Sunday, 11/19/2017 to Saturday, 11/25/2017 - Race with Grace 10K

I ran 5 times this week, 30.3 miles.
I walked 66,003 steps this week according to my Pebble 2 HR smart watch.

Sunday, 11/19/2017: 1671 steps during the day, rest day.

Yes, a complete rest day on a Sunday. My left toes ached a bit from yesterday's festivities: 18.72 miles and 2 falls at the MFAMTL. I thought about getting out and taking a walk but didn't.

I did get out later to pick up my daughter, Karen, from the Amtrak station in Rochester and take her apartment in Palmyra. She paid me with two chocolate cupcakes ... mmm!

My daughter's cupcakes!

Monday, 11/20/2017: 5811 steps during the day, rest day.

Tuesday, 11/21/2017: 14070 steps during the day; 6.46 miles, 51:00, 7:54 pace, 48F, 37% RH, 14 mph SW wind, wind chill 43F, mostly cloudy.


I needed to run and I like to run during the daylight during the run so a run before lunch fit the bill. The weather forecast this morning foretold a high in the mid 50s so I figured shorts, a long sleeve tech, light running gloves and no hat .. all good, right? Well ... it was really a bit colder than that and a lot windier also. When I got out into the wine ... brrr!! I didn't warm up for 2 miles! I kind of doubted my sanity but I don't like to turn around so I continued on. I warmed up, ignored the tightness in my thighs and enjoyed the run. My splits were: 8:12, 7:57, 7:54, 8:08:8:00, 7:37 and 6:48 over the last 0.46 mile.

Wednesday, 11/22/2017: 5988 steps during the day, rest day.

Thursday, 11/23/2017: 14231 steps during the day; 2 runs of 1.1 and 6.24 miles, 30F, 74% RH, 5 mph SW wind, wind chill 25F, overcast.

Today's race was my sixth Race with Grace 10K (2012- 46:04, 2013 - 45:07, 2014 - 44:29, 2015 - 45:58 and 2016 - 46:26) out at First Bible Baptist Church. It was also the last of the 12 GRTC Rochester Runner of the Year races. I have run other races on Thanksgiving,  6 Newark Turkey Day 5 mile Turkey Races (2005 - Unknown time, 2006 - 38:00, 2007 - 38:57, 2008 - 37:38, 2009 - 38:50 and 2010 - 37:29) and a Turkey Trot 4.4 mile (one and done) in 2011 - 29:26.

I had signed my darling wife, Christine, up for this race way back in September (I think) but she was way too tired after cooking practically non-stop since Wednesday. We were not having anyone other but my wife doesn't do anything halfway. I had gathered with 2 trips to BJ's and 3 or 4 trips to Wegmans. Her task was to cook her usual tasty food for us.

I got up at 6:30 AM, dressed in my usual winter weather running attire (Brooks pants, yellow/black Brooks 1/4 zip long sleeve pullover, yellow/black beanie and heavy running gloves), ate my usual pre-race bowl of cereal and banana, kissed Christine goodbye and headed out. I got to the race venue around 8 AM in plenty of time for the 9 AM start.

I met up with Joe Ciecierage and Tina Pellegrin before the race. Joe told me that he had dreamed about me. He was running a race with me (mini-Doug or little Doug) in a baby carrier. We laughed about it! He remarked that he was trying to get back up by my speed but was running 9 minute pace. I got out for a 1.1 mile warm up run at 8:34 pace, link here.

The start ... photo courtesy of Tim Matthews of https://runnerpics.shuttlefly.com 

A bit after the start ... photo courtesy of Tim Matthews of https://runnerpics.shuttlefly.com

I lined up next to Andy Ciaio and waited for the start. I knew Andy would be wearing shorts ... since it was only 32 degrees. And ... we were off! I got up to race pace quickly. Andy and I noticed that the race photographer, Tim Matthews, took a tumble while he was running backwards.. He bounced up and continued shooting pictures. Wilt Alston and his crew of 2 women caught us around 3/4 mile. He said that he would be walking in a mile or two but we rather doubted it. I got to the first mile mark just over 7 minute pace. I was keeping pace with Andy and felt good so I kept my pace. The 5K mark came around 22:30 or 7:15 pace. I was felt the strain but kept up with Andy until just before mile 4. I slowed but I resisted the temptation to walk. I knew it was only a 10K. I do a 10K in practice ... but not at this pace. The last 2 miles were a bit long and into the wind. Andy was about 100 yards ahead but I couldn't catch him. I saw the clock tick past 46:00 and ... done in 46:11!

Sprinting into the finish ... photo courtesy of Tim Matthews of https://runnerpics.shuttlefly.com 

I went inside the FBBC and had a bit of their usual post race grub ... just a pint of water, banana and 1/2 pint of chocolate milk. I noticed that I was third in my M 60-64 age group so I stuck around for the awards. Andy was third in his M 50-54 age group. So we both stuck around for the awards but heading our separate ways for Thanksgiving.

My official time was 46:10, 7:27 pace. I was 89th out of 763, 3rd out of 41 in my M 60-64 age group, link here. I was 7th in my unofficial M 55-59 age group so I picked up no RROY points. I will finish fourth in the 2017 RROY M 55-59 age group with 47 points in 10 races out of 12 (the top 6 races score), link here. My splits were: 7:07, 7:17, 7:23, 7:44, 7:23, 7:39 and 6:56 over the last 0.24 mile.

There were other races beside the Race with Grace 10K. The Turkey Trot out in Webster had 2272 finishers in the 4.4 mile race - link here, and 1854 in the 2.5 mile race - link here. The inaugural Feast of Burden 5 mile run held down in Rochester had 291 finishers, link here. The Newark Turkey Day 5 mile race had 101 finishers, link here. I ran my very first race back in 2005 on that course in Newark. Meanwhile out in Buffalo ... the 122nd annual Delaware YMCA Turkey Trot 8 Kilometer Race had 12,411 finishers, link here.

I got back home and started to help my darling wife, Christine, make our Thanksgiving dinner. First I had to bandage her right thumb where she had cut herself while she was slicing potatoes to make scalloped potatoes. Her thumb hurt so I was thrust into cook mode (along with her patient guidance). I made the seasoning, opened the turkey, put on the seasoning and cooked the bird. We ate around 5 PM ... it was delicious!

Thanksgiving dinner for Christine and I

So ... what did we have? An almost 12 pound fresh turkey (cooked in the oven based off a doubled Slow Cook Turkey Breast with Gravy recipe), sweet potatoes (Whipped Sweet Potatoes aand Bananas with Honey recipe) with pecans, scalloped potatoes (Potato Gratin recipe), green beans (Green Bean and Tomato Casserole recipe), cranberries and a French Apple Tart recipe (no top was added). They were delicious!



Friday, 11/24/2017: 11325 steps during the day; 7.75 miles, 1:02:20, 8:03 pace,

I slept in until 9 AM. I had plenty of opportunity to bag this run but between puttering around and spending a bit of quality time with my darling wife, Christine, I didn't get out until a bit after 3 PM. I have said many times that "A run doesn't get done by itself". So I got out there and got it done.


It was over 50F so I just wore shorts, my orange Empire State Marathon long sleeve tech, yellow/black Brooks running gloves and orange Fleet Feet hat. Shorts on the day after Thanksgiving! I set up a nice and easy pace. I thought about just doing a 10K. Then I thought about stretching to a 15K. But my thighs hurt a bit so I turned for home. But ... I felt bad about cutting a run so I stretched it at the end by going to the other end of the LOSP trail. There were a lot of people out ... a runner, several bikes, dog walkers and even a lady using a walker! My splits were: 8:03, 7:58, 8:00, 8:13, 8:15, 8:04, 7:57 and 7:47 over the last 0.75 mile.

Saturday, 11/25/2017: 12907 steps during the day; 8.75 miles, 1:09:04, 7:54 pace, 53F, 54% RH, 14 mph WSW wind, overcast with a few sprinkles.

The sunrise this morning was quite red. I kind of figured that someone would post a picture (or two or three) of the sunrise. Yeah ... lots of people did!

John Kucko captured this photo near Avon NY at 6:55 AM

I was up around early around 7:30 AM even though I went to bed late because I didn't want to be waste the morning. I did putter around for a long while but I did get out just after 11 AM.


I decided to head east to explore the pier at Ontario Beach Park first. I set up a slightly better than nice and easy pace. I had the same slight right thigh tightness. I did take a few slight walks but kept a fast pace. My splits were: 7:59, 7:46, 7:49, 8:07, 8:04, 7:55, 7:41, 8:05, 7:31 over the last 0.75 mile.

Yes ... we had Thanksgiving leftovers for supper ... mmm!!