Sunday, 11/22/2015 to Saturday, 11/28/2015 - Race with Grace 10K

I ran 4 times this week, 30.56 miles

Sunday, 11/22/2015: 12 miles, 1:42:25, 8:32 pace, 37F, 70% RH, 14 mph W wind, wunny.

I don't usually do group runs but I needed a long run. I hadn't run with Fleet Feet for a long time and running from Fleet Feet Armory to Ridgeway or ROCnar just spoke to me. So ... I geared up and got 'er done.

It was a bit chilly and windy so I wore my CW-X tights, Brooks 1/4 zip pullover, Brooks jacket, Brooks beanie and heavy running gloves. I drove down to Fleet Feet Armory and arrived about 15 minutes early. I saw that Saucony was there demoing their new EverRun shoe. I decided to try out their Glide 9 running shoes from a young guy named Greg.

Pre ROCnar - photo courtesy of Kim Smith

Ellen reminded us that it was not a race and that cake would be served at 11:15 AM. But ... I started out with the lead group like usual. I don't dawdle but I did set up my nice and easy pace around 8 or 8:20 pace. Jim McLaughlin was part of the lead group so I tried to keep him at least visible as we ended down Culver Ave, Monroe Ave, Highland Ave, S Clinton Ave, out to Brighton Town Park and out onto the Erie Canal Path.

Running in Brighton Town Park - photo courtesty of Kim Smut

Halfway point with Barry Cherney on his bike - photo courtesy of Sue Scheuch

The west wind was a bit chilly. I saw Barb Boutillier out for a run while I was in Genesee Valley Park. I got a bit confused following the Canal Path over the Genesee River. The path could have used a few more signs but I managed to cross the two footbridges that I needed to. I met up with Jim McLaughlin at the halfway point where Fleet Feet had set up an aid station. I had a cup of water and a donut hole. I started back out with him but he soon pulled ahead again. I started to pass a few early starters and say "Hi" as I passed. Soon enough I was at Fleet Feet Ridgeway. My wife, Christine, came in and we enjoyed a bit of cake. This event was well chronicled since it was a Fleet Feet event. So ... there were pictures on Facebook.

Boots and Ellen - photo courtesy of Fleet Feet Rochester Facebook page

The delicious cake - photo courtesy of Fleet Feet Rochester Facebook page

My impression of the Saucony Glide 9 running shoes is that they are a bit more comfy than my new Brooks Adrenaline GTS15 running shoes with only 9.3 miles. I didn't really want to give them back ... but I did. There wasn't any specials on them but if I can find them on sale and I need running shoes I will try out. I did have a surprise of a bloody right toe when I took off my shoes but I think that was because I hadn't cut my toenails for longer than I should have.

Saucony Greg after the ROCnar

My feet as of 11/22/2015 ... the 2nd toes on each foot are due to the recent DCSR, the blood is due to an uncut toenail and not due to trying on the Saucony Glide 9 running shoes.

Monday, 11/23/2015: Rest day ... nothing unusual.

The Buffalo Bills played a rare Monday night game against the New England Patriots. The Bill lost ... again nothing unusual. The score was at least close, 13-20, link here.

Tuesday, 11/24/2015: OT day ... gotta work for a living. I didn't get out of work until 6:30 PM.

Wednesday, 11/25/2015: Rest day.

I got an early Christmas present in the mail ... a refurbished Garmin Vivofit 2 from Ebay for $55. Now I can catalog all the steps I take all day at work or on a run.

Thursday, 11/26/2015: 2 runs of 2 miles and Race with Grace 10K, 46F. 49% RH, 5 mph SSW wind, wind chill 44F, overcast.

Today was my 56th race of the year, 12th 2015 Rochester Runner of the Year (RROY) and 4th Race with Grace 10K. I woke up like usual ... early enough to do the previous night's dishes that escaped the dishwasher and early enough to get ready and get to the First Bible Baptist Church about an hour early. I had dressed a bit warm ... CW-tights, long sleeve tech, heavy running gloves. I headed in to get my bib and swag. I received a 25th anniversary RwG jacket since I was of the first 200 registered. I wore it when I took a really nice and slow warmup run of 2 miles at 8:52 pace, link here. I did find out that the wind out of the south would make a head wind coming back to the FBBC.

A nice RwG jacket ... a keeper for sure!

I was a bit sweaty when I got done and had 10 minutes before the race. I thought I would be too hot with my CW-X tights. So ... I went to the Equinox and changed into my shorts while hundreds of runners were walking by heading to the start. I still made it to the start in plenty of time. I saw Prem Kumar, Andy Ciaio, Mark Herberger along with Tom Butler and his wife Amy before the race.

Just after the start - photo courtesy of Tim Matthews

Just a few more seconds after the start - photo courtesy of Tim Matthews

And ... we were off! I started off a bit since I had calmed down. I settled into a nice race pace and started to move up a bit. I caught up to Heather Patterson about 1/2 mile in. She said "Hi". I kept pace with her for a hundred yards before I let her go ... I knew better. Wilt Alston and Frank Quattrone was a bit ahead so I kept pace with them.

Racing in my orange Fleet Feet hat

Wilt let up at mile 3. Frank forged a bit ahead. I bypassed the two aid stations as I closed the gap with Frank. The turn back onto Manitou Rd south toward FBBC dead into the wind made the 1.5 miles long and longer. I knew better than to look up and see the turn into the parking lot so far ahead.

Just after the turn into the FBBC parking lot - photo courtesy of Tim Matthews

I caught up to Frank and passed him as we got to the parking lot entrance. I brought it up to a sprint and ... done with 6.26 miles in 45:57 by my Garmin.

I headed inside the FBBC for the excellent post race grub. I chose 1/2 of bagel, chocolate milk and an apple. I met up with Joe Ciecierega who had fnished 5 seconds behind me and congratulated Heather who had just missed a sub 45 by 2 seconds. Her husband, Chris, had spectated. Andy finished in 43:54, Mark finished in 44:31, Heather finished in 45:04, Frank finished in 46:06, Tom and Amy Butler finished in 1:30:32. I did OK, 45:58, 140th out of 1122, 6th out of 77 in my M50-59 age group, link here. My splits were: 7:03:16, 7:12, 7:37, 7:22, 7:42 and 6:46 over the last 0.26 mile. I ended up placing 3rd in my M55-59 age group in the 2015 RROY standing, link here.

Update on 2/2/2016: I found that 17 men did the entire Westside 30K Series (NCA 5K, Finish Strong 15K and Race with Grace 10K), link here. I placed 5th in 2:17:31 (NCA 5K - 21:55, Finish Strong 15K - 1:09:38, Race with Grace 10K - 45:58) and 1st out of 4 in my M50-59 age group.

I didn't stay too much longer ... I had to get home, shower ... and go get two of my kids (Michael from Newark and Karen from Farmington) for Thanksgiving dinner. David drove up from Scottsville.

Our 2015 Thanksgiving dinner

My darling wife and I (OK, mostly my darling wife) worked to get our Thanksgiving dinner on the table by 4 PM. We did discover that we needed more oven real estate. The turkey cooked up real fine in the oven but also prevented the sides that Christine had cooked the previous two days from warming up enough even after the turkey was out and cooling. So ... we made due. My kids are picky eaters anyways. Though ... everyone did like the apple pie for dessert! I had a lot to eat and wasn't awake enough to drive Michael and Karen home so Christine did.

Friday, 11/27/2015: 10.3 miles, 1:26:43, 8:25 pace, 57F, 55% RH, 11 mph SSW wind, overcast.

My Garmin Connect Activity for A nice and slow long run

I needed to get out to clear my head so I got dressed and got out. I stuck up a really nice and easy long run pace and got 'er done. My splits were: 8:14, 8:16, 8:15, 8:11, 8:12, 8:35, 8:23, 8:20, 8:21, 9:17 and 8:39. A train was blocking Greenleaf Rd when I got close so I made a bypass down the railroad tracks for a few hundred yards to go away it. I surely wasn't going to go back and go the long way around.

Christine's daughter, Beth, and her finance, Nick, got into town from Lakewood OH around 10 PM. We had fixed up the 2nd bedroom for them to stay in. We had brought our old queen bed and put it into the 2nd bedroom. Our master bedroom got the new queen bed from Charlotte Appliance. Both are comfy.

Saturday, 11/28/2015: Rest day.

I decided that today was a rest day ... well, I did sleep in until 8:37 AM with guests in the townhouse. We had a nice breakfast and then made it out to the Jell-O Gallery in Le Roy. It's a nice little museum dedicated to that tasty treat that the US buys 9 of every second.

Nick, Beth , myself and Christine (left to right)

We went back and had a second Thanksgiving dinner before Beth and Nick went out with friends to the Genesee Brew House.