Sunday, 12/27/2105 to Saturday, 1/2/2016 - Freezeroo #2

I ran 5 times this week, 28.74 miles
I ran 10 times during December for 86.3 miles, 8.6 miles/run.
I ran two races, Winter Trail Festival and Reindeer Run 5K.
I ran 241 times during 2015 for 1366.8 miles, 5.7 miles/run.

Sunday, 12/27/2015, 5.1 miles, 42:53, 8:36 pace, 46F, 93% RH, 5 mph NW wind, light rain

Garmin Connect Activity for An out and back on the Parkway trail

I wanted to try to get for 100 miles for the month so I pushed to get out there. I just did an and back on the Parkway trail. I took it really nice and easy, I was a bit gimpy. My splits were: 9:03, 8:35, 8:28, 8:26, 8:28 and 8:09 over the last 0.1 mile. I was drenched when I got back so I hit the shower right away.

I watched the NY Jets - Buffalo Bill game live from the Ralph. It was an ugly game. The Bills were leading 9-6 and got the ball back with about 4 minutes to go ... but instead an 3 and out the Bills pulled off a long run for TD and won 16-6, link here. Their record is now 7-8.

Monday, 12/28/2015 to Tuesday, 12/29/2015

I wanted to get to 100 miles for the month of December but 78.25 miles with 4 days to go with a rest day on Thursday left only 3 days. I would have had to run 22 miles in 3 days or 11 on Monday and 11 on Wednesday. Too much, I yield that it will be a less than 100 mile running month. But a simple 3 miles will give me the most running miles in a year.

Wednesday, 12/30/2015: 8.05 miles, 1:06:12, 8:13 pace, 39F, 87% RH, 5 mph NE wind, light rain/snow

Garmin Connect Activity for Last run of 2015

I got out for my last run of 2015 to get my most running miles in a year PR. I decided on just 8 miles ... a simple out and back to Island Cottage Rd. My splits were: 8.19, 8:12, 8:08, 8:00, 8:06, 8:10, 88:30 and 8:28 over the last 0.05 mile. I finished with 10 runs for 86.3 miles for the month of December and 233 runs for 1366.84 miles for 2015.

Thursday, 12/31/2015: New Year's Eve

Your typical rest day before a race the next morning. I was asleep before 11PM. I didn't need to see the ball drop in Times Square.

Friday, 1/1/2016: 2 runs of 1.95 miles and Freezeroo #2, 30F, 86% RH, 10 mph WSW wind, wind chill 21F, light snow.

Today was Freezeroo #2 down in Mendon Ponds Park. I was up early and puttered around a bit before I got ready. I made sure that I had most of my cold weather gear before I left. I wore my CW-X tights, a long sleeve tech, a short sleeve tech, heavy running gloves and Brooks beanie. There was just a bit of snow on the windshield of the Equinox when I left. What a difference 22 miles and 30 minutes makes. The road was a bit snow covered when I got to the beach parking lot at 9:10AM. I ambled up with my running bag to get my bib. It started to snow with big flakes. I dug in my bag for my running eyeglasses with the clear lenses.

I got out for a nice and easy 1.95 mile warmup run at 8:58 pace, link here. It was cold and I found that the footing was a bit slippery but I had my running shoes not my trail shoes so I just decided to be careful. The start was delayed 5 minutes due to lines for the "no paper" onsite registration.


I lined up in the middle about 10 yards behind the front near Andy Ciaio and Jeff Rose. And ... we were off! The snow was coming down in big flakes and the road had about an inch of loose snow.

The start ... courtesy of Tim Matthews

I am in the white ... courtesy of Tim Matthews

A bit farther down from the start ... courtesy of Tim Matthews

I eased into a nice and easy race pace around 8:00 pace. I took the left turn on Douglas Rd to Canfield Rd easy. I endured the ups and downs of Canfield Rd out to Clover Rd and then back onto Pond Rd. I ran in the road where everyone else was running. My clearing running glasses fogged up and then were mostly snow covered ... but I kept them on. Mile 3 passed in 24:10. I was a bit careful on any downs so I wouldn't slip and fall.

Heading up Pond Rd at mile 4 ... courtesy of Tim Matthews

 The hills of Pond Rd and Mendon Center Rd were a bit long but I endured them without breaking to a walk. I knew I could do this without a walk ... so I did.

I hiked my sleeves after mile 5, on Canfield Rd ... courtesy of Tim Matthews

I picked up the pace a bit. I almost ran into a slower runner dressed in black as I climbed the hill coming back into MPP on Canfield Rd. Luckily I wasn't going too fast and jigged to the right in time. I knew there was only a mile to go ... time to bring it. A left back onto Douglas Rd ... one more hill at the cobblestone cottage ... the finish line up ahead ... seeing the time under 1 hour ... sprint ... yes! I forgot to turn off my Garmin for a couple of minutes. I made my way to the Equinox to put on my coat before I ambled up to the Stewart lodge for some post race grub of pasta, cookies and an apple. Soon enough I was home with the obligatory coffee mug.

I felt I did OK with a 59:44, 7:58 pace. My splits were: 7:51, 7:58, 8:03, 8:02, 8:08, 7:40, 8:03 and xx. I was 61st out of 301, link here. I was 2nd (a distant 2nd to Tim Dwyer) out of 29 in my M55-59 age group, link here. Here is a story from Time Warner Cable News article, "Runners Reach Finish Line of 2016's Starting Line at Resolution Run", link here.

Saturday, 1/2/2015: 6.2 miles, 51:50, 8:22 pace, 30F, breezy, overcast

I forgot to turn on my Garmin when I headed out so the time is an estimate of my eCrumb minus 20 seconds. I knew the distance since I ran an out and back that I have run before. No worries ... I took it nice and easy.

Christine and I both needed some personal care later. I went to the OK Barber Shop on Hudson Ave for a runners haircut (i.e. short). I parked so Christine could watch from the Cruze. Then I took her to New Nails on Titus Ave so she could get her lovely fingernails done. I shopped for groceries at nearby Wegmans while her nails were being worked on. Then we went on a date night dinner at The Original Char on Island Cottage Rd. I had the full rack of ribs ... yum!