Sunday, 3/18/2018 to Saturday, 3/24/2018 - Spring Forward 15K

I ran 5 times this week, 33.46 miles.
I took 81,120 steps during the week according to my Pebble 2 HR smart watch.

Sunday, 3/18/2018: 16041 steps during the day; 10.05 miles, 1:22:57, 8:15 pace, 25F, 58% RH, 5 mph WSW wind, wind chill 19F, overcast.


I slept in a bit until around 8 AM. I had my usual pre-run bowl of cereal and banana while I checked out Facebook and my email. I digested for a bit, got dressed in my usual "cold" running gear and got out there. I chose my balaclava and ski mittens since it was below freezeing. It was actually quite pleasant out since there was almost no wind. I set up a nice and steady pace. I decided on 10 miles so I just headed out to Lowden Point Rd and back. My splits were: 8:22, 8:26, 8:17, 8:13, 8:16, 8:12, 8:09, 8:11, 8:02 and 8:09.

Meanwhile, several runners (Steve Levitsky, Bambi Jasmin, Christine Antonini and Wendy Abbott) from Rochester were down in Virginia Beach running the Shamrock Virginia Beach Marathon. Elsewhere, the Genesee Valley Harriers (GVH) had teams of runners in 5 different locations (Virginia Beach 8K yesterday, NYC Half, National Masters Indoor Track Championships, Johnny's and Brooklyn Spring Half). Mike Reif wrote in Facebook: "our Open Men of Tim Chichester 1:05:42, Omar Boulama 1:08.07, Tyler Eustance 1:13.14, Matthew Pierce (team Captain) 1:13.29 and Brennan Root 1:17.05 WON the Overall Men's Team Title over an elite field from across the USA and the World. Over 21,000 runners and some of the best in the USA/World . . . Way to go Men!" Wow! 

I bought ribs from BJs along with potato salad. Christine cooked the ribs up ... mmm!

'Cuse! The Syracuse Orangeman continued their improbable run in the NCAA Tournament by winning their third game in 5 days! They started in the First Four (for the first time ever) on Wednesday and beat Arizona State, 60-56, link here. Then they beat TCU, 57-52 on Friday, link here. Today, they beat the 3 Midwest seed, Michigan State, 55-53 in a nail biter, links here, here, here and here. Who would have thought that SU would advance to the Sweet Sixteen ... not me (and not a lot of other people)!

Monday, 3/19/2018: 7729 steps during the day, 5.15 miles, 42:35, 8:15 pace, 25F, 49% RH, 8 mph E wind, wind chill 16F, sunny.


I slept in again until the sun started coming in the bedroom window ... just before 8 AM. I did the usual before I got dressed and got out. It was sunny but chilly. I didn't want to go too far since I ran 10 miles yesterday. I set up a nice and steady pace just like yesterday. My splits were: 8:22, 8:17, 8:14, 8:19, 8:04 and 7:43 over the last 0.15 mile.

Tuesday, 3/20/2018: 3265 steps during the day, rest day.

I spent the day seeing all three of my children. First, I went out to Palmyra to pick up Karen at 11 AM. I got acquainted with her puppy, Pooky. He is kind of scrawny, needy and all legs. I guess I am not one with animals. Then we were over to Macedon to pick up my oldest son, Michael. Then onward to IHOP in Henrietta for lunch. I had the Blueberry Pancakes ... mmm! Michael had a 2:30 PM appointment with the Residence Manager so I dropped him off at 2 PM. I visited with Karen for a bit before I headed out to Del Lago Casino to see my youngest son, David. He looked nice in his grey suit jacket. I enjoyed catching up with all three of them. I think helping David move from Scottsville to Geneva will be in my future soon but I don't know when.

Karen's puppy named Pooky

Karen's cat named Hermone

David's place of employment

Christine and I had leftover ribs and potato salad ... mmm! They were doubly delicious warmed up in the oven for 50 minutes at 350F! I shouldn't have had seconds ... I was sick to my stomach when I went to bed and bloated when I got up ... up 1.7 pounds!

Wednesday, 3/21/2018: 8774 steps during the day, rest day.

The printers really missed me during my two days off. There was lots of stuff to occupy my day. I had my running gear in the 14 Cruze but I had a litany of excuses: tired, headache and my right knee hurt when I walked. Tomorrow is another day.

Thursday, 3/22/2018: 17683 steps during the day; 7.55 miles, 1:02:19, 8:15 pace, 39F, 44% RH, 7 mph WNW wind, wind chill 34F, mostly cloudy.


My mind tried to get me to bag this run but I didn't listen. I got changed just before 5 PM, clocked out and headed to Greece Arcadia High School for my usual Thursday night run. I thought about going short for 5 miles but made the turn left at the end of Janes Rd and did the full 7.55 miles. Yes, the brisk west wind was still there ... spring has still not sprung in Rochester NY. My splits were: 8:06, 8:24, 8:21, 8:05, 8:12, 8:16, 8:22 and 8:10 over the last 0.55 mile.

Friday, 3/23/2018: 9357 steps during the day, rest day.

A funeral for the late Congresswoman Louise Slaughter was held today at Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, links here and here. Democratic luminaries Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi and John Lewis gave eulogies.

(Photo: TINA YEE, Democrat & Chronicle staff photographer)

I stayed up late watching 'Cuse play Duke in the Sweet Sixteen game. 'Cuse lost by 4 (but beat the spread). So ... I didn't get to sleep until 12:30 AM with a 5:30 AM wake up alarm.

Saturday, 3/24/2018: 18271 steps during the day; 2 runs of 1.35 and 9.36 miles, 1:15:45, 8:05 pace, 27F, 74% RH, 5 mph NNW wind, wind chill 21F, sunny.

Today's race was my 12th consecutive Spring Forward 15K. My times have been: 2007 - 1:14:29, 2008 - 1:11:21, 2009 - 1;12:49, 2010 - 1:17:05, 2011 - 1:10:20, 2012 - 1:09:15, 2013 - 1:11:40, 2014 - 1:18:00, 2015 - 1:15:24, 2016 - 1:11:14 and 2017 - 1:13:04.

I was up early like usual. It was cold so I wore my usual "cold" running gear: CW-X tights, long sleeve tech, yellow/black Brooks 1/4 zip pullover and yellow/black Brooks beanie. Runners who know me probably can tell it's me a mile off during the winter. It took a solid 30 minutes to get down to the Beach parking lot of Mendon Ponds Park. I got there at 7:15 AM in plenty of time for the 8 AM start. I didn't have my bib yet so I trudged up to Steward Lodge to get it. I pinned it on my tights and stashed my bag with a dry shirt and jacket. I got out for a 1.35 mile warm up run at 8:51 pace, link here. I was cold so I put on my balaclava and changed to my ski mittens instead of heavy gloves.


I met up with Andy Ciaio and Prem Kumar before the start ... kind of like usual. And ... we were off! I tried to hold back and not rabbit.

The Spring Forward 15K start

I'm the yellow speck in the distance

I ran well for the first 5 miles and then ran out of energy. I felt a bit bummed that the 8:00 pace group passed me but I was OK with it ... I have to learn to run my own race. The hills of Mendon were still there. I went into a run'walk for a bit. I sucked it up and finished in 1:15:45, 8:05 pace according to my Garmin Forerunner 220. My splits were: 7:42, 8:00, 7:51, 7;49, 8:04, 8:26, 8:25, 8:30, 8:13 and 7:34 over the last 0.36 mile.

I checked the results in the lodge and found out that I was 3rd in my M 60-64 age group. I didn't stay to pick up my award since I was in a bit of a time crush ... or so I thought. I can pick up the plaque from Fleet Feet Armory for the next 2 weeks. I officially finished in 1:15:44, 8:09 pace. I was 65th out of 318, link here. I was 3rd out of  19 in my M 60-64 age group, link here. The Relive link to Spring Forward 15K is here. There were 87 finishers in the 2.5 mile race, link here.

Christine's late father's house needs work to be done so I had told her brother's that I would come out and work on it until Wednesday. I have 3 vacation days that I have to "use or lose" by the end of March. I had wanted to leave for Ravenna OH by noon but we didn't get going until almost 2 PM. I have learned to be rather loose with my departure times. We got out to OH a bit before 7 PM. We went out to supper at Pizza Hut with Christine's youngest brother, Rich. He went over what we hoped to accomplish in 4 days. Then it was back to the Fairview Inn & Suites in Streetsboro for the night. We got a great rate of $39/night thanks to Christine's cousin, Natalie, who works for Marriott.