Friday, June 17, 2016

Sunday, 6/5/2016 to Saturday, 6/11/2016

I ran 3 times this week, 28.25 miles.

Sunday, 6/5/2016 to Monday, 6/6/2016: Rest days.

Usually Sunday is a run day and Monday would certainly be a run day if I hadn't run on Sunday. But I sensed that my darling wife, Christine, needed me to be around her. So I stayed around her. I cooked supper on Sunday and warmed up leftover Sunday supper on Monday. What you ask? Ribs!! And they were quite good!! Christine gave me instructions from the couch and I followed them. Cooking two racks of ribs was not hard at all and took about 90 minutes. I do think she gave me easy instructions though. I even made couscous (which has the same instructions as Stove-Top stuffing). Tasty!

Tuesday, 6/7/2015: 8.05 miles, 1:11:22, 8:52 pace, 66F, 52% RH, 12 mph WNW wind, partly cloudy


I needed to run but where? I got my running gear ready before work and told Christine that "Yes, I was running after work". She asked "Where?". I answered "Cobbs". I decided that I needed hills since I was a bit gassed after running the gentle rollers out in Webster during the Webster Trail Classic last Saturday. So after work I parked at Fleet Feet Armory, geared up with a 20 ounce water bottle and ran up to Cobbs Hill. I did 4 grassy Vs, 4 loops of the reserviour and took the long way back to the Equinox. Boom .. hills, 908 feet worth. My splits were: 9:45, 9:53, 9:53 (on the grassy Vs), 8:30, 8:18, 7:58 (on the loops), 8:13, 8:36 and 8:24 over the last last 0.05 mile.

Christine made flounder, zucchini along with tomatoes for supper along with cinnamon rolls for dessert. I still lost 1.2 pounds overnight. I'm right at my goal weight of 165 pounds. I could use more upper body anc core muscle ... but I can type that and think that but I seem to have no willpower to do the work necessary to get more upper body and core muscle. There's tomorrow I guess ...

Wednesday, 6/8/2016: Rest day ... moving on!

Thursday, 6/9/2016: 10.15 miles, 1:24:08, 8:17 pace, 66F. 35% RH, 13 mph WNW wind, partly cloudy


I listened to the wind and tried to let it talk me out of going out for my usual Thursday run. I was getting cranky so I forced myself to get dressed and get out there. I decided to try out a new route by going east instead of west. The O'Rorke Bridge was going up when I got to it so I stayed on the west side of the Genesee River onto the boardwalk of the Genesee River Trail. There was a small tree across the road when I went up Boxart St to Lake Ave.

Friday, 6/10/2016: Rest day.

Yes, there were 2 races that I wish, I wish I could have been part of ... the McMullen Mile or the Mendon Mauler. But I have realized that I can not afford to run races every weekend ... as much as I want to. Yes, I looked at some of the pictures that soon flooded my Facebook feed ... not all of them though.

Saturday, 6/11/2016: 10.05 miles, 1:29:22, 8:54 pace, 75F, 74% RH, 10 mph W wind, partly cloudy.


A thunderstorm went through around 6 AM before I woke up. Then I dilly-dallied way too long before I got out. It had warmed up and got way more humid. I brought my 20 ounce water bottle and remembered to put on sunscreen before I headed out. I headed east again. Maybe I would have done better if I had stayed with the tried and true routes to the west, I don't know. I did enjoy going out onto the Genesee River pier. But I do know that I ran out of gas around 6 miles. I was totally out of energy and just plain thirsty. I almost turned back when I came back onto Lake Shore Blvd but continued on to Durand Beach so I could dip my toes in Lake Ontario. I lapsed into a necessary run/walk on the way back. It was hot and humid for sure!

I took a shower as soon as I got home ... and I was dripping as soon as I got out. I followed Facebook and learned of the running exploits of runners who ran the Ontario Summit Trail Race (half and full) or the ALS 12 Hour Trail Race and Relay. Again I wished I could have done any of these four races in the past two days ... but I have to realize that I can't run every race.

Sunday, 5/29/2016 to Saturday, 6/4/2016 - Global Running Day & Webster Trail Classic

I ran 4 times this week, 19.63 miles.

UPDATE on 6/17/2016: I struggled on whether I should post details about Christine or not. I decided to because it's past time where we hide away mental health issues. Yes, Christine does have some issues. The idea of anything associated with her daughter's, Beth, wedding has stressed her out. I love her dearly.

Sunday, 5/29/2016: A hospital day.

Christine woke up at Marymount Hospital after an OD suicide attempt the previous day (see the previous blog entry). This is on her Facebook page so it is public knowledge. Not much happened as is typical of a hospital on a weekend if you are not dying or dead. She was medically stable and slept a lot. Christine was cared for and watched by a sitter that didn't leave the room. I tried to find answers but largely sat and either watched TV or looked at Facebook. I read all the comments that various people posted about the hot Sehgahunda Trail Marathon and Relay the previous day or the hot Buffalo Marathon on Sunday. I also read about Heather and Chris Patterson running the Comrades ultramarathon in South Africa in 10:55:21. I did find out that Marymount was waiting for a bed to open up in its geriatric phych unit.

Monday, 5/30/2016: 6.6 miles, 56:11, 8:30 pace, 68F, 78% RH, 4 mph SW wind, sunny


I seriously needed to run so I got up and out a bit after 7 AM. I decided to just do an out and back I wouldn't get lost. I did find the Rocky River Reservation Metropark. I was told by a walker that the trail went on for miles and miles. I only had time for 4 (2 in and 2 out). I took some pics ... which I don't normally do. My splits were: 8:33, 8:20, 8:38, 9:12, 8:38, 8:11 and 7:47 over the last 0.6 mile. I was drenched with sweat when I stopped. Then I showered, had a small bite to eat with some a couple small mugs of coffee.

Back to Marymount hospital to see Christine. There, Christine was being seen by a variety of people: her medical doctor, social worker and priest. She had been told that she was being "pink slipped" or involuntarily held by a psychiatrist that had seen her for maybe 5 minutes (when I wasn't there) due to her suicide attempt. Christine was adamant, insistent and agitated that she be allowed to get home so that she could take care of her mental needs at home. She had changed back into the dress and shoes that she had worn when we were traveling on Saturday. I had brought her luggage up at her insistence even though I knew that I shouldn't have. The orderly insisted on searching it which she didn't want. A compromise was struck where she was allowed panties and lotion. I took her luggage back to the Cruze. Christine was given some meds that she needed. She was definitely off her regular meds schedule since all her own medicines were not allowed. Her brother, Bill, and her father came. Then the social worker came and told her that she was being transported to Windsor Laurelwood (WL), a mental health facility in Willoughby OH, right then by ambulance. Christine wanted a second opinion and insisted on being able to see the psychiatrist again. She didn't get as agitated but all her pleads were denied. Her brother and father asked her to go get the help that she needed. She allowed herself to be transported around noon. I kissed her goodbye and off she went. Bill insisted that I go down to a picnic in Ravenna with her family. It was nice getting better (and free) food but my thoughts were of Christine. I got up to WL around 4 PM. There I was told that visiting hours weren't until 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM ... and that was because it was a holiday. So ... I somehow found a park that overlooked Lake Erie and just waited while I tried to charge my cell. When I saw Christine I was shocked. She was in a hospital gown with her sandals and looked half awake. I think that she was been given too much of some anti-anxiety med at Marymount because she could barely stand or stay awake. Her tinnitus bothered her because there was a constant buzz of activity in the adult ward and all that noise echoed in the hallways and cafeteria. It was soon time to leave. Then I had to make the terrible decision to head back to Rochester. I was only going to be able to see her on Wednesday and Sunday. Her daughter, Beth, and brother, Bill, concurred. I don't want her to feel like I abandoned her but I didn't know when she would be released. I couldn't just take off an entire week of work. I want her to get the help that she needs to be a happy Christine and not the Christine who tried to kill herself. I left for Rochester at 8 PM and arrived at 11:45 PM. The townhouse was very quiet. I missed my darling wife, Christine.

Tuesday, 5/31/2016: Rest day.

I was really tired from 4.5 hours of sleep the night before so I bagged my usual Tuesday run. I had signed up for Fleet Feet's Global Running Day activities at Cobbs Hill (a 3 mile fun run and a 1 mile timed race in the 6:00 to 6:59 group).

WL had called me during the day to get more background about what transpired with Christine on Saturday. Her daughter, Beth went to see her during visiting hours from 6:30 to 7:30 PM.

Wednesday, 6/1/2016: 2 runs of 2.7 and 1 mile, 66F, 64% RH, 6 mph ENE wind, partly cloudy.

Christine called me from WL just before lunch. She complained of her sinuses, tinnitus (the place is one big echo chamber), that she didn't want to be there and that she wanted to come home. I called our doctor and asked them to FAX a complete list of her meds to WL. I asked her daughter, Beth, to go shopping and bring Christine some clothes to wear besides a couple of hospital gowns. Her brother, Bill, saw her during visiting hours from 6:30 to 7:30 PM.

I use running to clear my mind and keep my weight down. I'm 6'4" and weigh 165 pounds so I'm keeping my weight down. A lot is on my mind with Christine out in OH so I definitely needed to run. I headed down to Fleet Feet Armory and then over to Cobbs Hill to help them celebrate Global Running Day, their link here. I had signed up for 2 free runs. The 3 mile fun run was really 2.7 miles. I did end up keep pace with another guy who didn't want me to pass him so it ended up in a good spirited race, 2.7 miles at 7:33 pace. My splits were: 7:56, 7:33 and 6:59 over the last 0.69 mile. My mile (6:00 to 6:59 pace) was race 7 of 8 so I had time to kill.

A pic of the finish line and the vendor village - photo courtesy of Boots of Yellow Jacket Facing

Here is a video of the start of the 3 mile fun run:
https://www.facebook.com/barb.boutillier/videos/10209719660334156/

The start of the 3 mile fun run - courtesy of Kim Smith of Fleet Feet Rochester

The start of the 1 mile race ... notice all the runners in front of me - photo courtesy of Kim Smith of Fleet Feet Rochester
I ended up test racing a size 13 pair of New Balance Vongo running shoes for my race. There were 19 runners in my race. And ... we were off! Almost everyone left me in their dust initially. The course was 3 laps of an ad-hoc grassy cross country course marked by orange pylons. It took me a bit but I slowly built up some semblance of speed and started to pass people. Lap 1 was 2:10, 6;31 pace, rank was 17th. I just concentrated on catching people as I could. Lap 2 was 2:18, 6:55 pace, rank was 10th.

I think this was the end of lap 2. I was straining to catch these speedy young kids - photo courtesy of Kim Smith of Fleet Feet Rochester
I was running in a group of 3 what seemed to be 12 years olds. I passed one boy (who was 9) but couldn't catch the other two (a boy who was 9 in 11th and a girl who was 11 in 10th). I turned on the jets but they did too. Lap 3 was 2:08, 6:14 pace, rank was 5th. I ended up 12th in 6:34, link here. Not bad. I even won a prize from Asics during the raffle. I chose a yellow backpack. Sweet!

Thursday, 6/2/2016: 9.35 miles, 1:18:07, 8:21 pace, 79F, 54% RH, 10 mph W wind, partly cloudy

Christine called during the day. She apologized and I forgave her. I miss her, :-(.

Garmin Connect Activity for Out and back to Island Cottage

I started a load of laundry and then I got up and got out. I have to keep up my mileage. I wore my old black/red Brooks Adrenaline GTS15 running shoes because I want to get 600 miles out of them. You can look at the back of these shoes and see that I am a heel striker, lol! It was muggy so I didn't feel too bad about 2 tiny walk breaks after mile 7. My splits were: 8:12, 8:06, 8:12, 8:20, 8:16, 8:13, 8:20, 8:38, 8:59 and 8:23 over the last 0.35 mile. I was drenched with sweat when I got done and went straight to the shower. Then I resumed doing a bit more laundry.

Friday, 6/3/2016: Rest day

Christine called early in the day to tell me that she is being released from WL at 10 AM. I made arrangements for her daughter, Beth, to take her to Erie PA where I will pick her up. I have the Webster Classic Trail Race at 8 AM so I will just get a bite to eat before I go directly there. I should be there around 12 to 12:30 PM. I think that they will get there first. So ... I went home after work, gassed up the Cruze and Equinox, and did more laundry. I can't get the townhouse completely organized but I hope to get all the laundry done. I hope to get fresh linen on the beds also.

Saturday, 6/4/2016: 9.55 miles, 1:37:54, 10:15 pace, 63F, 83% RH, 4 mph WSW wind, partly cloudy.

I set my alarm for 5:30 AM. I wanted to leave for Webster at 6:30 AM. The townhouse was quiet with just me ambling around getting ready for a trail race. It was going to be warm so I wore my Brooks short tights, an Old Goat tech short sleeve tech, along with a pair of crew shoes and my blue Salomon SpeedCross 3 trail shoes. I got out to Webster Town Park around 7 AM. I couldn't find the entrance and stopped at the park office for a bit of directions. I got to the Valley View shelter around 7:10 AM. I got my bib and just waited. My tummy was a bit unsettled so I had to run to the bathroom before the race. I just waited for the start patiently. I knew where I had to be at noon and had time to run a race so life was good.


And ... we were off! I forgot to start my Garmin Forerunner 220 until the race was about 1/4 mile old ... oh well! I soon realized (yet again) that running on road and running on trail are two different animals. Road is all about pace and persistence. Trail is constantly varying your pace as you go up and down rolling hills, twisting and turning on the trails, deciding to go slightly around or through a muddy patch along with looking out for roots, rocks and branches. I did OK for the first 4 miles or so. Then I started to get hot and hungry. It had warmed up and I was running in a sunny field for a while in the middle of the race. I knew I had only 3 miles or less to go but I started to take a few breathers as I walked a tiny hill. Soon enough ... boom, I was done with 9.55 miles. I talked a bit with Pat Milligan while I gulped down 4 delicious cookies (2 chocolate chip, 1 macadamia nut and 1 oatmeal raisin) along with some Gatorade. Soon I ambled out to the Cruze and did a complete change of clothing (with the help of the bathroom for the bottom). My feet were a bit dirty from my trail shoes.

I had to go get my darling wife, Christine, at the Heritage Wine Cellars in North East, PA at noon. This is where and when her daughter, Beth, was going to meet me after Christine was discharged from WL at 10 AM. So I plugged in my Droid Maxx, fired up Google Maps and was on the way around 10:30 AM. Google Maps had the trip had 100 minutes so I knew I was going to be late. I pushed it a bit on the Thruway as I drove toward Buffalo but then I got a text from Beth say that she was still waiting at almost 11 AM. I was shocked that my Droid actually told me that a text had arrived, asked me if I wanted to listen to it and then give me an option to verbally reply to it! Sweet! I found out later that it was part of a recent update. So I had time to stop and get some coffee at a Tim Hortons in the Clarence Travel Plaza. I got to the Heritage Wine Cellars about 3 minutes before Beth pulled up. Hugs and kisses were exchanged. Beth bought a couple bottles of wine and was soon on her way back to OH.

Christine's emotions were still a bit raw as we caught up on what had happened to each other during our time apart. We took a leisurely trip back to Rochester. Then we reconnected once we got back in our townhouse. I ended up going out to Wegmans for subs for supper as I didn't want to pull out leftovers that had been in the refrigerator for a week. I had survived on rotisserie chicken and salad during the 5 days that Christine had been in WL. Christine calls it "living bachelor style".

Oh ... I did OK at the Webster Trail Classic. I was 28th out of 118 in 1:39:00, link here. I asked around and learned that the actual distance was about 9.8 miles. I was 6th out of 20 in my M50-59 age group. My splits were: 9:42, 9:48, 9:31, 11:18, 9:44, 9:38, 10:30, 9:56, 11:56 and 9:38 over the last 0.55 mile.

Sunday, 5/22/2016 to Saturday, 5/28/2016

I ran 3 times this week, 27.40 miles.

Sunday, 5/22/2016: 2 runs of 10 and 3.15 miles, 1:26:05 and 28:41, 8:36 and 9:09 pace, 61F, 72% RH, 7 mph NW wind, sunny

Garmin Connect Activity for Trying out my old shoes
Garmin Connect Activity for Had to get home

I headed out on my half marathon course and just ended up dividing this run into 2 parts. I just had to stop and drink most of my 10 ounce hand bottle and take a breather. I don't know why. My splits were: 8:33, 8:22, 8:26, 8:26, 8:24, 8:12, 8:38, 8:41, 8:58 and 9:21. I stretched for a minute and headed back at a slower pace. My splits were: 9:21, 9:21, 8:53 and 8:27 over the last 0.15 mile.

Monday, 5/23/2016: Rest day ...

Tuesday, 5/24/2016: 6 miles, 48:47, 8:07 pace, 79F, 28% RH, 13 mph W wind, sunny


I almost didn't get out to run. I had my running gear in the Equinox but came home instead. My darling wife, Christine, didn't have anything read and had to go out and get something. So ... I had time for a quick 6 miles (on a new route no less) that was cooking when I got home. My splits were: 8:29, 8:02, 7:59, 8:04, 8:00 and 8:10. The hamburgers were delicious and sweeter since they were earned by some sweat!

Wednesday 5/25/2016 and Thursday, 5/26/2016: Rest day and rest day ...

Friday, 5/27/2016: 8.25 miles, 1:10:36, 8:34 pace, 88F, 41% RH, 13 mph WNW wind, partly cloudy.

Garmin Connect Activity for A hot and muggy run on Edgemere

I needed to get out so I did. I took it nice and easy since it was hot and muggy. My splits were: 8:49, 8:23, 8:14, 8:21, 8:37, 8:32, 9:06, 8:30 and 8:20. I took swigs of water at 2, 4 and 6. I had water outside by the Equinox when I finished too. I was drenched in sweat within minutes of stopping and went straight to the shower.

Saturday, 5/28/2016: A travel day

UPDATE on 6/17/2016: I struggled on whether I should post details about Christine or not. I decided to because it's past time where we hide away mental health issues. Yes, Christine does have some issues. The idea of anything associated with her daughter's, Beth, wedding has stressed her out. I love her dearly.

Well ... what to say about Saturday? It's on the Facebook page of my darling wife, Christine, so it is public knowledge to her and my Facebook friends. We left for Twinsburg OH around 9:30AM for the her daughter's, Beth, bridal shower at 3 PM. Christine was supposed to set up a pickle tray. We had an argument about directions. I was going to apologize when we got there ... that we "had taken the scenic route". We were going to make it there just not as quickly as we had hoped. But ... she tried to commit suicide by ODing on her anti-anxiety medicine, clonazepam about a hour before our arrival. I heard the medicine bottle pop but hadn't anything of it. She told me of it about 5 minutes away from the bridal shower venue so I continued onward where I pretty much knew Beth would be. I went in to get her and came straight back out. Christine had managed to find a beer in the Cruze that was half gone by the time that we got back out. We pried it from her hand along with another pill bottle. She told us that she had taken 22 pills and would have taken more. Beth knew where the Twinsburg ER was and I followed her there. The next 5 hours were spent there. They hooked her up a couple of IVs and pushed potassium and two bags of 0.9% sodium chloride solution as well as monitored her heart rate, blood pressure, breathing and oxygen level. Christine spent some time unconscious, some time coherent and most of it sleeping. She says that she doesn't remember any of it. She was transported to Marymount Hospital around 8 PM. I left for Beth's house around 10:30 PM.