Sunday, 3/31/2013 to Saturday, 4/6/2013

I ran 2 times this week, 11.55 miles.

Sunday, 3/31/2013: 1:15:01, 7.55 miles, 10:01 pace, 52F, light sprinkles to light rain, a stop to remove my jacket.

Garmin Connect Activity for Mendon Ponds Park - Blue, Green, Blue Trails

My darling Christine and I spent Easter in Rochester this year rather than venturing out to Cleveland to see her family. We spent a relaxing morning and early afternoon reading the Sunday Democrat and Chronicle along with our usual coffee and bagel. Soon though ... the trail called out to me. Let's call it ... day 1 of accelerated Sehgahunda plus Muddy Sneaker plus Medved Madness hill training. I have to really amp up my trail game with lots of races coming up soon.

So ... Christine dropped me off in Mendon Ponds Park so I could commune with nature while she went onward to Trader Joe's. I asked her to come back in an hour. I had my Camelbak and a couple of Gels (which I didn't need). A light sprinkle was falling as I set off on the Blue trail at a really nice and easy trail pace. The trail conditions were a bit muddy. I was surprised to find just a little bit of frozen snow on the trail in a coule of spots. I took off my jacket before I transitioned over to the Green trail. It was a heavier sprinkle now ... I was running and warm enough with just a short sleeve shirt, shorts, calf sleeves, light gloves and my Salomon Speedcross shoes. I know these trails well ... soon a light rain was falling. Christine was not waiting after 57 minutes when I exited from the Green trail so I continued onward for another loop of the Blue trail. She did honk at me when she saw me as I paralleled Douglas Rd for a bit but I motioned that I was running on. She was there waiting when I came off the Blue trail. I was happy that I had communed with nature and she was happy that she had finally made it to Trader Joe's ... a win, win!

We had a non-traditional Easter supper of chicken, brussel sprouts and salad while we watched a couple episodes of Castle and Grey's Anatomy.

I ran 20 times in 31 days for 140 miles. So far in 2013: 58 runs in 90 days for 355.7 miles.

Monday, 4/1/2013 and Tuesday, 4/2/2013: Rest days.

Winter continued to rule the roost in upstate NY. Cursed groundhog! Wind and snow flurries during the day on both day and actual snow on the ground on Tuesday morning! Uggghh! I should have ran Tuesday but a nice warm apartment made up my mind to be a slug.

Wednesday, 4/3/2013: I guess 4 miles, 40F, sunny, windy, no stops.

I absolutely had to run hills so I drove down to the Riley Lodge at Cobbs Hill. It was cold, windy and the park was mostly deserted as a result. I didn't warm up much but headed straight for the switchback ... which was a mistake. I was very winded when I got to the top. I caught my breath and proceeded down the stone path and up the grass V. I did three more. Each one were easier. Lesson learned ... always warm up with a run first before doing hills. I did do a cool down run afterward.

My fully charged (?) Garmin died in the middle of the second loop so I guess-estimated my mileage by looking at what data I could upload. I just learned that Garmin is offering a $50 rebate, link here, on any returned Garmin if you buy either a 210, 610 or 910XT from Garmin ... hmmm.

Thursday, 4/4/2013: Rest day due to apartment hunting.

I thought that Christine had made this appointment for next Thursday ... like it was marked on the calendar in the bathroom. But, it was for this Thursday so out we went into the setting sun to Brockport to look at a two bedroom, 1.5 bath townhouse with full basement and washer/dryer hookup at Winston Woods.

Friday, 4/5/2013 and Saturday, 4/6/2013: Sick days

Both days lost because of a spring cold. I really missed not running a warmup run on Friday night and the Flower City Half preview run #1 on Saturday morning. Instead I just moped around, sneezed a lot and wiped my nose when needed. Exciting stuff ... not!

Syracuse lost in the NCAA Final Four against Louisville, 56-61, link here. The team did well to get that far but had an off shooting night and some mildly questionable calls in the last two minutes.