Sunday, 10/18/2015 to Saturday, 10/24/2015 - Moore Than A Race 10K & Scare Brain Cancer Away 5K

I ran 7 times this week, 29.0 miles.

Sunday, 10/18/2015, 2 runs of 1.8 miles and Moore Than A Race 10K, 36F, 75% RH, 4 mph N wind, overcast.

Today was my second Moore Than A Race 5K and 10K. It's a memorial race held in Richard K Moore's memory, the late Board Chairman of the Reliant Federal Credit Union. It's a nice small well put on race with an excellent long sleeve tech shirt.

Last year I ran inaugural 10K and was 2nd overall in 45:33. The race was a rare afternoon race. The 10K started at 12:30PM and the 5K started at 1PM. Christine was along for the 50 minute drive out to Sodus. We got there a comfortable 50 minutes before the race. I met with Chris Washburn and his wife Marcia, before the race.


And ... we were off! I got up to race pace quickly and settled into second.

Just after the start - courtesy of Tim Matthews

Out onto Route 88N - courtesy of Tim Matthews

Chris Washburn (on the left) out onto Route 88N - courtesy of Tim Matthews

I was passed twice during the first couple of miles. I walked a bit on the hill at the aptly named Hill Road just before mile 2. But other than that it was just your basic 10K on a nice and a bit hilly course.

I did pretty well, 45:43, 4th out of 67, link here. I was first out of 5 in my M50-59 age group, link here. Chris Washburn was second in 48:15. My splits were: 6:55, 7:45, 7:03, 7:21, 7:25, 7:50 and 6:47 over the last 0.25 mile. The 5K was also held, link here.

Of course, there was a lot of other awesomeness going on elsewhere. A lot of trail runners were down at the Ridgewalk Run & Walk in Wellsville NY; 5K results here, 10K results here, 15 Mile results here. Rochester runners were at three marathons. Chris Paterson ran a 3:05:38 and his wife, Heather, PRed the Half in 1:34:30. Some Rochester runners drove up to Toronto to run the Toronto Waterfront Marathon, results here.

The Buffalo Bills were ... not so awesome. They lost at home to the unbeaten Cincinnati Bengals, 34-21. link here. They are now 3-3 with all their losses coming at home.

Monday, 10/19/2015: Rest day.

Tuesday, 10/20/2015: 8.2 miles, 1:06:53, 8:10 pace, 63F, 45% RH, 13 mph W wind, overcast with an occasional mist

Garmin Connect Activity for An out and back to Long Pond

It was Tuesday and what do I do on Tuesdays? Yes, I run so run I did. My body was a bit achy over the first mile and tried to get me to turn around with my tail between my legs. But ... I was made of sterner stuff and kept going. My splits were: 8:31, 8:12, 8:06, 8:08, 8:02, 7:57, 8:00, 8:17 and 8:11 over the last 0.2 mile.

Wednesday, 10/21/2015: Rest day ... yada, yada, yada.

Thursday, 10/22/2015: 8 miles, 1:04:36, 8:04 pace, 59F, 59% RH, 7 mph NW wind, partly sunny.

Garmin Connect Activity for An out and back to Island Cottage

It was Thursday and I run on Thursdays ... so I ran. It was a bit windy and a bit chilly but I warmed up. It is getting darker earlier so I just did 4 miles out, saw that the sun was setting, turned around and headed back. It was dark within 5 minutes after I got back. My splits were: 8:07, 8:04, 8:09, 8:08, 8:05, 7:58, 7:57 and 8:06.

I wore my reflective vest and soon will need a headlight. Soon I will have to make the decision to run in the morning or run at night. The morning is safer with a lot fewer cars but I would have to get up at the ungodly hour of 4:30AM for an 8 mile run. The evening is better but not as safe with lots more cars and the same narrow shoulder on a mile of Edgemere Drive between Greenleaf Rd and Dewey Ave. Decision, decisions.

Friday, 10/23/2015: Rest day ... like usual.

Saturday, 10/24/2015: 3 runs of 1.2, 3.1 and 0.5 miles; 46F, 61% RH, 6 mph SSE wind, overcast.

Today was my second Scare Brain Cancer Away 5K. I ran a 21:06 last year. I ran this race last year because it was a GRTC Rochester Runner of the Year race and so it is this year. The race venue is the East Rochester High School and uses the usual 5K route that the Karknocker 5K uses so I have run it four times now. It's a nice, flat and fast 5K course. My course PR is a 20:18 back in 2012. I didn't expect that today ... but it's nice to dream.

The Scare Brain Cancer Away course map

The race start was at 9AM. I arrived at 8:20AM to find the parking already 80% full. It's a popular race so I was not surprised. I got my bib and was surprised to be handed a short sleeve tech shirt. I signed up for this year way back in early March through a GRTC "sign up for 6 races for $100" deal. Sweet! I met with Andy Ciaio and went out for a nice and easy 1.2 mile warmup run, 8:21 pace, link here.


I lined up for the start in the middle about 15 feet behind the front. And ... we were off! The start was a bit tight with a wider group of fast RROY runners and other runners in costume trying to squeeze into a narrower road. But ... I managed to get up to speed without too much trouble.

Mingling around before the start - courtesy of Tim Matthews

The jammed start - courtesy of Tim Matthews

 I settled in for a fast 5K ...I wanted to see if I could beat my last 5K of 21:24. I could see Jim May and Tony Gingello up ahead. Andy Ciaio passed me at the 1/2 mile. He told me that I looked strong. I felt OK. I knew that pushing a 5K would hurt. I hit the 1 mile mark at 6:36 according to Pete who was calling out times. My Garmin agreed with a 6:37. I didn't slow down too much on mile 2 with a 6:59.

Where's the finish? - courtesy of Tim Matthews

I concentrated on whatever I could to keep going. The right turn onto Garfield St ... the finish was just ahead but farther that you would think ... mile 3 in 6:44 pace ... I saw the timer click past 21 ... done in 21:11! Nice ... my fastest 5K of 2015! I was handed a liter water bottle by a Boy Scout.

A Boy Scout leader handing out water bottles at the finish - courtesy of Tim Matthews

I had some cups of water to quench my thirst. The SBCA has nice post race grub with pizza, subs, bananas and bagels. It's a keeper for 2016. I did pretty well, 61st out of 615, link here. I was 5th out of 23 in my M55-59 age group, link here. Jim May finished with a 20:28, Tony Gingello finished with a 20:48 and Andy Ciaio finished with a 20:15. Andy told me that it was just 1 second off his 5K PR! Prem Kumar finished with a 21:32. I got out for a nice and easy cooldown run (out to the Equinox) of 0.5 mile at 9:32 pace, link here.

I hit up Fleet Feet Armory for a 52.4 4 Season Challenge sticker that they had held for me. I looked at several items that I wouldn't mind purchasing ... a pair of Brooks Adrenaline GTS16 running shoes, a 1.5 liter water bag and a Diamond headlamp ... among other items.

Christine was still asleep when I got home. She has been sick since Tuesday. It started with a fever and has progressed to a persistent cough and nasal congestion. I have tried to keep my distance while still getting her what she needs. I have made soup and tea mostly.

I soon had my feet up with the first coffee mug by my side. I caught up on Facebook. Heather Patterson was running a 100 mile race in New Hampshire called the Ghost Train Rail Trail Race ... wow! Her husband, Chris, was providing Facebook updates ... sweet!