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

I ran 4 times this week, 19.5 miles.

Sunday, 11/18/12: Rest day.

Christine and I cocooned all day. We started off with coffee and breakfast in bed while reading the Sunday Democrat and Chronicle. Then we progressed to the living room and watched Casablanca while we ate pizza for lunch. Later we watched our usual shows off the DVR. All in all, a very relaxing and romantic Sunday ... sweet!

Monday, 11/19/12: 5.5 miles, 43:26, 7:54 pace, 38F, night, calm, no stops, mild ache in right Achilles

Garmin Connect Activity for Around the streets of Irondequoit

I fought and broke free of the lure of the couch after I got home from work. Yes, it was comfortable but I needed to get out for a run. It was 38F but I wore my Brooks short tights anyway along with just a long sleve half zip long sleeve top, beanie and light running gloves. So ... since it was a bit crisp I set up a a bit of a crisp pace. Which after a brief warmup turned out to be miles of 8:11, 8:07, 7:48, 7:41, 7:48 and 7:38 over the last 1/2 mile. It was a nice night for a run ... sweet!

My darling Christine baked up a post-run nutritious supper of fish, baked potato and green beans ... she fed me well! She learned that her daughter and son will be heading up from Cleveland for our wedding. Hopefully, my daughter and youngest son will be able to be there too!

Tuesday, 11/20/12: Rest day .

I had a taxing day at physical therapy day. I got there early and worked my right achilles. I didn't really feel up to going out for a run .... so I stayed in. But that doesn't mean that I didn't wish I had gone out.

Wednesday, 11/21/12: Getting stuff done day.

I took today off from work. Christine and I got up early. Christine had a mammogram appointment at 8AM. I waited out in the waiting room with all the other guys while she had hers. An A-OK was given. Then we went to pick up my wedding ring from Zales. Christine insisted that I give it a "test drive" all day to make sure that the size 9 fits ... which it did. Since we didn't have her duplicate divorce papers from Cleveland we couldn't get our marriage license at the Monroe County Clerk's office. Then we headed out to Lyons to get 3 certified copies of my father's POA. We saw my father at the Wayne County Nursing Home in Lyons also. We brought the Lyons-Clyde Shopping Guide in for him to read. We noticed that he didn't have his glasses but he still could read! Where were his glasses? I searched his room to no avail ... first his bottom dentures now his glasses have been lost?? We drove back up to Rochester on the Thruway, I-490 and I-590 ... everyone was in such a hurry!!

Thanksgiving, 11/22/12: Race with Grace 10K, 6.2 miles, 46:04, 7:26 pace, 48F, sunny, calm, 1 stop, right Achilles pain

This was my first Race with Grace 10K so Christine and I got over to the First Bible Baptist Church up in Hilton around 8:15AM. Everything at registration was well organized so I had no trouble getting all set for the 9AM start.

Garmin Connect Activity for Warmup before the Race with Grace 10K
Just a short 0.8 miles warmup at 8:16 pace to warmup my legs. Everything felt OK.



There were "only" 1133 lined up at the start. I lined up in my usual spot ... about 25 feet or so back. The start came and off we all went! I started out hot with a first mile at 6:48.

The start of the 22nd Race with Grace 10K on 11/22/2012

During the start - photo by Tim Matthews

In the 1st mile - photo by Heather Danielson

Everything was going well, the 1st 5K sped by in 22:03. My right Achilles was starting to hurt so I walked for about 100 feet. I eased off my pace and just endured the pain until the end of the race. The miles just seemed to last forever. The second 5K took 24:01. I was kind of happy that none of my miles were above 8:00 ... all things considered. My darling Christine was at the finish to yell encouragement as I cruised across the finish line in 46:04.

Under a mile to go - photo by Heather Danielson

All in all, I did OK. I finished 169th out of 1133, link here. I finished 9th out of 55 in my M55-59 age group, link here. I ran in 10 out of the 12 Rochester Runner of the Year races this year and was 6th out of the 18 who completed 4 races or more, link here.

The food spread inside the church was quite impressive. Bagels, bananas, greek yogurt, chocolate mile, water and coffee. I limped over and had a couple of bagels and chocolate milk. A very organized race, I will be back!

Christine drove home ... which is becoming the norm after I race. I tried not to be a sideseat driver and mostly succeeded. Meanwhile over in Webster over 4400 people ran in either the Turkey Trot 4.4 or 2.5 mile race and 217 runners toed the line out in my old haunts of Newark to run the Newark Turkey Day 5 mile run.

When we got home around noon Christine busied herself in the kitchen cooking Thanksgiving dinner. I collapsed on the couch and iced my right Achilles while I caught up on Facebook. Three hours later Christine had cooked up a delicious dinner of turkey, gravy, stuffing, sweet potatoes, peas and cranberries. Yum!!!! I had seconds and then thirds! I think I will marry my darling cook! Christine also washed most of the dishes. 

Oh, the joys of apartment living! The kitchen sink faucet suddenly had low water pressure while Christine was preparing our Thanksgiving meal. She called maintenance. He came right over and replaced the filter ... problem solved! I don't really miss not having to mow the lawn or shovel the driveway either .... though I do miss a bit more room between our neighbors and their choice of "inside" voice or music!

Friday, 11/23/12: Rest day.

I woke up at 8:15AM and washed more of the dishes from yesterday. I let Christine sleep 2 more hours before I woke her up with coffee. I still had trouble walking so we didn't go to any Black Friday sales ... i.e. we cocooned all day again which was way more romantic! Oh, Christine got her duplicate divorce papers (with postage due of $1.05) from Cleveland so we can go downtown to get our marriage license!

Saturday, 11/24/12: 7 miles, 1:02:35, 8:54 pace, 34F, night, windy, a bit of sleet, no stops, right Achilles pain

Garmin Connect Activity for Around the streets of Irondequoit

I got early and finished up the last of the Thanksgivings dishes. Christine and I cocooned most of the day. My right achilles still hurt from the Race with Grace 10K two days ago but ... I did slip out for a really nice and easy run just before dark anyway. I had read on Facebook about everyone doing their long runs so I just had to get out there. Yes, I did have moderate right Achilles discomfort when I first started out. Gradually the pain sank to a mild discomfort. It was what it was. I have gained 5 pounds so I was glad to get out to burn some calories and get some running endorphins to boot.

Monday, 11/12/12 to Saturday, 11/17/12

I ran 3 times, 17.7 miles.

Monday, 11/12/12: Rest day.

I was still coming down from the Dirt Cheap Stage Race high ... like a lot of runners. I felt a bit off all day. Christine and I started our long overdue laundry. I lasted 2 loads before I called it a night and went to bed at 8:45PM. I haven't gone to bed that early for a long time. I fell sound asleep quickly.

Tuesday,11/13/12: Physical Therapy and 5.1 miles, sweet!

I arrived 25 minutes early for my physical therapy appointment with Jeff. I did a lot of self direction with my exercises while he critiqued points of how to do some exercises better. He added another exercise to strength my hips. I really need to go back to Planet Fitness!! I really worked my right achilles. It felt used but not painful.

Garmin Connect Activity for Fleet Feet Cobbs Hill run, 2 loops, long way back

I changed at work and headed over to Fleet Feet Brighton for a long overdue Cobbs Hill run. I got there a bit late but was able to give a hug to "Katie from Cali" who was in town for Thanksgiving. I ran up to the Cobbs Hill Reservoir nice and easy in the 36F "heat". I didn't want to stress myself with Y's so I just did loops. My right achilles didn't really bother me much. I took the long way back and kicked it up a bit to around 7:45 pace. I was passed on Highland Ave by a young guy and his dog doing about 7:00 pace like I was standing still, lol! My right achilles felt a bit tired so I backed my pace down.

Wednesday, 11/14/12: Rest day.

Christine has been snoring lately and spent the night on the couch. But our day did start out on a positive note ... sweet!. I really should have exercised today ... but didn't. Ah ... well!

Thursday, 11/15/12: Around the block in Irondequoit, 5.5 miles, 37F, night, calm, no stops, just an ache.

Garmin Connect Activity for Around the block in Irondequoit

The couch tried to suck me in after work but I managed to break out for a while. I tried to go nice and easy ... settled in a 8:10-8:20 pace into the night around the streets of Irondequoit. It was a very nice run and I hiked up the pace a bit for the last mile, 7:58. All in all, a very nice run. I was about 20 feet from the apartment outside door when I saw a skunk just waddle past the door. We gave each other a wide berth! So ... now a couple of woodchucks, an opossum and a skunk reside near our apartment parking lot! Not to mention the usual squirrels and birds in the pine tree right next to our windows.

Later, my left and right calves did tighten up. I probably should have iced my right achilles afterward.

Christine and I have moved our upcoming wedding on Friday, November 30th, from 10AM to 1PM. Planning is progressing ... with just some minor stresses. We were going to visit my oldest son this weekend at UMass in Amherst, MA but have delayed it since he is extremely busy with writing a lot of pre-Thanksgiving papers.

The Buffalo Bills had a rare home prime time game on a Thursday night against the same lowly 3-6 Miami Dolphins. They took a 19-7 halftime lead and barely held on to win 19-14, link here. The defense had to save the offense with 2 interceptions in the last 2 minutes to seal the win. Realistically, the Bills have to go 5-1 to reach 9-7 at the end of the season to have a shot at making the playoffs in the AFC East. Doable? Yes, most likely .... not.

Friday, 11/16.12: Rest day.

Just an off day from running. I headed down to Fleet Feet Brighton to pick up my Brooks Racing Team order. Everything but the Nightlife socks came in. I used my $15 gift certificate from winning my M55-59 age group at the Safe Journey 5K to buy more Powerbar Gel for upcoming longer runs. I also checked our Cavalier's air pressure. Christine had noticed that the tires looked a bit low ... her keen eyes were right. The fronts were 23 and the backs were 25. I used my handy dandy air compressor to fill them up to 32.


Saturday, 11/17/12: Around the streets of Irondequoit, 44F, sunny, calm, 7.1 miles, 8:42 pace, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Around the streets of Irondequoit

Christine and I slept in after a late night the night before. So I didn't roll out of bed until after 9AM ... long after when a lot of runners were already started on their long runs. I dawdled, hemmed and hawed while I conteplated what to do. How long to run? What to wear? It was 33F, then 37F, then 41F. I finally decided that I should go longer than 5.5 miles but not 10 miles. So I decided on around 7 ... just a bit more than 5.5 miles but not too much. Just baby steps as I try to build my body and right achilles back.

So ... I headed out at a really, really nice and easy pace. I took off my Brooks running jacket about 2 miles in and draped it around my neck like a preppie sweater. My right achilles was just a dull ache and didn't bother me. I got back just before noon.

Later, Christine and I got out so that she could go get her nails done at New Nails and then onward to do some pre-Thanksgiving shopping at Wegmans in Irondequoit. Man, what a zoo of people just zooming around in their shopping carts! Heaven forbid if you should get in their way!

11/10/12 to 11/11/12, Dirt Cheap Stage Race

A bit late ... but the Dirt Cheap Stage Race deserved its own blog post!

11/10/12: Dirt Cheap Stage Race #1 and #2

Saturday morning dawned damp and a bit foggy, around 39F at 7AM. Christine and I struggled to get ready. I wanted to leave at 8AM but we didn't get going until 8:15AM. We didn't forget anything but probably brought too much! We got to the intersection of Douglas Rd and Pond Rd in Mendon Ponds Park around 8:35AM and then walked up to the race site on Pond Rd.

Garmin Connect Activity for Warmup before DCSR #1
I had enough time for a 0.7 mile warmup at 8:15 pace on the road. Just a nice and easy warmup.



The DCSR #1 at 9AM was a time trial race with runners going off every 5 seconds. My bib was 117 so I had a bit of time to get in line, loosen up and get ready. I was off! I said "Hi" to most runners that I passed and the runners who passed me. The trail was a bit muddy and wet with dew. The start and the first 1/2 mile was uphill ... in fact most of the course seemed uphill.

I think I went out too hot in the first mile and paid for it. I didn't get lost at the one tricky right turn like I did a couple of years ago. I walked the major hills like most runners and survived in 30:01. I finished 71st out of 155, link here. I was 8th out of 20 in my M50-59 age group, link here.

Christine and I headed back to the apartment between #1 and #2. We put KT tape on. I put mine on my right achilles. Christine put hers on her left ankle. Exciting stuff! We drove back in plenty of time to snag an excellent close parking spot for DCSR #2 up in Devil's Bathtub. We relaxed until about 20 minutes before the race before I geared up to get ready for the next race.

Garmin Connect Activity for Warmup before DCSR #2
I headed out for a 0.8 mile warmup at 9:06 pace to warm up my cold and soon to be aching muscles.



I barely got ready for the start but managed to get to my usual starting location just under a minute before the 1PM start. The weather had become overcast and a little bit warmer but was still damp and dreary. I started out well and found my running groove. I did find my share of mud in the bog at mile 1. I tried to go straight through instead of going around on the rooty trail to the right. I went in up to my left ankle at one point. Other runners went in thigh or knee high trying the same thing so I felt unliked by the mud ... until later! I saw some runners off course around mile 1.7 so I was passed by some runners twice. I flirted with more mud in other muddy sections until I got sucked right out of my right shoe at mile 3.9! My shoe didn't want to go back on ... so I got my white light running gloves all dirty (which didn't come out in the wash) twisting and turning my muddy sneaker back on. I wasted about a minute and several places before I got running again. I guess I didn't lace up tight enough! I kept on running and finally climbed up the infamous stairs to the finish in 44:27 by my Garmin, 45:18 officially. I finished 76th out of 178, link here. I finished 12th out of 24 in my M50-59 age group, link here.

Just after the start

I didn't splash Laura when I passed by ... unlike a couple of other runners!

Notice that my white gloves aren't so white anymore ...

I hung out for a while comparing running notes with fellow runners and chowing down hot dogs ... nutritious food for runners! Unfortunately, Michael Shortley fell just before the finish and punctured a lung. Running trail anywhere can be dangerous ... especially in the fall when the fallen leaves hide lots of roots, rocks, ruts and who know what else.

Thursday, 11/15/12, UPDATE: Michael Shortley is home mending. I wish him a speedy recovery.

I know full well how dangerous trail running can be. I fell and cracked a rib when I attempted Seghahunda I in 2010... I still have the scars on my right arm. A hospital stay after I attempted Sehgahunda II in 2011 was an adventure too. But crossing the finish line at Sehgahunda III this year was sweet! I fully credit the Sehgahunda Training program through Fleet Feet for giving me the strength and confidence to finish Sehgahunda!

Later, Bill Beyerbach invited Christine and I out to Starbucks at the Twelve Corners in Brighton for a post race coffee. We enjoyed catching up with him. Back home I just lazed around for a long while catching up on Facebook before I took my shower. I wanted to go to bed early but didn't ... like usual.

Sunday, 11/11/12: Dirt Cheap Stage Race #3

Christine and I awoke around 7AM. I got ready for another day of trail racing fun down in Mendon Ponds Park. It was a bit warmer, 55F, so I thought about wearing my Brooks Racing Team tank instead of the short sleeve shirt but decided it was a bit too cool. We got down to the Beach parking lot around 8:30AM in plenty of time for the 9AM start.

Garmin Connect Activity for Warmup before DCSR #3
I got out for a really nice and easy warmup run to try to get my stiff muscles loose ... not so much.

My philosophy for this race was to finish. So I started out nice and easy without water and only 1 Gu and some Chomps (more of this later). I did run pretty well the first two miles at 9:15 pace along familiar trails.

The start along the beach ... just nice and easy!

I saw Christine at the mile 5 waterstop and had my peanut butter Gu. I was slowing down a bit. My mantra was "Relentless Forward Progress", just one foot in front on the other and repeat. I walked the major hills and ran the flats and downs.

Christine was also at the mile 7 and mile 9 water stops. Thank you, darling! The last waterstop was at the top of Devil's Bathtub. I found out here that I hated Chomps ... too chewy like Gummy Bears for my taste. I headed down the infamous stairs and then made a wrong turn at a leaning arrow marker, turned left and did this loop again. This time when I got back to the Devil's Bathtub Christine had already gone to the finish. I headed back down the infamous stairs again and made the correct right turn. I was running on fumes now ... my stomach was empty, I needed nutrition and it was a struggle to maintain a slow run. But I just walked when I had to ... even on the flats. I willed myself forward, and up the uphill finish. Christine and fellow runners were there to yell encouragement as I finished ... always sweet!

Trying to sprint to the finish ... my new Facebook profile pic!

I asked ... Ok, begged ... Christine to bring me food as soon as possible as I walked slowly to Stewart Lodge. I grabbed and ate a banana first ... then quickly downed 2 helpings of pasta and cookies. Soon I felt human.

Here are some photos of finishers that I knew ...

Beth

Boots at rest ....

Carl

Chuck

Courtney

Dave

Frank

Jim R

Joe

John

Kathy

He wanted to finish ... even with one shoe!

Patrick

Sandy

Sean

Tina with a 1:06 PR!

Wendy

 Anyway ... my Devil's Bathtub excursion cost me 0.9 miles and about 12 minutes according to my Garmin. But it was what it was ... getting lost during a trail race sometimes happens. I did OK, 11.29 miles, 2:10:54, 118 out of 158, link here. I was 22nd out of 27 in my M50-59 age group, link here. I was 84th out of 128 in the overall DCSR standings, link here. I earned my Dirt Cheap Stage Race hoodie, though my Large is on backorder ... a bit of a bummer that I didn't get to don it right away.

Christine drove home. I managed to get up the stairs to the apartment and then just plopped down on the couch ready for some coffee and Facebook. I watched the Buffalo Bills lose a heartbreaker to the New England Patriots, 31-37, link here, to fall to 3-6. It did seem that the Pats had the refs in their back pocket with several dubious calls. But the Bills did have a chance to win it at the end ... another costly interception by Fitzpatrick ended their chance.

Sunday, 11/4/12 to Friday, 11/9/12

I ran once this week, 5.5 miles.

Sunday, 11/4/12: Rest day.

Christine and I had a very lazy morning and throughly enjoyed our extra hour of hour as we changed from Daylight Savings Time back to Eastern Standard Time. Then we read the Sunday Democrat and Chronicle and drank coffee. Soon we headed out to Newark to see my daughter, Karen. My darling Christine stayed out in the car since she is allergic to cats. Karen came out to the car to talk to her before we headed back up to Rochester.

It did feel refreshing to NOT see the Buffalo Bills lose down in Texas to the Houston Texans. They did make a game of it, being only down 9-14 in the 4th quarter but ended up losing, 9-21 to fall to 3-5, link here.

Monday, 11/5/12: Another rest day.

Just another rest day. Christine cooked a most excellent bottom round roast (that we picked up at Savealot in Newark) along with rice and brussel sprouts. She outdid herself ... very yummy! We are definitely looking forward to voting for the candidates of our choice tomorrow and for seeing and hearing no more political ads on Wednesday!!

Tuesday, 11/6/12: Physical therapy day

Physical therapy with Jeff went well today. I didn't have pain today when I exercised my right achilles. I just had the sensation of using a sore muscle which was quite a difference. I learned that my knee and quad muscles are weak .... so I guess I really, really, really should start using my dormant Planet Fitness gym membership. I really need to strengthen my core! I had my gear and thought about going out for a run after work but my right achilles had gotten sorer during the day and I knew it wasn't up to the task.

We voted at the nearby Northridge Church for the candidates of our choice. It took about 10 minutes ... no fuss at all. It took much longer in other areas of the country ... like Florida.

Christine treated me to supper at Monte Alban Restuarant & Grill on East Ridge Road. I am not really into Mexican food but after years of her wanting to go, we went. It wasn't as spicy as I expected and wasn't too bad.

Wednesday, 11/7/12, Yet another rest day.

Just another rest day. I could have gone out for a run but decided against it. I took Christine to have her nails filled and colored ... Sacred Heart, a very nice red. Nice!

Thursday, 11/8/12: Around the block in Irondequoit, 5.5 miles, 46:13, 8:25 pace, 35F, night, no stops.

Garmin Connect Activity for Around the block in Irondequoit

I was a bit sore from walking at work but I needed to run after 5 off days. I could have let the couch suck me up, Facebooked all night while watching the DVR but I got up and out. I just took it nice and easy ... while I could feel my right achilles with every right footfall. Just like a dull ache ... over and over. But I did get my running endorphins. I got back just in time for Christine to leave for her massage at MassageEnvy. She came home all relaxed. Maybe one of these days maybe I will get one ... maybe.

Friday, 11/9/12: Decision day.

Christine and I set our wedding day today. We just up and decided on Friday, November 30th. We are going to get the marriage license on Wednesday, November 21st. Christine was so excited! We are going to City Hall and get married ... no church, no limo, no hall, no band, no photographer, no honeymoon, just keep it simple. Both of us have already had our first marriages with all the fuss and don't need any more fuss.

Sunday, 10/28/12 to Saturday, 11/3/12

I ran 3 times this week, 18.45 miles.
During the month of October, I ran 53.41 miles, 17 runs in 31 day, 3.1 miles/run.
So far in 2012, I have run 1053.46 miles, 177 runs in 304 days, 6.0 miles/run.
I have about 90 miles to run before I set a year mileage record.

Sunday, 10/28/12: Rest day ...

I felt like such a slug all day. I read Facebook posts about people that ran down in Mendon Ponds Park at 8AM and others who did the Dirt Cheap Stage Race preview run at 9AM and 10:30AM. I should have set my alarm, got my sorry ass out of bed and gotten out on the trails ... but I didn't and slept in until 10AM. But ... Christine and I made do instead ... I fixed her breakfast in bed, then we read the Sunday Democrat and Chronicle. Hey, I was kind of sore from yesterday's Pumpkins in the Park 5K so ... it was all good. But still ...

The Weather Channel was in full end of the world mode with Hurricane Sandy expected to hit New Jersey dead on Monday evening. The forecast models have it hitting Syracuse by Wednesday.

Monday, 10/29/12: Another rest day.

The rain started around noon with a light rain. By the end of the work day, I thought I was a wise idea to stay in for the evening. Christine cooked up spare ribs so ... we stayed in and enjoyed supper while we listened to the rain and wind against the apartment windows. Hurricane Sandy, packing 90mph winds and a full moon driven storm surge, made landfall just south of Atlantic City, New Jersey around 8PM. I actually went to bed at 10PM to try to get a good rest before tomorrow's physical therapy.

Tuesday, 10/30/12: Physical therapy in the morning and a 5 mile run in the evening

First, physical therapy sucked! I just couldn't get my right achilles moving smoothly so every exercise was a chore and hurt besides. I would say the pain was a 4 out of 10. When I walked during the day, I was not comfortable. I limped whenever I started to walk and then the discomfort never went away even when my right achilles had warmed up. I was like a half second slow on my right side when I walked.

Hurricane Sandy wrecked devestation on New York City and the eastern seaboard during the night and then disappeared into Pennsylvania. All upstate New York got was rain and wind which knocked about 10% of RG&E's customers out of power. Runners were asking ... will the NYC Marathon be held on Sunday?

Garmin Connect Activity for Around the block at RTP-B6

Anyway, I had my running gear with me so I was going to run. It was still daylight after work so I decided to run when I was. If I drove anywhere it would have been near dark by the time I got there. The result was the same ... my right achilles never really warmed up. I felt the discomfort with every right footfall. I had to just tell myself to keep running ... I ruled my run not my right achilles. I did a nice, easy, but uncomfortable 5 miles around the Rochester Tech Park, 8:45 pace, and got my running endorphins. And yes, I am signed up for the Mendon Ponds 20K Train Run on Saturday. Am I stupid? Probably ... but I am still running it.

Wednesday, 10/31/12 through Friday, 11/2/12: Rest days

Just your usual rest days. I tryied to do my physical therapy ... not always succeeding but I tried. The days just seem to run together without a run to break them up. What was left of Sandy managed to get lost in Pennsylvania and caused days of clouds, a bit of rain and wind ... nothing too exciting. The NYC Marathon was cancelled on Friday afternoon after it became a divisive issue among New Yorkers who were suffering without adequate power, food or water.

Saturday, 11/3/12: 1 mile and 12.45 miles

My right achilles felt kind of OK on Friday so I was hopeful about my attempt at the Mendon Ponds 20K. The weather dawned a battleship gray, 38F ... typical for any race in upstate NY in November. My darling Christine and I made it down to Mendon Ponds Park around 9:05AM and luckily got a parking spot about 200 yards from the start. The 50K race, 5 loops of a 10K loop, had already started at 8AM.

Garmin Connect Activity for Warmup before the Mendon Ponds 20K
I put in a nice and easy 1 mile warmup at 8:51 pace to get ready. My right achilles was a nag and a bit tight.



Well ... this year's Mendon Ponds 20K started without me. I got back to the car from my warmup, got my gear and headed to the start at 9:28AM and everyone was already gone. So I just stashed my gear, watered up, took off my Brooks Nightlife jacket and headed out about an estimated 5 minutes late. It was my fault. I cut my preparation too close.

So ... I basically gave everyone in the 5K, 10K and 20K a headstart. Plus I didn't turn on my Garmin for a tenth of a mile as I headed out to track a lot of them down. I did say "Hi" to almost everyone that I passed. I felt pretty good on the first loop. I was dressed perfectly for the weather: CW-X tights, a black long sleeve tech, my Brooks Racing Team short sleeve tech, heavy running gloves and Christine's red/black ear warmer. The course was a bit muddy with leaves covering some of the roots and rocks. The weather itself was very variable: a mixture of light snow, light mist, sun and wind ... sometimes within five minutes of each other. My 1st loop split was 1:08:05 according to the official timing, my timing had 1:03-ish. I spent a couple of minutes in transition to get some water, a Gu and a Gel before heading back out.

Loop 1 ... my sleeves are down.

The second loop was more of the same with a lot fewer runners since the 5K and 10K runners were done. I thought it got a bit warmer for a couple of minutes ... but that soon passed as more light snow, light rain and wind put that notion out of my head. My left hip started to hurt around mile 9. I gave a couple seconds of thought to walking it in ... but I decided to walk the hills if I had to and find a nice and easy but slower run pace to run the flats and downs that didn't hurt too much. I am sure that my left hip pain was due to compensation for my right achilles that was giving me a bit of trouble but not as much as I expected. I continued onward. There were quite a few people on the trails that I kept seeing: a group of 20 or so men, a group of Cub Scouts and their leaders, the usual dog walkers with their dogs and three military types with heavy packs. I got to the last downhill and headed in to the finish. I could hear Christine yelling out as I came in at 2:22:13, a 2nd loop of 1:14:09. My Garmin had my total elapsed time of 2:16:45. I figure that I wasted a minute at 9:20 pace for 0.1 mile before I turned on my Garmin so my unofficial time was 2:17:45 ... about a 4:30 difference.

Officially, I did OK. I was 27th out of 41, link here. I was11th out of 15 in my M50-59 age group, link here. The other races were well represented:. the 5K had 19, the 10K had 63 and the 50K had 52 with 20 DNFs. The Grocery Run 5K in downtown Rochester had 910 runners. Meanwhile, several Rochester runners ran the Hamilton Marathon up in Canada and Jim McLaughlin became an Ironman again in 11:34 down at the Ironman Panama City. I tracked his progress from the comfort of our leather couch, link here.

Christine and I spent a lot of time in the East Lodge warming up, reviving and eating bagels with peanut butter and coffee. My left hip hurt quite a bit whenever I moved. We saw Tina P come in from her 20K looking a bit white-faced. So we made sure we got her some soup so she could revive a bit.

I ambled to the car and Christine drove back to our apartment. Later, a hot bath seemed to work wonders on my left hip along along with some pizza and coffee. We had a late supper of salmon ... tasty. My darling Christine takes care of me just like I do her! All in all, a great day! The Dirt Cheap Stage Race with 3 races of 3, 5 and 11 miles over 2 days next weekend beckons!