Sunday, 8/24/2014 to Saturday, 8/30/2014 - Dam Good Trail Race

 I ran 2 times this week, 14.4 miles

Sunday, 8/24/2014: 2 runs of 1 and Dam Good Trail Race of 13.4 miles, 63F (at race start), 88% RH, 5 mph S wind, sunny

I was up at 5:45AM ... not exactly bright eyed and bushy tailed. My darling wife, Christine, had not slept during the race and elected to stay home. I was on the road at 6:45AM just after sunrise. I picked up Bill Beyerbach and south we traveled down to the Mount Morris Dam for the "Dam" Good Trail Race. This was my fourth running of this nice trail race. It was a bit foggy and humid as we got down near Mount Morris. We got there around 8AM. I said "Hi" to the some of the usual trail runners: Andy Ciaio, Chris O'Brien, Bambi Jasmin, Kathy Reardon, Tina Pellegrin and Frank Quattrone.

Bill Beyberbach (402), Chris O'Brien (332) and I before heading out for a warmup run

I remembered to take 2 Endurolytes before I stretched out. Bill, Chris and I got out with just enough time for a 1 mile warmup run at 9:18 pace, link here. I just had a 20 ounce hand bottle and a Vanilla Bean Gu that Bill had given me since I couldn't find any Gu. We got back about 2 minutes before the race started. I didn't even have enough time to lock the Cruze. I worried about that off and on during the race.


And ... we were off! I started towards the front but not as far up as usual since I had to edge in at the last minute. I hadn't been down to Letchworth State Park since Sehgahunda just under 3 months ago. I settled into a somewhat fast trail pace. The course is a basic 6 or so mile out and back with a lollipop turnaround at the far end. I knew Bill, Chris and Andy were ahead.

Just after the start - taken by Michael Meynadasy

I adjusted my pace and let faster runners ahead. Soon I found the mud that this trail is known for ... a slippery mud that really wants you to fall. It's not bad to go straight in but can be treacherous if you are trying to turn if you hit it just right. Mark Monachino said "Hi" as he ran by. Onward through the mud, dodging roots and rocks, I said "Hi" to Tina Pellegrin and Tom Butler who had started early. I said "Hi" to Frank Quattrone and Prem Kumar as I passed them. Frank said he had rode 50 miles the day before and Prem said that he was tired. I was running well and felt good on the way out to the turnaround.

On the way out, just before passing Tom Butler with Frank Quattrone and Prem Kumar behind me - taken by Michael Meynadasy

Later on the way out - taken by Michael Lesher

Onward ... soon I could see the power lines just after mile 5. Soon afterward the lead runners were coming back at full tilt for an added degree of difficulty before the split to head up to the turnaround. The turnaround just before mile 7 was a welcome sight. I had Bill's Gu and some water before heading back. Soon the slower runners were coming at me as I was heading back.

On the way back with Prem and Frank ahead of me - taken by Michael Meynadasy

Prem passed me and said he felt better. He certainly looked better. I caught up with a girl wearing a TrailsROC shirt, grey skirt and grey calf sleeves that was going exactly my pace ... so I ran behind her for two or three miles before I passed her. I knew the finish was about 2 or 3 miles away since I could recognize landmarks but I was hurting and struggling a bit. I talked to myself and I groaned more than a bit. But I kept pushing. I found a girl with a white skirt to run behind for a bit. I passed her, then she passed me just before the finish. And ... done in 2:19:39!

Almost done - taken by Michael Meynadsay

Done! - taken by Tim Holagan

Mud selfie!

I gulped down some water as soon as I could. I saw Bill (finished 44th in 2:13:58), Prem Kumar (finished 48th in 2:17:58) and Frank (finished 52nd in 2:21:09) at the finish line. Frank had passed me at the turnaround when my back was turned. I did OK, 54th out of 144, link here. I finished 10th out of 17 in my M50-59 age group, link here. My splits were: 8:29, 9:47, 9:46, 10:22, 10:08, 11:05, 12:43, 12:00, 12:11, 10:19, 10:19, 12:20, 9:30 and 8:15 (estimate since I forgot to turn off my Garmin right away) over the last 0.34 mile.

Here is how people that I knew did: Andy Frank finished first in 1:46:42, Liz Matthew was first female in 8th at 1:55:02, Andy Ciaio finished 20th in 2:06:14, Mark Monachino finished 45th in 2:15:00, Chris O'Brien finished 46th in 2:16:53, John Muoio finished 51st in 2:20:50, Ron Heerkens Jr finished 79th in 2:30:12, Joe Mcuzynski finished 83rd in 2:31:15, Eric Eagan finished 88th in 2:34:02, Bambi Jasmin and Kathy Reardon finished in 125th and 126th in 2:59:25, Tom Butler finished 138th in 3:20:47 (Tom had run the Green Lakes Endurance Run 50K in 7:49:10 the previous day, link here) and Tina Pellegrin finished 144th in 4:04:10.

The Dam Good Trail Race is well known for its post race food ... and the Fanton sisters (Michele and Doreen) that run this race did not disappoint! Yum! There were plenty of raffle prizes and I was called up. I picked out a Patagonia tech shirt in a Men XL which I gave to Christine. She liked it since it was long sleeve.

I gave Bill back to his house. I had a drink of water while Bill and I talked running and he looked up Michigan race results from Friday, link here to the 2014 HealthPlus Crim Festival of Races. The Genesee Valley Harriers had sent teams out there to compete in the USATF Masters Men and Femela Mile.

Monday, 8/25/2014: Rest day ... also toe day.

I woke up at 3AM to a throbbing toe. The throbbing toe was the one next to the right pinkie toe that has had a split toenail for years. I didn't really look at it. I just ran some water into a plastic dishpan for an hour and went back to bed. I woke up and noticed that it was swollen ... joy. I endured work and tried to do as little walking as possible. It hurt. I couldn't have a cover on it when I went to bed.

My father-in-law's car

We received news from Ohio that Christine's 93 year old father was in a car accident. His car was totaled but he is fine thankfully.

Christine and I did a bit of apartment cleaning ... the oven. I pulled off the door and Christine went to work on the inside. I had a bit of trouble putting the door back on but was successful.

My  headlamp is useful for other things beside running

Tuesday, 8/26/2014: Rest day ... another toe day.

I got up and had just got out of the shower when I heard my darling wife, Christine, on the phone making an appointment to our primary physician, Dr. Lavender. I hadn't seen him in a long while. My blood pressure was 110/62 and pulse was 52.

My infected toe. Yes, my toenails are dirty

The doctor was impressed with my swollen toe. Then he cleaned it, numbed it with an icy spray before he applied a scalpel to the nail bed and squeezed the pus out. He was unimpressed with the amount of pus. I didn't feel the scalpel at all. He applied a bandage, a nurse gave me a tetanus shot and I was sent on my way. I went back to work. I walked a tiny bit better than the previous day.

Wednesday: 8/27/2014: Rest day ... another toe day.

I walked better but was glad to take my shoes off and soak my toe when I got home. The Epsom salts really, really stung though ... wow!

Thursday: 8/28/2014: Rest day ... another toe day

I walked even better. Another day of soaking my foot after work. Progress, I guess.

Friday, 8/29/2014: Rest day .. a "woulda, coulda, but didn't" day

I could have run but I bought Lloyd's Big Ribs for my darling wife, Christine, so ... we stayed in to enjoy them.

Saturday, 9/30/2014: 7.4 miles, 59:38, 8:03 pace, 72F, 61% RH, 11 mph SSW wind, sunny.

I didn't sleep well during the night. I spent a couple of hours on the couch and then tried to go to bed, Christine's snoring drove me back to the couch for a couple of more hours. I was up early and could have gone out early. Others did get up early, ran races or ran long in preparation for the Rochester Marathon in three weeks.

Garmin Connect Activity for Back in the saddle!

But ... I did make it out for a nice, easy and level 7.4 mile run. The weather conditions were: 72F, 61% RH, 11 mph SSW wind, sunny. It felt good after 6 days off from running.