Sunday, 2/26/2017: 7.35 miles, 1:02:38, 8:32 pace, 28F, 74% RH, 14 mph W wind, wind chill 17F, overcast with light snow.
I slept in a bit before getting out for a nice and easy run out on the LOSP trail and half of Island Cottage. My darling wife, Christine, had given me a bit of incentive to come home quickly but my right hip hurt a bit so I kept it at a relatively easy pace. The weather had changed ... again ... for the colder. The light snow that felt did look pretty. My splits were: 8:25, 8:24, 8:22, 8:34, 8:47, 8:33, 8:39 and 8:16 over the last 0.35 mile.
I kept busy for a bit afterward doing three loads of laundry. I discovered that there was benefits of having Christine help fold ... we got it done faster, :-).
Monday, 2/27/2017: Rest day.
Tuesday, 2/28/2017: 10.68 miles, 1:31:05, 8:32 pace, 57F, 31% RH, 5 mph SE wind, overcast.
The last day of February and I ran for the fourth(!!) time in shorts. My Facebook feed told me that I ran in -2F, wind chill -17F weather two years ago! Other crazies rode their bicycles ON Irondequoit Bay two years ago! So I took a hour of vacation and got out for a long run from Greece Athena High School. I took it really nice and easy. I almost regretted not taking my headlamp but got back before I needed it. My splits were: 7:59, 8:27, 8:30, 8:36, 8:29, 8:34, 8:33, 8:39, 8:45, 8:33 and 8:47 over the last 0.68 mile.
My running stats for the month of February: I ran 18 times for 136.9 miles, 7.6 miles/run. Two of these run were warmups of 2 and 1.05 miles. I ran 2 races (Freezeroo #5 and Freezeroo #6).
Wednesday, 3/1/2017: 5.05 miles, 42:14, 8:21 pace, 64F(!), 56% RH, 18 mph WSW wind, overcast.
I don't usually run on Wednesday but the forecast called for the temperatures to tumble into the 20s overnight so ... I did. I brought all (almost again) my running gear to work so I could run before lunch. I started to change and realized I didn't have any running socks. What to do? Run in my dress socks, of course! I soon discovered that my thighs didn't appreciate running so I cut the road short a bit and stayed at a nice and easy pace. I did enjoy being out in shorts and my yellow 2015 Phelps Sauerkraut tech shirt with no gloves and no hat! My splits were: 8:27, 8:31, 8:41, 8:26 and 7:46.
A light rain moved in just as I got home and the wind really start to blow during the night ...
Thursday, 3/2/2017: Rest day ... thankfully.
I know that a true runner runs in any conditions but ... I am glad that I ran yesterday. It was 23F when I woke up and the wind was still blowing around 20 mph. The peak wind gust was 64 mph at the Rochester Airport and I saw news coverage of blown down gas station awnings (Rochester and Batavia), numerous downed trees and power outages. There was at least 11 downed power lines near the intersection of Lee Rd and Lexington Ave. This had an impact on me since I support the Ricoh printers at a Harris building (B601) right near there.
Friday, 3/3/3017: Rest day ...
Saturday, 3/4/2017: 14.85 miles, 2:14:01, 9:01 pace, 18F, 67% RH, 18 mph NNW wind, wind chill 3F, overcast at the start to mostly sunny at the end.
Today was the "official" Round the Bay run. I have done this run every year since 2009. It's not a race just an gathering of runners from the Oven Door, Gold Rush, Bagel Bunch and anyone else that start at the Swing Bridge in Irondequoit and well ... run counter-clockwise around the bay. There are two different routes that take in all the hills on the west side of Irondequoit Bay. The first goes up 590 (which saves 0.85 mile) and the second goes up Culver Rd. I took the second to get the full mileage (go big or go home).
But first ... let's back up. I set my alarm for 5:30 AM. A couple of inches of fluffy snow had fallen overnight plus it was cold and windy. I had my pre-run bowl of cereal and banana along with a glass of OJ while I questioned my sanity. I looked outside while my lovely wife, Christine, slept peacefully and questioned my sanity. I thought about bagging the run ... the wind chill was in the single digits or less. The roads were going to be crappy. But ... I knew I wouldn't be able to get back to sleep and I would regret not getting out ... so I started to get dressed. I wore my CW-X tights along with shorts, my red long sleeve GRTC Freezeroo tech, my yellow Brooks 1/4 zip pullover and my yellow Brooks jacket. I brushed the snow off the Cruze and headed out. I got down to the Swing Bridge in Irondequoit at 6:50 AM. There weren't as many cars as usual ... odd (lol). I sat in the car and put on my balaclava, yellow Brooks beanie and mittens. I tucked my Hammer Gel flask with what was left of my Apple Cinnamon Hammer Gel in an AmphiPod in my waist and filled my 20 ounce hand bottle with water. I also changed my running glasses to the clear lenses and put them on to protect my eyes from the wind. I didn't stretch at all and just walked over to where everyone was gathering ... maybe for warmth. The wind was really blowing from the north off Lake Ontario ... or maybe the polar icecap. Matt Kellman took a selfie of the group before we started. I guess maybe 30 to 40 runners took part. There have been years when there were over 100.
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| Matt Kellman used a selfie stick to take several pictures before we started out |
Anyway ... we started. The run up the hill on Culver Rd was slow. The shoulder was snow covered so I ran in the road and only moved over for oncoming traffic when I had to. The footing was variable and changed between OK to slippery. Sometimes the snow was kind of changing to slush or a bit of ice so I had to be careful and not push off so I just set up a really nice and easy pace. Yes, it was cold in the first few miles but I warmed up. The wind was mostly at my back so it was really a factor. The hills on west side were the usual ups and downs. Thankfully, there weren't too many cars or trucks out yet. I walked the usual parts of the two major hills. This is the third time I had run Round the Bay this year and 12th time in total so I knew the route. I walked at mile 7 so I got suck down some Hammer Gel and drink some water. I noticed that the water in my hand bottle was starting to ice up. I ran down the Empire Blvd hill and passed Tom Butler. He wasn't shirtless but he was wearing shorts! He must have started early! The wind was my left and then started to be in my face as I turned kind of north to head back up the long hill into Webster. Empire Blvd and Bay Rd was a bit dangerous because it was later and there were more cars out. I was glad to get off of Bay Rd onto Volk and Dewitt for miles 11 and 12. Back onto Bay Rd ... Lake Ontario was in sight. A left onto Lake Rd. The wind was really blowing from the right now. I was in "get 'er done" pace while running on a narrow shoulder as cars came off the Swing Bridge. And ... done with 14.85 miles in 2:14:01. I was cold and tired so I went straight to the Cruze. I usually stretch after a run or wait for other runners but not today. It was just too cold.
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| A selfie to prove that I was there. I guess I had my balaclava on a bit crooked the whole way. |
Later, I took Christine out to have her nails done at New Nails. She decided to have them cut back ... but there are still sexy, :-)!
