Sunday, 7/29/2013 to Saturday, 8/4/2018

I ran 4 times this week, 41.6 miles.
I took 104,415 steps this week according to my Pebble 2 HR smart watch.

Common abbreviation: OMEP is Orange Mud Endurance Pack

Sunday, 7/29/2018: 22450 steps during the day; 13.55 mile, 2:05:32, 9:16 pace, 66F, 73% RH, 7 mph W wind, sunny.

Well ... Christine was still at Strong Memorial Hospital (SMH). But ... I needed to get out for a long run first. I didn't get out as early as I wanted. It was 30 minutes later than yesterday, around 8:30 AM, in fact. It was nice and cool at first. I set up a nice and easy pace and clicked out some miles. I gulped a few mouthfuls of Hammer Gel at mile 9. I slowed a bit. The full sun hit me as I ran east on Janes Rd. My right hip started to ache at mile 11. I tried a run/walk but didn't push. I didn't want to do anything stupid so I mostly walked the last 1.5 miles. It was definitely hotter when I got done around 10:30 AM. My splits were: 19, 16, 18, 20, 29, 27, 12, 26, 14, 29, 9:46, 10:10, 13:25 and 15:41 over the last 0.55 mile. Takeaways: I should have gotten out at 6 AM and put on sunscreen.

Not exactly the best beginning to a month or two of long runs to prep for my upcoming Empire State Marathon on October 14th. I am sure that I will question my logic and sanity soon. Pushing past the half marathon distance does give you plenty of time to do that! I think I will put the longest run of the weekend on Saturday next weekend. My legs seemed to be tired from running 11.05 miles yesterday.

Then it was time to head to SMH to see my darling wife, Christine. She was still in ED Observation, bed 73. Her ear and cheek were more swollen than yesterday. I was told that she has a skin infection. It seems to be resistant to antibiotics but the doc said that the swelling most times gets worse before it gets better. She was admitted to SMH and will be in a different room tomorrow. I helped as much as I could when she got up to go to the bathroom. She has to unplug her IV machine and adjust her gown, shuffle off to the bathroom and then reverse the process on the way back. I tried to brush her hair but it was full of snarls. I have a list of things to bring tomorrow: an emery board, chia seeds and a spray to unsnarl her hair. Oh ... and hard candy. The doc said that sucking on hard candy will help get out the infection in her salivary glands. I got lucky when I left the SMH parking garage ... there was no one taking money!

Monday, 7/30/2018: 8945 steps during the day, rest day.

I took off at 2 PM (though I didn't really get out until 2:45 PM) to go see my darling wife, Christine, at Strong Memorial Hospital (SMH). I saved $6 by parking in the nearby free College Town parking lot near Mt Hope Ave and Elmwood Ave. I did shop at CVS and looked in on Rochester Running Company so I was there for a legitimate purpose ... I just took a long walk afterward. SMH is about a 1/4 mile walk away down Elmwood Ave. I got up to see her a bit before 4 PM. Her right ear looked a lot better but it was still swollen. Her glands were also still swollen. She said that she is going stir crazy and joked about it to the medical people who looked in on her. Her supper was lost for a bit but I did score a free supper when someone who had been discharged didn't need their supper. I was hungry so the fish, green beans, mashed potatoes with gravy and lemon meringue pie disappeared quickly. Hey ... it saved me going to Wegmans for rotisserie chicken. There are no leftovers left in the refrigerator back at the quiet townhouse. So it's either buy something or eat sandwiches every night now.

Tuesday, 7/31/2018: 17258 steps during the day; 6.55 miles, 54:56, 8:24 pace, 82F, 55% RH, 3 mph W wind, partly cloudy.


I took off at 2 PM so I could get in a run before I went to see my lovely wife, Christine, at Strong Memorial Hospital (SMH). I used plotaroute.com to map a route from the College Town parking lot but decided to park by the swimming pool at Genesee Valley Park (GVP) and run a loop in GVP and along both sides of the Genesee Riverway Trail up to Court St to avoid traffic altogether. It was really muggy so I wore my OMEP filled with ice (which didn't last long) and water. I took it really nice and easy. The trail around Court St and South Ave was a bit dodgy with construction but I managed to find my way around. I was more than happy to stop when I got back to the '14 Cruze. My splits were: 8:33, 8:19, 8:19, 8:29, 8:24, 8:16 and 8:19 over the last 0.55 mile. I was drenched when I got done and it took a while to cool down enough to drive over to the College Town parking lot for its free parking (4 hours after 4 PM).

Christine looked a lot better today. Her right ear and glands were almost back to normal. Her color looked a lot better. Internal Medicine switched her meds from IV to oral. She will probably be coming home tomorrow assuming that there is no adverse reactions to the oral meds.

It's the end of July ... so it's stat time!
I ran 19 times in July for 133.14 miles, miles/run.
I ran 4 races in July:
 Irondequoit 10K on 7/4: 48:38, 7:55 pace
 Boilermaker 15K on 7/8: 1:13:51, 7:49 pace
 Dirt Cheap #4 on 7/11: 5.02 miles, 50:40, 10:06 pace
 Shoreline Half on 7/14: 2:00:01, 9:04 pace
I have run 22 race so far in 2018.
I biked twice in July, 13.87 miles on 7/1 and 15.82 miles on 7/15
I took 354,574 steps in July and 2,312,048 steps so far in 2018 according to my Pebble 2 HR smartwatch..

Wednesday, 8/1/2018: 8199 steps during the day, rest day.

Christine got the OK to get out of Strong Memorial Hospital (SMH) around 11 AM but had to wait a while for the Outpatient Pharmacy to fill her medicine order. I picked her up at the Outpatient Pickup Area at 1:30 PM. We went straight home. The first thing she did was take a shower ... it had been a while. She and I relaxed the rest of the day. She did complain that she gained water weight due to all the IVs that SMH had pumped in her. I was glad to have her home ... the townhouse had been too quiet.

Thursday, 8/2/2018: 17328 steps during the day; 6.25 miles, 52:35, 8:25 pace, 81F, 58% RH, 5 mph SSW wind, mostly cloudy.

I went home during lunch to check on Christine ... a good intention but poor result. She was cranky when she thought I was being her up her lunch but instead just ate my lunch. We both were cranky to each other instead.


I got caught up with work so I didn't get out from the townhouse until 6 PM. It was muggy! I set up a really nice and easy pace. I struggled to hold it but I did succeed. Other people would have stayed inside in their A/C but ... runners tend not to do that. Anyway ... it felt like I was swimming not running! My splits were: 8:20, 8:21, 8:25, 8:26, 8:36, 8:27 and 8:05 over the last 0.25 mile. I was drenched when I got done. I marched straight up to take a cool shower when I got done. Then I treated Christine and I to 3 hours of A/C comfort before we called it a night. We have had the A/C on for about 6 hours so far this summer.

Friday, 8/3/2018: 6256 steps during the day, rest day.

The usual rest day. I mapped out a 16.16 mile route, link here, on www.plotaroute.com. So ... my alarm was set for 5 AM. My plan is to get out at 6 AM to get the run done before the sun gets high and it gets warm.

Saturday, 8/4/2018: 23979 steps during the day; 15.25 miles, 2:12:12, 8:40 pace, 66F, 100% RH, 4 mph WSW wind, mostly cloudy.

I woke up early ... when I finally checked the clock it was 4:12 AM. Joy. I got out of bed at 4:30 AM. But ... did I get out early and run? That would be ... no. I puttered around for longer than I should. I did get out before 7 AM. I decided to wear one of my Phelps Sauerkraut 20K tech shirts since that race was being held at 8 AM. I filled up my OMEP with ice and 1200 ml of water and headed out. I set up a nice and steady "get it done" pace. I almost turned around when I got 6 miles in at the corner of Edgemere Drive and East Manitou Rd but I turned left and headed down East Manitou Rd ... no turning back now. I had a mouthful of Hammer Gel at mile 8 and 12. I had a bit of trouble past mile 11. All my roads heading east (Frisbee Hill Rd, Kuhn Rd and Janes Rd) were directly into the sun and it was getting warmer. I had a choice to make the run shorter if I took the LOSP trail. The LOSP trail had shade so I took it. Boom ... done with 15.25 miles. My splits were: 8:25, 8:23, 8:23, 8:30, 8:25, 8:54, 8:26, 8:29, 8:35, 8:44, 8:43, 9:01, 8:57, 9:38, 8:32 and 8:14 over the last 0.25 mile. I didn't really hurt too much afterward. Maybe next week I can get out at 6 AM and get over 16 miles.

I tried to take a nap around 11 AM but couldn't. I never could nap when I was a kid and I still can't. I got out to go see my daughter, Karen, in Palmyra and my oldest son, Michael, in Macedon. There was rain when I headed east. A storm drain was clogged on 490E which delayed me for a few minutes and then there was a torrential downpour between Perinton and Macedon. I had to drive slower with my wipers on double time. It was the heaviest rain I have ever driven in!

Oh, the numbers at the Phelps Sauerkraut 5K and 20K were down this year. 106 finished the 5K, link here. 59 finished the 20K, link here. I was kind of sorry that I didn't run it (2006 - 1:44:56, 2008 - 1:35:48, 2010 -1:39:12, 2011 - 1:37:08, 2013 - 1:40:51, 2014 - 1:42:27 and 2015 - 1:38:14) ... but $45 not spent there is $45 I can spend on Rochester Runner of Year races like the Heather Boyum 5K and the Grocery Run 5K. Oh, I somehow set my lifetime 20K PR of 1:35:48 in 2008 on that hilly course.

Another Oh ... the last Bergen 5K was held. There were 175 finishers, link here. The winner, Garrett Kenyon from Beaver Dams NY, ran a 14:43! That's a 4:44 pace!

Sunday, 7/22/2018 to Saturday, 7/29/2018

I ran 3 times this week, 30.25 miles.
I took 75,124 steps this week according to my Pebble 2 HR smart watch.
Common abbreviation: OMEP is Orange Mud Endurance Pack

Sunday, 10/22/2018: 15666 steps during the day; 10.75 miles, 1:27:24, 8:08 pace, 70F, 88% RH, 13 mph ESE wind, overcast.

I didn't get out as early as yesterday but I did get out a bit after 10 AM. Just a simple out and back to Lowden Point Rd. This was my second run with my new Orange Mud Endurance Pack (OMEP). The bladder had 1200 ml of water and I carried 16 ounces of water in my Nathan SpeedDraw Plus flask. The OMEP felt lighter on my back with 1200 ml vs yesterday's 1600 ml of water. So ... I guess I ran faster! I stopped three or four times on the way back. I cleared a few tree limbs off of Edgemere Drive twice. I looked at the waves crashing into shore off of Lake Ontario. I also stopped to take a picture of a swan that was hanging out alongside Edgemere Drive.

I gave this swan a wide berth when I ran west on Edgemere Drive and it was still there on the way back. Did it made it across the guard rail?

I paused my Garmin each time ... and even remembered to resume it. My splits were: 8:36, 8:05, 8:03, 8:01, 8:00, 8:01, 7:54, 7:58, 8:28, 8:12 and 8:04 over the last 0.75 mile. I plan on hiking up my long run mileage next weekend towards 14 miles on Saturday. I just have plot a route and get out early!

The usual mugs of coffee ensued after the run. I bored my darling wife, Christine, by watching the British Open. It was interesting to see Tiger Woods in the hunt for a major ... it's been a long time. He had the lead for a few moments after the 10th but had a double bogey on the 11th and a bogey on the 12th. He did finish in a tie for 6th at -5. An Italian by the name of  Francesco Molinari won by 2 strokes at -8, ESPN link here.

Meanwhile, other runners were out there doing awesome stuff. The Candlelight 12 hour was held overnight down at the Honeoye Falls EquiCenter. It rained on them. The Cayuga Trails 50 miles and Marathon was held down in Watkins Glen, results for the 125 finishers in the 50 mile here and the 153 finishers in the marathon here. The Lake Placid Ironman was held. Jim McLaughlin finished his 18th Ironman in 13:22:56.

Monday, 7/23/2018: 5116 steps during the day, rest day.

Tuesday, 7/24/2018: 17560 steps during the day; 8.45 miles, 1:12:16, 8:33 pace, 79F, 84% RH, 5 mph SSE wind, mostly cloudy.

It was definitely a bit muggy but it was Tuesday so I ran. I wore my OMEP filled with 800 ml of water and carried a 10 ounce water bottle in the left front pouch. I used the water bottle to dump some water on my head every couple of miles. It was like running through a wall of water after mile 5 so I slowed down. My splits were: 8:15, 8:23, 8:37, 8:20, 8:21, 9:03, 8:41, 8:37 and 8:48 over the last 0.45 mile.

Wednesday, 7/25/2018: 4982 steps during the day, rest day.

Thursday, 7/26/2018: 5833 steps during the day, rest day.

Life just got in the way as sometimes happens. I got out of work late and then I had to stop by Fleet Feet Ridgeway to exchange my Nathan Zipster with a blown zipper for a new one (which is $30 MSRP). I may buy my next pair of running shoes at Fleet Feet to thank them!

Friday, 7/27/2018: 6834 steps during the day, ER day.

No, not me. My darling wife, Christine, texted me during the afternoon to tell me that had a 102.8 fever and had a doctor's appointment at 4:15 PM. I offered to drive her ... good thing it turned out. I took 2 hours vacation and we got to the doctor around 3:30. The doctor took one look at her ear and 102.6 fever. She took us to go to either a Ears-Nose-Throat doctor or to the ER. It was late so off we went to the Strong Memorial Hospital (SMD) ER.

Well, it was 4:45 PM on a Friday night ... the ER waiting room was full. I left Christine at the door while I parked the '14 Cruze in the parking garage ... remember 4 Blue (I thought). So ... we wait for Christine to be called. Eventually she is (after a couple of hours) and we head back to 47A. Christine got a lounge chair with curtains. Our area is maybe 10 feet by 5 feet. There are 5 other patients in this room (ours was against a wall at least). Her BP and temp is taken. Her blood is drawn and she is given an IV. More waiting. A med student came in and took her history. Christine told me that she was cold so I went out and scored her a blanket. A medical doctor came and said that she would be getting a CT. Then a young ENT doc came in and examined her ear (finally) ... it hurt her. He didn't think a CT was necessary. He thought it was an inflammation of the cartaridge in the ear lobe. He prescribed an antibiotic to be given via her IV. Christine told me that she was hungry. I asked and after they found that she could eat a nurse brought both(!) of us a turkey sandwich and apple juice ... heaven! Well ... it was after 10 PM. They told us that Christine would be staying the night under observation. So ... I left to go find the '14 Cruze around 11 PM. Yes, I had to FIND the '14 Cruze ... with key fob in hand ... pressing it and trying to figure out which direction the car horn was actually coming from ... it took me about 5 minutes. Luckily there wasn't much traffic or many cars in the parking garage. The guy at the ER exit who validated my parking ticket told me about the key fob trick. I was home by 11:30 PM ... a long day. I am sure that Christine had a longer one being prodded all night somewhere in SMH.

Saturday, 11/28/2017: 19133 steps during the day; 11.05 miles, 1:30:50, 8:13 pace, 66F, 83% RH, 6 mph WSW wind, partly cloudy.


Yes, Christine was still at SMH but I wasn't going to do her any good at 8 AM without a run. I was up at 6:45 AM and out at 8 AM. I should have done a longer run than 11.05 miles but it was was it was. I thought I needed to be elsewhere. But I got it done. I decided to just go out to Lowden Point Rd and back. My splits were: 8:04, 8:04, 8:10, 8:19, 8:07, 8:20, 8:11, 8:23, 8:19, 8:12, 8:17 and 7:25 over the last 0.05 mile.

I had my usual 2 mugs of coffee while I caught up on email, Facebook and uploaded my Garmin data. Plus I did 3 loads of laundry. Then ... it was time to head out t SMH to see my darling wife, Christine. She was in room 73 in the ER Observation Area. She looked worse. Her left ear was redder and her cheek was more swellen. The plus was that she had more room ... about 10 x 10 feet. I sat with her. She was a bit cranky and I helped her navigate when she had to go to the bathroom while she was trailing her IV.  I left around 8 PM and headed home. I had some leftovers for supper.

Sunday, 7/15/2018 to Saturday, 7/21/2018

I ran 3 times this week, 25.05 miles.
I biked once this week, 15.82 miles.
I took 73,059 steps during the week according to my Pebble 2 HR smart watch.
Common abbreviation: OMEP is Orange Mud Endurance Pack

Sunday, 7/15/2018: 3291 steps during the day; 15.82 bike ride, 11.1 average speed, 27.7 mph maximum speed, 82F, 62% RH, mostly cloudy, the high at KROC was 91F.

I was a bit cranky all day which did lead to a tiff between my lovely wife, Christine, and I. It was totally my fault. I was a bit miffed that I was doing the laundry (yet again) while all she did was complain about the heat. I may complain but I usually get what needs to be done ... it may not be perfect but it gets done. But ... we are a team. We each have our strengths, challenges and weaknesses. Together, we are stronger.


I did get out for a 15.82 mile (according to my RoadID eCrumb) bike ride. I forgot to turn my Garmin Forerunner 310XT back on after my last water stop. Anyway, I just biked around. I rode slowly by the Ontario Beach Park. A beach volleyball tournament seemed to going on. This bike ride was not a hammerfest ... just a nice and easy ride to pass the time in the heat. I stopped three time to drink water. I also got a nice gash on my right shin when I missed the pedal once when I was starting back up ... ouch!

Monday, 7/16/2018: 6719 steps during the day, rest day, the high at KROC was 94F

I have included the temperature at KROC (Greater Rochester International Airport) recently off and on. Rochester has had more than of its share of 90F or better days lately. The Channel 8 weather had a graphic this morning that Rochester was going to have its fourth day in a row of 90F today, that it was the 2nd heat wave (3 or more days of 90F or better), that 10 out of the 16 days in July so far have been 90F or better and there have 15 days of 90F or better so far in 2018 so far.

Tuesday, 7/17/2018: 15764 steps during the day; 5.35 miles, 45:15, 8:27 pace, 82F, 37% RH, 16 mph NW wind, partly cloudy.


Today's run was brought to you by the word blah. I got up the parking lot by the Greece Arcadia High track by 4 PM ... just in time for a run but not a long one by 5 PM. I needed to run but just couldn't get into it. The forecast was for it to be cooler ... not very much though. There was a hot breeze out of the wind which pushed me back as I ran west on Janes Rd. Then it was behind me and didn't cool me off as I ran back east. So ... I just put one foot in front of the other and got it done. My splits were: 8:20, 8:33, 8:41, 8:18, 8:27 and 8:21 over the last 0.35 mile. Not a very auspicious start to my Empire State Marathon training. But ... then I am not going to do long runs on week day evening either am I?

Wednesday, 7/18/2018: 5608 steps during the day, rest day.

I was glad that I happened to turn on the ESPY's and caught most of the introductory video about Jim Kelly and all of his speech after he received the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance, ESPN link here, Buffalo Bills link here, NY Post link here (entire speech video). He is such an inspiration throughout his Buffalo Bill career, his fight for his son Hunter and his fight with oral cancer! Chis Berman, longtime EPSN commentator, said "In my opinion, the phrase “Kelly Tough” is an understatement. Even doctors have said, we’ve never met a patient this tough. The stuff you think of as a slogan is real life. Jim has faced this three times, beating cancer head on. He’s a Hall of Fame quarterback, a Hall of Fame person and a Hall of Fame cancer survivor" - quote from BuffaloBills.com. The last of his speech deserves special notation: "So I just urge everybody out there, if you have somebody out there who is suffering -- it doesn't have to be cancer -- it could be somebody not having a good day. It could be your mom or your dad. It could be your grandparents. What you say to them, the smile that you have on your face, that could be the difference in them making it to the next day. Remember that. Always, always persevere. Like Jimmy V said, never, ever give up." - quote from ESPN.com. Kelly Tough!

Thursday, 7/19/2018: 18662 steps during the day; 8.15 miles, 1:07:05, 8:15 pace, 84F, 35% RH, 6 mph W wind, partly cloudy.

The benefit of shopping locally at Fleet Feet Rochester manifested itself today. I have been looking at the Orange Mud line of hydration vests (either the Gear Vest with its 1 liter bladder or the Endurance Pack with its 2 liter bladder). I had looked at Fleet Feet Ridgeway and they only had Nathan hydration vests. So I emailed info@fleetfeetrochester.com about it. I received an email from Boots, the owner, two minutes later saying he would check inventory at the Armory and Buffalo stores. I got an email from Kelly seven minutes later saying that they carried the Endurance Pack at the Armory and asked if I wanted to see it at Ridgeway if that was more convenient. It was and I will try it on tomorrow after 4 PM.


Another Thursday run from Greece Arcadia High school. Their parking lot had one truck in it when I parked just before 5 PM. It was a wide open parking lot visible from Island Cottage so I felt pretty safe leaving the '14 Cruze there while I went off running. It was a bit warm but I had my Nathan SpeedDraw Plus full of ice and water ... and I needed it. I set up a steady but a bit hard pace and kept it there. I started to dump water down my back and head by mile 4. But I pushed on and got it done without stopping. My splits were: 8:08, 8:16, 8:17, 8:15, 8:13, 8:13, 8:20, 8:14 and 7:34 over the last 0.15 mile.

Then ... I had a bit of a mishap with my glasses. I went to Wegmans after my run and changed from my sweaty tech into my dry tech shirt before I went in. Well ... I took off my glasses and put them on the rear window by the trunk. Then I tried to close the trunk. Clunk! Luckily my glasses were pretty strong. Only the right lens popped out and the frames seemed unaffected. I tried to put it back in before I went into Wegmans without success. I found a set of small screwdrivers once I got home. It was a bit tough seeing the tiny screw without my glasses but I managed to put my right lens back in ... then the left lens popped out. So I put that one back in too. My lenses had all sort of fingerprints on them for some reason, lol! Once I had them all cleaned then it was time for supper ... ribs, fries and salad!

Friday, 07/20/2018: 5747 steps during the day, rest day.

I headed over to Fleet Feet Ridgeway after work to look at the Orange Mud Endurance Pack (OMEP) with its 2 liter bladder. Cheryl was waiting for me and had me try it on. She adjusted it so it fit me. It was as light as feather (without water). She told me that she used it too. Well ... I bought it was the help of an expired (shh ... don't tell anyone) Fleet Feet $15 gift certificate. I also showed her a Nathan Zipster that had a blown zipper. It still had one good zipper pocket so I was still using it. Well ... she has a new heather blue Nathan Zipster coming to Fleet Feet Ridgeway on Tuesday!

Saturday, 7/21/2018: 17268 steps during the day; 11.55 miles, 1:38:52, 8:33 pace, 70F, 69% RH, 9 mph SE pace, sunny.


Well ... time to find out how that OMEP feels like. So ... I was up at 4:49 AM (when I first looked at my cell). My alarm was set for 5:30 AM. I puttered at bit and I was out the door by 7 AM barely. But ... not before I spilled most of the 2 liter bladder on the kitchen floor. Note to self; a 2 liter bladder does NOT sit up by itself while you are trying to fill it! I mopped up the mess, changed my socks, refilled my bladder to 1600 ml and got out the door. I set up a steady pace and set forth. I always set a slower pace when I feel a hydration pack on my back and today was no different. The pack felt light and high on my back. I burped it before I headed out and I heard no slushing sounds. It was humid and I started sweating at mile 1. I remember seeing a swan near the water on Edgemere Drive as I ran past. I saw about 10 Bagel Bunch runners heading north on Long Pond Rd as I ran south. One runner knew me as I ran east on Janes Rd. I thought about extending the run a bit but I kept to my 11 mile route with its 10K loop. My splits were: 8:23, 8:33, 8:44, 8:35, 8:30, 8:25, 9:04, 8:29, 8:31, 8:36, 8:27 and 8:16 over the last 0.55 mile.

First run with my Orange Mud Endurance Pack with its 2 liter bladder. I went old school with my Rochester Marathon 26.2 tech shirt.

Lots of relaxing soon ensued with the usual mugs of coffee. It was somewhat interrupted by a power outage for half of our Greenleaf Meadow complex for a couple of hours but we just sipped coffee, surfed the web with our cells and it came back on by 10:30 AM. I watched a lot of the British Open and the womens 2018 World Cup Rugby Sevens. Rugby ... an interesting game with no pads.

Sunday, 7/8/2018 to Saturday, 7/14/2018 - Boilermaker 15K, Dirt Cheap #4 and Shoreline Half

I ran 6 times this week, 30.69 miles.
I took 89,896 steps this week according to my Pebble 2 HR smart watch.

Sunday, 7/8/2018: 20492 steps during the day; 2 runs of 1.1 and 9.44 miles, 61F, 82% RH, 3 mph SSE wind, sunny.

Today's race was my sixth Boilermaker 15K (chip times were 2013 - 1:18:07, 2014 - 1:13:41, 2015 - 1:11:54, 2016 - 1:12:25 and 2017 - 1:15:38). My alarm was set for 3 AM so I could get up to catch the 12th annual GRTC Boilermaker bus which was set to leave the Park'n'Ride lot next to St John Fisher College at 4:30 AM. But ... I was up at 2:39 AM when I reached over and checked my watch. I think I got 3.5 hours of sleep. I had set all my stuff into my small running bag the night before so I didn't have too much to do. I had my usual pre-race bowl of cereal and banana, puttered around a bit, kissed Christine goodbye and got out the door around 3:50 AM. It was dark and a bit cool with a quarter crescent moon. I decided to wear my running pants over my black running shorts, my orange 2013 Spring Forward 15K tech shirt and my yellow Brooks jacket. I planned on taking off the pants and jacket once it warmed up.

There wasn't much traffic out and I got down to the bus around 4:10 AM. It was already 80% full. I found a seat in the back very close to the bathroom. I put my running bag under the seat and settled in for the long ride to Utica. It was kind of pretty seeing the mist rise off the ponds as we sped east on the Thruway. It slowly got lighter as sunrise approached. Soon the sun was up. We arrived in Utica just before 7 AM. I debated whether or not to carry water as we slowed to a stop. I grabbed the water bottle and got off. The bus left us off at the corner of Pitcher St and Dwyer Ave. I followed the steady stream of people along Dwyer Ave and got my bib. My oldest son, Michael, sent me a text wishing me good luck and have a safe run. I think he thinks I will keel over one day while I am running a race. I could think of worse ways to go ... not to be morbid or anything.

I headed up to a truck park just above Dwyer Ave and got in a 1.1 mile warm up run at 9:24 pace, link here. I met up with Prem Kumar. He had done a 2 mile warm up run. We both had yellow bibs so we ambled up to our yellow corral up Culver Ave about 100 yards from Dwyer Ave. I had a bit of trouble getting my electronics started. The music into my left earbud started fine, my RoadId didn't start for a minute and I didn't get my RaceJoy app started before I had to tuck my Samsung Galaxy S5 into my Nathan Zipster for the start. I took my usual picture ahead and behind me before I started.

I didn't hear the start. Everyone ahead just started moving so ... first shuffling, walking, trotting and then running. The guy at the 0.1 mile marker was out like usual telling us that we had 9.2 miles to go. I got up to race pace but held back a bit ... lots of race yet to come. Culver Ave changed its name to Memorial Parkway just past the mile 1 mark, 8:21 pace. My RaceJoy app must have started since I stared to hear a current elapsed time, mile split and estimated time to finish in my ear at every mile. Some guy wearing earphones cut right in front of me to get to the water on my left at the first water stop. I had my own water so I just took sips when I needed it. Mile 2 at 8:11 pace. We turned left onto Valley View Rd just before mile 3, 7:57 pace. There was a small hill there that I powered up. Then it was right turn onto Steele Hill Rd with its windy hill. I could see a steady stream of runners going up and up the golf course hill. I just kept on going ... up and up. I knew that there was a good downhill afterwards. Mile 4, 8:18 pace, was right at the top, right onto Master Garden Rd with a good mile long downhill. I put on the jets ... I hit a 6:36 pace somewhere in mile 5. We made a left back onto Memorial Parkway ... mile 5, 7:02 pace. I felt a twinge in my left Achilles heel and hopped painfully for a few hundred steps. I was a bit fearful ... but it went away. There was a jog left onto Genesee St, then a right onto Shephard Place, a right onto Sunset Ave before a left onto Burrstone Rd .. mile 6, 7:29 pace. Then ... the mile long hill that I always forget about. It had a gentle curve to the left ... under the flag where the 5K starts ... then a gentle right and a right onto Champlin Drive before it levels over at mile 7, 8:04 pace. I took a tiny walk break in that mile. The crowd noise was getting louder. I honestly really couldn't hear the music that I playing into my left ear most of the time ... mile 8, 7:39 pace. I was getting closer ... a right onto Whitesboro St ... a right onto Court St ... mile 9, 7:48 pace. The finish line was close ... I saw Christine Antonio to my left ... she passed me for a few seconds ... not today ... I pulled up into a full sprint ... I went to the right side of the chute ... and done with 9.44 miles in 1:13:51, 7:49 pace (according to my Garmin Forerunner 220)! My gun time was 1:14:15 (so I really didn't hear the gun) and chip time was 1:13:21 (start line to finish line).

I made my way with everyone else and collected a fruit cup, cup of chocolate milk, a hand towel and a pint of water as I walked to the Saranc Brewery parking lot for the post race party. This wasn't my first rodeo so I knew to hit the line for the post race food first (a couple energy bars, bag of chips and a banana), skirt across the parking lot for the bag with the Boilermaker program and 2018 Boilermaker glass next before I had my first cold beer. Ahh! It did go down well! The music was loud so I made my way across the street to the Friends and Family Park. I went to the bus and changed my wet tech shirt for my slightly less orange 2011 Spring Forward 15K tech shirt.

A part of my post Boilermaker 15K tradition is just hanging out and people watching. There are all kinds of people just hanging out, drinking beer (or not) and having a good time. I saw a woman wearing a "You bet your dupa, I'm Polish!" shirt, a guy wearing "If you can read this, I'm not last" on the back of his shirt and a few wearing something about zip code 14580 (which is Webster NY). I sat on the ground with Prem for a while. He ran really well with a chip time of 1:07:31. He really jetted down that golf course hill with a 6:06 pace ... sweet! I got in on the Rochester Running Company's picture of all the Rochester runners at 11 AM. I talked with Tina Pellegrin for a while. She finished in a chip time of 2:13:13 and was determined to make up for lost time in her beer drinking.

I got in on this Rochester Running Company picture. I'm in the back a bit to the left. It's kind of like Finding Waldo.

A Boilermaker fan with a sweet BMW

The bus left on time around 12:15 PM and we were back in Rochester just before 3 PM. Its bathroom really needed some TLC. The lock didn't work on the way back and there wasn't any toilet paper. The women in the bus were not happy about the latter. So ... hitting the hole while standing, holding the door and trying to stay upright while the bus was swaying was a challenge both time I used it on the way back!

I wasn't in the best of moods the rest of the afternoon and night. I have no explanation ... I just wasn't. I did see my results from www.leonetiming.com. The gun time link is here, I was 1374th out of 11508, 41st out of 343 in my M 60-64 age group. The chip time link is here, 7:53 pace, I was 1526th out of 11508, 43rd out of 343 in my M 606-64 age group. The Relive link to Boilermaker 15K is here.

Monday, 7/09/2018: 5413 steps during the day, rest day.

The usual rest day the day after a race. I believe that it got to 90F in Rochester today. That's the 10th day 90F or above so far in 2018.

Tuesday, 7/10/2018: 5321 steps during the day, rest day.

The usual rest day the day before a race. So ... I guess I will be running only three days this week since I have (or had) races on Sunday, Wednesday and Saturday.

Wednesday, 7/11/2018: 19893 steps during the day, 2 runs of 1.25 and 5.02 miles, 79F,

Today's race was Dirt Cheap #4 out in Webster Town Park at 6:30 PM. I left right after work and got out there around 5:40 PM. Rush hour traffic on Ridge Rd West, then Ridge Road East and 104 East was just a treat ... but not so bad. I talked a bit with Andy Ciaio, Tom Dutton and Bill Sandow. Bill told us that he was running his first trail race. We offered him some pointers ... "pick up your feet, don't do anything stupid". I did notice that he was wearing road shoes while he noticed that my blue Salomon SpeedCross 3 trail shoes (780 miles) had holes in them. My trail shoes had a lot more traction than his road shoes though.

This race is one of the longest Dirt Cheaps so I carried water in my 20 ounce Nathan SpeedDraw flask. I also sprayed my legs with Deep Woods Off! before the race. I got out for a nice warm up run of 1.25 miles at 10:06 pace, link here. I was hot after the warm up run and though about changing my shirt but I didn't really have time.


And ... we were off at 6:30 PM! The ladies were starting 5 minutes behind us at 6:35 PM. My strategy was to pick up my feet and not do anything stupid. I succeeded. There were a LOT of roots between miles 0.5 and 2.5 along with lots of single track before the course turned more wide open. I started to pass a few runners here and there. The first female, a 12 year old by the name of Alia Spaker, passed me at mile 3.9. She just kind of floated by like it was no big thing. I ran onward ... soon I could hear Ellen at the finish line ... a few more hills ... down ... up ... dig up the last hill ... and done with 5.02 miles in 50:40, 10:06 pace according to my Garmin Forerunner 220. My splits were: 9:50, 10:11, 10:25, 9:54 and 10:10. The Relive link to Dirt Cheap #4 is here.

A Dirt Cheap #4 selfie

I was out of breath when I got done. It took about 30 seconds to get my breathing under control. I didn't much post race food: 3 or 4 cookies, a hot dog and a bag of Fritos ... or maybe I did. I didn't stick around long ... I needed to do some grocery shopping at Wegmans.

Yellow Jacket Racing had the results up quickly, link here. I finished 68th out of 302, 1st out of 8 in my M 60-64 age group.

Thursday, 7/12/2018: 6105 steps during the day, rest day.

The usual rest day after a race. My joints ached from the pounding that they took the day before.

Friday, 7/13/2018: 8664 steps during the day, rest day, high at KROC was 90F.

The usual rest day before a race. I picked up my bib and tech shirt for the Shoreline Half tomorrow. This year it is a yellow racer tank top. My newest favorite shirt ... but I won't wear it until after the race.

Saturday, 7/14/2018: 24008 steps during the day; 2 runs of 1.65 and 13.23 miles, 75F, 69% RH, 5 mph WSW wind, mostly cloudy, high at KROC was 93F.

Today's race was my 7th Shoreline Half (2011 - 1:56:13, 2012 - 1:36:21, 2014 - 1:45:26, 2015 - 1:47:04, 2016 - 1:44:24 and 2017 - 1:49:00). I set my lifetime half PR, a 1:36:21, at Shoreline in 2012. I was up before my alarm went off at 5:35 AM. My plan was to leave around 6:30 AM to make it to Hamlin State Park around 7 AM. I puttered around and didn't leave until 6:50 AM. I did have a cooler with some ice in it though. It was a 23 minute ride on the Parkway ... boom ... there. I pinned on my bib on an orange Shoreline Half tech shirt, loaded my Nathan SpeedDraw flask with ice and water and got out for a little 1.65 mile warm up run at 8:54 pace, link here. I was a bit sweaty when I stopped by the '14 Cruze for water so I pinned my bib to my shorts so I could take off my shirt if I got really sweaty. It was hot and humid ... though the sun wasn't out of the clouds yet which was a good thing. I took a pre-race picture in front and behind me.

I walked up to the start about 1/4 mile away with Prem Kumar. I told him that I would like to run a 1:45 but would be happy with less than 1:50. And ... we were off! I was right behind the 1:45 pace leader for a little bit ... about 1/2 mile.

Shoreline Half start ... photo courtesy of Barb Boutillier of Fleet Feet Rochester

Long curve of the early runners. I am probably that runner in orange with the bib on the left leg in the distance ... photo courtesy of Barb Boutillier of Fleet Feet Rochester

About mile 1. Facebook emailed me to ask me this was a picture of me based just on this tiny view of my face, wow! ... photo courtesy of Barb Boutillier of Fleet Feet Rochester

I felt good ... 3 miles in before we even left the park. Actually ... I felt good until after mile 5. Then ... the wheels fell off. I ... was ... hot. It was really bad when we turned left onto Church Rd so we headed east when the wind at our backs. I started to dump water down my back and on top of my head. I lapsed into a run/walk ... I couldn't run more than 100 steps. I had some Hammer Gel at mile 9 which helped a bit. Mile 10 in 1;30ish. I needed three 10 minute miles to break 2 hours. I tried to pick up the pace ... but ... it ...was ... hot. Back to the shoreline at mile 12 ... shade. Another 1.1 miles. I heard someone mention that it was coming up on 2:00 ... I tried to sprint ... done in 2:00:01 ... rats. I forgot to turn off my Garmin for a 30 seconds or so. My splits were: 8:08, 8:12, 8:08, 8:18, 8:16, 8:56, 9:38, 10:07, 9:51, 10:10, 9:39, 10:30, 8:31 and a 7:37 best pace in the last 0.23 mile. The Relive link to Shoreline Half is here.

I was drenched with sweat and it took a couple cups of water to cool me down. Kevin Clinefelter walked by and told me that he had run his slowest half ... a 1:45:54, 2nd in our M 60-64 age group. Prem did well, 21st overall, a 1:41:56, 2nd in his M 40-44 age group. I wasn't really hungry but I did manage to do justice to the Texas Bar-B-Q Joint buffet line. A pulled pork sandwich, bacon and beans, pasta salad and a pickle disappeared quite quickly. I walked with Beth Deciantis to check the results. She told me that she had puked at the finish line. I was 5th so I didn't stick around and went home.

A Shoreline Half selfie with the bling

The official results were soon posted by Yellow Jacket Racing. I was 93rd out of 479, link here. I was 5th in my M 60-64 age group, link here. The guy directly in front of me at the finish was in my age group and took 4th! So ... my slowest half marathon ever. I just don't do well in the heat and humidity after 5 miles or so. Hey ... I finished and didn't stay home on the couch or asleep in my bed. There is that at least.

My darling wife, Christine, wasn't feeling well when I got home. I had just decided to clean the gunk in the bottom of the refrigerator when she woke up and came downstairs ... got in the act! I threw out the rotten food and heated up some leftovers for supper.

Sunday, 7/1/2018 to Saturday, 7/7/2018 - Irondequoit 10K

I ran 5 times this week, 26.05 miles.
I biked once this week, 13.87 miles.
I took 67,842 steps this week according to my Pebble 2 HR smart watch.

Sunday, 7/1/2018: 10061 steps during the day; a run of 5.15 miles and a bike ride of 13.87 miles.


I didn't get out for my Sunday run as early as I should have so it was already warm (81F, 74% RH, 7 mph SW wind, partly cloudy). I started at a really nice and easy pace. I had put ice cubes in my Nathan SpeedCross flask so I did have cold water. I was OK for the first two miles. Then I overheated a bit and went into a run/walk. I turned around where the LOSP trail meets Island Cottage and shorted my run to 5.15 miles. My splits were: 33, 21, 9:04, 9:52, 9:04 and 8:58 over the last 0.15 mile for a 8:58 pace run. It was hot! I was dripping with sweat and went straight upstairs to take a cold shower after I calmed down enough.


I am not much of a bicycle rider and decided that my bicycle (nicknamed "Black Beauty") needed some attention. It was above 90F outside as I headed back out around 3:30 PM (Actually 93F, 47% RH, 7 mph S wind, sunny). My bicycle needed air in its tires and I noticed that the '14 Cruze temperature reading was 105F as I ran my portable DC air compressor. I was sweating as I got ready. I had put ice cubes in my water bottle and sun screen on my forehead, nose and neck ... onward. It was hot and a hot breeze was blowing so I kept moving. I did a simple out and back to East Manitou Rd. My average speed was 13.2 mph with a maximum speed of 19 mph. I could have done an out and back on Janes Rd but decided to keep my first bike ride of 2018 relatively short.

Monday, 7/2/2018: 7127 steps during the day, rest day.

A hot and humid day in Rochester, 95F. I stopped by #Snap Burger on the way home and got a burger, fries and medium chocolate milkshake for our supper. It left both of us stuffed and bloated.

But ... big news on the NBA front. Lebron James declared to as a free agent and then signed with the Los Angeles Laker in less than 24 hours, link here. Lebron in LA ... wow! I think the Boston Celtics in the East were the biggest winners ... the Lebron led Cavs had bounced the Celtics from the NBA playoffs the past three years. Lebron will soon find out that the West is a LOT harder than the East.

Tuesday, 7/3/2018: 14256 steps during the day; 6.05 miles, 50:07, 8:17 pace, 90F, 38% RH, partly cloudy.


I stepped on the scale when I got up like I normally do ... up 3.5 pounds! Ugghh! I don't normally run the day before a race but ... I felt bloated all day so I did. It was a comedy of errors. I felt my Nathan Zipster after mile 1 ... no key. So I turned around to get my key that I had left on the top of the '14 Cruze. Then I went back out for a longer run than I really wanted (5 not 6 miles). I tried to go slow but ending up going my usual pace. My splits were: 8:18, 8:09, 8:16, 8:21, 8:23 and and 8:12.

Wednesday, 7/4/2018: 14268 steps during the day; 2 runs of 1.16 and 6.14 miles, 73F, 73% RH, 3 mph NE wind, partly cloudy

Oh ... down 3 pounds thanks to yesterday's run. I like to weigh around 165 ... not 168.5.

Today's race was my fourth Irondequoit 10K. It's the longest (but also the hardest) July 4th race in Rochester. It's probably why I picked it. My previous times were: 2012 - 44:09, 2015 - 45:14 and 2017 - 48:00. This race is actually two ... a 2 mile race at 7:45 AM and a 10K at 8:15 AM. So I woke up before my alarm went off at 5:45 AM, got ready and was at race start, the Saint Kateri School,  at 7:10 AM. I like to get to a race a hour early. I got my bib, cotton race t-shirt and then just chilled back in the 2014 Cruze. I ambled out to see the 2 mile race start and then got out for a nice and easy 1.16 mile warm up at 8:41 pace, link here.


I took a quick swig of water from the '14 Cruze and ambled back to the start for the 10K. And ... we were off! I was pretty close to the start line so I had no trouble getting up to race pace. I held back because I knew the first mile were rolling hills but mostly downhill to Lake Shore Blvd. I passed mile 1 in an announced time of 7:10 ... good. Lake Shore Blvd was mostly flat but had its share of rolling hills. Then it was into neighborhood streets for the 3 miles back up (and I mean up) to the start. I kind of melted here. My pace definitely slowed. I went through every sprinkler that I could and took tiny walk breaks. I did keep in the same group of runners. I saw a guy pushing a stroller up ahead. I stayed up near him and eventually passed him with 1/2 mile to go. I saw Bill Beyerbach at the finish line. And ... done with 6.14 miles in 48:38, 7:55 pace. My splits were: 7:20, 7:31, 7:37, 8:44, 8:24, 8:05 and 6:54 over the last 0.14 mile. The Relive link to Irondequoit 10K is here.

I was drenched with sweat. I took several cups of water to rehydrate before I could do anything else. I found Bill and talked him for a while. He had brought his tri bike. Wow ... was it light! He told me about the three times he had fallen last year while he got used to his clip-in bike shoes.

The 2 mile race had 236 finishers, link here. The other July 4th races were: the Brighton 5K (flat and fast) with 454 finishers, link here;  the Fairport 4 (rolling hills) with 752 finishers, link here and the Greece Freedom 5K (flat and fast I am told) with 148 finishers, link here. The Sodus Bay Lighthouse 5K is being held on Sunday, July 8th this year which is the same day as the Boilermaker 15K out in Utica NY. I have done all these other July 4th races before: the Brighton 5K in 2011 and 2016, the Fairport 5 in 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010;  the Fairport 4 in 2014 and the  Sodus Bay Lighthouse 5K in 2013. But I think I will run the Greece Freedom Run 5K next year for a change of venue and pace.

PCR-Timing had its results up quickly. I did OK. I was 43rd out of 235, link here. I was 2nd out of 9 in my M 60-64 age group, link here.

I did a bit of grocery shopping at Wegmans and then went home for my usual 2 mugs of coffee. My darling wife, Christine, and I relaxed and spent an enjoyable July 4th. We heard fireworks going off around us as it got dark but we didn't go outside to watch.

Thursday, 7/5/2018: 5812 steps during the day, rest day.

A self declared rest day after two running days in a row. I'll run tomorrow, take a rest day on Saturday and race the Boilermaker 15K on Sunday.

It's been hot in Rochester! Here is a quote that I found "From Saturday through Thursday, Flower City's daily high temperatures were 93, 95, 95, 90, 96 and 95". There have been 9 days with highs 90 or above so far this summer.

Friday, 7/6/2018: 15754 steps during the day; 7.55 miles, 1:02:54, 8:20 pace, 73F, 43% RH, 15 mph NNW wind, partly cloudy.


I got out a bit early and out to the Greece Arcadia Middle School a bit before 4 PM. I had a bit trouble my stuff together. First, one of the 2 zipped pockets on my Nathan Zipster popped its zipper which irked me. Then I couldn't find my Bluetooth earbud for a bit. I practically emptied my running bag before I found it ... in one of 4 pockets of my Zipster. I couldn't go out for my new usual run of 8.15 miles so I settled on 7.55 miles. That's not much difference but I wanted to get done by 5 PM and I did. Anyway ... I set up a steady pace and got the run done. My splits were: 8:23, 8:24, 8:13, 8:30, 8:28, 8:16, 8:21 and 8:09 over the last 0.55 miles.

Saturday, 7/7/2018: 564 steps during the day, rest day.

A true rest day. I didn't leave the townhouse and just relaxed. I went to bed around 10 AM. My alarm was set for 3 AM. The 12th annual GRTC Boilermaker bus was set to leave from the Park'n'Ride lot next to St John Fisher College at 4:30 AM.