks with Jeremy Lin at the Miami Heat. The Heat manhandled the Knicks, link here. The second game was the LA Lakers at the Oklahoma Thunder. The Thunder won, link here. 

Friday, 2/24/12: High winds = rest day

I had some major excitement at work. Around 3PM I rebooted the PC that runs my printer scanning software ... the PC died. It wouldn't even count its RAM. I tried different RAM in different slots but nada. So I found a similar PC and switched the hard drive. I crossed my fingers ... it booted and I went home. I will have to get a new license key on Monday.

I got some more toys via USPS. I really needed a brighter headlight for night running so I bought a Black Diamond Icon Headlight along its NRG Rechargeable Battery Kit. I had a bit of trouble putting it all together. It would have helped to have instructions in bigger type. I can't wait to test it out!

I thought about going out for my prescribed run but a high wind warning from 5PM to 2AM cut that out. I felt bad but ... I don't think it would have been safe.

Saturday, 2/25/12: Freezeroo #6, 6.2 miles, 46:35, 7:31 pace, 28F, light snow, windy, no stops, no pain.

Christine and I got up and out early for her No-Bo run at Mendon Ponds Park. She headed out early for her 2.15 mile run. It was the same route that Bill Beyerbach and I ran on Sunday. She came back, got back into the car and off we went to Churchville for Freezeroo #6. The roads were variable ... tending towards bad the closer we got to Churchville. The drive took 50 minutes.

The start of Freezeroo #6

I appear around 1:50.

I didn't warm up at all before the race. Luckily, the heavy snow became light snow in time for the race at 10AM. The course was an out and back. The start was downwind on Bromley Rd. This road was mostly clear with a bit of slush so I started out pretty well, mile 1 at 7:04, mile 2 at 7:12. The footing on Attridge Rd road was more snowy so my speed fell, mile 3 at 7:41, mile 4 at 7:51. I saw someone fall in front of me twice within 50 feet. The turn back onto Bromley Rd put us into the wind ... and it was brutal, gusting to around 20-30mph. I just put one foot in front of the other, told myself that I was not going to walk, started counting my steps, didn't look up, anything to keep moving, mile 5 at 7:43, mile 6 at 7:51. I thought I was running faster going in ... but the Garmin says differently. I think I picked it up at bit too soon after I crested the hill at mile 5.3. I had nothing left in the last 0.5 mile into the finish.

Running toward the halfway point on Attridge Rd

But still ... I ran a 46:35 which is a 7:31 pace under not so great winter conditions. It's all good. I finished 40th out of 175 hardy runners, link here. I was 7th out of 23 in my M50-54 age group. GRTC Freezeroo series wise, I was 35th out of 175 males overall, link here. I was 5th out of 30 in my M50-54 age group, link here, and finished out of the money. We sat, ate pizza, swapped running stories and talked about our upcoming races ... sweet!

Christine and I headed home ... but not before a side trip to BJ's. Later Christine cooked up a nice and filling beef stew for supper while we caught up on the lastest episodes of Castle, NCIS and Hawaii Five-O off of the trusty DVR.

We went to bed early, believe it or now! Tomorrow is more Sehgahunda Training ... Hell on Hills in Ellison Park. Sounds like fun!

Sunday, 2/12/12 to Saturday, 2/19/12

I ran 4 times this week, 17.8 miles.

Sunday, 2/12/12: Rest day.

Snow made a return to Rochester this morning. We woke to light fluffy snow that continued until around 1PM. My ex had called and was afraid to drive down to Houghton to pick up my daughter so I had agreed to do it. I came pretty close to calling her to cancel. But ... I went out, cleared 8 inches of snow off our car and south we went. Christine and I saw about 10 accidents on I-590S and I-390S as we made our way south. At one point on I-390S we were behind a congo line of 4 slow moving snowplows which were plowing the entire width. The snowplows exited at Lehigh Station Rd, then the road became completely bare about 2 more miles farther south like a switch was flipped! The rest of the drive to and back was uneventul except for the occasional wind blown snow on the road from an open field. Oh, except when we were about a mile from home when a trooper's lights warned us of a car in the median and slowed us down before we got that part of the fast lane ... a good thing.

After a late supper, we watched the latest NCIS and NCIS: LA served up from the DVR.

Monday, 2/13/12: Up & down Seneca Ave, 4.65 miles, 36:51, 7:55 pace, 30F, night, a bit windy, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Up & down Seneca Ave - 2 loops

Christine needed to run and I kind of needed to run. So I suggested just up and down Seneca Ave. It's a busy street with a shoulder so Christine felt safe plus there was no ice on the shoulder. She did 1 loop and I did 2 loops. She said she felt good and so did I. So it was all good.

Tuesday, 2/14/12: Happy Valentine's Day, 5.25 miles, 40:47, 7:48 pace, 34F, night, calm, no stops, a bit of right knee pain.

I was a little sneaky this morning ... and sneaked a bottle of White Shoulders perfume into Christine's running jacket before I left for work. She used to wear that perfume back when we dated in college. I love you, honey!

Garmin Connect Activity for FF Ridgeway tempo run, 8 loops, a bit lost at times

Christine and I headed out to Fleet Feet Ridgeway for her No-Bo run and my Tuesday night temp run. I didn't have much time to stretch but out we went. I had a pain in my right knee for about a mile. I was a bit concerned but I went onward. The pain went away and I started to pick up my pace as I went round and round, 8 loops. I got a bit lost and ended up on Ridgeway Ave out by I-390 so I had to run back on Ridgeway Ave, oops! Christine was really stoked about running 2 miles. So it was doubly sweet! I downloaded the Pizza Hut app onto my phone. It was used on the way home to pick up a medium thin crust, Pepperoni Lovers' pizza on the way home, nice!

Wednesday, 2/15/12: Snow Cheap #5, 2.41 miles, 21:45, 9:01, 36F, night, no stops, no pain.



It was a Snow Cheap Wednesday so Christine and I headed down to Riley Lodge at Cobbs Hill. It was relatively warm so I just wore pants, a long sleeve tech shirt, light gloves along with my Brooks Racing Team and arm warmers. Some people wear a lot more but I have found it best to be a bit cold at the start since I warm up quickly. If you overheat your body will stop you ... which is not a good thing during a race. Christine talked me into wearing her ear warmer ... which was a good idea.

The start

I am the third runner

I started out a bit hot. I was happy that the course curled to the left. We had done this course before and it didn't have any steep ups. I was surprised by the depth of the snow in the woods and definitely surprised by the slush and water that we slopped through at one point. It was early in the race so I knew my feet would be wet the rest of the way ... but it's called trail racing, baby! I took a wrong turn for a bit and led some people the wrong way but very shortly got back on track and finished the race. I was pleased that I did not walk at all during the race.I did OK. I finished in 21:45, 34th out of 174 overall. I was 24th out of 139 in the No Snowshoe, link here. I was 2nd out of 9 in my M50-59 No Snowshoe age group, link here.

After a bit of grocery shopping at Wegmans, we ate a very late supper (10PM) of yummy rotisserie chicken and salad. Definitely a great day!

Thursday, 2/16/12: Rest day.

A definite rest day for Christine and I. Christine from running Monday and Tuesday. Me from running three days in a row. We ate leftover chicken and watched the latest Battlestar Galactica episodes off the DVR.

Friday, 2/17/12: FF Ridgeway run, 5.49 miles, 41:54, 7:48 pace, 32F, night, calm, light snow for a bit, 1 stop, bit of pain.

I had a running dream this morning ... I dreamed that I slept through Johnny's 5 mile run (I think), only it was held in Newark, and I was going to run it twice. Hmm ...

A brief burst of winter came back to Rochester in the late afternoon. Some fat, fluffy, wet snow fell along with one clap of snow thunder! Later, it snowed during the Friday night happy hour run.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF Ridgeway run, Pickdale + Barbara

Christine was still on a rest day so I headed out to Fleet Feet Ridgeway solo. I started out a bit late so I started to pick off runners, 19 total. Not as many runners run from Ridgeway. I felt some minor left hip pain at mile 4.25 so I stopped to walk for about 100 feet before I started back up a bit easier. Still it was a sweet run!

Saturday, 2/18/12: Rest day.

I was feeling sleepy still so Christine went out to her No Bo workout solo in the morning. I really didn't get back to sleep until after she came back. Then I slept until noon.

Christine and I just hung out. I got out to Tops where I picked up 4.5 lbs of spare ribs at $1.99/lb. I got home and Googled "spare rib recipe". I picked Sylvia's Ribs from allrecipes.com and told Christine the ingredients. About 2.5 hours later ... we had some really tasty ribs!! It was 10PM before we ate again ... but they were well worth the wait!

Sunday, 2/5/12 to Saturday, 2/11/12

I ran 4 times this week, 20.55 miles

Sunday, 2/5/12: Fleet Feet Gives Back 4 miles trail run, 4.23 miles, 39:38, 9:22 pace, 30F, cloudy, a pretty fine snow, walked the usual hills, no pain.



Christine and I had a couple of pre-race stretches but still managed to get down to Mendon Ponds Park for the Fleet Feet Gives Back. Since there was no snow, it was a trail race. Christine was going to run her first trail race. I was a bit worried since she didn't have any breakfast. I ran the 4 mile (2 loops) trail race, Christine ran the 2 mile (1 loop) trail race. I headed out a bit hard and saw the first three runners ahead of me. I went through the twisty, turny bog area with 2 runners on my behind. They both passed me soon after we got out. I soon got into a rhythm. I ran the flats and downs and walked the steep ups. I went through the finish at 18:55 and started the second loop. Soon after the 2nd time through the twisty, turny bog area I came upon Christine. I stopped to give her a long smooch. The first woman, Jessica, passed me while Christine and I were occupied. We traded positions the rest of the way. She would pass me on the ups and I would catch her on the flats and downs. Soon the race was over, loop 2 in 20:39, she finished 11 seconds behind me.

I took a couple of drinks of water and then headed back onto the course for a cool down run ... and to catch Christine again. I was thinking that the rest of the loop would be easier for her but she still had to get up Cardiac Hill.

Garmin Connect Activity for Fleet Feet Gives Back - Cool down run

I headed out nice and easy. I caught up to her about 50 yards from the finish. She had conquered Cardiac Hill! She was super happy that she had finished. She got muddy since she tripped on a root and fell about 1/4 mile from the finish. I changed into warmer clothes and we hung out a bit before heading home. Christine's muscles might be a bit sorer on Monday! I am proud of her ... her first trail race!

I did OK. I was 6th out of 61, link here. I was 2nd out of 10 in my M50-59 age group. Christine finished in 1:02:45, link here.

We just lazed around all afternoon, waiting for Super Bowl XLVI to start between the NY Giants and the New England Patriots. Christine was amazed at such a long pre-game show (6 hours). She took a nap and still got up before the game started at 6:20PM. We had spare ribs, mixed vegetables and salad for salad while we watched the game. The game was a bit slow at times but it got more exciting. The Giants won, 21-17, links here and here. A Patriots Hail Mary was in the endzone but fell unanswered.

As far as we can figure it, Christine and I first met 35 years ago on either Saturday 2/5/1977 or Saturday 2/12/1977. She was going to Ursuline College in Pepper Pike, OH and I was going to CWRU in Cleveland. I belonged to the Phi Kappa Theta fraternity. We were having a party. She decided to accompany one of her friends who went with one of the brothers. I was tending bar and saw her when she came down the stairs. I served her a Tequila Sunrise and told her that I wanted to talk to her later. We did ... and then we went out for about a year. Years, marriages, kids and divorces separated us. She friended me on Facebook in August 2009 which led to online chatting and phone calls. We met again 9 days later on 9/5/2009 after I ran the Spring Forward 15K. It was like we had never parted ... sparks flew! She moved in two months later. We got engaged on 9/3/11 after we ran Summerfest (I ran the 12K, she ran the 5K). Life has seemed to come full circle and I am so happy!

Monday, 2/6/12: Rest day.

Christine left me to do most of the laundry while she got her nails done. This led me to sort the laundry, load the washers and dryers. Well ... I didn't check her pockets. One of her pants had a tub of lip balm which eventually caused spots on the clothes that were in that washer. Christine did come back and help me fold the clothes.

Tuesday, 2/7/12: 6.2 miles, 46:34, 7:30 pace, 26F, night, calm, 1 stop, some upper right hamstring pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF Ridgeway tempo run, 8 loops

Christine and I headed down to Fleet Feet Ridgeway for the Tuesday tempo run. I had never run from Ridgeway on Tuesday night so it was new. It is basically a 3/4 mile run out to a 1/2 mile loop which you can loop as many times as you want. It was a bit chilly so I wore my Brooks jacket. I wanted to do 10 loops but my upper right hamstring started to hurt a bit so I cut it to 8 loops before I headed back. We stayed around for the Sehgahunda Training Program talk. It was quite informative ... I was used as an example several times. After all, Sehgahunda and I do have a history. Year 1 was physical (broken rib), Year 2 was nutrition or hydration (blood chemistry). Year 3 ... I want to finish. I think the Sehgahunda Training Program would help.

Wednesday, 2/8/12: Rest day.

Christine and I just chilled. I watched #2 SU play #11 Georgetown at the Carrier Dome. SU won in OT, 64-62, link here.

Thursday, 2/9/12: Another rest day.

I had thought of doing a long run but ... again Christine and I just passionately chilled. During a late leftover dinner of spare ribs and baked potato, Christine and I watched the LA Lakers play the Boston Celtics in Boston. I had to get a bit creative after the DVR took over both tuners (The Mentalist and Private Practice). I ended looking at the NBA Companion for the game off of NBA.com. Anyway, the Lakers won in OT, 88-87, link here and a look at the retooling coming for both the aging Lakers and Celtics, here.

It was kind of cool to watch replays of last night's Duke-NC game. Duke was down 10 with 2:10 to play ... Austin Rivers had 29 and the buzzer beating 3 to snap NC's 31 game home winning streak. His father, Doc Rivers, the Boston Celtics coach, was there to see it ... link here.

Friday, 2/10/12: FF Ridgeway, 5.3 miles, 42:35, 8:02 pace, 30F, night, calm, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF Ridgeway run, Pickdale + Barbara

I have had a bit of trouble finding my running mojo lately. I thought I really needed to get out for a run even the tough Freezeroo #5 was the next morning. So ... I headed out to Fleet Feet Ridgeway for a nice and easy tuneup run. So ... I headed out nice and easy. I certainly did not want to run my usual 7:25 or so. It felt good so I was happy.

Later I watched the LA Lakers play the NY Knicks. It was kind of nice seeing the Lakers play two nights in a row without having to stay up late. Unfortunately, the Lakers on a back to back night ran into the Lin show, link to Linsanity here and here. Lin scored 38 points and the Laker lost 92-85, link here.

Saturday, 2/11/12: Freezeroo #5, 24F, hard, a north wind, no stops and no pain.

Winter returned to Rochester overnight ... an inch of snow and a north wind greeted us. Christine had her first No Boundaries 2.0 workout at Genesee Valley Park at 8AM so we were up early. They timed her on a 2 mile run. I waited around until she was done, then we headed up to Greece for Freezeroo #5.



It was certainly chilly when we got out of the car up at the Greece DPW. I had my doubts about what to wear ... it was about 24F with a north wind plus the route headed up to Edgemere Drive before heading back on Long Pond. I was wearing my tights, heavy gloves and hat, short sleeve tech shirt, long sleeve tech shirt along with my Brooks Racing Team armwarmers and singlet. I thought about wearing my jacket but didn't.


Poor quality from across the street, I very briefly appear at 1:59.

The race started, I started hot ... like usual. Hey ... it was cold! I needed to run fast to warm up!

I hit the first mile up Long Pond at 6:56. The footing was OK. We made the turn east onto Janes Road where footing was a bit loose. I had a bit of trouble with my breathing so I covered my mouth with my neck warmer for a bit. The miles continued, we turned north onto Island Cottage Road, then northwest onto Edgemere Drive. Luckily the wind was from the north so only the right side of my face froze. The footing was a bit variable with bare spots and sloppy spots.

Along Edgemere Drive

Karen Kryder

Charlie Sabatine

Becky Duberry

Bill Murphy

Heather Danielson

Matthew Roberts

Tina

Tom Butler ... with his shirt on!

Wilt Alston

Then we turned downwind onto Long Pond but the footing was sloppy for miles 5 to 7 which brought my pace down. But the group of runners I was with and I could sense the end was near so we picked up the pace a bit. I could tell that I was on a PR pace. I was pretty happy to see 59 and change when I crossed the finish line. I ran a 59:41, 7:28 pace, a PR from last year by 1:55, sweet!

Digging for the finish

Karen Kryder

A determined Charlie Sabatine

Becky Duberry

Matthew Roberts

Tom Butler ... with his shirt off!

So I thought I did pretty well.  I placed 51th out of 196, link here. I was 9th out of 23 in my M50-54 age group, link here.

The post-race growl of Matthew Roberts

Christine and runners

Christine and I socialized a bit before we were kind of chased out by warnings that the roads were getting worse ... which they were. We proceeded carefully home. After a nice nap and lunch, we watched the latest DVR'd episodes of Battleship Galactica, The Mentalist, Hawaii Five O and Private Practice before heading to bed.

Sunday, 1/29/12 to Saturday, 2/4/12

I ran 3 times this week, 15.55 miles

Sunday, 1/29/12: Rest day

After running 3 days in a row, a rest day was welcomed. Christine and I just hung out. We enjoyed coffee and cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Eventually, we gave the DVR a workout and caught up a bit with Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice and Castle. We have fallen behind a bit. Did we go to bed early ... alas, no!

Monday, 1/30/12: Another rest day

The lack of sleep on Sunday night made for a long day. I couldn't run because I had to take care of moving my father's PO Box from Newark up to Rochester. After all, I do live in sight of a US Post Office! I have been going out to pick up my father's mail in Newark for over 3 years ... I doubt if I will miss it. But it sure was a pain to change addresses!

Later after some leftovers, Christine and I settled down to watch the final DVR'd episodes of Chuck. Good-bye, Chuck! It was a great run!

Tuesday, 1/31/12: FF Cobbs Hill run, 7.2 miles, 55:12, 7:40 pace, 51F, night, calm, no stops, no pain.

Gamin Connect Activity for FF Cobbs Hill run

I headed down to Fleet Fleet Monroe Ave solo for the usual Tuesday night Cobbs Hill run. I was dressed in compression shorts, long sleeve tech top, Brooks Racing Team arm warmers and light gloves. I think I went over the top in reflectivity ... headlight, belt along with flashers front and back. About a hundred Winter Warriors were there to partake in the festivities. I mixed it up by going up and back the back way and running 3 loops instead of Y's. All in all, a great night for running!

Christine and I had a nice leftover chicken stew and salad for supper then settled down to watch the latest two Battlestar Galactica episodes off the DVR.

Wednesday, 2/1/12: Snow Cheap #4, 2.35 miles, 23:15, 40F, night, calm, no stops.

What would a runner do on a 2nd Wednesday night other than head down to Riley Lodge on Wednesday night for a Snow Cheap ... so that is where Christine and I went!



It was a warmish night, around 40F, so I wore the usual ... pants, black long sleeve tech shirt, light gloves, my lucky orange hat along with my Brooks Racing Team arm warmers and singlet. Christine gave me a kiss and off I went. The mass start was a bit of a scrum but soon I ran smoothly until the first (and most every other hill) which I power walked. I did not find a rhythm with the constant up and down until the latter part of the race. The most challenging part was the usual mud, rocks and roots section toward the end ... they all look the same color! I finished strong, sprinting for the downhill finish!

I finished in 23:15. I did OK, 38th out of 204 overall ... though initially the time sheet said I finished in 19:39:50, lol! I mentioned it and it was corrected. Anyway, I finished 27th out of 159 in my No Snowshoe category, link here. I finished 1st out of 12 in my M50-59 age group, link here. For those keeping score, right now I am first in the M50-59 No Snowshoe series. Hey ... I run in the dark on trails with a headlight to light the way!

Thursday, 2/2/12: Groundog Day at the Otter!

Christine and I headed down to the Otter Lodge for the Muddy Sneaker lottery. We used the $10 gift certificate that I received for placing 3rd in the 2011 RROY series. I was lucky I got in ... the 144th out of 150 drawn. I saw some familiar names pulled. Hopefully, some of the alternates will get in too.

Friday, 2/3/12: FF Ridgeway run, 6 miles, 44:38, 7:26 pace, 38F, night, calm, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF Ridgeway run, Hendrick loop x 2

I headed down to Fleet Feet Ridgeway for their version of the Friday night happy hour run. I ran out a bit slow to loosen up, then hiked it up to 7:25 pace and held it. That's how I roll ... it felt good.

Saturday, 2/4/12: Rest day

Christine and I went out to Newark. I closed out the father's PO box in Newark. We headed out to Lyons to see my father at the Wayne County Nursing Home. Alas, he was asleep watching the SU - St Johns game. SU won 95-70 to go to 23-1. We headed to Newark to see my daughter, Karen, and to Palmyra to see my youngest son, David, before we headed back up to Rochester.