Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Sunday, 5/13/2018 to Saturday, 5/19/2018

I ran just once this week, 6.25 miles.
I took 37,366 steps this week according to my Pebble 2 HR smart watch.

Sunday, 5/13/2018: 1000 (estimated) steps during the day, rest day.

Well ... I lost 4.1 pounds running Mind the Ducks. My first walk down the stairs in the townhouse was one painful step at a time. I discovered that I had a blister on the bottom of my left foot.

I also discovered that my Pebble 2 HR smartwatch lost its connection with my personal cell around noon. It probably happened when I was busy all day updating it from Android 5.0 to 6.0.1 along with numerous security updates.

Monday, 5/14/2018, 1198 steps during the day, rest day.

I took a floating holiday from Ricoh today so I could rest up my aching feet. A wise move.

I had to delete and install my Pebble app on my personal cell so that nixed all my steps from Sunday and a bit of Monday. I tried to toggle the Bluetooth, delete the connection and add it back to no avail. So ... I started over. I do like being able to control my personal cell with my Pebble. I can answer or decline a call, control my music, find out the weather and see notifications right from its screen.

Tuesday, 5/15/2018: 6526 steps during the day, rest day.

Wednesday, 5/16/2018: 6330 steps during the day, rest day.

So ... is weight gain after an ultra a thing? I am up 7 pounds since Sunday, WTF?

Thursday, 5/17/2018: 5308 steps during the day, rest day.

I thought about running but I got out of work a bit late plus I had a pain behind my left knee.

Friday, 5/18/2018: 15038 steps during the day; 6.25 miles, 52:01, 8:19 pace, 62F, 36% RH, 11 mph ENE wind, mostly cloudy.


I knew I had to get out for a run ... so I did. The Lilac 10K is on Sunday and I wanted to rest on Saturday. I went home to change and then got out for an out and back 10K on my LOSP trail and Island Cottage route. I tried an easy peasy pace but I settled into my usual pace after a mile. The blister on the bottom of my left foot bothered me on the way back ... ouch! My splits were: 8:28, 8:12, 8:10, 8:21, 8:22, 8:27 and 7:56 over the last 0.25 mile. Some of my running friends on Facebook and Strava reminded me that I ran 52 miles just 6 days ago. But I run what I run ... even if it hurts sometimes.

Saturday, 5/19/2018: 1966 steps during the day, rest day.

I was up before 7 AM so I could watch the royal wedding of Harry and Rachel across the pond; Town and Country link here, BBC links here and pictures here. The Brits did start on time ... just after 7 AM. My lovely wife, Christine, got up around 7:30 AM and wanted to watch it too so I started to replay a CBS feed that had started at 4:30 AM. That was a bit boring so we got up after a couple mugs of coffee to make French toast. I was pressed into service as the French toast flipper while Christine got the bread ready. We were using Italian bread so my flipping skills were tested. We were like a finely oiled machine after a few pieces. The DVR got screwed up when we sat down to eat so we watched a DVR of the CNN feed that had started at 6 AM. Oh ... the French toast with real maple syrup was excellent! We enjoyed watching the royal wedding .. the royals know how to have a nice wedding!

Meanwhile, Sehgahunda was being held down in Letchworth State Park. I thought of the ladies heading out at 7:45 AM and the men heading out at 8 AM. There was a light mist in the morning so I hoped it wasn't pouring down there. I have run Sehgahunda four times (a DNF at CP3 with a broken rib in 2010 with a brief hospital visit, a DNF at CP6 with overhydration and electrolyte imbalance in 2011 with a 2 day hospital visist, a 6:06:21 in 2012 and a 6:33:08 in 2014). So I am 2-2 down there. I have scratched that itch and do not want to try Sehgahunda again. But ... I love this race. Reaching the finish in 2012 is still a vivid memory. So ... I read everything about it on social media every year. A news article about this year's race, here, runner blog posts here and here.

One could almost say I am 3-2 down there since I did succeed at Many on the Genny last year in 12:43:44. I went out too hard on the first 20 miles and walked about 90% of the Sehgahunda course backward on the FLT back up to the Visitor's Center, 41.64 miles in total. My darling wife, Christine, did mention that she did not like waiting for me for hours and hours to finish.

Much later, I went out to Medved in Pittsford to pick up my bib and tech shirt for the Lilac 10K tomorrow. It's a GRTC Rochester Runner of the Year race so all the speedy runners will be there. Keven Clinefelter was there giving out the bibs and Wilt Alston was handing out GRTC volunteer assignments and hats.