Hi All,

Sunday, December 30th to Saturday, January 5th: 33.6 miles

An uptick in my mileage this week due to running my long runs on Sunday and Saturday plus unemployment.

Sunday: 9 miles, 32F, calm, 1 stop, 8:31 pace.
Tuesday, New Year's Day: 8.6 miles, 36F, calm, no stops, 8:27 pace.
Thursday: 7 miles, 15F, calm, no stops (too cold!), 8:24 pace. It wasn't really that cold ... as long as you dressed for it (3 shirts, shorts, pants, jacket, 2 mittens, hat and scarf).
Saturday: 9 miles, 36F, calm, no stops, 8:22 pace.

The forecast is for 50s and 60s on Monday and Tuesday.

I am emptying David's room of all my computer stuff today. I will start stripping the wallpaper tomorrow. I am so looking forward to it .... NOT! But it has to be done so it will get done.

I am continuing to convert my VHS tapes to DVD with my Samsung DVD-VR330 DVD Recorder. I have done over thirty movies so far. DVDs take up a whole lot less space than VHS tapes.

Keep running, Doug

Hi All,

Sunday, December 16th to Saturday, December 22th: 20.15 miles

I ran two lunchtime zoo runs around the pond of 6 miles each on Wednesday and Friday. The river trail was snowy covered so I ran on some streets also.

I ran 8.15 miles around my neighborhood on Saturday morning. Instead of looping back on Wood Lane I continued on Filkins Road down to Route 31, then down Whitbeck Road to West Shore Blvd and back into Newark. I kind of ran out of energy and stopped twice. My time was 1:10:48 for a 8:41 mile pace.

I finished Michael's room before he came home. I just had to pick up my tools and put some Pledge on his dresser and shelves. I helped him put his piano back in his room. Next up is the stairwell.

I have watched a couple of good movies lately with Michael. I rented Spiderman 3 and Bourne Ultimatum from the Red Box at Wegmans. It's a great deal, a one day rental for $1 plus tax. I have also converted some of my old VHS tapes to DVD using my Samsung DVD-VR330 DVD Recorder. It's really quite easy once you get the hang of it.

I used the warm weather to finally rake the leaves in my backyard. Over the course of three days I took 24 barrels of wet leaves to the backwoods.

Keep running, Doug

Hi All,

Sunday, December 9th to Saturday, December 15th: 12.5 miles

Just two runs this week. A 6 mile lunch-time zoo run around the pond on Tuesday. Then I ran 6.5 miles from B601 on Friday, my first time from this building. I just ran down Lee Road (the dangerous part) to the canal trail, then ran south to Chili Ave and back. The trail was snow covered, I ran slowly in foot prints mostly. The weather both times was in the mid 30s. I saw an interesting running quote: "There is not such thing as bad weather, just soft people".

I was painting Michael's room this week. First a coat of primer on the entire room, then two coats of flat white on the ceiling, two coats of enamel white on the trim, two coats of 'casual blue' on the walls. Plus I pulled the rug, staples and tack strips. I am a bit tired.

We got a north-easter on Sunday. Initially, the forecast was 1 to 2 feet of snow. But Newark only got 4 inches of snow and sleet by 10AM, then 4 more inches by 5PM. I got some exercise shoveling and walking down to the corner store to get the Sunday papers.

The Buffalo Bills lost to the Cleveland Browns in a snow storm down in Cleveland, 8-0. The Bills are now 7-7 and out of the playoff hunt. The Bills never really had a chance, all 7 wins were against opponents with losing records. I listened to the game while I was painting upstairs, then watched the last part of the 4th quarter.

Well, winter has really started early in upstate NY. We are well on the way to a record setting snow total for December. The average for December is 9.3 inches, we already have 27 inches ... without what we got today.

Keep running, Doug

Update: Another 6 inches of snow to shovel on Monday morning, plus uncovering the car. What fun it is to live in upstate NY in the winter!

Hi All,

Sunday, December 2nd to Saturday, December 8th: 12.75 miles

December came in snowy. It snowed the first five days with 14 inches in Newark on Tuesday. I got my exercise by shoveling out my driveway twice plus prepping and painting primer on the ceiling of Michael's bedroom.

Thursday, I ran the usual 6 mile zoo run around the pond in my Pearl Izumi trail shoes with the closed toe box. They did well in the snow. Saturday, I ran the usual 6.75 mile run around the neighborhood in 57:27, a 8:30 mile pace. Slow but steady with just one stop for a couple of dogs.

I made three trips down to Ithaca College this week to see Michael in concerts. Tuesday - Brass Choir, Wednesday - Wind Ensemble and Sunday - Madrigals and College Chorus. A long trip and long day on Tuesday and Wednesday. Plus I painted primer on the walls and two coats of ceiling white in Michael's bedroom. I need to pick out a medium blue for the walls to cover the choo-choo train wallpaper that I am sure that he has not liked for several years. I should be done with his bedroom by the end of this week.

Keep running, Doug

Hi All,

Month of November: 53.9 miles, I ran 13 out of 30 days
Sunday, November 25th to Saturday, December 1st: 12 miles

I just did two zoo runs around the pond of 6 miles each this week. It was cold (28F) and misty on Tuesday and slightly warmer (36F) and windy on Thursday.

I didn't get as much done around the house as I wanted to. I just couldn't get motivated. I did put together a computer desk for my youngest son and filled the garbage bin with junk. I did figure out how to back up a VCR tape to DVD. I kind of watched the Buffalo Bills beat the Washington Redskins, 17-16, on a last-second field goal. It's about time that the Bills win one at the end instead of lose two at the end.

I wanted to get out running around the neighborhood on Saturday and Sunday. But it snowed both days and I wanted to be safe rather than run over. In fact, it is snowing right now. We might get a foot overnight in persistent lake effect bands.

Keep running, Doug

Hi All,

Sunday, November 18th to Saturday, November 24th: 17.75 miles

I ran the usual 6 mile zoo run around the pond on Tuesday. I do this run but I really don't like the route ... it just seems uphill all the way back.

I ran my third Newark Turkey Day 5 Mile Race on Thanksgiving. It was a raw day, around 40F with a misty rain that got heavier around mile 3. I finished in 38:57, a 7:47 mile pace. I was 65th out of 151, 5th in my age group, M 50-59. Oh, I won a $5 gift card from Dunkin Donuts as a door prize.

I ate Thanksgiving dinner at a JK's house. We had turkey and stuffing (of course), sweet potato souffle, cranberry sauce, leeks and a parsnips, celery, bacon and maple syrup dish whose name escapes me. Dessert was two helpings of homemade chocolate cheesecake and coffee mocha. We also watched "License to Wed" with Robin Williams and Mandy Moore. We had a nice talk. I value her friendship. The rain during the day had turned to a light snow which I had to scrape before I went home.

I ran 6.75 miles around the neighborhood on Saturday in 55:47, a 8:16 pace. It was a beautiful sunny crisp morning. I had painted the baseboard and used my run as a reward.

I am 95% done with my bedroom. The only thing left is pull the blue tape on the floor and move the small stuff back. Next is painting the trim in the upstairs bedroom. Initially I painted the walls and baseboard the same color, antique white. Now that I see how much better white baseboards and trim look I will repaint. It shouldn't take too much effort. Next is Michael's room. I have to be done by December 21st which is when he will be home next.

Speaking of Michael, I took him back to Ithaca College today. I ran over something that looked like aluminum foil just as I got there ... well, I think it put a hole in one of my radiator hoses. I had to buy two gallons of anti-freeze to limp back home ... stopping to cool the car down every so often. It looks like a trip to the auto repair shop is in my future. Oh well.

Update: I needed a new radiator reservoir cap which only cost $12.96! Thanks, Big Mike's Auto Repair, links here and here!

Keep running, Doug

Hi All,

Sunday, November 11th to Saturday, November 17th: 12.75 miles

I only ran two times this week. Work prevented me from running on Tuesday and Wednesday so I ran after work on Wednesday. It was warm (57F) and dark so I ran 6.75 miles around the neighborhood with my reflective vest. I ran a little hard in 56:07, a 8:18 mile pace. I ran the usual 6 mile zoo run around the pond on Friday. It has turned colder.

I am painting my bedroom. I painted the ceiling and trim during the week and the walls during the weekend. I decided to try the expensive Kilz Casual Color in Airy Blue with Kilz as an undercoat. It worked very well. I almost covered the walls in one coat. I need to do one more coat, pull the rug and do the bottom trim. So I should be done by the end of next weekend. I am not taping except to do the ceiling so it is going faster.

I am watching the Bills get pounded by the Patriots 28-7 ... now, it's 56-10 with 11 minutes to go in the 4th quarter.

Keep running, Doug

Hi All,

Sunday, November 4th to Saturday, November 10th: 17.4 miles

I ran the usual 6 mile zoo run around the pond on Tuesday and Thursday. It was cold, windy and rainy on the Tuesday run. But I perserved and trudged on. I ran 5.4 miles around the neighborhood on Saturday morning. I am not really pushing on my runs, maybe 8:30 mile pace. I only wear my Forerunner on the Saturday run.

I learned that the company that I am contracted to will be getting rid of all contractors on December 28th. So besides fixing up the house I also have to find another job. After six years with this company ... what can you do?

I finished painting the right dining room hutch. I am letting it dry before I move stuff back in. I just started painting my bedroom. I put down one coat on the ceiling. It's not bad painting ... the pain in the ass is moving the furniture (bed, dresser and drawers) from one side of the room to the other. I will be working all week on painting besides working on an outside website and computer job. I plan on getting done in a couple of weeks.

Keep running, Doug

P.S. I changed the weather widget from www.wunderground.com to www.blogskinny.com/ which uses www.weatherbug.com.

Hi all,

Sunday, October 28th through Saturday, November 3rd: 17 miles

I ran 6 miles on both Tuesday and Thursday, the usual zoo run around the pond. I ran a nice 5 miles around the neighborhood on Saturday morning. It was nice, frosty and crisp ... just begging me outside to run!

I didn't do as much as I could have to the house last weekend. I lazed on Saturday. I painted the first coat of the right dining room hutch on Sunday ... in between watching the Buffalo Bills pull off an improbable three game winnning streak against the Cincinnati Bengals to get to 4-4. The next game is against the winless Miami Dolphins. Then I watched some of the "first Super Bowl in November", the undefeated New England Patriots against the undefeated Indy Colts. New England won 24-20 with a pair of late TDs.

Keep running, Doug

Happy Halloween, October 31, 2007

Hi All,

Month of October: 50.1 miles, I ran 10 out of 31 days

I hope everyone had a Happy Halloween! I sat in front on my house in a Scream mask and handed out candy to 202 kids of all ages.

Keep running, Doug

Hi All,

Sunday, October 21 to Saturday, October 27: 11 miles

Yes, once again nothing too exciting ... I just ran my usual 5 mile zoo run on Tuesday and a 6 mile zoo run on Thursday. It was a busy weekend. I finished painting paint the trim in the hallway and entranceway plus the left hutch in the dining room. The weather on Sunday turned cold.

Now I have a decision to make ... what room is next? My bedroom, Michael's bedroom upstairs or the stairway? I am leaning towards my bedroom ... which means I have to go through its junk.

Keep running, Doug

P.S. I have been watching the Red Sox beat up on the Colorado Rockies. They are up 3-0 in the World Series. Go Red Sox!

Update: Yes, the Red Sox won the World Series 4-0 ... it would have been nice if the Rockies had shown up!

Hi All,

Sunday, October 14 to Saturday, October 20: 11 miles

Again nothing too exciting ... I just ran my usual 5 mile zoo run on Tuesday and a 6 mile zoo run on Thursday. It was a busy weekend. I wanted to paint the trim in the hallway and entranceway but I tackled a rather engthy things-to-do list. I painted the back door. Exciting stuff ... not! The weather on Sunday was unusually warm ... high 70s ... for this late in October.

My daughter had her gall bladder out at Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic on Friday. She is recuperating before heading back to Houghton College on Wednesday.

Keep running, Doug

P.S. I have been watching the lastest Red Soxs comeback against the Cleveland Indians. Now it's time for the World Series, the Red Sox against the Colorado Rockies. Two hot teams ... it should be a great World Series. Go Red Sox!

Hi All,

Sunday, October 7th to Saturday, October 13th: 10 miles

Nothing too exciting ... I just ran my usual two 5 mile zoo runs at lunch during the week. It was a busy weekend. I painted the trim in the hallway and entranceway. Exciting stuff ... not!

I gave blood yesterday for the 61st time. My pulse was 72, blood pressure was 110/72. I guess I will continue kicking for a while.

Tonight I am going down to Ithaca College to see my oldest son play in the Wind Ensemble.

Ithaca College School of Music Concert Calendar

Keep running, Doug

Dallas 25, Buffalo 24 - October 9th, 2007

Hi All,

Sunday, September 30th to Saturday, October 6th: 13.1 miles

I ran my usual two 5 mile zoo runs at lunch during the week. I ran the Fairport Scarecrow Safe Journeys 5K on Saturday morning. I ran a PR of 22:17 with a first mile of 6:30. I placed 46th out of 286 (11 seconds out of 3rd). I even walked for a 100 feet or so. One of these days I will run a 'perfect' 5K and break 22 minutes.

Race results: http://grtconline.org/2007Results/2007ScareCrowOverall.html

It was a busy weekend. No painting got done. Saturday, I visited my daughter down at Houghton College during homecoming weekend. We saw an exciting men's soccer game, HC versus Point Park. HC won 1-0 on a goal with no time left in the 1st OT.

Houghton Men Win as Time Expires in First OT

Sunday, I visited my son down at Ithaca College. I saw him in two of the five choral groups, Chorus and Madigral Singer, during their Choral Collage concert.

Ithaca College School of Music Concert Calendar

I took both of them grocery shopping which I am sure was appreciated. However, it was a lot of driving and a pretty tiring weekend.

And yes, I watched the second half of the Dallas - Buffalo game on Monday Night Football. It was 7-7 when I joggged over to Parker's Grille and Tap House and it was Buffalo up 17-7 when I got there. Things were looking good ... up 24-13 in the 3rd quarter and even up 24-16 in the 4th quarter. Though the three touchdowns were on two interception returns and a 103 yard kickoff return. Then ... things went downhill. Of course there was a lone Dallas fan that cackled with suppressed glee as the Bills couldn't get a first down when it really mattered. Then Dallas scored the touchdown, failed in their bid for 2, went for an onsides kick, got it, and then the knife ... made not one attempt, but two attempts at the winning field goal and took the win and the breath away from the sold-out Ralph. Well ... at least we will have the top spot on SI's Best MNF Finishes of last 20 Years. Man ... to lose two games out of five to last second field goals ... but if the Bills offense could have made first downs when it mattered ... their record could have been 3-2 not 1-4. But would have, could have doesn't cut it in sports ... or in real life.

Keep running, Doug

Hi All,

Sunday, September 16th to Saturday, September 22nd: 11 miles
Sunday, September 23rd to Saturday, September 29th: 10 miles
Month of September: 38.5 miles, I ran 8 out of 30 days

Well, I am running just two days a week now. Usually Tuesdays and Thursday during lunch. Just to the zoo and down to the bottom of the hill and back is 5 miles. My left knee hurts after 3 or 4 miles but I just ignore it and motor on.

Let me step on my soapbox ... there are plenty of people that don't run that I see taking the elevator or outside smoking ... I just shake my head. I'm 50 ... I run. Everyone should do some form of exercise. Hey, I am 6' 3" and I used to weigh 182. I took me about 3 years to get down to 160 which I have maintained for the past year or so. I feel great. It wasn't all roses. I just discovered that I enjoyed running and slowly went from walking to running a little to running a lot to running long distance. Yes, I eat healthy ... mostly. Yes, it can hurt ... but I would rather hurt after running 5 miles than get out of breath because I went up two flights of stairs. OK, I will step off my soapbox now.

I am skipping my weekend run for now. I have to paint the inside of my house every weekend. So I need all the daylight I can get so I can see to paint. I really don't like painting at night. So far, I have two rooms (upstairs right bedroom and living room) almost done. Just bits and pieces need to be done in each room.

I thought a friend was going to help but maybe yes, maybe no. She helped one Friday night. We disagreed that the living room ceiling needed painting. It had not been painted in ten years. So I painted it the next day. It does look better. When I do a job I want it to look good ... even if I am going to sell the house after I get done.

Keep running, Doug

September 16th, 2007 - Happy 50th Birthday to me!

Hi All,

Month of August: 39.1 miles
Month of September (so far): 17.5 miles

It's been a long time between blog posts ... real life and injuries have gotten in the way. I am finally on the mend from a right calf pull, then a left knee ache. I ran the Palmyra Canaltown Days 5K in a PR of 22:30, a 7:15 mile pace, finishing 12th and good for 2nd place in my new 50-59 age group. I wanted to just run for fun ... after all, I hadn't run a race in 4 months but the competitive juices just flowed ... plus I was pacing someone for the first mile and a half. She left me in her dust when we started to go up a hill. I ran a 6:41 first mile and ran pain free.

What has happened to me running-wise over the past two months? Well, I did not run the Boilermaker 15K. I could not have run the race more than a couple of miles before I would have had to walk the rest of the way. My right calf slowly healed. Then when I started to run again my left knee hurt. But that has slowly gone away. I am happy to just run for fun now. I don't know if I will be able to run the longer distances. I think that always pushing for PRs, or pushing my mileage up too fast got me injured. I wanted to run the Rochester full or half marathon this morning but didn't want to injure myself again.

What has happened to me personally over the past two months? Well, I have come to the realization that I will have to fix up and sell my house so I can move up to Rochester. It is just too expensive to live way out in Newark and commute to Rochester. I grew up in Newark but what can you do?

Personally, life is frustrating. I am still not divorced. My wife ran out of retainer money with her lawyer and we have nothing to show for it. No settlement, no nothing ... we have been living separately for two years now. It is frustrating being lonely and wanting to have a relationship but not being able. So JK is a friend now ... not a girlfriend. I don't know what I was to her back in June and early July. I thought she was a girlfriend ... whatever that means nowadays. I guess I reached for something I couldn't have right now. I don't know much about the dating world of today. I asked her to let me know if I was screwing up ... well, she didn't. I thought I had found someone special ... for a while I was the happiest I had been in years. I had found happiness, motivation ... all that good stuff. Now I am just getting over the heartache and getting back the motivation that I will need to fix up my house. JK says she will help me fix up my house. I could use her input ... she knows quite a bit about this sort of stuff.

Well, it is my birthday but I need to get busy with my house. I have one upstairs bedroom painted and I have a lot more to do. I started out wanting to do one room a weekend. If I want to do that I will have to work every night after work. My first room took two weekends. Even though my house is just a small three bedroom cape ... it's a big house when you are all by yourself working on it.

I will continue to work in some running. Twice a week during lunch up at work and once during the weekend. I need the joy that running gives me.

Keep running, Doug

Hi All,

Sunday, June 24th to Saturday, June 30th: 0 miles

Yes, zero miles again. I did take a couple lunchtime walks of three and five miles around B6. My right calf is starting to feel better. I hope to try a test run of a mile or so either today or tomorrow.

I am signed up for the GRTC bus to the Boilermaker on Sunday morning plus the Boilermaker. I have to be at the RTS Park and Ride on 31F near 490 at 4:15AM. The bus will leave for Utica at 4:30AM. Hopefully, I will be able to get some more sleep! My plan for the Boilermaker is to finish with no plans for a certain time. The forecast for Sunday in Utica is sunny, race time temperature in the mid 60s.

The house is starting to look a little nicer. JK and I planted some flowers near the front and back entrances.

Keep running, Doug

Hi All,

Sunday, June 17th to Saturday, June 23rd: 0 miles

Yes, zero miles. The pain in the right calf prevented me from running. I did a walk around the parking lot at B6 one day. No, I have not gone to a doctor. I am trying the age-old method of trying to let it heal on its own. I am signed up to run in the Boilermaker 15K in Utica on July 8th. I will walk this race if I have to but I will be there!

I have turned some of my energy to home improvement. Last weekend my girlfriend and I pulled the carpeting leading to the upstairs bedrooms and cleaned the back room. I have been told to think of all the work that my house needs as room sized weekly projects. Just think of what you want to accomplish that week, else you will get paralyzed by all the work that needs to be done. That philosophy can be applied to life as well.

Keep running, Doug

Hi All,

Sunday, June 10th to Saturday, June 16th: 6 miles

Yes, you read that right ... a whopping 6 miles. I ran a slow 5 miler (greater than 9:00 pace) on Sunday to try out my new Pearl Izumi trail running shoes. I felt the usual pain in my right calf but this time it was sharp. I iced it and took ibuprofen. Then I ran a measured mile at Fleet Feet on Wednesday. I ran a 6:56. The same sharp pain was there. Ellen says I have a knot in my calf that needs to be worked out. I did manage to get a massage on Friday. So I am not running for the time being. I think I will try to get my bicycle tuned up so I can crosstrain.

Personally, it was a busy weekend. I hung out with JK on Friday night watching 'Night at the Musuem' and went up the Rochester Jazz Festival on Saturday to listen to the The Capitals and Rusted Root. There were thousands and thousands of people at the Jazz Festival. I was a first-timer and was totally amazed. I also tried a DeCaf Mocha Latte at Spot Coffee afterwards.

My brother and I saw my father at the nursing home for a father's Day party on Saturday afternoon. We took him outside to see the car show in the parking lot. We had some hotdogs and pop for lunch. It was a good day to see Dad, he was 'there'.

Keep running, Doug

Hi All,

Sunday, June 3rd to Saturday, June 9th: 21.5 miles

I only ran twice this week. Real life plus a tight right calf got in the way. I took my car in for service at RTR Enterprise in Palmyra on Wednesday for a left wheel bearing, front pads and rotors. Rather than wait around for two hours while it was done I decided to go out for a run. I headed over to the canal trail and headed west out and past Macedon 6.2 miles (49:00, a 7:54 pace), with a 0.2 mile break and 6.2 miles back (total 1:44:21, a 8:20 pace). The weather was perfect, mid 60s and sunny.

Today I ran in the PowerBar 9 mile Trail Race at Mendon Ponds put on by Fleet Feet. This was the second trail run for me ... by far the most difficult. The course was up, down, sideways and a little slippery ... particularly when we have to come down a rather steep hill. I finished 100th out of 136, in 1:29:46, a 9:58 pace. The results are here. As usual Fleet Feet put on a great race with a great post-race party. Afterwards I checked out the Outdoor Expo close by. I tried out a kayak for the first time. It was quite relaxing and fun.

This is Newarkfest weekend. Friday was quite the washout. The weather was initially around 90F. A severe thunderstorm rolled in around 7PM with lightning and high winds. A transformer blew and cut the power in a lot of Newark. I headed over and saw a couple of trees down on Bartle Ave. I tried to get something to eat but just ended up have a couple of beers at the Elks Lodge. Tonight there was quite the crowd ... quite young and perhaps looking for trouble.

My father has been moved upstairs at the Wayne County Nursing Home. He still knows who I am but often doesn't know where he is, where I live, etc. All I can say if that you should cherish your parents while they are alive and aware ... you can never tell when that may change.

Keep running, Doug

P.S. Oh, I signed up for the BoilerMaker 15K in Utica on July 8th.