Sunday, August 24th to Saturday, August 30th: 21 miles run, 20.2 miles bike

I wish everyone an enjoyable Labor Day! I "celebrated" by running 13.8 miles in the morning. My last long run before the Rochester Marathon in less than two weeks. I did the first 7 in 55:10, 7:53 pace. I had some gu and water at the house then headed back out. I had some stomach cramps and could only do 12:15 for the next mile. I cranked out slow 8:15 to 8:30 miles the rest of the way to finish in 1:56:08, 8:25 pace. I was kind of stiff afterward with a slight pain in the back of my right thigh and Achilles tendon.

I ran three times last week:

Mon: 7 miles, 53:35, a little hard, 65F, sunny, calm, no stops, 7:39 pace
Wed: 7 miles, 54:14, easy, 60F, sunny, calm, no stops, 7:45 pace
Fri: 7 miles, 54:58, easy, 75F, sunny, calm, no stops, 7:51 pace

I am worried about running the marathon in two weeks but I am committed ... or should be committed, I guess. I am concentrating on running easy, trying not to run for time.

I biked once last week. I rode my bike 20.2 miles out to Palmyra to give blood for the 65th time, www.donatebloodnow.org. My pulse was 44, blood pressure was 100/70.

Sunday: I helped cart some of my daughter's stuff down to Houghton College. I had a car load: a dorm refrigerator, beanbag, and stuff. I could have taken more ... but not much. I talked with LB down in DE on the way down. She will be moving to a new job in VA next month.

On the way back I decided to go to the DCA World Championship at Paetec Park, link here. I had a seat in last row of the upper deck, even with the goal line on the right side. There were 4 Class A corps in competition: SoCal Dream, Chops Inc, Fusion Core, Alliance. Alliance won with a 82.750. There were ten open class corps in competition: Rochester Crusaders (10th 83.738), CorpsVets (9th 86.763), Renegades (8th 89.675), Brigadiers (7th 90.013), Bushwackers (6th 93.425), Caballeros (5th 93.625 falling from 3rd), Hurricanes (4th 94.913, rising from 5th), Empire Statesmen (3rd 95.063, falling from 2nd), Minnesota Brass (2nd 96.513, rising from 4th), Buccaneers (1st 97.913). I may not be a judge but you didn't need to be to know that the Bucs won. They were simply astounding. Scores and recap, here.

Some links: DCI, DCA Corps, Drum Corps Planet, Band Videos.

I saw an interesting T-shirt for sale while I was heading to my seat in the nosebleed section ... the caption read "The older I get, the better I was". I prefer to think optimistically ... "The older I get, the better I will be".

Well, I have been alone in the house for a week now with just a cat for company. I have been keeping busy. I have boxed all of Michael's stuff. It's kind of heart wrenching when you box up games that you didn't have time to play back then and now you do. Now I am starting to box up my downstairs office. There is more to do for sure.

Keeping active, Doug

Sunday, August 17th to Saturday, August 23rd: 41.1 miles run, 21 miles bike

I ran 4 times this week:

Mon: 5.4 miles, 42:35, easy, 75F, sunny, calm, no stops, 7:53 pace
Wed: 7 miles, 53:43, easy, 60F, sunny, a little windy, no stops, 7:40 pace
Thu: 7 miles, 53:13, a little hard, 60F, sunny, calm, no stops, 7:36 pace
Sat: 21.7 miles, 3:18:00, easy, 70-85F, sunny, a little windy, multiple stops, 9:07 pace

My third long run was harder. My Garmin Forerunner 305 wasn't charged and I couldn't find my stopwatch so I put a clock in the garage to check my pace. I ran the first 7 miles with no stops in 54 minutes, 7:43 pace. I stopped at the house for two gels and water then headed back out. I ran the second 7 miles with no stops in 58 minutes, 8:17 pace. I was cranking out the miles for sure. I stopped at the house for another two gels and headed back out. Then I had problems. These gels didn't agree with my stomach. I had a sidesplitting pain in the side after running 200 yards that forced me to walk holding my side for at least a mile before I felt better and could run again. Plus it was getting hotter. When I started it was 70F when I got done it was 85F. I was really slow on this 7.7 miles with multiple stops, 1:17, 10:00 pace. The total time for 21.7 miles was 3:18, 9:07 pace. I think the gel that had 2X caffeine was the one that didn't agree with me. You run long, you learn.

I biked once this week on Tuesday, 21 miles around the neighborhood.

I have been watching a lot of the Olympics this week. I will definitely have withdrawal when the Olympics are over! Right now, I am watching the Mens Marathon live from Beijing. The lead guys are running 4:45 miles in mid 80s heat and humidity ... crazy fast!

I worked a little on the house this week. I pulled the crappy looking contact paper in the bathroom closet and put down removable contact paper in the dining room hutches (everything was sticking to the paint). Though none of this will matter in the long run.

I had a pleasant surprise on Friday ... a phone call from JK. She filled me in on what has been happening in her life. She wants her painting supplies back. She graciously let me borrow them last September. I did have them a rather long time. I took them back today. I will email her this week with what has happened in my life.

Michael is washing his laundry and packing his stuff. My ex and I will take him back to Ithaca College tomorrow morning. Next week is a trip to Houghton College to take Karen back.

Rant: People who drive should actually obey the traffic laws! One, don't talk on your cell phone while you are driving! A wired headphone if you don't have Bluetooth is fifteen bucks which can save you a $125 ticket! Two, look right before you turn right at a stop light or stop sign! I have given up thinking that anyone that is stopped see me unless I see them looking at me ... even then I am not sure. Three: give runners more room! This doesn't apply to everyone, just those who don't.

Keeping active, Doug

Sunday, August 10th to Saturday, August 16th: 36.4 miles run, 20.3 miles bike

I ran 4 times last week:

Mon: 6.2 miles, 46:49, pretty hard, 60F, sunny, calm, no stops, 7:33 pace
Wed: 7 miles, 53:35, a little hard, 72F, sunny, calm, no stops, 7:42 pace
Thu: 6.2 miles, 47:14, easy, 65F, sunny, calm, no stops, 7:37 pace
Sat: 17 miles, about 142:00, easy, 65F, sunny, 54:30 @ 7, 105:20 @ 13.1, 8:21 pace

My second long run was pretty good. I had PowerBar Gel and water before I went out. Stopped at the house at mile 7 for more gel and water, 7:47 pace. I ran to 13.1 miles before walking, 8:03 pace. I stopped at the house at mile 14 for more gel and water, 8:05 pace. Then I went around the block for 3 more miles, stopping a couple more times, total of 8:21 pace. I had some tingling in my fingertips ... early signs of dehydration, so I decided to stop. I learned that I need to drink even more water and perhaps more gel since I did not have any breakfast before heading out.

I think I will do one more long run of around 20 miles before I dial back the mileage. I am prepping for my first marathon by the seat of my pants ... with a little help from Runner's World. I just run, baby ... exercise keeps me sane.

I biked once last week: Tuesday, 20.3 miles around the neighborhood.

I have been watching a lot of the Olympics ... Phelps fever has swept me over! The man is magical!! SI link here.

I had an interview through Burns at Synergy on Wednesday ... no word yet on the outcome. I stopped by Fleet Feet on the way home to get PowerBar Gel which they use at the Rochester Marathon.

I volunteered at the Sodus Point (located here) triathlon (0.45 mile swim, 13.1 mile bike and 5K run) today put on by Yellow Jacket Racing, results here. I was a road marshal on the corner of Red Mills and Shaker where the bikers come up a hill and turned right. This is the first time I have volunteered ... but I couldn't resist an email from Ellen of Fleet Feet looking for volunteers. After all, I have lost count of how many Fleet Feet races I have run! They are the best running store in Rochester! Who knows ... maybe I will start tris ... though I will definitely have to work on the swimming part! BTW, I know the 4th place finisher, Dennis Moriarty, ... 4th place at age 50 (didn't see him though).

Same old, same old on the dating scene ... a whole lot of nothing. I don't do the bar scene so I have tried internet dating with only some email friends to show for it. It is a bit frustrating but life goes on.

Keeping active, Doug

Sunday, August 3rd to Saturday, August 9th: 34.8 miles run, 29.3 miles bike

I ran 4 times last week:

Mon: 6.2 miles, easy, 75F, sunny, calm, 1 stop, 7:46 pace
Wed: 6.2 miles, easy, 70F, sunny, a little windy, 1 stop for traffic, 7:41 pace
Thu: 6.2 miles, easy, 70F, sunny, a little windy, no stops, 7:40 pace
Sat: 16.2 miles, easy, 62F, sunny, 55:17 no stops @ 7, 106:00 @ 13.1, 8:14 pace

The first long run since signing up the Rochester Marathon went well. It was 62F, cloudy, with little humidity. I had an Expresso Love Gu before I headed out. I ran the first 7 miles with no stops in 55:00, 7:51 pace. I stopped about 2 minutes for more gu and water and headed back out. I ran out to 13.1 miles before stopping again, approximately 106:00, 8:06 pace, unofficial PR by 5 minutes. Then I stopped every mile or so until I stopped. I am satisfied ... I was cranking out a 8:05 to 8:15 mile pace between miles 7 and 13.1, then slowed with some run, walk miles. Only ten more miles make a marathon. I think given good (read that as cool, not warm) conditions I could crank out a sub 4 hour marathon. But ... there is the whole "wall" that I have heard about that could throw all that out the window. Next weekend ... maybe 18 miles and the weekend after that 21 miles will help give more experience with the "wall". Oh ... I need to apply Body Glide next time ... trust me. I am a bit sore right now but nothing a good night of sleep won't cure.

I am thinking of running the Oak Tree half marathon down in Geneseo on Labor Day weekend as a training run. I ran it two years ago.

I biked once last week:

Tue: 29.3 miles, ride out to Canandaigua Rd in Macedon, easy, 75F, sunny, a little wind

I wanted another bike ride on Friday but it rained practically all day. A four hour soaking in the morning, then it would clear up, rain again and repeat. There was a waterspout on the lake off Webster in the morning. Newark had about 1.5 inches of rain according to Channel 10 news.

Nothing else going on. Some emails with a couple of women, no dates ... hopefully I haven't sunk into "friend" status. No job, no interviews. Only exercise keeps me sane ... thinking positive thoughts.

Michael quit his job at Ultralife on Tuesday. He is now busy practicing his trumpet upstairs while I am typing this. He will be going back to Ithaca College in a couple of weeks. The children living with my ex; Karen will be going back to Houghton College the week after and David hopefully will be going to Finger Lakes Community College.

The Beijing 2008 Olympics started last night. The opening ceremonies were quite impressive. I have been watching NBC coverage today while I rest from my long run. I plan on watching some online coverage from www.nbcolympics.com tonight.

Keeping active, Doug

Sunday, July 27th to Saturday, August 2nd: 30.8 miles run, 20 miles bike
Month of July: 102.7 miles run, I ran 15 out of 31 days; 160.1 miles bike, I biked 6 out of 31 days

I ran four times this week:

Tue: 6 miles, easy, 70F, sunny, calm, no stops
Wed: 6.2 miles, easy, 70F, cloudy, calm, 1 stop, 7:41 pace
Thu: 6.2 miles, easy, 75F, sunny, calm, 2 stops, 7:45 pace
Sat: 12.4 miles, a little hard, 70F, light rain, calm, some stops, 7:44 pace

I modified my running route this week in preparation of running the Phelps Sauerkraut 20K on Saturday. I ran the Turkey Trot route (going up the 88S hill twice).

I ran the Phelps Sauerkraut 20K today. I did very well, 65th, 8th in my age group, 7:15 first mile, 37:30 at 5 miles, around 77 min for 10 miles, finished in 95:48, a 7:42 pace, a PR by 9 minutes. The weather was perfect: 70F, calm, light rain for the first 9 miles! Many thanks to Body Glide for no nip burn. I felt pretty good with only a light pain in my left knee once or twice. Though I was glad to stop for sure! Results here, age group results here.

I just signed up for the Rochester Marathon! I beat the $10 increase by signing up today.

I biked once this week:

Mon: 20 miles, easy, 78F, cloudy, light sprinkle, did some shopping

I rode out to Division St in Palmyra and back. I returned a DVD at Blockbuster and did some shopping at Savalot on the way back.

I am still on my DVD watching kick. Blockbuster: The Illusionist and Lady Chatterly's Lover. The latter movie would have been a great one to watch with a gf.

Sunday, I went up to the ESL airshow. The USAF Thunderbirds were great! I tried to get video but had trouble with my camcorder. I did get one pic (not very good).

Tuesday, I went to Showplace 6 in Newark with my daughter to see Batman: The Dark Knight. Wow! If Heath Ledger does not win an Oscar for his role as the Joker there is no justice!

Saturday, after recovering from the 20K, I went over to Waterloo to see the "Pageant of Drums". Class A competition: White Sabers, Fusion Core, Carolina Gold, Kingston Grenadiers, and Excelsior. Open class competition: the host Brigadiers, Rochester Crusaders and the Empire Statesmen. The Fusion Gold won the Class A and the Statesmen won the Open competition, results here.

Keeping active, Doug

Hi All,

Sunday, July 20th to Saturday, July 26th: 39 miles run, 10.3 miles bike

I ran 5 (yes, 5) times last week:

Sun, 7 miles, 55:21, easy, 75F, light to heavy rain, humid, no stops, 7:54 pace
Tue, 7 miles, 54:16, easy, 70F, cloudy, humid, light rain, no stops, 7:45 pace
Wed, 7 miles, 53:56, a little hard, 70F, cloudy, light rain, no stops, 7:42 pace
Fri, 7 miles, 55:38, easy, 75F, sunny, calm, 3 stops, 7:57 pace
Sat, 11 miles, 89:35, easy, 70F, sunny, a little windy, 3 stops, 8:06 pace

Until the middle of the week, it was hot, hazy and humid with lots of rain and thunderstorms (sometimes twice a day). It dried out on Friday and the first part of Saturday. I don't like running in the sun and heat so I tried to run in the rain. The rain on Sunday was quite nice ... sprinkles to light rain to heavy rain to light rain to nothing by the time I stopped. I ran a nice 11 miles on Saturday. I will sign up for the Phelps Sauerkraut 20K next Saturday. I am running pretty good right now.

I biked once this week:

Mon, 10.3 miles, 53 minutes, a little fast, 75F, cloudy, humid, no stops

I wasn't going to go out ... but I felt like a slug so I hopped on the bike around 8PM and rode around my usual running route.

I have been losing weight lately ... down to 156 last week. So I have started to eat ice cream after supper. I weigh around 158 now.

I am still trying to find someone online. Still no dates yet. I am chatting on Fitness-Singles.com and via email. Nothing ... not much hope either ... from www.plentyoffish.com or www.singlesnet.com. Meeting someone that I want will be difficult: blond (preferred), around my age, weighs less than I do and exercises (no couch potatoes allowed). I am willing to travel.

I have been on a major movie watching kick this week. From www.movie6.net (yes, the illegal way): Hell Boy II and Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D. From the Redbox: 21 and 10000 BC. From Blockbuster: Absolute Zero, Species: The Awakening, Starship Troopers and Starship Troopers 2.

Oh, I was a finalist in the Fox951 40,000 gallons of gas contest today. I, along with 41 other finalists, headed out to LeBrun Toyota in Canandaigua. Basically, you had to roll 6 dice and try to spell out GALLON ... which no one did. I did get a $25 gas/merchandise card from GettyMart and a Led Zeppelin - Mothership CD. I saw a Toyota Prius Hybrid (48/45) there ... the list price was only $24,300! Of course there were other gas guzzlers there ... a Sequoia (13/17) costing $51K took the cake!

Milestones: my youngest son, David, turned 19 on Thursday. He celebrated by going to the Turning Stone Casino.

Keeping active, Doug

P.S. Can you believe that Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones turned 65 today?

Sunday, July 13th to Saturday, July 19th: 14 miles run, 58.6 mile bike

I bought a new pair of size 13 Brooks Men's Adrenaline GTS 8 Running Shoe from Fleet Feet.

I ran twice last week:

Thu: 7 miles, 54:55, easy, 75F, light rain, calm, 1 stop, 7:51 pace
Sat: 7 miles, 57:53, easy, 75F, sunny, humid, 4 stops, 8:16 pace

I biked twice last week:

Wed: 29.3 miles out to Ca Rd, 2:30:00, easy, 80F, sunny, calm
Fri: 29.3 miles out to Ca Rd, 2:37:00, easy, 85F, sunny, calm

The last part of the week was HHH: hot, hazy and humid. The highs on Thursday and Friday were in the 90s, Saturday just a little less but just as humid. I don't like running when it is HHH.

Rant ... Internet dating sucks! Trying to get a woman to respond to your initial inquiry, then chat is very hard ... much less meet and then date! Then there are women who once you get to the chatting stage seem to analyze your chats to find a reason not to meet you in person. I do not want to just chat with a woman ... I want to meet and date them. I have rejoined Fitness-Singles.com. I am willing to travel to meet a woman since it seems that the women that I want to date are not local. Rant off!

What do I want? My profile is simple ... I want to meet a woman who values exercise as much as I do. I do not want a couch potato (had that, didn't like it). I want a woman who weighs less than I do (157 pounds). I am a normal guy who enjoys the usual: finding the comic side of life (of which there is plenty), hugs, kisses, holding hands, sunsets and nice conversation between two people.

Keeping active, Doug

Sunday, July 6th to Saturday, July 12th: 19.3 miles

I ran three times this week:

Sun: 7 miles, easy, 80F, sunny, humid, 5 stops, 8:12 pace
Thu: 7 miles, easy, 75F, sunny, a little windy, 1 stop, 7:54
Sat: 5.3 miles, easy, 80F, sunny, right hamstring problem after 2.5 miles, walked in

A week of frustrations. I didn't bike because of a left quad problem. Very humid on Sunday so I walked when I had to. A right hamstring problem on Saturday so I had to run-walk in. I think my right hamstring problem is because I need to buy new running shoes one half size larger. My middle right toe is hitting the end of the toe box.

I watched a lot of movies this week from the Redbox at Wegmans: The Bucket List, Vantage Point, Fool's Gold, Rambo, Jumper and Meet the Spartans.

More frustration on the friend front thanks to MK from Clarkson. I try to be nice as the day is long, try to say what I mean. I drove all the way out there, getting there around 4PM on a Friday night. I helped MK with her back yard, hauling lots of mulch (about 2.5 cubic yards) while she spread it. We had a nice steak dinner with a nice dessert and coffee afterward. She made an offer (not what you are thinking) that I will need in the coming months then retracted it less than a day later due to a personal problem which she will not tell me about. Some emails flew back and forth. Why can't people say what they mean and think before they speak? Granted that I shouldn't be the one to talk since I have been accused on this from time to time. Oh, well. L down in Olean and DS in Kingston are still friends I chat with.

Keeping active (or at least trying), Doug

Hi All,

Sunday, June 29th to Saturday, July 5th: 12 miles run, 96.5 miles bike
Month of June: 69.8 miles run, 220.7 miles bike

I ran twice this week:

Tue: 7 miles, a little hard, 75F, cloudy, no stops, 7:46 pace
Fri: 5 miles, Fairport Firecracker, hard, 70F, sunny, calm, 1 stop, 7:20 pace PR

I ran the Fairport Firecracker 5 Mile Run on Friday morning, July 4th. The hills of Fairport were higher than I remembered. I went out fast at a 7:04 first mile and held it together with a tiny stop and finished in a PR of 36:39 by 55 seconds, 7:20 mile pace, results here. I finished 96th out of 552, 5th in my age group. I still have some kick left in me ... lol!

I biked three times this week:

Mon: 25.3 miles, bike to Quaker Rd, easy, 65F, cloudy, no stops, 5:34 pace
Wed: 29.9 miles, bike to CA Rd, easy, 70F, sunny, calm, 1 stop, 4:59 pace
Sat: 41.3 miles, bike to Fairport, easy, 75F, sunny

I biked all the way to Fairport to buy a rear view mirror from RVE Bike and Skate. I got one that I will have to stick in my left handlebar end. I stopped at Mulconry's Irish Pub & Restaurant for a Turkey Toastie and Diet Pepsi before heading back. My butt and left quad were sore when I got home.

Well, I am officially divorced as of July 3rd ... I received my official papers. I have a bottle of chilled champagne still ready to drink. You see, I gave up drinking about two or three months ago. I just decided that it really wasn't for me any more. I mean it's expensive ... even if you drink at home, you have to be careful to not drink and drive, it is not healthy for you and it makes you go to the bathroom ... a lot. That's what did it for me.

I am still looking for a woman who shares my interest in exercise. I am chatting with L down in Olean who has a hot tub ... excellent for soaking sore muscles. DS up in Kingston has decided that she wanted to chat with someone closer and LB down in DE just wants a running friend. My membership in Fitness-Singles has lapsed for the time being.

Keeping active, Doug

Hi All,

Sunday, June 22nd to Saturday, June 28th: 21 miles run, 59.6 miles bike

I ran three times this week:

Mon: 7 miles, a little hard, 75F, a little shower, rainbow, no stops, 7:33 pace
Thu: 7 miles, easy, 80F, sunny, humid, 1 stop, 8:04 pace
Sat: 7 miles, easy, 78F, very humid (78%), 3 stops, 8:00 pace

The Monday run was a great one. I heard rumbles of thunder when I headed out. I saw a rain shower up ahead on Filkins Road. I ran into it, it quit and the road just steamed ahead of me. Then there was a rainbow! The other two runs were during some hot and sticky days. I am listening to my body and walking when I need to in the heat.

I biked twice this week:

Wed: 29.3 miles out to Macedon, a little hard, 75F, sunny, calm, 1 stop, 4:58 pace
Fri: 29.3 miles out to Macedon, out hard, back easier, 80F, cloudy, 1 min stop, 4:57 pace

My longest bike ride now is 29.3 miles out to Canandaigua Rd past Macedon. Main St in Fairport is only 6.5 more miles. The past two times I have gone by Lock 30 in Macedon on Wednesday I have heard the Towpath Volunteers practicing.

I gave blood for the 63rd time on Tuesday in Palmyra on the way home. My pulse was 56, blood pressure was 112 over 70.

I am chatting with DS in Kingston on Fitness-Singles.com. She is quite a busy woman. We went out running at roughly the same time on Saturday morning. I thought of her running in the rain. I wonder if she thought of me while I was running in the heat and humidity of Newark?

Well, I am out of work yet again. I got a call from Adeccco that my contract with EK had been terminated. I could see it coming but hoped it would not be me.

Keeping active, Doug