Sunday, 2/17/2013 to Saturday, 2/23/2013 - Freezeroo #6

I ran 5 times this week, 24.0 miles.

Sunday, 2/17/2013: 6.5 miles, 59:05, 9:05 pace, 12F, day, windy, no stops.

Garmin Connect Activity for Out to the Zoo and 3 x around the pond

It turned colder but I blogged last week that I was going to run so I did. Ten years ago I would have thought I was crazy, maybe even five years ago. Sure, it was only 12F, windy and three inches of snow fell overnight. But if you dress for it, you can run in almost anything. I actually got out in the daylight with my Yaks around 4PM. It did make a bit of difference. I chose to run out to the Seneca Park Zoo and then down around the pond where it's a bit icy but kind of protected from the wind. I warmed up pretty quickly and just ran nice and easy.

I accomplished what I wanted to this weekend. I ran all three days for a total of 22 miles. They weren't the best miles but there were miles indeed. I know I have been running a lot all by myself but I am trying to save money. Gas is expensive. Why drive to run somewhere when I can just run from the the front door of our apartment? I am slowly trying to extend my long run. So far I am up to a Gel deprived 10 miles this year (yesterday on Saturday, 2/16).

Christine has been setting the DVR to record old movies from the 30 days of Oscar on TCM so we watched "Sandpiper" and "Ice Station Zebra". Movies ... old school.

Monday, 2/18/2013: Rest day, well deserved.

Tuesday, 2/19/2013: 6.2 miles, 52:59, 8:33 pace, 32F, night, windy, no stops.

Garmin Connect Activity for Usual 10K around the streets of Irondequoit

The couch and TV tried to conspire to keep me from my run. But I escaped into the night for my usual 10K around the streets of Irondequoit. I was a creature of habit like usual. My right Achilles was a mere discomfort.

Wednesday, 2/20/2013: Rest day.

Christine and I had a dentist appointment with Dr Randy Raetz DDS, also known as the Running Dentist. We both had no cavities! Christine bought a WaterPik to better take care of our teeth and gums.

We headed over to the Crab Shack in Brighton where we had an early supper with a little help from a Groupon. Onward to New Nails where my darling, Christine, got a new nail color for her nails from ChinaGlaze, An Affair in Red Square. Nice!

We rounded out our evening by watching "Skyfall" off of OnDemand. Bond, James Bond ... twice!

Thursday, 2/21/2013: Another rest day.

I just didn't feel like running ... I was tired, it was cold. The usual excuses that I should have been able to break through but I didn't so I didn't run. We went to bed early. But I didn't help ... I woke up tired anyway.

Friday, 2/22/2013: 6.2 miles, 52:11, 8:25 pace, 35F, night, calm, no stops.

Garmin Connect Activity for Usual 10K around the streets of Irondequoit

I got out after some long hugs with my darling wife, Christine. It actually felt warm, 35F and calm. I run my usual 10K route. I warmed up and ran a bit faster with only a slight discomfort in my right Achilles. I had to back my pace down a bit whenever I got to a slick spot on the road or sidewalk. It felt good to get out after 3 days.

Saturday, 2/23/2013: 2 runs of 2 and 3.1 miles

Freezeroo #6, the last one of the 2012-2013 winter season, was held at Northstar Christian Academy. Christine and I got there around 9AM with plenty of time for me to get warmed up and ready.

Garmin Connect Activity for Warmup before Freezeroo #6

I headed out for a nice and easy 2 mile warmup before the race. I warmed up nicely and ditched my jacket before the race.



I lined up beside Bill Beyerbach and right behind Becky Duberry in my usual spot about 20 feet behind the start line.

Milling around before the start

The start!


GRTC video - I appear at 2:10 and 14:14

The start was a bit of a scrum but I quickly settled in. I just followed everyone else since I didn't know the course. A good thing since the course was twisty. After a 1/4 mile or so we entered a park and ran on a snow covered field for another 1/2 mile or so. I thought we were in a flat, daylight Snow Cheap trail race! I was a bit off the pace so some people passed me. Becky and Bill were ahead of me and Heather Danielson say "Hi" as she passed me. Soon enough we exited the park and back onto road. Then it was onward to the turnaround and back the way we came. The single track in the park was a bit more icy so I had to back off a bit as I slipped and slid. I picked it back up, passed a runner, and cruised into the finish.

Cruising into the finish!

Soon I was down in the cafeteria chowing down on pizza and cookies. I stayed during the series finale prize disbursement. I was third overall in my M55-59 age group, link here. But I was not in the top three in the top 3 finishers out of 5 races so I was out of the money. Hey, I did OK. I was 68th out of 233, link here. I was 5th out of 17 in my M55-59 age group, link here. All in all, a great Freezeroo series!

Later, I headed out to Newark to see my daughter. I brought out her cookie tin and some catfood coupons. She has two black cats: Bobo and Boots, who managed to ignore me like cats sometimes do.

Sunday, 2/10/2013 to Saturday, 2/16/2013

I ran 3 times this week, 21.3 miles.

Sunday, 2/10/2013: 7.3 miles, 1:32:58, 12:43 pace, 11-18F, sunny, calm, beautiful!



I still had the Dion snowshoes that I had rented from Medved. What better place to use them than Mendon Ponds Park with some of the Relentless Forward Progress crew! It was 3F when I woke up and 11F by the time I met up with Steve, Kathy, Phil and Bill at 10AM at the Beach parking lot. The weather was absolutely beautiful: cold, calm and sunny. The snow was picture perfect, clinging to the trees and branches. We all had to wear sunglasses!

My phone unfroze after a while ... this is the best one.

We headed out just nice and easy. There were a lot of people out on the trails, a mixture of snowshoers and cross country skiers. Occasionally we stopped just to look around and absorb the scenery. I tried to take pictures with my phone but my phone was frozen. We stopped back at the Beach parking lot after 4.7 miles, 1:00:08, 12:48 pace for a break where Kathy and Bill broke off to go home. Steve, Phil and I went out again for a loop around the Hundred Acre Pond. I brought up the rear since I was a bit tired. The second loop was 2.7 miles, 33:06, 12:16 pace. Moments later, other snowshoe runners that we knew came up: Frank, Mark, Stacey, Laura, Tammy and of course, Saz.

Later, Christine and I watched the LA Lakers play the Miami Heat down in Miami. The Lakers went toe to toe but 8 turnovers in the 4th quarter helped them lose, 97-107, link here. So the Lakers went 4-3 on their 7 game road trip, beating up on sub .500 teams ... not exactly playoff caliber.

Monday, 2/11/2013: Rest day. Just a nice night of hugs and pasta ... lots of both, ;-) !!

Tuesday, 2/12/2013: 8.5 miles: 1:12:24, 8:31 pace, 31F, night, calm, 1 stop for traffic, mild right Achilles discomfort.

Garmin Connect Activity for 8.5 miles around the streets of Irondequoit

I needed to run and Christine told me this too. So after a bit of dilly-dallying I headed out. I wanted to push my distance a bit at a nice and easy pace. Before I even got a mile I almost became a hood ornament at the corner of Scholfield Rd and Seneca Ave. I was coming up on the corner on Seneca Ave and so was a minivan from Scholfield Rd. I shined my headlamp into the cab and it looked like the driver was stopping. I continued running ... then the minivan kept creeping into the intersection and stopped when I screamed "HEY! ... HEY!" in front of it. I screamed, "HEY, LOOK WHERE YOU'RE GOING!" and continued. Come on ... I wear a yellow reflective jacket and a headlamp. Maybe I should wear my reflective vest and blinkers front and rear for heaven sakes. Anyway, I continued. I did my usual 10K route, added Chapel Hill Drive and out to Thomas Ave before I turned back. I had the usual right Achilles discomfort that I have grown accustomed to.

I have started to compile an upcoming 2013 races spreadsheet of the races that I would like to run ... assuming that my body can handle them. Quite a list!! I will start pulling the trigger once I get our Federal tax refund this weekend (hopefully).

Wednesday, 2/13/2013: Rest day.

I took my darling Christine to her therapist appointment. This let me shop the Webster Wegmans for some Valentine's Day stuff. There was a lot to choose from them! I ended up getting her a single red rose and some chocolate.

Thursday, 2/14/2013: Another rest day.

I decided to take another rest day to just chill on Valentine's Day with my honey. I picked up a heart shaped cheese pizza and cinnabread from PapaJohn's for supper. Then we watched a DVR of "How to Train Your Dragon". I plan on running kind of long, long and long runs on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Friday, 2/15/2013: Almost a rest day but 5.5 miles, 46:50: 8:31 pace, 30F, night, calm, no stops.

Garmin Connect Activity for 5.5 miles around the streets of Irondequoit

I wanted to go for a run after work but Christine was watching a DVR of "Bright Eyes" with a 5 young old Shirley Temple. I got sucked in and watched. We had fish for supper followed by 2 helpings of chocolate cake. We started to watch a DVR of "Fantastic Four" when the DVR crapped out. I was pissed so after a bit of stewing, I dressed and went out for a run. Yes, it was almost 10PM ... but a run was needed. It turned out to be a sluggish run with some stomach pain due to the dessert I guess. But ... I felt better when I got back. I did have to cycle the power on the DVR the next morning ... still frozen.

Saturday, 2/16/2013: Another late run, 10.0 mile, 1:24:50, 8:40 pace, 25F, night, calm, no stops.

Garmin Connect Activity for 10.0 miles around the streets of Irondequoit

I seemed to be off by 12 hours today fora run. a run. I finally got out after dark. I wanted a long run but didn't plan well. I didn't take water or a Gel. So predictably, I paid the price. I ran out of energy on the way back down St Paul Blvd. I was dead tired and thirsty when I got in. But I did get my long run with just the usual right Achilles discomfort. Maybe tomorrow I will actually run diring the daylight!

Sunday, 2/3/2013 to Saturday, 2/9/2013

I ran 3 times this week, 20.2 miles

Sunday, 2/3/2013: 5.5 miles, 46:35, 8:28 pace, 14F, sunny, calm, no stops, mild right Achilles ache.

Garmin Connect Activity for Cold 5.5 miles around the streets of Seneca Falls

I didn't sleep all that well in Seneca Falls so I got up and out of the Hotel Clarence for a run. The weather was sunny, cold and calm. I headed over the Seneca River and just headed out a nice wide street named E Bayard St and back. I just ran at a nice and easy pace. I ended my run in sight of the school that I ran my second 10K from way back in 7/22/2006.

Christine was up by the time I got back. After a quick shower and change of clothes we ended down to a nice continental breakfast. We checked out at 11AM and shopped a bit at the local Wal-Mart before heading over to Lyons to the Wayne County Nursing Home to see my father. We were distressed to see that they had lost his glasses again. This was an added insult to their losing his bottom dentures several months ago. As a result we can barely understand every tenth word he said. Kind of frustrating.

Eventually we did get back up our apartment where my darling Christine cooked up some yummy ribs for Super Bowl Sunday. She and I both agreed that we are "ribbed out" for the time being.

The Super Bowl (and its commercials) were quite exciting. The Baltimore Ravens beat the San Francisco 49er's 34-31, link here. There were a lot of plays that will be talked about for sure ... including a non-call of the 49er's 4th and goal with 1:50 left with obvious pass interference. But I guess it was a case of let the players play ... play on.

On a more personal note ... it was the first sober Super Bowl for me in many years. I have been sober since 1/11/2013 and counting. That stretch of days, 23 to be exact, may not seem long to some but for me it is. I have my own list of reasons why that I am keeping to myself but suffice to say this decision has been good for me.

Meanwhile, the LA Lakers continued their 7 game road trip with a visit to Detroit. They won 98-97, link here. A win almost lost by missing 4 free throws in the closing seconds. But the Lakers improved to 2-1 on their 7 game road trip.

Monday, 2/4/2013: Rest day.

My daughter accidentally bought her return ticket from New York City a month in advance (3/4 instead of 2/4) and was forced to buy a MegaBus ticket that let her off in downtown Rochester. So I picked her up and drove her out to her apartment in Newark. She told me all about her trip. This was her fourth trip there. This time she saw Guns 'N Hoses (an all woman tribute band to Guns and Roses) on Saturday and went to the American Museum of Natural History on Sunday.

Tuesday, 2/5/2013: Another rest day.

I thought about running but that's as far as it went. I did get to watch the LA Lakers play the Brooklyn Nets on YES. The LA Lakers were without Dwight Howard and Meta World Peace but won 92-83, link here. However, Pau Gasol went out injured in the 4th quarter. The Lakers are rolling, 3-1 on their 7 game road trip. The next stop is Boston on Thursday.

Wednesday, 2/6/2013: 6.2 miles, 50:01, 8:04 pace, 20F, night, calm, no stops, mild right Achilles ache.

Garmin Connect Activity for Cold 10K around the streets of Irondequoit

I was in bachelor mode today. Christine's daughter drove all the way from Cleveland to pick up my darling wife, Christine, to take her for an overnight Groupon-fueled stay at a hotel in Niagara Falls, Ontario. I cautioned her to not use her cell while in Canada but some texts did sneak back and forth the border. I did learn that she made out like a bandit on the slots at the casino, more than hextupling her buy-in stake. She was sensible ... she took her winnings and walked out of the casino.

What to do without her for a night? So ... after work I went for a run. I headed out a bit hard, trying to stretch out my stride. As a result my right Achilles did ache a bit during and after the run. Oh well! Later I put together an Rolling Adjustable Garment Rack, similar link here, that we purchased at Wal-Mart. It truly went together without tools and looks like it will be able to hold clothes ... though Christine hasn't loaded it up yet. I cleaned out the refrigerator and ate leftover ribs while I watched a couple of Clint Eastwood movies; the violent The Gauntlet with his then-girlfriend Sondra Locke and the sexual obsession thriller Play Misty For Me. I got a bit of stuff done around the apartment but not as much as I had hoped.

Thursday, 2/7/2013: 6.2 miles, 53:33, 8:39 pace, 30F, night, calm, no stops, some right side pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for 10K around the streets of Irondequoit

Christine's daughter dropped her off at work right around when I got out so I had my darling wife in the car all waiting for me ... sweet! She had a broken nail so I took her straight to New Nails for her bi-weekly appointment and got her a cup of coffee since she was tired from her excursion in Canada.

When we got home I went out for a run on my usual 10K loop. It was a bit warmer plus I had a moderate right inside knee pain and the usual right Achilles discomfort. As a result I took it really nice and easy. I was going to give my pain 2 miles to settle down before I made a decision to turn around. It did ... so onward I went. It turned out to be a nice run.

I settled down to watch LA Lakers play the Boston Celtics. The Lakers were undermanned and it showed with a 116-95 result, link here. When the DVR cut away at 10:01PM to tape two shows I was more than willing to stop watching since the Lakers were down 25 at the end of the 3rd quarter. The Lakers are 3-2 so far on their 7 game road trip.

Friday, 2/8/2013: Rest day.

A winter storm that the Weather Channel named "Nemo" (don't get me started) dumped about 6 inches of snow before I left work. I got home relatively quickly considering the road conditions, proper and timely lane changing to get around stuck or slow cars did help. Christine and I hunkered down for the night as about 6 more inches fell during the night. I was on Facebook and followed email from the Relentless Forward Progress running group. I learned that Greater Rochester Track Club (GRTC) Freezeroo #5 out at the Greece DPW was not going to be held on Saturday morning. It seemed that they could not give the GRTC the use of the building.So I stayed up a bit late and watched Anaconda and From Dusk Till Dawn (with George Clooney and Quentin Tarantino) on AMC. Both were edited for length and content.

It was also nice to read that the LA Lakers won their road game against the Charlotte Hornets 100-93, link here. They are now 4-2 on their 7 game road swing. Next stop is Miami on Sunday afternoon at 3:30PM.

Saturday, 2/9/2013: 2.3 snowshoe miles, , 16F, night, calm, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for 2.3 miles on snowshoes around the Zoo pond

Christine and I slept in until 11AM. I awoke her with coffee, a bagel and the Saturday paper. We dressed quickly once we realized that it was already 12:45PM and she had a Massage Envy appointment at 2PM. While she was there, I visited Fleet Feet Brighton and Medved Run and Walk. After a relaxing lunch at Subway, I rented a pair of Dion snowshoes from Medved for $10. Fleet Feet lost since their daily charge was $15.

When we got home, I immediately changed into my running gear and head to the Seneca Park Zoo parking lot. I put on my rented Dion snowshoes and headed down to the pond on the west trail. The heavy snow on the trees was beautiful in my headlamp. I emerged and ran on the road and then went back on trail for a while. I soon found that running trail in snowshoes was quite tiring and headed back. I wanted to not tire myself out since I heard that the Relentless Forward Progress running group planned to meet at the Beach parking lot at Mendon Ponds Park

Sunday, 1/27/2013 to Saturday, 2/3/2013

I ran 5 times this week, 30.6 miles
I ran 108.32 miles, 20 runs (3 were warmups before races), 5.4 miles/run during the month of January 2013. My first month of greater than 100 miles since July 2012.

Sunday, 1/27/2013: 2 runs of 6.2 and 4 miles

Today was running as transportation. Our 2000 Cavalier's oil needed to be changed and the windshield washers needed to be repaired.

Garmin Connect Activity for Russell's house to home plus extra

So I drove the car up to our auto mechanic, Russell, and ran home with a side trip around the Seneca Park Zoo pond. It was a nice day, 23F, sunny with calm winds. I ran nice and easy on road and crusty sidewalks, 56:26, 9:06 pace, plus a bit of trail fun on the western side of the Zoo trail for about 1/2 mile.

Garmin Connect Activity for Home to Russell's, only 4 miles

Later, Russell called to say that the car was ready to go. So, after I watched the end of the Miami Heat versus the Boston Celtics game (which the Celtics won  in 2OT, 100-98, link here), I headed 4 miles back out to Russell's house via ESL. I forgot to turn off my Garmin when I got to Russell's so I "ran" (drove) home really fast! My time to Russell's was 34:27, 8:37 pace. The weather was a bit warmer, 27F, still sunny and a bit more windy. I ran faster while I was still being careful for water that had melted by the sun but was freezing back to ice. Weird but true. It was sure nice driving a car with working windshield washers! Kind of nice being able to see!

I watched the last quarter of the Oklahoma Thunder (with best record in the Western Conference) - LA Lakers game. It was tied 75-75 at the end of three but the Lakers won 105-96, link here. Kobe was an efficient 8-12 for 21 points, 14 assists and 9 rebounds as 6 Lakers scored in double figures.

Monday, 1/28/2013: Rest day, nothing unusual.

Tuesday, 1/29/2013: 6.2 miles, 51:11, 8:16 pace, 47F, night, warm south wind, no stops, moderate right Achilles ache

Garmin Connect Activity for Warm 10K around the streets of Irondequoit

It was my regular run night so after a bit of Cheerios out I went. Upstate NY is having another January thaw. It was 47F with a warm south wind. I should have worn shorts and a short sleeve T-shirt. Instead I wore my tights, long sleeve T-shirt, beanie and light gloves. I wore reflectivity and my headlamp like usual. I took it nice and easy. My right Achilles had a moderate ache and my right thigh was a bit tight afterward. I did get my running endorphins though!

The "Magic" Kobe showed up for the latest LA Lakers game versus the Hornet. Kobe flirted with a triple double for the third straight game as the Lakers extended their winning streak to 3, 111-106, link here. The Lakers vacate the Staples Center due to the Grammy Awards for 7 straight games ... a long road trip considering their road record is 5-15 so far.

Wednesday, 1/30/2013: Rest day.

I should have run tonight when it was above 60F ... perfect shorts and T-shirt weather in January! But ... it was a rest night after running 3 out of 4 days. My body is still healing itself.

Though ... down at Cobbs Hill, the usual winter trail racing in the dark with headlamps crew were running Snow Cheap #4: snowshoe results for 24 runners here, no snowshoe results for 190 runners here.

Meanwhile, the "Magic" Kobe and the LA Lakers had a 13 point lead early in 4th quarter out in Phoenix but the Suns mounted a comeback and won 92-86, link here. The Lakers road woes continued, 8 losses in a row, 5-16 on the season. Not a good start to a 7 game road trip.

Thursday, 1/31/2013: 6.2 miles, 50:59: 8:14 pace, 26F, night, windy, 1 stop, light right Achilles ache

Garmin Connect Activity for Cold 10K around the streets of Irondequoit

I heard the wind howling outside the windows of our apartment. I dawdled around for a while but ... it was my night to run so out I went. I dressed warmly since I thought the wind chill would be a bit nippy. But it wasn't all that bad. The west winds were worse during the day, 40-50 mph. When I went out around 7PM they were only 20-30 mph when they did kick up. I only felt them if I had an open stretch that faced west. I even stopped once to exhange my balaclava for my beanie because I was overheating. My right Achilles just ached a bit.

My darling wife, Christine, had hot chocolate ready for me when I got back. She also didn't serve leftovers for supper until 8:30PM. She is so sweet!

Friday, 2/1/2013: Rest day.

I was in an income tax filing frenzy after work. I filed our taxes, my youngest son's taxes and my daughter's taxes. I have been using TaxAct for 13 years now.

Meanwhile, the LA Lakers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves, 111-100, link here. They stopped their road losing streak at 8, won 4 out of their last 5 and pulled to 1-1 on their 7 game road trip.


Saturday, 2/2/2013: 8 miles, 1:06:10, 8:16 pace, 16F, cloudy, SW wind, no stops, light right Achilles ache

Garmin Connect Activity for Cold 8 miles around the streets of Irondequoit

I got out relatively early while Christine was still snuggled in bed. I took it a bit longer with a loop down Chapel Hill Drive. The SW wind almost froze my face ... Brrr! My right Achilles was just a mild ache which is an improvement. After a cup of coffee, I headed out to get some stuff done. A haircut and getting my father's mail soon followed.

Later, Christine and I headed out to Seneca Falls to stay overnight at the Hotel Clarence courtesy of Christine's daughter and her boyfriend and their Groupon.

We found that the hotel was furnished in a very modern style. Our room was very austere, pristine and very white (ceiling, walls, woodwork, bed, sheets, comforter). Their free Wi-Fi worked on three out of our four devices. My laptop wouldn't hook up at all. We both had prime rib for supper which was excellent!

Meanwhile, back up in Rochester, the Rochester Knighthawks beat the Washington Stealth, 7-6, link here. Our defending National Lacrosse League (NLL) champions are now 1-3.