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!