Sunday, 12/15/2013 to Saturday, 12/21/2013 - Reindeer 5K

I ran 5 times this week, 23.8 miles

Sunday, 12/15/2013, 6.2 miles, 55:45, 8:58 pace, 23F, 78% RH, overcast, calm.

I got up around 7:30AM and out by 9AM. I was eager to get out there and play in the 8 to 10 inches of fresh snow that fell during Saturday. I knew that some RFP runners were already out in Mendon Ponds Park on snowshoes. I put on my usual cold weather gear along with my Yaktraks. I noticed before I went out that both Yaks were missing a section of coil off the back.

Garmin Connect Activity for 10K in the morning snow

I headed out nice and easy. The roads were variable: mostly plowed with an OK section of shoulder to run facing traffic. I heard and saw a lot of people snowblowing or shoveling their driveway. I went slow enough so I never felt out of breath even though my legs were exerting more effort because of the slippery conditions. I enjoyed the run.

Later I headed out to Newark and Lyons. First, I saw my daughter, Karen, and her roommate. Then it was out to see my oldest son, Michael. Next it was over to Finger Lakes Gaming to see my youngest son, David. He treated me to a free dinner buffet. Finally, I saw my father at the Wayne County Nursing Home in Lyons. A busy day.

Monday, 12/16/2013: Rest day ... I fell asleep on the couch around 7:30 PM.

Tuesday, 12/17/2013: 6.5 miles, 55:53, 8:35 pace, 3F, dark, light snow, calm.

Garmin Connect Activity for 6.5 miles in the morning snow

Since I fell asleep so early last night I was up early too. I set my alarm for 5AM and was out by 6AM for a nice and easy run on my usual 10K route. I saw that it was 3F out so I grumbled a bit. I put on another short sleeve tech top over my heavy long sleeve tech top. No worries. I headed out and just took it nice and easy. I got warm and unzipped my jacket for the last two miles. Oncoming drivers probably thought I was crazy! I may wear shorts if it gets above freezing!

I thought about going for another run after work but decided to just catch up on the newspaper and some episodes of "Witches of East End".

Wednesday: 12/18/2013: Rest day.

I really wanted to run ... either down at Snow Cheap or just on my own around my usual haunts of Irondequoit. But ... I had a after work Christmas party. I guess it's kind of important to make sure that your bosses know who you are when you don't see them too often like I do.

Thursday, 12/19/2013: 6.5 miles, 50:29, 7:46 pace, 39F, clear, calm.

Garmin Connect Activity for 6.5 miles in the evening

I needed to run. I checked the temp and found it was 40F. I thought a long sleeve tech, jacket, beanie and heavy gloves were required. Not! I was a bit warm and had to put my beanie above my ears and unzip my jacket. I could have gone a bit lighter in clothing. But I did enjoy the clear road and sidewalk. So I took it kind of fast with splits of 7:53, 7:58, 7:43, 7:38, 7:40, 7:52 and 7:26.

I picked up my bib, t-shirt and antlers for Saturday's Reindeer Run. This will be my first time running this out and back 5K on the Inner Loop. I'm looking forward to it.

Friday, 12/20/2013: Rest day ... nothing of note.

Saturday, 12/21/2013: 2 runs of 1.5 and Reindeer Run 5K

Saturday was a long day. When I woke up it was 55F. So I thought that shorts, Brooks Racing Team T-shirt and arm warmers along with light gloves, hat and antlers ... right? The antlers were for the Reindeer Run 5K naturally!

I forgot to rearrange my antlers ... oops!

I got downtown around 8AM. I parked on the street around Washington Square Park since I thought the parking lot at the Strong Museum of Play would be full. I found my way over and found that the batter of my Garmin Forerunner 310XT was dead. I hooked up with the RFP group to go for what I thought was a 1.5 mile warmup run. It started to sprinkle during the run ... joy. I found some water and headed up to the start line. I talked for a bit to Prem while we waited for the course to clear of all the runners making their leisurely way to the starting line.

Off we started. The course was a simple out and back on the Inner Loop, link here. I ran with Prem for a bit. The temperature dropped down during the race to around 40F. My gloves were wet and I had trouble holding my running breath. I had to stop for a bit to walk twice during mile 2. I was passed by Wendy Abbot and Stacy Maier who said "Hi" on their way by. I did find out that the Inner Loop is definitely not flat ... with some not so gradual ups and downs.

Exchanging a high five with Suzanne McCauley after she finished

I finished in 21:27. I finished 67th out of 1667, link here. I was 2nd out of 49 in my M55-59 age group, link here. Prem finished in 21:50 which is a PR for him. Way to go!

A funny story is that I met Kevin Clinefelter who placed first when I was checking the Yellow Jacket Racing website for the instant results and asked out loud "Who is Kevin?" He was standing 5 feet away and said "That's me." I remembered him from the Race with Grace 10K on Thanksgiving. He just started running 2 years ago and is already pretty fast, 20:10.

I stuck around for the awards which was held in the auditorium. I was drenched, cold and wet. I tried to warm up a bit. The awards were pretty unique. Everyone who got an award got to pick one from their age group selection.

A most unique trophy takes its place on top of the TV

Next was heading out to Ravenna OH to wish my darling Christine family a Merry Christmas. We started out around 2PM. The drive was dreary, foggy and rainy. We stopped for supper in Erie PA at the Cracker Barrel. We found that a nice sit-down dinner was not all that much more than a quick burger at McDonald's and so much more satisfying. Christine used the time at Cracker Barrel to shop for Christmas gifts for us, her father and her children.

We spent the night in Streetsboro at the Comfort Inn and Suites. It's a nice hotel. Our room had everything .. a king bed, LCD TV and a refrigerator. It was lacking enough outlets though. I really should have packed an outlet strip. I watched "Olympus Has Fallen" on the wee screen of my iPhone ... good movie!