Sunday, 3/10/2024 to Saturday, 3/16/2024 - Runnin' of the Green 5 Mile Race

I walked 3 times this week, 2.15 miles.

I ran 6 times this week, 26.31 miles.

I walked once on the treadmill, 1.0 mile

I didn't bike this week.

I took 70,261 steps this week according to my Garmin Venu smartwatch.

My Venu gives me steps, heart rate and floors climbed (take that last data point with a grain of salt). My Withings WS-50 Smart Body Analyzer scale gives my weight.

WALKING/RUNNING/BIKING: I have gotten over a nagging ache in my left hip/hamstring through lots and LOTS of stretching. So ... I do short walks (1.65 miles), runs (< 6.2 miles) or bike rides (< 20 miles) and then stretch afterwards. A run is better than a walk or bike in my 66-year-old mind but any exercise is good in the end.

Walk/Run/Bike electronics: I use my Garmin Venu for runs and walks (backup for the bike). I listen to my Shokz OpenMove bone conduction headphones.

Trek Bike electronics: Garmin Edge 530 sensor bundle, Garmin Varia RVR315 rearview radar, Livall EVO21 smart helmet, and Redshiftsports Arclight pedals.

BTW, I am on a 1355 day steak (3 years, 8 months) of either a walk, run or bike of greater than 1 mile (as of Saturday night, 3/9). There were more than a few days when a mile was all I could walk or limp.

Sunday, 3/10//2024

9992 steps, 40/142 avg/max HR, 166.5 pounds, 18 floors climbed

Run: 6.55 miles, 55:45, 8:38 pace, 108 feet total ascent, 132/148 avg/max HR, 158/168 avg/max cadence, 39F, 81% RH, 7 mph W wind, wind chill 35F, overcast

The DST time change was last night so I woke up around 7 AM instead of 6 AM. I did the usual stuff ... got up, weighed myself, set the coffee up, got dressed and got out there. I set up for my usual 6.55 mile run but on a slightly different route: "Out on the pier and out to Mann Rd". The pier was dry so I ran out to the end. The wind had kicked up a bit so I was a bit slower for a while. The run was nice as usual. My splits were 8:43, 8:28, 8:39, 8:53, 8:48, 8:37 and 7:59 over the last 0.55 mile.

Monday, 3/11/2024

7946 steps, 44/95 avg/max HR, 166.8 pounds, 9 floors climbed

Walk: 0.29 mile, 5:13, 18:15 pace, 20 feet total ascent, 80/99 avg/max HR, 110 avg cadence, 34F, 55% RH, 18 mph WNW wind, wind chill 24F, partly cloudy

Shoes: blue Brooks Launch GTS8 - 400.29 miles

Treadmill: 1.0 mile, 18:38, 18:38 pace, 67/75 avg/max HR, 109/115 avg/max cadence

Shoes: blue Brooks Launch GTS8 - 401.29 miles

Walk: 0.31 mile, 5:11, 16:29 pace, 20 feet total ascent, 82/99 avg/max HR, 112/134 avg/max cadence, 34F, 55% RH, 22 mph NW wind, wind chill 23F, clear

Shoes: blue Brooks Launch GTS8 - 401.60 miles

I thought about a run but I was glad that I opted for a walk before I stepped outside. I had snowed overnight but before that it had the rain had frozen into ice. The sidewalks and road weren't solid ice but there was enough where I could just walk at a normal pace while I concentrated on not falling or not getting blown over. I passed the Fitness Center and thought ... it's nice, warm and not slippery in there. So ... I did a mile on the treadmill. Another guy that I see walking came in too. We both thought it was a lot safer inside than outside. The wind helped blow me home.

Tuesday, 3/12/2024

11367 steps, 41/135 avg/max HR, 167.1 pounds, 18 floors climbed

Run: 4.57 miles, 42:05, 9:13 pace, 63 feet total ascent, 123/138 avg/max HR, 154/165 avg/max cadence, 43F, 61% RH, 9 mph WNW wind, wind chill 38F, clear

Shoes: blue/yellow Brooks Glycerin GTS20 - 91.44 miles

I did the usual ... and then the unusual happened. I started out with the usual nice and easy pace but had a pain right behind my left knee right from the start. I soldiered onward until I got to Greenleaf Rd and then stopped to massage it for a moment. I continued onward at a slower pace with shorter strides. I thought about turning around after a mile. The pain slowly lessened until it almost was a vague memory by the time I got done. Weird. My splits were 9:38, 9:14, 9:10, 9:01 and 8:52 over the last 0.57 mile. So .. a pain turned into a negative split!

Wednesday, 3/13/2024

10605 steps, 40/138 avg/max HR, 168.3 pounds, 18 floors climbed

Run: 4.55 miles, 39:16, 8:37 pace, 80 feet total ascent, 128/141 avg/max HR, 158/168 avg/max cadence, 45F, 70% RH 8 mph SW wind, wind chill 41F, clear

Shoes: blue/yellow Brooks Glycerin GTS20 - 95.99 miles

I got out for my usual run on my usual "Out by the pier and around" route. I had no pain behind my left knee this morning so yesterday's pain appeared to be just a random one. I was running up Greenleaf Rd just past the Lake Shore Country Club when I saw something in the road that oncoming cars were avoiding. I thought it was a bag that I could move out of the road. Well .... I got within 3 feet of it before I saw that it was a raccoon! I saw its eyes and it was alive! I veered away and it didn't move! The things I see sometimes! My splits were 8:51, 8:39, 8:39, 8:35 and 8:12 over the last 0.55 mile.

Thursday, 3/14/2024

7885 steps, 40/135 avg/max HR, 167.8 pounds, 17 floors climbed

Run: 4.55 miles, 43:32, 9:34 pace, 63 feet total ascent, 122/145 avg/max HR, 151 avg cadence, 39F, 81% RH, calm, clear

Shoes: blue/yellow Brooks Glycerin GTS20 - 100.54 miles

Another usual run that turned into something not usual. I headed out on my usual "Out by the pier and around" route and felt OK. But .. my left calf about 4 inches below my left knee developed what became a pain that caused me to slow and eventually walk/limp the last mile. It pretty much sucked. My splits were 8:46, 8;32, 8:46, 10:07 and 13:16 over the last 0.55 mile.

Friday, 3/15/2024

10548 steps, 40/116 avg/max HR, 168.5 pounds, 8 floors climbed

Walk: 1.65 miles, 25:41, 15:34 pace, 16 feet total ascent, 87/99 avg/max HR, 110/125 avg/max cadence, 43F, 87% RH, 13 mph N wind, wind chill 37F, cloudy

Shoes: blue Brooks Launch GTS8 - 403.25 miles

I got for my usual walk on the day before a race. My left calf was tight so I stuck as fast a pace as I could. It was about 90/10 walk/limp for 90% of the walk. My splits were 15:52 and 15:06 over the last 0.65 mile.

Saturday, 3/16/2024

11918 steps, 40/143 avg/max HR, 168.2 pounds, 13 floors climbed

Today's race was the Runnin' of the Green. I have run a 5 mile race in March for a long time ... checks spreadsheet. I ran 9 Johnny's Runnin' of the Green (directed by the late Bill Keyoe) at Blue Cross Arena in 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 through 2019. Rochester Running Company has directed the race since  2020. I ran 2 virtual races in 2020 and 2021 during COVID-19. I have run 3 races on the new course (but similar) course from the Mercantile on Main in 2022, 2023 and now 2024. So ... you can say that a 5 mile race around St Patrick's Day is what I do. I park in the same parking garage and walk to the venue. This year I got a sweatshirt because I signed up before 1/1/24 .... sweet!

Run: 1.0 mile, 9:24, 9:23 pace, 16 feet total ascent, 114/129 avg/max HR, 152/161 avg/max cadence

Shoes: blue/yellow Brooks Glycerin GTS20 - 102.44 miles

Run: 5.09 miles, 41:41, 8:12 pace, 58 feet total ascent, 38F, 135/148 avg/max HR, 163/170 avg/max cadence

Shoes: blue/yellow Brooks Glycerin GTS20 - 107.53 miles

It was 37F when I dressed for this race. I chose shorts and my trusty Brooks 1/4 zip long sleeve pullover. I started to doubt my clothing choice when I walked in the wind from the parking garage up S Clinton St to the race venue. I saw a lot of runners in tights and only a few in shorts! But ... there was nothing I could do now! The race conditions were 38F, 76%  RH, 13 mph WSW wind, wind chill 31F, cloudy.

I got out for a nice and easy warm up run to see how my left calf felt. I could tell that it would be a problem. I needed a drink of water so I ducked inside, found a water jug with a stack of paper cups and drank a couple of gulps and quickly got to the front near Wendy Abbot, the 8:30 pacer. And ... we were off! I got up an OK race pace. I could feel an ache in my left calf but I was in a race so I ignored it for the majority of the race. I stayed with the 8:30 pace group until just before the turnaround. I got a side-five from Ellen and Barb of Fleet Feet at mile 3. Then ... my left calf ache became worse ... I slowed a bit but it didn't get worse so I ran the best I could ... the digital time was well under 42 ... and done in 41:35 chip time! 

I headed inside and got my checked bag with my well earned and newest favorite Runnin' of the Green sweatshirt. I had 2 donuts to sate my belly and a small glass of beer to sate my thirst. I hung around and headed home.

I did pretty well. I was 425th out of 1575, 4th out of 38 in my M 65-69 age group. My splits were 8:14, 8:19, 8:12, 8:09, 8:05 and 7:51 over the last 0.09 mile.

I was beat the rest of the day. My left calf was not happy either.