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.
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| Along Edgemere Drive |
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| Karen Kryder |
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| Charlie Sabatine |
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| Becky Duberry |
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| Bill Murphy |
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| Heather Danielson |
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| Matthew Roberts |
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| Tina |
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| Tom Butler ... with his shirt on! |
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| Wilt Alston |
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| Digging for the finish |
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| Karen Kryder |
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| A determined Charlie Sabatine |
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| Becky Duberry |
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| Matthew Roberts |
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| 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.
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| The post-race growl of Matthew Roberts |
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| Christine and runners |
