I took 79,729 steps during this week according to my Pebble 2 HR smart watch.
Sunday, 11/26/2017: 13435 steps during the day; 9.35 miles, 1:15:47, 8:06 pace, 36F, 80% RH, 13 mph WNW wind, wind chill 27F, overcast.
I slept in until 8:30 AM. I puttered around a bit while I ate my usual pre-run bowl of cereal. I had set an unwritten goal of running all four days during Thanksgiving. It had turned colder overnight so it was back to wearing my Brooks running pants, Darn Tough socks, yellow/black Brooks 1/4 long sleeve pullover, yellow/black beanie and heavy gloves. But ... "a run doesn't get done by itself" ... so I got out there. The wind bit right through me as I ran west. I set up a nice and easy pace. I thought the run would hurt since this was my fourth day in a row so I shortened my stride and got the run done. It actually felt good. My splits were: 8:13, 8:15, 8:10, 8:11, 8:08, 8:03, 8:04, 7:59, 8:03 and 7:32 over the last 0.35 mile. So ... I ran all 4 days of Thanksgiving and went farther each time: 6.24, 7.75, 8.75 and 9.35. Boom!
Later I watched the Bills - Chiefs game. It was a tense game and the Bills won 16-10, link here. Their offense sucked and the only two reasons that they won is that the Chiefs suck (won 5 in a row to start the season and now lost 5 out of 6) and their defense held the Chiefs in the fourth quarter.
Monday, 11/27/2017: 5909 steps during the day, rest day.
I thought a rest day after 4 running days in a row over the Thanksgiving holiday was completely warranted.
Tuesday, 11/28/2017: 15122 steps during the day; 6.45 miles, 52:11, 8:05 pace, 52F, 50% RH, 20 mph SW wind, partly cloudy.
The forecast was for sun, temps in the low 60s but with a stiff SW breeze. So ... I wore shorts, a short sleeve tech, no gloves and no hat for this run. Yeah ... I almost turned around as I headed south to the Erie Canal path. I felt like I was running in place for the first 3/4 of a mile. But ... I warmed up. My thighs were tight the entire run. I still had a good pace though. My splits were: 8:32, 8:10, 7:58, 8:09, 8:10, 7:58 and 7:10 over the last 0.45 mile
Wednesday, 11/29/2017: 5302 steps during the day, rest day ...
Thursday, 11/30/2017: 16279 steps during the day; 6.45 miles, 51:24, 7:58 pace,
First off ... today is our (my darling wife, Christine, and I) fifth wedding anniversary! Yes, five years ago we tied the knot! A brief look into the past ... Christine and I first met way back in February 1977. I was a sophomore at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland and a brother in the Phi Kappa Theta fraternity. We were having a party and some girls from Ursuline College were invited down. I was tending bar when I saw Christine. I served her a tequila sunrise (heavy on the tequila) and asked if I could see her later. Well ... the house tour ended up in my room where we shared our first kiss. We went out until January 1978 (I think) when her parents broke us up (I was a wild child back then if you can believe it). Time went forward. I married Nancy on 5/31/80 and Christine married on 6/7/80 (totally unknown to each other). I divorced after 28 years and Christine divorced after 11 years. We never forgot each other. I tried looking for her before couldn't remember how to spell her last name, Wisniewski, and didn't even know her married name, Ligas. She told me that she drove out to see me in a blizzard once in 1995 (I am unsure of the year) but turned back south of Buffalo. She found me on Facebook in August 2009 and chatted with me ... which progressed to emails and phone calls. I went out to see her nine days later after the Summerfest 12K on 9/5/2009. Sparks definitely flew! She moved to Rochester that November, we got engaged after the Summerfest 12K on 9/3/2011. Yes, I surprised her and proposed in front of about 50 people as we were both sweaty from a race (I ran the 12K and she walked the 5K).
Back to present day ... I got out for my usual pre-lunch run. It was 40F so it was borderline ... wear shorts or wear tights. I chose my Brooks pants, my yellow/black Brook 1/4 pullover, yellow/black Brooks beanie and heavy gloves. I was glad I did! The breeze coming out of the south was definitely chilly! I struck up a nice and steady pace. My splits were: 8:28, 8:00, 7:54, 8:08, 8:04, 7:45 and 6:54 over the last 0.45 mile.
Our anniversary was a bit of a downer since Christine didn't feel too well. I had hoped to go out to eat at the Distillery to use the coupon (a BOGO 50%) that they had sent Christine. I was also saddened by the news that a runner named Jill Skivington Jackett was struck and killed in a hit and run accident while running as she was crossing Elmwood Ave near the U of R campus on Thursday morning, obituary here, news links here and here. I didn't know Jill but every runner is part of my running community ... may she rest in peace.
It's the end of the month so ... it's stat time. I ran 23 times during November for 135.6 miles, 5.9 miles/run. That's 23 months in a row of greater than 100 miles per month. I ran 6 races during November (the Grocery Run 5K on 11/3 - 21:53; DCSR #1 on 11/10 - 3.12 miles, 32:47; DCSR #2 on 11/11 - 4.65 miles, 47:36, DCSR #3 on 11/12 - 10.09 miles, 1:51:39, the MFAMTL run on 11/18 - 18.72 miles, 3:40:29 and the Race with Grace 10K on 11/23 - 46:10). I have run 209 times for 1517.25 miles, 7.26 miles/run so far in 2017. This is the most miles I have ever run in a year and I have a whole month to go. I have only one race slotted for December: the Freezeroo #1 on 12/9.
Friday, 12/1/2017: 6856 steps during the day, rest day.
I have been on a spending spree lately. Let's see: a pair of orange Scotts Palanti running shoes for $44.04 from Left Lane Sports, a Noxgear Tracer360 running vest (25% with free shipping) and a pair of reflective shoelaces (20% off with free shipping) from Nathan Sports. All running related ... hmm.
Saturday, 12/2/2017: 16826 steps during the day; 11.45 miles, 1:35:13, 8:19 pace, 34F, 86% RH, 4 mph SW wind, sunny.
The Bagel Bunch running group held a "Jill's run" from the Bruegger's Bagels at the corner of Long Pond and Latta, Facebook post here and news links here, here, here, here and here. I needed to sleep in so I held my own memorial run when I got out around 8:30 AM. I kept a nice and steady pace as I thought about a runner I didn't know. May she rest in peace ... gone from this world way too soon. I saw 9 female runners (a group of 2, 1 running with a dog and a group of 6) on the LOSP trail before I got 2 miles. I added my 10K loop of Island Cottage, Edgemere Drive, Long Pond and Janes so I couldn't cheat and head back. I almost felt like I could run forever. The temp and wind were almost perfect. It felt good. My splits were: 8:03, 8:09, 8:16, 8:16, 8:12, 8:21, 8:21, 8:24, 8:25, 8:33, 8:39 and 7:51 over the last 0.45 mile.
