Sunday, 12/30/2018 to Saturday, 1/5/2019 - Freezeroo #2 and Winter Warrior Half

I ran 5 times: 28.93 miles.
I took 69,923 steps according to my Pebble 2 HR smart watch.

Common abbreviations: OMEP is my Orange Mud Endurance Pack, NT360 is my NoxGear 
Tracer360 vest, UWRG is my usual winter running gear: CW-X tights, Darn Tough socks, long sleeve tech, Brooks 1/4 zip long sleeve pullover, balaclava and Brooks beanie.

Sunday, 12/30/2018: 543 steps during the day, rest day.

My thighs hurt so I took it easy.

Monday, 12/31/2018: 710 steps during the day, rest day.

The usual rest day before a race the next day. So ... my lovely wife, Christine, and I watched a lot of "Charmed" and ate leftovers.

My blue Salomon SpeedCross 3 trail shoes have 823 miles on them. Yes ... they have holes in them ... but I have worn them since January 1st 2015. I have worn them through multiple snowy Frezeroos, multiple Dirt Cheaps, a Muddy Sneaker 20K, multiple Mess the Dress trail races, an Ontario Summit Trail Marathon, a Webster Trail Classic, multiple Charlie's Old Goat Trail Runs, multiple Dam Good Trail Races, multiple Heather Boyum 5Ks, multiple Dirt Cheap Stage Races, multiple 0 Degree WTF! trail races, a Mendon Trail Run 50K, multiple MFAMTLs, a Many on the Genny, a Winter Warrior Half and multiple snowshoe run/walks. I love their aggressive tread and the traction that the SpeedCross 3 gave me. Any time I ran off road and on sketchy roads during the winter I reached for my trusted and true Salomon SpeedCross 3 trail shoes ... sniff!

So ... I broke down and went back to Holabird Sports to buy the Salomon SpeedCross 4 trail shoes using their YEAREND15 coupon code. I did read that some reviewers complained about a tighter toe box and ordered up to size 12.5 instead of my normal 12. Stay tuned.

It's the end of December and also the end of 2018 so it is definitely stat time!

The bib wall, medals and 4th Four Season Challenge medals

I ran 15 times in December for 106.53 miles, 7.1 miles per run.
I ran 205 times in 2018 for 1423.23 miles, 6.94 mile per run.
I ran 181 runs (1331.68 miles) on road and 22 runs (81.55 miles) on trail in 2018.
I ran 2 races in December:
 12/08, 0 Degrees WTF!, 5.18 miles, 58:45, 11:20 pace
 12/15, Freezeroo #1, 3.1 miles, 22:04, 7:07 pace (fastest 5K of 2018)
I took 290,789 steps in December and 4,250,928 steps during 2018.

Tuesday, 1/1/2019: 14882 steps during the day, 2 runs of 1.15 and 7.57 miles, 168 avg race cadence, 37F, 79% RH, 17 mph WNW wind, wind chill 27F, overcast.

Today's race was my tenth GRTC Freezeroo #2, a 7.5 mile race, held out on the roads around Mendon Ponds Park. My previous times: 2009 - 1:02:33, 2011 - 57:24, 2012 - 53:26, 2013 - 1:02:13, 2014 - 58:36, 2015 - 57:31, 2016 - 59:44, 2017 - 59:19 and 2018 - 59:36). The race venue was the newly remodeled Stewart Lodge. Please note: the GRTC website has not been updated for quite some time and it still refers to the 39th Freezeroo series of 2017-2018 not this year's 40th 2018-2019 series.

I was up early and had time to putter around. The temp was 38F so I wore my usual: CW-X tights, Darn Tough socks, a long sleeve tech, Brooks 1/4 long sleeve pullover, Brooks beanie and heavy running gloves. The temp for the 2018 Freezeroo #2 was 3F so ... 38F was balmy!

The 30 minute drive down to the Beach parking lot below Stewart Lodge was uneventful. I arrived at 9:16 AM. I had plenty of time to take a 1.15 mile warm up run at 9:16 pace, link here.

I took off my Brooks jacket and got a drink of water before I slowly walked up to the start. Andy told me that I had pinned my bib on upside down about 2 minutes before the start. Oops ... no late to make it right side up!

The start of Freezeroo #2 ... photo courtesy of Tim Matthews and https://runnerpics.shuttlefly.com

And ... we were off! I got up to race pace quickly. Andy and Bill surged ahead. I let them go as I concentrated on my own race. Down Douglas Rd, left onto Canfield Rd ... mile in 7:18 according to "1 mile" Pete (actually 7:44) and then left onto Rt 65 for miles 2 and 3.

I think this is just after the turn onto Pond Rd ... photo courtesy of Tim Matthews and https://runnerpics.shuttlefly.com

I had a stitch in my side around mile 4 that concerned me for a bit so I walked a few times. It doesn't really show in my splits. Bill Sandow was a bit concerned and asked if I was OK every time I stopped to walk. I passed Joe Ciecierega just after I passed his ex girlfriend (I think), Tina Pellegrin. The stitch went away and I felt good so I pushed the pace a bit. I passed Bill around mile 6.

About 1/2 mile to go ... photo courtesy of Tim Matthews of https://runnerpics.shuttlefly.com

I power walked the hill that led back into MPP (no one passed me) ... down the winding turns on Canfield Rd ... left onto Douglas Rd ... last hill by the cobblestone house ... finish line in sight ... clock at 59:47 ... sprint ... done at 1:00:00 according to my Garmin (59:58 officially)! Christine Antonino was right behind me at 1:00:03. Joe came in at 1:01:27.

I waited around a couple of minutes for Bill to finish (1:02:48). He said that he lost his mojo right about when I passed him. I relaxed a bit before I changed into some dry upper clothers. I went up to Stewart Lodge for a couple helpings of pasta and cookies. I met up with Prem (who I didn't see before the start) and Andy. Prem had finished in a speedy 56:51. He told me about his Run across Haiti, his crowdrise account here, coming up in 6 weeks and that he had signed up for the Mighty Mosquito 99 miler in early August. Andy came in at 57:55.

I ended home and had the usual couple mugs of coffee. Hourglassworks had the race results up soon. I was 58th out of 229, link here. I was 5th out of 22 in my M 60-64 age group, link here. My splits were: 7:44, 8:00, 8:00, 8:04, 8:07, 7:54, 8:07 and 7:09 over the last 0.57 mile.

Later, Christine didn't want to cook so I went out to get some Chinese takeout at Lake Chinese Food on 4462 Lake Ave just a couple of miles away. I had the Sweet and Sour Chicken and Christine had the Moo Goo Gai Pan. I only had to wait about 10 minutes and it tasted good ... so thumbs up!

Wednesday, 1/2/2019: 7973 steps during the day, rest day.

Thursday, 1/3/2019: 14988 steps during the day, rest day, 5.65 miles, 47:03, 8:20 pace, 164 avg cadence, 33F, 84% RH, calm, cloudy

I wanted to get a run right after work but didn't a chance to change until I got home after a short trip to Wegmans so I was already a bit late. It was dark and around freezing so I wore the usual: CW-X tights, Darn Tough socks, short sleeve tech, Brooks 1/4 zip long sleeve pullover and Brooks beanie ... as I have so many times before and will again since it works. I put on my NT360 vest and the headlamp from Ebay (I really need to look up the model). The headlamp had charged batteries ... which really make a difference. I headed out my newly found trail from the back of Greenleaf Meadows to the LOSP trail and just ran one end to the other and back. I set up a nice and easy pace ... but it just felt blah for some reason. My splits were: 42, 12, 07, 24, 22 and 06 over the last 0.65 mile.

Friday, 1/4/2018: 8193 steps during the day, rest day.

Nothing much ... I picked up my Winter Warrior Half bib and hat. The new color is sky blue.

Saturday, 1/5/2019: 22634 steps during the day, 2 runs of 1.35 and 13.11 miles, 166 avg cadence, 36F, 100% RH, 8 mph N wind, wind chill 30F, overcast.

Today's race was my fifth Winter Warrior Half and fifth time signing up for the Four Season Challenge. The race venue was the fourth time it's been held at the Rochester Tech Park (4 laps). All the previous were held at 4 PM versus noon this year. This year also had the relay like usual and the new quarter marathon distance of 2 laps. My previous times were: 2014 - 1:50:07 (5 laps held at MCC), 2015 - 1:47:44, 2016 - 1:46:06 and 2017 - 1:55:15. The 2017 Winter Warrior Half was epic ... 3F, 78% RH, 11 mph WNW wind, wind chill -13F, overcast with light snow after the 2nd loop.

I slept in until around 7:30 AM and puttered around like usual. I had my usual pre-race bowl of cereal and banana around 8 AM. I had a muffin with ham and cheese around 10 AM. It was just a bit above freezing with light wind and overcast so I wore the usual for the race: CW-X tights, Darn Tough socks, long sleeve tech, Brooks 1/4 zip long sleeve pullover, Brooks beanie and heavy running gloves. I was down to the race venue by 11:10 AM in plenty of time to get a parking spot near the porta-potties.

Speaking of porta-potties ... the line was quite long by the time I was ready to head out for my warm up run around 11:30 AM. I headed out for a nice and easy loop that included a stop at the Harris B6 building that I just so happened to have a badge for so I could stop and make a pit stop at their heated bathroom ... nice! My warm up run was 1.45 miles at 8:42 pace, link here. I found that there was a bit of a wind out on the back half of the course.

I took one more swig of water from the 2014 Cruze and fired up my earbud and MP3 player combo before I ambled up to the start with 10 minutes to go. I met up with Prem Kumar and Bill Crowe at the start. I started up my RoadID eCrumb a minute before the start ... took a couple of deep breaths ... and we were off!

The Winter Warrior Half, Quarter Marathon & Relay start ... photo courtesy of Barb Boutillier of Fleet Feet Rochester

It took about 100 yards of jockeying for clear running room before I got up to full race pace. I ran the first loop pretty well but ... then the bottom sort of fell out. Maybe I went out too fast? Naah ... well maybe. My thighs started to tighten up. I lapsed into a long run and short walk routine for laps 2, especially lap 3 and part of lap 4. I didn't start lapping the walker until the middle of lap 2 and was lapped by the first place runner by the end of lap 2. I had a couple mouthfuls of Hammer Gel at the beginning of lap 3 and 4 (note the over 9 minute miles for miles 7 and 10). I slapped hands with Ellen, the race director, as she announced my name when I passed the start/finish for laps 1, 2 and 3.

Ellen, the race director, gave a lot of hand slaps ... photo courtesy of Barb Boutillier of Fleet Feet Rochester

Ellen, the race director, and her husband, Boots Boutillier, have provided the impetus for so many runners to become more fit. I found a bit of mojo over the last 2 miles and kept up a solid run for the last 2 miles after I figured out that I could break 1:50 if I kept up a "get it done" run. I was tempted to stop at the Brooks tents about 1/2 mile from the finish when I heard that they had shots of Jack Daniels but I kept on running since I am on a Dry January (no alcohol). I kicked up the pace a bit ... saw "Selfie" Sue at the last turn ... kicked it to a sprint ... saw the clock under 1:50 (yes!) ... done in 1:49:15, 8:20 pace, according to my Garmin Forerunner 220.

The Winter Warrior and 4 Season Challenge along with the new stocking hat

I took my Winter Warrior Half and Four Season Challenge medals and proudly put them around my neck. I earned them ... so I wore them. Yes, they clanged when I walked. I headed back to the 2014 Cruze. I met up with Kevin Clinefelter for a few minutes who had won our age group in speedy 1:30:48. I rested a bit and changed my sweaty upper body clothing into dry tech clothing. I walked over to the food tent and had a couple bowls of delicious mac'n'cheese and some cookies. I did stagger a few times when I sat down, got back up or walked for a bit in the food tent. I was beat. I found out from the race results laptop that I had finished 4th in my age group (3rd place was 30 seconds faster) so no age group glass this year.

A Facebook Fleet Feet Rochester page grab of all 5 Winter Warrior Half hat that I have earned (2015 on the left to 2019 on the right)

I headed home and had the usual post race mugs of coffee while I sat on the couch with my legs up. This half marathon took a lot out of me. It hurt to get up. It hurt to sit down. It hurt to go up or down the stairs. I felt better by 6 PM or so. Yellowjacketracing.com had the results up by 5 PM. My official chip time was 1:49:10, 8:20 pace. I was 99th out of 530, link here. I was 4th out of 18 in my M 60-64 age group, link here. My lap time were: #1 - 25:44, 7:51 pace, rank 3rd; #2 - 26:57, 8:14 pace, rank 4th; #3 - 28:13, 8:37 pace, rank 4th and #4 - 28:23, 8:40 pace, rank 3rd. My splits were: 7:45, 7:47, 7:57, 8:24, 7:54, 8:16, 9:13, 8:13, 8:22, 9:25, 8:37, 8:36, 8:02 and 6:58 over the last 0.11 mile. There were 299 finishers in the new quarter marathon, link here. There were 28 teams in the relay, link here.

My lovely wife, Christine, and I got up and off the couch long enough to head out to the Texas Roadhouse on W Ridge Rd around 7 PM. She told me that she wanted to make sure that I had enough protein after the taxing Winter Warrior Half. Alas ... a lot of people beat us there since there was a 1:10 to 1:20 wait time. We ended getting the takeout $20 Fill Up (8 pieces, potatoes, gravy, coleslaw and buns) at KFC across the street. I think we should have headed out about 2 hours earlier ... oh well!

Race recap .... I survived my 34th road half marathon. What did I learn? I think I got caught up in the crowd and went out too hard on lap 1. Then I paid the price for that. I think I did manage the long run / short walk kind of OK. My pace did slow a bit above 8:30 on laps 11 and 12 though. I did break 1:50 which was my on-the-spur-of-the moment goal. I don't think I like the new noon start time. There was more traffic trying to exit the parking lots we were circling and the whole idea of ending in the dark made this race somewhat special.