I took 78,526 steps this week according to my Pebble 2 HR smart watch.
Sunday, 5/20/2018: 18651 steps during the day, 2 runs of 1.2 and 6.26 miles.
Today's race was my ninth Lilac 10K held in Highland Park on the last weekend of the Lilac Festival. My previous 8 chip times were: 2007 - 46:22, 2010 - 49:03, 2011 - 46:28, 2012 - 43:53, 2013 - 47:37, 2014 - 44:51, 2015 - 47:40 and 2017 - 46:29.
So you could say I know the course well. It's not an out and back but you do run back up that same mile long gentle downhill that you just a lot faster down 5 miles ago. So it is a test and a lot tougher test if it is hot and humid. Today's weather was a lot better: 61F, 88% RH, 8 mph WNW wind, overcast.
I was up at 5:30 AM for the same reason that most 60 year old men are ... I will let the reader figure it out. I knew I won't go back to sleep so I read Facebook for a bit and got up around 6 AM. I puttered around, had my usual pre-race bowl of cereal. I got dressed and kissed Christine goodbye. I was in and out of the townhouse a few times because of weather concerns ... it was a bit cool and there was a bit of a wind. I ended up wearing shorts and my 2017 Lilac 10K shirt. I brought my orange Empire State Marathon long sleeve tech, orange Fleet Feet hat, light gloves and my yellow/black Brooks jacket as back up just in case. I guess I am almost packing for winter races even in late May. I left just after 7:30 AM and arrived down near the Al Sigl Center just before 8 AM. I wanted to get down there before the Lilac 5K started. I knew the drill: pay $5 to park at the Al Sigl Center and walk up through Highland Park to the start/finish line ... easy-peasy. Been there ... done that and have the tech shirts to prove it. Meanwhile, the Lilac 5K at 8 AM was being held, the gun time results of 1076 finishers here.
I walked up with Dan Wimer and Jason "Jmac" McElwain. I got out for a nice and easy warm up run of 1.2 miles at 9:20 pace, link here. I talked with Bill Beyerbach for a few minutes before the race. He was going to riding in the pace car at the head of the pack. I settled into my usual spot at a start ... about 30 feet back and off to the right. I saw Prem Kumar for a few seconds. He had just ran Sehgahunda on Saturday in 5:13:42, results here. Heather Patterson was just ahead of me.
And ... we were off! I didn't have any trouble getting up to race pace. I tried to hold back but still ran a 7:04 first mile according to Pete who was yelling out the times (I had 7:02). I enjoyed running through the Rochester Running Company cheer section just past South Clinton Ave. A few runners cheering had run Sehgahunda the previous day. So ... out to Monroe Ave and hang a right. Mile 2 in 7:15. I swapped hands with Mort Nace before the right turn onto Winton Rd South. Then another right onto Elmwood Ave. Mile 3 in 7:11. The next 2 miles were on some neighborhood streets and back on Elmwood Ave. I stopped to drink a cup of water. Mile 4 in 7:43. There was a gentle uphill back to Highland Ave. I stopped to drink another cup of water. Mile 5 in 7:49. The RRC cheer section was a welcome sight! Now it was a gut check to the finish ... a gentle uphill (but not so gentle after 5 miles). I picked off a few runners on the way. Mile 6 in 7:32. There was a gentle turn so I couldn't see the finish but trust it was there. I let a runner sprint past me ... he was going much too fast to match. I heard my name called ... and ... done with 6.26 miles in 46:31, 7:29 pace according to my Garmin Forerunner 220. I had a 7:21 pace in the last 0.26 mile. I grabbed a couple cups of water. I was parched and sweaty. Heather finished ahead of me in a chip time of 44:33. Prem was behind me with a chip time of 48:14.
I wandered back to the '14 Cruze to change into my dry long sleeve tech. I was getting chilled in my sweaty short sleeve tech plus it has started to mist a little bit. I wandered into a part of Highland Park that I had never been in before on the way back ... the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, link here. I walked through it with silent reverence to the honored 280 men who had died from the Rochester area.
I found my way out of the memorial by hopping a broken part of fence and made my way for the awards. I had offically finished with a gun time of 46:30, chip time of 46:25, 105th out of 744, 5th out of 22 in my M 60-64 age group, gun time results here. The Relive link to Lilac 10K is here.
I made my way home and settled down with a mug of coffee for a bit before I had to change to go do my next task. I went out to Palmyra to put in an air conditioner for my daughter, Karen. She got a Sears 12,000 BTU A/C unit free when a next door resident had died. Her daughter didn't want it so Karen took it along with a coffee table. It was heavy and just fit in the opening. But it fit. I did have to make a trip to the Macedon Walmart to get some duct tape to seal the cracks around it. I had not brought any tools and had to rely on Karen's tools but I managed.
Monday, 5/21/2018: 6342 steps during the day, rest day.
Just a word about the NBA playoffs. Only the Cavs and Celtics are left in the East along with the Warriors and Rockets in the West. Each series is tied at 2. But ... who cares about the West? I am rooting for the Cavs. Yes, I know that the Cavs are pretty one-dimensional this year ... Lebron and the not named Lebrons. But ... Christine is from Cleveland and I am a Laker fan from the 80s. So ... I will not root for the Celtics.
I can still remember being in a bar in Nashua NH during a NBA Finals game between the Lakers and Celtics in the early 80s. I lived in Nashua from 1980 to 1986. What year? I can't recall (either 1984 or 1985). Google is no help; rivalry wiki here, 1984 stats here and 1985 stats here. More links here, here, here and here. It could have been 1984 Game 1 (Lakers 115-109) or 1985 Game 2 (Lakers 109-102). Anyway ... the game was held down in Boston and being in a bar was the only way to see the game. I quietly was rooting for the Lakers while I was in a bar full of Celtics fans. I did get more than a few glances when Byron Scott pulled up for a dagger 3 to put the Lakers ahead with under a minute to go. The Lakers won that game and I bid a hasty retreat out of the bar and home. So ... go Cavs! But .. if the Cavs do get out of this series I don't think they have a chance against the West winner. But ... never count out Lebron. He is having a monster of a playoff run this year.
Tuesday, 5/22/2018: 16738 steps during the day; 7.35 miles, 59:41, 8:07 pace, 70F, 83% RH, 12 mph W wind, overcast.
I was a bit bitchy during the day ... just normal stuff. I knew that if I didn't get out for a run after work I would be become even more bitch ... maybe even grouchy ... so I did. I changed just before I got out of work at 5 PM and drove up to my usual spot at Greece Arcadia High School. I set up a nice and steady pace and ran with tunes in my left ear (third time now). I did slow a touch in the latter half of the run (OK ... maybe not). My splits were: 7:49, 8:08, 8:09, 8:01, 8:09, 8:08, 8:09 and 8:43 over the last 0.35 mile.
Meanwhile ... lots of people were down at Frontier Field running the 3.5 mile Corporate Challenge. 7086 were listed as finishers. I ran this race way back in 2006 in 28:57 when it was held out at RIT. My impression back then was that it was a very disorganized, high priced and non-standard distance race with lots of walkers to dodge. So ... I have never run it again.
Wednesday, 5/23/2018: 4368 steps during the day, rest day.
Thursday, 5/24/2018: 15114 steps during the day; 7.35 miles, 1:02:08, 8:27 pace, 82F, 27% RH, 8 mph NW wind, sunny.
I slipped out a bit early so I could enjoy the afternoon warmth. I was up to the Greece Arcadia High School around 3:45 PM. I set up a slightly nice and easy pace. I had ice and water in my Nathan SpeedDraw. I heard the ice clinking for about 3 miles. I overheated a bit at mile 6. The wind had become a welcome cooling breeze (when did that happen?). My splits were: 8:20, 8:15, 8:19, 8:20, 8:31, 8:29, 8:50 and 8:35 over the last 0.35 mile. I was dripping when I got done ... and probably will be after every run for the rest of summer!
Friday, 5/25/2018: 7880 steps during the day, rest day.
There was a MFAMTL (Maybe the First Annual Maybe the Last) 5 mile trail race held out at Durand Eastman Park, results here. It had sold out in a day and I had not signed up. I thought about just showing up and running it. I could have since 49 ran and 11 didn't start. But ... it was a good thing I didn't in hindsight since I usually have a rest day before a race.
Saturday, 5/26/2018: 9433 steps during the day; 2 runs of 2 and 3.13 miles, 70F, 64% RH, 8 mph SW wind, partly cloudy.
Today's race was my first Sunset House 5K. It was designated a GRTC Rochester Runner of the Year (RROY) race back in January. I signed up about a month ago since I run most of the 12 RROY races.
I was up early like usual. The race start was at the Irondequoit Church of Christ at 644 Titus Ave at 9 AM which is about 10 minutes away. It was warm and muggy so I wore shorts and my orange Spring Forward 15K tech shirt. I stuffed my running bag with a few extra shirts. I kissed my darling wife, Christine, goodbye and got out around 8 AM.
I got a close parking spot and ambled over to get my bib and cotton t-shirt. I met up with Prem Kumar. I remember meeting Prem several years ago when he had just run 1 or 2 races and just moved to Rochester. I must have had a big impression on him ... he has run many races since. In fact he was running his fifth race in 8 days (Sehgahunda on Saturday, Lilac 10K on Sunday, Corporate Challenge on Tuesday, MFAMTL on Friday and Sunset House 5K on Saturday). I laughed and told him that I had once run 4 races in 5 races but one of them wasn't Sehgahunda! We got out for a longish warm up run of 2 miles at 9:08 pace, link here.
I was dripping a bit when I stopped by the '14 Cruze and I had 10 minutes before the start. So ... I unpinned my bib and changed my shirt. I chose my white 2013 Sauerkraut 20K shirt. I felt a bit like a drama queen but it was nice not dripping before the start. But ... three people remarked about my shirt (1 before and 2 after). I settled in my usual spot before a race ... about 10 yards back and off to the right).
There were a few announcements before the race and ... we were off! I got up to speed quickly and settled in. A 5K is over quickly but not quickly enough that I don't suffer. The first mile was down Cooper and St Paul St to Pinegrove Ave. Mile 1 in 7:02 pace. Then ... it became muggy and my legs felt like lead. There were a few people that had put lawn sprinklers onto the road and I ran through four of them. Mile 2 in 7:35 as the course meandered through neighborhood streets. I just concentrated on staying in my current position.
A guy passed me with 1/2 mile to go and I wondered if he was in my age group (he was in the 50-54) but I couldn't match him and let him go. I could see Tony Gingello in the 70-74 age group ahead of him about 200 yards away. Tony may be short but he certainly can move his legs fast! Mile 3 in 7:51 pace.
I pulled into something resembling a sprint. And ... I was done with 3.13 miles in 23:22, 7:28 pace. The last 0.13 mile at 7:05 pace. I was a bit disappointed by running over a 23 minute 5K but I did the best I could. I was parched and got took a pint of water. Prem had finished ahead of me in 21:07. We talked a bit and had a piece of breakfast pizza before he left to do his fatherly duties. I checked the results and saw that I was 33rd out of 315, link here. I was 4th out of 10 in my M 60-64 age group, link here. Charlie Andrews and Kevin Clinefelter, who were in my age group, were there so I was happy to finish fourth. The Relive link to Sunset House 5K is here.
Another 5K in the books ... my 80th. I was soon home eating an apple fritter and drinking a mug of coffee. I wanted to get something done so I put a bit of effort in to clean a bit of the master bedroom. I boxed up my race bibs and medals from 2017 and 2016 ... then my gumption left me. I have so much to straighten up and throw away ... but I rarely get to it. Usually there is more to take care of by the time I get back to it. So it may be a never ending battle unless I get a gallon of gumption. Oh well.
Later, Christine and I buckled in to watch the NBA Eastern Conference Final Game 7 between the Cleveland Cavs and the Boston Celtics. This series has been an all home win affair ... split at 3-3. The winner went on to the NBA Finals. It was a close game ... but the "King" showed up to play. Lebron answered the call in his 100th game of the season with 48 minutes and a 35-15-9 (along with 8 turnovers) body of work, the Celtics didn't shoot well and Lebron got just enough help with his "Lebron-Nots" (Jeff Green with 19). Lebron AVERAGES 34.9 points in Game 7s over his career! His spectacular has become his norm.The Celtics were up 72-71 with 6:04 left but the Cavs went on a 16-7 run and the Celtics shot 2-13 ... game over. The Cavs won by 87-79, links here, here, live blog here and full video highlights here. So .. the Cavs are back in the NBA Finals for the fourth straight year and Lebron is back for the eighth straight year, link here.
So you could say I know the course well. It's not an out and back but you do run back up that same mile long gentle downhill that you just a lot faster down 5 miles ago. So it is a test and a lot tougher test if it is hot and humid. Today's weather was a lot better: 61F, 88% RH, 8 mph WNW wind, overcast.
I was up at 5:30 AM for the same reason that most 60 year old men are ... I will let the reader figure it out. I knew I won't go back to sleep so I read Facebook for a bit and got up around 6 AM. I puttered around, had my usual pre-race bowl of cereal. I got dressed and kissed Christine goodbye. I was in and out of the townhouse a few times because of weather concerns ... it was a bit cool and there was a bit of a wind. I ended up wearing shorts and my 2017 Lilac 10K shirt. I brought my orange Empire State Marathon long sleeve tech, orange Fleet Feet hat, light gloves and my yellow/black Brooks jacket as back up just in case. I guess I am almost packing for winter races even in late May. I left just after 7:30 AM and arrived down near the Al Sigl Center just before 8 AM. I wanted to get down there before the Lilac 5K started. I knew the drill: pay $5 to park at the Al Sigl Center and walk up through Highland Park to the start/finish line ... easy-peasy. Been there ... done that and have the tech shirts to prove it. Meanwhile, the Lilac 5K at 8 AM was being held, the gun time results of 1076 finishers here.
I walked up with Dan Wimer and Jason "Jmac" McElwain. I got out for a nice and easy warm up run of 1.2 miles at 9:20 pace, link here. I talked with Bill Beyerbach for a few minutes before the race. He was going to riding in the pace car at the head of the pack. I settled into my usual spot at a start ... about 30 feet back and off to the right. I saw Prem Kumar for a few seconds. He had just ran Sehgahunda on Saturday in 5:13:42, results here. Heather Patterson was just ahead of me.
And ... we were off! I didn't have any trouble getting up to race pace. I tried to hold back but still ran a 7:04 first mile according to Pete who was yelling out the times (I had 7:02). I enjoyed running through the Rochester Running Company cheer section just past South Clinton Ave. A few runners cheering had run Sehgahunda the previous day. So ... out to Monroe Ave and hang a right. Mile 2 in 7:15. I swapped hands with Mort Nace before the right turn onto Winton Rd South. Then another right onto Elmwood Ave. Mile 3 in 7:11. The next 2 miles were on some neighborhood streets and back on Elmwood Ave. I stopped to drink a cup of water. Mile 4 in 7:43. There was a gentle uphill back to Highland Ave. I stopped to drink another cup of water. Mile 5 in 7:49. The RRC cheer section was a welcome sight! Now it was a gut check to the finish ... a gentle uphill (but not so gentle after 5 miles). I picked off a few runners on the way. Mile 6 in 7:32. There was a gentle turn so I couldn't see the finish but trust it was there. I let a runner sprint past me ... he was going much too fast to match. I heard my name called ... and ... done with 6.26 miles in 46:31, 7:29 pace according to my Garmin Forerunner 220. I had a 7:21 pace in the last 0.26 mile. I grabbed a couple cups of water. I was parched and sweaty. Heather finished ahead of me in a chip time of 44:33. Prem was behind me with a chip time of 48:14.
I wandered back to the '14 Cruze to change into my dry long sleeve tech. I was getting chilled in my sweaty short sleeve tech plus it has started to mist a little bit. I wandered into a part of Highland Park that I had never been in before on the way back ... the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, link here. I walked through it with silent reverence to the honored 280 men who had died from the Rochester area.
I found my way out of the memorial by hopping a broken part of fence and made my way for the awards. I had offically finished with a gun time of 46:30, chip time of 46:25, 105th out of 744, 5th out of 22 in my M 60-64 age group, gun time results here. The Relive link to Lilac 10K is here.
I made my way home and settled down with a mug of coffee for a bit before I had to change to go do my next task. I went out to Palmyra to put in an air conditioner for my daughter, Karen. She got a Sears 12,000 BTU A/C unit free when a next door resident had died. Her daughter didn't want it so Karen took it along with a coffee table. It was heavy and just fit in the opening. But it fit. I did have to make a trip to the Macedon Walmart to get some duct tape to seal the cracks around it. I had not brought any tools and had to rely on Karen's tools but I managed.
Monday, 5/21/2018: 6342 steps during the day, rest day.
Just a word about the NBA playoffs. Only the Cavs and Celtics are left in the East along with the Warriors and Rockets in the West. Each series is tied at 2. But ... who cares about the West? I am rooting for the Cavs. Yes, I know that the Cavs are pretty one-dimensional this year ... Lebron and the not named Lebrons. But ... Christine is from Cleveland and I am a Laker fan from the 80s. So ... I will not root for the Celtics.
I can still remember being in a bar in Nashua NH during a NBA Finals game between the Lakers and Celtics in the early 80s. I lived in Nashua from 1980 to 1986. What year? I can't recall (either 1984 or 1985). Google is no help; rivalry wiki here, 1984 stats here and 1985 stats here. More links here, here, here and here. It could have been 1984 Game 1 (Lakers 115-109) or 1985 Game 2 (Lakers 109-102). Anyway ... the game was held down in Boston and being in a bar was the only way to see the game. I quietly was rooting for the Lakers while I was in a bar full of Celtics fans. I did get more than a few glances when Byron Scott pulled up for a dagger 3 to put the Lakers ahead with under a minute to go. The Lakers won that game and I bid a hasty retreat out of the bar and home. So ... go Cavs! But .. if the Cavs do get out of this series I don't think they have a chance against the West winner. But ... never count out Lebron. He is having a monster of a playoff run this year.
Tuesday, 5/22/2018: 16738 steps during the day; 7.35 miles, 59:41, 8:07 pace, 70F, 83% RH, 12 mph W wind, overcast.
I was a bit bitchy during the day ... just normal stuff. I knew that if I didn't get out for a run after work I would be become even more bitch ... maybe even grouchy ... so I did. I changed just before I got out of work at 5 PM and drove up to my usual spot at Greece Arcadia High School. I set up a nice and steady pace and ran with tunes in my left ear (third time now). I did slow a touch in the latter half of the run (OK ... maybe not). My splits were: 7:49, 8:08, 8:09, 8:01, 8:09, 8:08, 8:09 and 8:43 over the last 0.35 mile.
Meanwhile ... lots of people were down at Frontier Field running the 3.5 mile Corporate Challenge. 7086 were listed as finishers. I ran this race way back in 2006 in 28:57 when it was held out at RIT. My impression back then was that it was a very disorganized, high priced and non-standard distance race with lots of walkers to dodge. So ... I have never run it again.
Wednesday, 5/23/2018: 4368 steps during the day, rest day.
Thursday, 5/24/2018: 15114 steps during the day; 7.35 miles, 1:02:08, 8:27 pace, 82F, 27% RH, 8 mph NW wind, sunny.
I slipped out a bit early so I could enjoy the afternoon warmth. I was up to the Greece Arcadia High School around 3:45 PM. I set up a slightly nice and easy pace. I had ice and water in my Nathan SpeedDraw. I heard the ice clinking for about 3 miles. I overheated a bit at mile 6. The wind had become a welcome cooling breeze (when did that happen?). My splits were: 8:20, 8:15, 8:19, 8:20, 8:31, 8:29, 8:50 and 8:35 over the last 0.35 mile. I was dripping when I got done ... and probably will be after every run for the rest of summer!
Friday, 5/25/2018: 7880 steps during the day, rest day.
There was a MFAMTL (Maybe the First Annual Maybe the Last) 5 mile trail race held out at Durand Eastman Park, results here. It had sold out in a day and I had not signed up. I thought about just showing up and running it. I could have since 49 ran and 11 didn't start. But ... it was a good thing I didn't in hindsight since I usually have a rest day before a race.
Saturday, 5/26/2018: 9433 steps during the day; 2 runs of 2 and 3.13 miles, 70F, 64% RH, 8 mph SW wind, partly cloudy.
Today's race was my first Sunset House 5K. It was designated a GRTC Rochester Runner of the Year (RROY) race back in January. I signed up about a month ago since I run most of the 12 RROY races.
I was up early like usual. The race start was at the Irondequoit Church of Christ at 644 Titus Ave at 9 AM which is about 10 minutes away. It was warm and muggy so I wore shorts and my orange Spring Forward 15K tech shirt. I stuffed my running bag with a few extra shirts. I kissed my darling wife, Christine, goodbye and got out around 8 AM.
I got a close parking spot and ambled over to get my bib and cotton t-shirt. I met up with Prem Kumar. I remember meeting Prem several years ago when he had just run 1 or 2 races and just moved to Rochester. I must have had a big impression on him ... he has run many races since. In fact he was running his fifth race in 8 days (Sehgahunda on Saturday, Lilac 10K on Sunday, Corporate Challenge on Tuesday, MFAMTL on Friday and Sunset House 5K on Saturday). I laughed and told him that I had once run 4 races in 5 races but one of them wasn't Sehgahunda! We got out for a longish warm up run of 2 miles at 9:08 pace, link here.
I was dripping a bit when I stopped by the '14 Cruze and I had 10 minutes before the start. So ... I unpinned my bib and changed my shirt. I chose my white 2013 Sauerkraut 20K shirt. I felt a bit like a drama queen but it was nice not dripping before the start. But ... three people remarked about my shirt (1 before and 2 after). I settled in my usual spot before a race ... about 10 yards back and off to the right).
 |
| The start (I'm in the white shirt with sunglasses) ... photo courtesy of Tim Matthews of https://runnerpics.shuttlefly.com |
 |
| Cruising into the finish ... photo courtesy of Ron Piazza |
I pulled into something resembling a sprint. And ... I was done with 3.13 miles in 23:22, 7:28 pace. The last 0.13 mile at 7:05 pace. I was a bit disappointed by running over a 23 minute 5K but I did the best I could. I was parched and got took a pint of water. Prem had finished ahead of me in 21:07. We talked a bit and had a piece of breakfast pizza before he left to do his fatherly duties. I checked the results and saw that I was 33rd out of 315, link here. I was 4th out of 10 in my M 60-64 age group, link here. Charlie Andrews and Kevin Clinefelter, who were in my age group, were there so I was happy to finish fourth. The Relive link to Sunset House 5K is here.
Another 5K in the books ... my 80th. I was soon home eating an apple fritter and drinking a mug of coffee. I wanted to get something done so I put a bit of effort in to clean a bit of the master bedroom. I boxed up my race bibs and medals from 2017 and 2016 ... then my gumption left me. I have so much to straighten up and throw away ... but I rarely get to it. Usually there is more to take care of by the time I get back to it. So it may be a never ending battle unless I get a gallon of gumption. Oh well.
Later, Christine and I buckled in to watch the NBA Eastern Conference Final Game 7 between the Cleveland Cavs and the Boston Celtics. This series has been an all home win affair ... split at 3-3. The winner went on to the NBA Finals. It was a close game ... but the "King" showed up to play. Lebron answered the call in his 100th game of the season with 48 minutes and a 35-15-9 (along with 8 turnovers) body of work, the Celtics didn't shoot well and Lebron got just enough help with his "Lebron-Nots" (Jeff Green with 19). Lebron AVERAGES 34.9 points in Game 7s over his career! His spectacular has become his norm.The Celtics were up 72-71 with 6:04 left but the Cavs went on a 16-7 run and the Celtics shot 2-13 ... game over. The Cavs won by 87-79, links here, here, live blog here and full video highlights here. So .. the Cavs are back in the NBA Finals for the fourth straight year and Lebron is back for the eighth straight year, link here.
