Sunday, October 12th to Saturday, October 18th: 23.9 miles

I ran 4 times this week:

Sun: 5.5 miles, 42:31, easy, 50F, sunny, calm, mild right knee pain, no stops, 7:43 pace
Tue: 5.5 miles, 42:23, easy, 55F, sunny, calm, mild right knee pain, no stops, 7:42 pace
Thu: 5.5 miles, 42:51, easy, 55F, sunny, calm, mild right knee pain, no stops, 7:47 pace
Sat: 7.4 miles, 1:32:07, Jensen Stables 12K, hills, mud, water ... oh my!

I just got back from the Jensen Stables XC Challenge 12K. It was chilly when I got there but it warmed up to 45F by 10AM. I wore shorts, a ls and ss tech top, hat and gloves. There were hills, a creek crossing with water up to our knees, mud, then lots of hills, then a pond crossing where you had to either swim across a 50 foot pond or take a penalty lap (I pulled myself across on the rope), more hills, a mudslide, more mud, more hills, a haybale obstacle and the finish. I had the usual mild right knee pain but disregarded it and plodded onward. I finished 92nd out of 116 in 1:32:07. Overall results here, age group results here. I brought a complete change of clothes and certainly needed them! The swag was a nice ss tech top along with some beads at the finish. There was a good feed afterward with pulled pork sandwiches, salt potatoes, cookies and cider catered by Beale Street Cafe. I christened my new Asic Gel Trabuco 11 WP trail shoes that I bought Thursday from the good people at Fleet Feet with the help of their $25 off coupon. They are certainly muddy now!

Just exiting the knee high creek crossing!

There was a lot of running going on in Rochester on Saturday. The Run for Hospice 5K had 673 runners, the Run for Hospice 10 Mile had 245 runners, the Black Diamond Duathalon had 126 runners/bikers and the Jensen Stables 12K had 116 runners. You can't say that Rochester doesn't have active people!

A mild reminder: I take running safety seriously. I wear reflective gear when I run during dusk. Please, runners ... make sure you are seen and can hear! You don't need to listen to music so loud that you can't hear someone coming up from behind you!

I like that gas prices are coming down ... sometimes very fast. I was on the way home on Thursday night and filled up in Perinton for $3.499. I was irked when I got to Palmyra and saw that gas was $3.299 there ... costing me $2.40. Gas was $3.199 in Newark when I headed out this morning.

A minor peeve ... it would be nice if married women wore wedding rings. I tried to hit on a runner around my age who wasn't wearing a wedding ring ... then she started mentioning her husband! How am I supposed to know?

Dating is so not happening. I just ended my paid subscription to fitness-singles.com. I had been on this site as tallrunner57 for 6 months ... I have met one woman there in the flesh, no date. I "met" 3 other women that I can email or call, no dates. I still think that internet dating is great for the type of women that I want to date, not so much for me ... though I have been wrong before. I do not want to date a BBW, I want to date an active, fit woman around my age ... I know she is out there.

Keeping active, Doug

Sunday, October 6th to Saturday, October 12th: 16.2 miles

I ran 3 times this week:

Tue: 5.5 miles, 42:14, a little hard, 55F, sunny, calm, right knee pain, no stops, 7:41 pace
Thu: 6.3 miles, easy, 60F, sunny, calm, right knee pain, 1 stop, 7:53 pace
Fri: 4.4 miles, 33:10, Fleet Feet Happy Hour, 65F, sunny, calm, started slow, right knee pain

I am still struggling with a pain in my right knee that I first started to feel during the marathon. It starts after I run about 2 or 3 miles. Eventually it gets to the point where I can't take a full stride. So I have shortened my usual run from 7 to 5.5 miles. It could be getting better. I ran this 5.5 miles this morning ... it was only a mild ache. Non-runners would say "why not just stop running until it heals?" ... runners would say "Huh?" I think I will just shorten my runs until it heals.

Speaking of marathons ... I wish I had run the Wineglass Marathon instead. I heard from DS that the running conditions were ideal ... cool and misty, she ran a 3:38. My realistic goal at Rochester was 4:00 and my "must beat" goal was 4:30 ... which I met by 23 seconds.

I went down to Ithaca College for Michael's Symphony Orchestra concert. It was held at Cornell's Bailey Hall ... filled to the rafters. They played "The Planets" by Holst while pictures were shown of the planets. It was a long day. I didn't get back to Newark until midnight.

Keeping active, Doug

Sunday, September 28th to Saturday, October 4th: 15.6 miles run

I ran 3 times this week:

Sun: 7 miles, 56:22, run around neighborhood, easy, 60F, sunny, calm, no stops, 8:03 pace
Tue: 5.5 miles, 43:14, run around neighborhood, easy, 60F, misty, calm, no stops, 7:52 pace
Sat: 3.1 miles, 21:36, Safe Journey 5K, 45F, hard, sunny, calm, no stops, 6:58 pace

I ran the Safe Journey 5K in Fairport this morning. I have a good history in this race ... I either pull a hamstring or set a PR the two times I have run it. Anyway, it was a perfect fall morning, 40F when I headed out. I got there in plenty of time. I wore my new Brooks pants and a long sleeve tech shirt along with light mittens and a hat. Race conditions were 45F, sunny, not a cloud in the sky, calm. The start was good, first mile in 6:39. I latched onto a guy who was running the same pace and just kept up with him for the rest of the way before passing him in the final stretch. I was just starting to get a bit tired but then I saw the lift bridge in the distance and kept it in gear with a kick at the finish. Result ... no stops, a PR of 21:36, 6:58 pace!! My first 5K of sub 22 and sub 7 pace! I was 24th overall out of 225 and 4th in my highly competitive 50-54 age group (5th place was 1 second behind me). Oh, as usual ... an excellent race by Fleet Feet of Rochester. Overall results here, age group results here.

You would thing that everything is OK in my running world ... you would be wrong. I still am troubled by a slight hamstring ache that gets worse when I run long. I didn't notice it in this 5K.

As I posted last week I have a new job. I am working as a contractor through Burns at Synergy. Synergy won a Printer Fleet Management contract with ITT to take care of all their printers. I will be working as a Printer Concierge taking care of the consumable needs of all the printers (paper, toner, etc) in 4 buildings. I, along with the break/fix engineer, will also be upgrading all the old printers to the Lexmark brand. So I should be keeping out of trouble.

I watched the vice presidential debates between Palin and Biden on Thursday night. It was more of the same ... the Republicans trying to spread FUD to stay in power and the Democrats trying to give America hope for the future. My feeling ... Obama 08, 12. I must say though that Palin did hold her own for the most part ... though sometimes she seemed too much like a McCain cheerleader.

Oh, stop the presses! The Buffalo Bills are 4-0 with wins over Seattle, Jacksonville, Oakland and St. Louis. Three of the wins have been fourth quarter comebacks to boot. They play in Arizona tomorrow.

Update: the Bill are now 4-1 with a loss to Arizona. A complete nightmare of a game with their QB knocked out on the third play.

Keeping active, Doug

Sunday, September 21st to Saturday, September 27th: 15.6 miles run

I ran three time this week:

Sun: 3.1 miles, 24:03, Upstate XC Series #1, a little hard, 60F, misty, calm, no stops, 7:45 pace
Wed: 5.5 miles, 45:17, Run around neighborhood, easy, 50F, sunny, calm, 1s, 8:14 pace
Fri: 7 miles, 56:28, Turkey Trot + 2, easy, 55F, cloudy, calm, no stops, 8:04 pace

Sunday, I ran the 5K Upstate XC Series #1 sponsored by Genesee Valley Harriers. I ran a 24:03 at Mendon Ponds, good for 207th out of 289, result here. It was a great day for a race, mild and misty ... a lot of fast runners were there!

The finish line is in sight!
Eating a raisin bagel with my eyes closed, lol!
Wednesday and Friday, runs around Newark. I am still trying to recover from the marathon. I can't really run long yet. I develop an ache in my right hamstring, sometimes in my right hip ... just like during the marathon. I don't want to take a week off to see if it heals, so I just get out there and run.

Saturday, I decided to get out and head down to the Naples Grape Festival, map here. It was a scenic drive down Route 21 from Canandaigua. There was a particularly beautiful spot in South Bristol with the south end of Canandaigua Lake on the left and cliffs on the right. I had never been down this way before. Anyway, the festival was pretty good. I just wandered around. There were loads of craft and food tents along with people having garage sales along the Main St in Naples. I bought a lot of grape things ... a pie, 2 turnovers, brownie, tart and several cookies (including a large grape chocolate chip). I also bought a loaf of zucchini bread, a bottle of maple syrup and some skin salve. It was a pleasant way to spend a Saturday morning and early afternoon ... I need to get out more, I don't need a woman to accompany me ... though one would be nice.

South Bristol - south end of Canandaigua Lake, just north of Naples
Meanwhile, I have been busy dejunking the house. I have been busy in my downstairs office.

Oh, my life of unemployment is over starting on Monday. More about this next week.

Keeping active, Doug

Sunday, September 14th to Saturday, September 20th: 34.3 miles run

I ran 3 times last week:

Sun: 26.2 miles, 4:29:37, slow, hot & humid, 70 to 85F, multiple stops, 10:17 pace
Wed: 3.5 miles, 37:56, easy, 70F, sunny, calm, multiple stops, 10:50 pace
Fri: 4.6 miles, 41:48, easy, 45F, sunny, calm, multiple stops, right knee problem, 9:05 pace

A tough week. Sunday was the Rochester Marathon. More about that in the previous blog entry.

Wednesday, I ran in the Dirt Cheap Trail Race #6. I was 60th out of 123, results here. I placed 7th out of 10 in my age group, age group results here. At the awards ceremony afterward I met a woman, KK, from f-s. She had run the Monster Marathon (a marathon run on trails) in Virgil a month earlier. Other women at her end of the table had run half an Ironman and a full Ironman ... I felt like I had entered the deep end of the women's running pool.

Friday, I tried to run my usual 7 miles. I had to cut it short. I developed a problem with my right knee. I could not raise my leg to take a long stride and was forced to trot/walk because of the pain. Recovering from the marathon is taking longer than I expected ... which is pretty frustrating since that is how I relieve my anxiety and frustration.

Karen is home from Houghton for the weekend. She has a bunch of work due next week but felt the need to be home for the weekend. I have not heard much from Michael since he has been at Ithaca except for a couple of emails and IMs. I am still taking David down to FLCC in the morning. It does give me a chance to talk to him ... when he is not doing his homework on the way there.

Keeping active, Doug

Rochester Marathon, 2009

Sunday, September 14th: 26.2 miles

I was on the road up to Rochester at 6:05AM, it was 72F, foggy and humid. I didn't sleep well, maybe 4 hours. The traffic around Frontier Field was dense but I knew a trick or two to bypass a bit of it.

The start was uneventful. The first 9.5 miles on the roads were OK ... however the sun came out about a mile before I made the turn onto the canal path for the next 14.5 miles. It rapidly got hotter and more humid ... by noon it was around 87F. A heat advisory was posted on the course and we were advised to slow down and hydrate. Any thought of a PR went out the window and all I thought about was finishing. I saw spots more than a couple of times so I was on the edge of keeling over. Everyone was having trouble with the heat and humidity ... plus I forgot my sunscreen. So ... I am a bit red in the face.

Well, besides the heat and humidity I was having my own problems. My right hamstring started hurting ... then my right hip started hurting ... then it became very painful to run. After about mile 12 or so I was starting to run a mile, walk a tenth. After about mile 18 or so I was starting to run a half mile, walk a quarter. After mile 22 or so, it was sheer willpower. By then trying to start up running after walking was sheer agony. But I wasn't going to quit, no way, no how. People have said that a marathon is an experience ... they are so right.

Note the gritted teeth and farmer's tan!
The finish line is in sight!
The bling!
I finished under 4:30:00 barely ... 4:29:37, 10:17 pace, 188th out of 556, overall results here, 10th out of 32 in my age group, age group results here, youtube video here. I needed a guiding hand at the finish ... I guess I didn't look so good. I really took my time drinking lots of water and getting some nutrition (mostly pizza) after the race. Not bad I guess for a 50 year old (51 in 2 days)! Everyone says that finishing in 4:30 under these conditions is an accomplishment so I guess I will take pride that I am part of the estimated 430,000 that complete a marathon every year!

After I got home I just collapsed on the bed. I texted a bunch of people my results and watched the Bills pull out a win over Jacksonville, 20-16. Later I went to see my father at the Wayne County Nursing Home. He likes that I visit him every Sunday. I was not going to let him down, though I did limp.

Keeping active, Doug

P.S. I watched the Channel 10 news and it reported that the marathon was shut down at 12:30pm at mile 20, news link here. I had been done for half an hour by then.

P.P.S. I had a fitful night of sleep. My right knee really hurt. I woke up around 4:30AM and iced it before going back to sleep. I will heal and I will run again.

Sunday, September 7th to Saturday, September 13th: 18.7 miles run

I ran 3 times this week as I tapered for the Rochester Marathon tomorrow morning:

Sun: 7 miles, 54:34, easy, 60F, sunny, perfect, no stops, 7:48 pace
Tue: 6.2 miles, 47:40, easy, 60F, cloudy, a little windy, no stops, 7:41 pace
Thu: 5.5 miles, 43:23, easy, 45F, sunny, calm, no stops, 7:53 pace

Looking back: who would have thought that I would be running a marathon as I took my first runs about 5 years ago? I started running as a stress reliever ... we all know why. I think I weighed 182 pounds. My first race was the Newark Turkey Day 5 Mile Run way back in November 2005. I don't remember my exact time but I think it was around 48 minutes and change. I started to keep a yearly list of my races in 2006. As of today, I weigh between 157 and 159 pounds. I have run 1 race in 2005, 15 races in 2006, 11 races in 2007 and 5 races in 2008 for a total of 32. I started to keep my running spreadsheet on 9/12/06. I started to keep this running blog in January 2007. I have run 11 5Ks, 6 5 miles, 5 10Ks, 2 9 Mile, 2 15Ks, 3 20Ks and 2 Halfs. Most of my PRs have been set this year ... I really should run a 5K and a Half this year just for PRs. I would really love to break 22 minutes in a 5K.

I picked up my packet this morning. Tonight I will set out my stuff. Tomorrow is my first marathon at 7:30AM. The weather forecast for tonight is low of 69F, 70% chance of showers. Tomorrow is high of 82F, 60% chance of showers. I am nervous and excited. The second half of the marathon will be the test of my endurance and will.

Keeping active, Doug

Sunday, August 31st to September 6th: 27 miles
Month of August: 145.7 miles run, 90.8 miles bike, I ran 17, biked 4 out of 31 days

I ran 3 times last week, tapering for the big day next Sunday:

Mon: 13.8 miles, 1:56:08, easy, 60-72F, sunny, calm, 1st 7 miles in 55:10, 8th mile 12:15, 8:25 total pace
Wed: 6.2 miles, 48:09, easy, 70F, sunny, calm, no stops, 7:46 pace
Fri: 7 miles, 57:27, easy, 80F, sunny, a little windy, humid, 2 stops, 8:14 pace

I did not bike this week.

I have been taking David to FLCC every day this week. I take him down and my ex takes him back. I did some shopping afterward one day. I bought a 352 CD carrier from Wal-Mart. I put all my OS, game, app and driver CDs in it ... they were in three shoeboxes before. I did some sightseeing also. Thursday, I took a 5 mile walk in Geneva along Seneca Lake all the way from the Ramada Inn to the marina at the other end of Seneca Lake State Park, map here. Friday, I waited for David at the Canandaigua pier. It was quite hot (90F) and windy ... just one day, today it is cooler and cloudy as Tropical Storm Hanna rockets up the east coast.

Canandaigua Lake - Canandaigua
I have been watching the Democratic Convention last week and Republican Convention this week. Both parties say they are the "party of change". McCain (aka McWar, McSame, McBush) and Sarah Palin (aka Sarah Barracuda, "Drill, Baby, Drill") ... No Way, Enough is Enough! I sure haven't heard anything but FUD ... fear, uncertainty and doubt about what the Democrats will do from the Republicans ... no plan of what they want to do about the economy, gas prices, jobs, Iraq, housing, etc. I could bore you but let me say that I will be voting for Obama. Any PUMAs who want to vote for McCain because they can't bring themselves to vote anyone but Hillary really should think about the consequences! OK ... some links, Bush Sucks Daily, Backwards Bush (Home of the ORIGINAL Bush Countdown Clock), Just More of the Same and Anti-Bush Links.

Today I sold the outdoor table and chairs that I listed on Craigslist. I have to relist the outdoor adult swing. I also started sorting and boxing the basement office stuff. I can only take so much before I have to take a break.

I am backing up my store bought DVDs with the proper application of DVD Decrypter 3.5.4.0 (available here, installed first) and RipIt4Me 1.7.1.0 (available here).

Some might call this mean ... I saw a funny bumpersticker ... "If a fat chick falls in the forest, do the trees laugh?" I had the overweight wife who didn't want to exercise, don't want to go there. Trust me, there were many more reasons for my divorce. I wish my ex the best.

I want to find a woman who will support my fitness goals just as I will support her fitness goals. I have a profile as tallrunner57 on fitness-singles. Check it out if you want. Nothing is going on in the dating world ... I can hear crickets.

Keeping active, Doug

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