Monday, 11/14/2016 to Saturday, 11/19/2016

I ran 4 times during these 6 days, 28.6 miles.

Monday, 11/14/2016: Rest day ... well deserved.

I got some sad news from my cousin, Lea Ann Sawyer. Her father, Elmer VerPlank, had died. He had suffered from Alzheimer's. He was 84. He was my mother's brother and was the last VerPlank of his generation. His parents, William and Edith (DeCracker) VerPlank were my grandparents and had Arthur who died at age 6, Doris (my mother) who died in 2004 at age 79, Eleanor who died in 2011 at age 84, Shirley (who died in the 70s) and Elmer. Elmer had three kids; Paul, Heidi and LouAnn by his first marriage to Ann and Lean Ann with Pat. There was a bit of confusion about the days but it ended up with the following at the Bob Yost Funeral Home, link here: calling hours were 5-8 PM on Wednesday, the funeral at 11 AM on Thursday and burial at the East Palmyra Cemetery. The obituaries are here and here.

Uncle Elmer VerPlank - 10/21/1932 to 11/13/2016, may he rest in peace

Tuesday, 11/15/2016: 7.05 miles, 57:32, 8:09 pace, 52F, 43% RH, 4 mph WSW wind, mostly sunny


I got out from Harris B601 on Lee Rd for a pre-lunch run. I took it out at a nice and easy pace. I didn't push the pace after I warmed up. I was running the canal path between Long Pond Rd and Elmgrove Rd when I passed by a blue heron, link here, that was standing just off the path. One thing ... this blue heron looked mostly gray.

A blue heron ... grabbed off a "blue heron" Google search

I ran by within 10 feet the first time and within 15 feet on the way back. The bird just looked at me. I didn't stop to take a picture but just ran on by. I ran a nice and easy pace. My splits were: 8:18, 8:20, 8:15, 8:11, 8:01, 8:13 and 7:51 on my old, old Brook Adrenaline GTS15 (black) running shoes with 652 miles.

Rant begin: One thing that pisses me off is looking for stuff that I have misplaced. Somehow ... between running the Mendon Ponds Trail Run 50K on Saturday, 11/5/2016, I have misplaced two pairs of shorts (my Brooks shorts and my CW-X shorts) and my Brooks running gloves. I looked everywhere I could think of in the townhouse ... nada. I looked in the Cruze and Equinox ... nada. I looked in my Harris B601 office (I do change in there) ... nada. Aaarrrgggghhhh!! Rant off ...

Update: I found them in the bedroom ... they had been put in a box that had fallen over. I really need to organize the townhouse. I will try not to upset my darling wife, Christine, when I have to move her stuff but I absolutely have to organize the living room and both bedrooms. The basement is also on the "must do" list but it's a task best left for a vacation week ... that's how bad it is.

Wednesday, 11/16/2016: Rest day.

Christine and I headed out to Bob Yost Funeral Home for my Uncle Elmer's calling hours. We met up with my brother, Don. We saw lots of my relatives that we don't normally see. We hugged and expressed our condolences to LeaAnn and her mother Pat (2nd wife) and also his son Paul, daughter Heidi and LouAnn (from his 1st wife, Ann).

A picture of Pat and Elmer near the casket

Thursday, 11/17/2016: 6.25 miles, 50:14, 8:02 pace, 39F, 93% RH, 6 mph W wind, wind chill 35F, sunny.

I took today off as a bereavement day so I could attend the funeral at 11AM and be a pallbearer for the burial at the East Palmyra Cemetery where my parents, Doris in 2004 and Bernard in 2014, are buried.


I got up early so I could go for a morning run. I put on my virgin Pearl Izumi M3 running shoes. I just took it nice and easy. My splits were: 8:10, 7:49, 7:54, 8:07, 8:01, 7:55 and 7:39. The M3s felt a bit different and a bit more cushy.

My darling wife, Christine, had a doctor's appointment at 1:15 PM so she stayed home. I arrived at the Bob Yost Funeral Home about 30 minutes and met up with my brother, Don, who was also a pallbearer. The funeral was like most funerals. Lea Ann gave a eulogy and some people came up to talk about Elmer. I guess he cheated at Uno with other people too. My mother always watched like a hawk when they played Uno. They had a hoot of a time when they played back in the day. Them were the days ...

Taking the casket out to the hearse ... photo courtesy of Jennifer Verplank

I'm the middle left and my brother, Don, is front right ... photo courtesy of Barry Dingman

Uncle Elmer was buried with military honors ... photo courtesy of Paul VerPlank

This was my first time being a pallbearer. I found out that a casket was heavy but the six of us carried it without incident. I drove my cousin, Sandy Bastian (Shirley's daughter), out to the burial since her husband, Bill, had to go back to work. Elmer served in the US Army in Korea and was buried with military honors. I took small comfort in that Uncle Elmer and my Mom and Dad are buried within 30 feet of each other at the East Palmyra Cemetery. We talked for a while afterward and then went over to the American Legion in Palmyra for a scrumptious lunch. I had seconds and then dessert, mmm! I took Sandy home also. I took a paper plate of desserts home. Everyone made jokes that I will have to run the dessert off.

Here are some "blast from the past" pictures that were on the poster boards at the funeral home captured from Facebook and my Droid.

The VerPlank kids in the early 1950s (I think). Aunt Shirley, Doris (Mom), Uncle Elmer and Aunt Eleanor (left to right) ... photo courtesy of Barry Dingman

Aunt Eleanor with Terry on the left and Mom (Doris) with Don n the right, Terry is 2 months older than Don. I wasn't born until 1957.

A bowling picture from 1985. Uncle Elmer is on the left and Dad (Bernie) is next to him ... photo courtesy of Barry Dingman

Elmer, Lea Ann and Pat ... photo courtesy of Lea Ann Sawyer

It seems a shame that the only time I see the relations on my Mom's and Dad's side is at weddings (not any in the future that I know of) and funerals. I don't see my brother, Don, much since he lives in Syracuse. I see my sister, Diane, even less since she lives in Kentucky.

Friday, 11/18/2016: 7.05 miles, 55:55, 7:56 pace, 63F, 55% RH, 9 mph SSW wind, mostly sunny.


I don't normally run on Friday but ... the weather forecast was for at least 70F on November 18th. So ... I ran. I felt good so I pushed the pace a bit once I warmed up. My splits were: 8:10, 7:49, 7:54, 8:07, 8:01, 7:55 and 7:39. I was drenched with sweat when I got done. I must have looked a bit when I came back into work to go to the shower.

Saturday, 11/19/2016: 8.25 miles, 1:07:06, 8:08 pace, 63F, 48% RH, 8 mph SSW wind, mostly cloudy.


I enjoyed not having my alarm set and slept until 8 AM. I didn't get out early but I did get out. I knew that the weather was doing to turn colder and wetter in the afternoon so I went out for my fourth run in 5 days. I am trying to break in my M3s so I just went a mile farther than yesterday. My splits were: 8:06, 8:10, 8:13, 8:14, 8:23, 8:00, 8:02 and 8:04. My thighs were a bit tight when I stopped. I think I will take a rest day tomorrow.