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