Friday, January 1st to Saturday, January 9th

I ran once, 4.4 miles

Fri: I didn't do the Resolution Run this year, link here. CJ made a beautiful New Year's Day feast ... horseradish encrusted top round with cheddar cheese potatoes.

Sat: No, I didn't even know about the Frozen Assets 5K (a snowshoe race), link here. I feel for DS who broke his patella (kneecap) ... he finished.

Winter has come to western NY with a vengeance. The lake effect snow machine was in full throttle from Sat to Wed. Some areas east of Rochester got over two feet of snow coupled with wind and cold. Another batch of snow and cold is due in for the weekend. At one point it snowed 116 hours in a row at the Rochester airport ... dropping 12.3 inches of snow, link here.

Thu: 4.4 miles, 41:21, 9:24, Seneca-Collingwood-Zoo-Pond & back, really easy, 27F, night, calm, 3 stops (2 water, 1 traffic), some moderate pain.

I really had to get out and try to run. I went really easy ... snow on the side roads that the city of Rochester doesn't plow does that. I was quite a bit sore in my abs (and lower) when I came in and requested ibuprofen and ice from CJ when I got in. I guess work takes a lot out of me.

I got CJ's car into my auto mechanic, Russ. I got her power steering, trunk release and right wheel bearing fixed for less than she was quoted in Cleveland (Power steering: $245 vs $60, trunk release: $130 vs $20, wheel bearing: $237 vs $155).

CJ and I have a tendency to "cocoon" and just stay inside. It didn't help that she broke her toe walking around the apartment in the dark. CJ joined Planet Fitness at their new location at 1850 East Ridge Rd just past the Medley Center. I transferred my membership there.

Sat: CJ and I took my daughter on a road to Owego to see a friend. While she was visiting CJ and I ate lunch at Beer Belly's, then saw Sherlock Holmes at the Tioga Theater. It was a bright, sunny and cold day to walk around Owego, trust me!

Trying to keep active, Doug

Happy New Year, 2010!

New Year's Eve Reflection Run!

Stats for December: 22.2 miles, 5 runs, 4.4 miles/run
Stats for 2009: 1140.1 miles, 186 runs, 6.1 miles/run
I ran in 26 races in 11 months, 17 trail and 9 road.

A list of my races:

1/1/09 Freezeroo #2 Resolution Run - 7.5 miles 62:33 8:20
107th out of 287, 12th out 33 in age group

1/7/09 Snow Cheap #2 Trail Race - 2.7 miles 31:55 11:49

1/21/09 Snow Cheap #3 Trail Race – 2.5 miles 44:34
(got lost)

2/4/09 Snow Cheap #4 Trail Race – 2.5 miles 31.34 12:37

2/18/09 Snow Cheap #5 Trail Race – 2.5 miles 30:51 11:20

3/4/09 Snow Cheap #6 Trail Race – 3.3 miles 34:15 10:23

4/5/09 Spring Forward 15K 72:49 7:49
141st out of 378, 15th out of 26 in age group

4/11/09 Cat’s Half Marathon 1:51:49 8:32
38th out of 89, 3rd in Age Group

4/15/09 Dirt Cheap #1 – 4.5 miles 38:40 8:36
89th out of 198, 6th out of 13 in age group

5/3/09 Medved Madness 15 mile Trail Run 2:30:09 10:01
52nd out of 69

5/15/09 Williamson Appleblossom 10K 45:44 7:23
14th out of 68, 1st in Age Group

5/20/09 Dirt Cheap #2 – 6 miles 53:24 8:54
88th out of 184, 6th out of 10 in age group

6/6/09 Power Bar 9 Mile Trail Run 85:05 9:27
61st out of 92, 6th out of 7 in age group

6/13/09 Newark Run for the Red 5K 22:04 7:07
3rd in Age Group

6/17/09 Dirt Cheap #3 – 4 miles 54:23 13:36
Epic mudfest!
149th out of 210, 9th out of 10 in age group

7/4/09 Fairport Firecracker 5.1 Mile Race 40:12 7:53
172nd out of 588, 12th out of 44 in age group

7/15/09 Dirt Cheap #4 – 4.5 miles 40:12 8:54
113th out of 211, 8th out of 11 in age group

8/9/09 ‘Dam’ Good Trail Run – 13.6 miles 2:23:42 10:34
51st out of 104, 7th out of 14 in age group

8/19/09 Dirt Cheap #5 – 6 miles 55:13 9:12
95th out of 187, 7th out of 10 in age group

9/5/09 Summerfest 12K 62:42 8:26
66th out of 212, 5th out of 14 in age group

9/16/09 Dirt Cheap #6 – 4 miles 38:01 9:30
Happy Birthday!
77th out of 161, 5th out of 10 in age group

10/11/09 Towpath 10K 48:35 7:50
45th out of 418, 5th out of 16 in age group

11/14/09 Dirt Cheap Stage Race 1 – 3 miles DQed
Missed a turn

11/14/09 Dirt Cheap Stage Race 2 – 5.5 miles 45:04 8:12
45th out of 82, 11th out of 15 in age group

11/15/09 Dirt Cheap Stage Race 3 – 11 miles 2:05:52 11:26
49th out of 74, 9th out of 12 in age group

11/26/09 Newark Turkey Day 5 Mile Race 38:50 7:46
45th out of 144, 5th in Age Group

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Thu: 6.5 miles, 1:01:19, 9:25 pace, Seneca-Titus-Winona-St Paul-Norton-Seneca run, 32F, night, fine mist, 1 stop, some mild ab pain.

I just had to get out for the last run of the year. I had to run carefully, I didn't want to slip on any snow on the sidewalk or road. The run was sweet, just really easy, trying to see if I have healed enough to run harder. No, I have not is the short answer. But I am optimistic that I will fully heal ... just not as fast I would like. Perhaps I push too much ... but isn't that the nature of runners? My goal in 2010 is to run a sub 4 marathon.

I wish everyone who reads this blog a Happy New Year filled with everything that they wish for. 2009 was a great year which ended very well!

Keeping active, Doug

Sunday, December 20th to Saturday, December 26th

Sunday, December 20th to Saturday, December 26th

I ran 2 times, 10.1 miles

Sun: 5 miles, 42:53, 8:35 pace, easy, Seneca-Titus-Winona-St Paul-Ridge run, 27F, night, calm, no stops, no pain.

I had to get out there. So after I got back from wishing my oldest son a happy 24th birthday, I headed out in the night for a sweet, easy run around the neighborhood.

Tue: 5.1 miles, 44:09, 8:39 pace, easy, FF Cobb's Hill run, 18F, night, a bit windy, 2 stops, some ab pain.

I went to my postop appointment with my surgeon and got the OK to go back to work with no restrictions on Wednesday. I went back up to FF to run Cobb's Hill with fellow Winter Warriors. I was a bit underdressed since I forgot my windjacket so I compensenated with 1 ss and 2 ls tech tops. I was OK except for my face. I only did 2 Y's since I was having some pain. I did have some ab pain plus some upper thigh pain. But I was glad to get out there.

Wed: Went back to work. A long day of catching up, some ab pain in the evening.

Thu: The typical day before the holidays. My boss took me out to lunch at Kennan's on Ridge Road West. Afterward, I packed and headed east to give my kids their Christmas giftcards and then headed west to spend Christmas in Cleveland with CJ.

Trying to keep active, Doug

Sunday, December 13th to Saturday, December 19th

Sunday, December 13th to Saturday, December 19th

I ran 2 times, 4.5 miles

Baby steps on my road back from my hernia surgery. I feel pretty good most of the time.

Mon: 1 mile, Washington Golf Course Park in Cleveland OH, 46F, really easy, night, calm, no stops, no pain.

I am still in Cleveland with CJ. I took a really, really easy 1 mile {I guess} run while CJ walked her dog. Nothing too strenuous.

Tue: CJ took me back to Rochester. Long drive. My side hurt a bit when we arrived.

Wed: Before CJ went back to Cleveland, she was kind enough to drop my car off at my auto mechanic's so I could get the heater fan and auto transmission shifting fixed.

Thu: 3.5 miles, 31:45, 9:04 pace, out to Russell's house, 12F, really easy, night, calm, no stops, no pain.

I dressed perfectly for the weather ... after I found all my cold weather gear. Just a nice run out to pick up my car. My auto mechanic replaced my heater fan and put some type of Lucas sealant conditioner in my transmission. I now have heat and the transmission shifts a lot better. However, the proof will be when it shifts after the transmission has sat all night.

Trying to keep active, Doug

Sunday, December 6th to Saturday, December 12th

Sunday, December 6th to Saturday, December 12th

Note: I am on the mend from hernia surgery on Thursday, December 3rd. So I am on short term disability for the time being until my doctor OKs my return to work.

Sun: A quarter mile hobble, 30F, dusk, calm, no stops, a stretchy pain on my left side.

I took my bandage off and took a much needed shower. I got outside around 4:30PM with CJ just in case. I hobbled off to the mailbox to mail some letters, then to the corner of Ridge and Seneca and back. Man, walking kind of hurts!

Tue: Drove out during the night to Cleveland to spend time with CJ while she went through the stuff in her apartment. Exhausted, crashed when we got there. I didn't find out until the next day that the only thing I had brought with me was the clothes on my back, my computer, my briefcase, and my pillow! Luckily I did bring a parka! Everything else that I wanted to bring ... like underwear, sock, shirts, sweatshirt and toiletries are back in Rochester. Well ... I have been told that you always leave something behind when you travel!

Thu: Man, has it gotten colder here in Cleveland! It went from 52F yesterday to 18F with wind chills near 0F! Sometimes I am feeling pretty good, sometimes I feel pretty tired. I did manage a bit of a run for about 1/10 of a mile at a very slow pace ... just trying to see if everything still works!

Sat: It has warmed up in Cleveland today! Perfectly sunny, above freezing! We are trying to find someone to take care of CJ's dog so CJ can take me back to Rochester. I really need a shave! Each day post surgery is different. Most of the time I feel pretty good and then all of a sudden I get tired. CJ says that I push myself too hard and am not resting like I should.

Trying to keep active, Doug

Sunday, November 29nd to Saturday, December 5th

Sunday, November 29nd to Saturday, December 5th

I ran once this week: 6.2 miles
Month of November, I ran 15 days of 30 (actually 18 times), 90.9 miles, 6.1 miles/run
2009 to end of November, I have run 182 days out of 334, 6.2 miles/run

Sun: A rest day for CJ and I after three days of exercise. We headed down to Geneva to see the Nutcracker performed by the Ithaca Ballet and the Finger Lakes Symphony Orchestra. We enjoyed the ballet very much, it was very well done.

Tue: 6.2 miles, 51:59, 8:23 pace, Fleet Feet Cobb's Hill run, 40F, easy, night, calm, no stops, no pain.


CJ and I made it down to Fleet Feet for the Cobbs's Hill run, also the first night of Winter Warrior ... a lot of people showed up! The weather was excellent! I love running when it's around 40F and calm!

Thu: I have had a left inguinal hernia for a couple of months. It has not really affected my running but I wanted to get it taken care of before it did.

So today I had it repaired at the Clifton Springs Hospital and Clinic. My surgeon could not do a laprascopic (too skinny I was told!) but did a straight cut. I was out of surgery by 11:15AM and on my way home by 2:30PM or so. Everything went well, I have nothing by good things to say about the whole experience. I was calm before I went in for surgery ... my BP was 115/70 and my pulse was 43. I was in a bit of pain whenever I moved. My girlfriend, CJ, is taking good care of me. Her cinnamon toast is awesome! Hopefully I will be back to running soon! I do want to run a race this month so I can run a race in every month of 2009!

Fri and Sat: Still on the mend with CJ's help. Pain when I get up, not much pain when I stay in bed. Kind of sucks ... it seems that the cure was worse than the bite.

Keeping active, Doug

Sunday, November 22nd to Saturday, November 28th

Sunday, November 22nd to Saturday, November 28th

I ran 4 times, 17.2 miles

Thu: 5 miles, 38:50, 7:46 pace, Newark Turkey Day Race, 48F, sunny, calm, no stops, no pain.

CJ and I ran the Newark Turkey Day Race, my 5th and her 1st. I finished 45th out of 144, 5th in my age group on a great day to run a race, results here. Up in Rochester, 1424 ran the Webster 4.4 mile Turkey Trot (result here, 880 ran the Webster 2.5 mile Turkey Trot, results here and 934 ran the Race with Grace 10K out in Hilton, results here.


Afterward, we saw my father at the Wayne County Nursing Home. On the way back up to Rochester, we saw my youngest son. CJ fixed her first Thanksgiving dinner in several years with excellent results ... and lots of leftovers!

Fri: 4.2 miles, 33:48, 8:03 pace, Fleet Feet Black Friday run, 34F, easy, sunny, calm, no stops, no pain.

I made it down to Fleet Feet for my third Black Friday run where we run the Friday Happy Hour route backwards. It was definitely different but sweet none the less!

Fri: 5 miles, 43:21, 8:40 pace, Fleet Feet Happy Hour run, 38F, really easy, night, calm, no stops, no pain.

CJ and I made it down to Fleet Feet for the Happy Hour run. She was a bit afraid of night running but she is glad she went. Many thanks to Becky for walking with CJ.

Sat: 3 miles, treadmill at Planet Fitness, real easy at 8:34 pace with a burst to 7:30 pace.

A real lazy day. CJ and I went out to Planet Fitness for a workout. I got a guest pass in the mail and used it so CJ could try out my gym. She worked out well, easy and not too hard with no ill effects. I think she is a keeper!

Keeping active, Doug

Monday, November 16th to Saturday, November 21st

Monday, November 16th to Saturday, November 21st

I ran 2 times over 6 days, 12.9 miles

Mon - Thu: I took a break from running. I almost went out for a run on Wednesday. I almost went out to Planet Fitness on Thursday. But I rested instead.

Fri: 4.1 miles, 33:00 (I think), 8:03 pace, Fleet Feet Happy Hour run, 45F, night, calm, no stops even for traffic, no pain.

Fri: 3.4 miles, 28:43, 8:27 pace, FF Happy Hour run just to Highland then to Monroe and back, 45F, night, calm, no stops even for traffic again, no pain.

Yes, I am back to running. I couldn't get my Garmin to lock in for the first run, got it up for the second run. I ran happy just with the joy of running. After about 5 minutes or so I went out for more running at an easy pace. Sweet!

Sat: 5.4 miles, 45:03, 8:21 pace, Seneca-Titus-St Paul to Cooper Rd-Collingwood-Seneca run, 45F, night, calm, no stops, no pain.

Tough getting motivated to do anything. I finally got out at 6:30PM for a perfect night time run. It felt good to just run in the dark putting the miles under my feet. Sweet! I have run 1100 miles so far this year sccording to my running spreadsheet.

My Garmin Forerunner 305 would not turn on during the afternoon. I Googled the problem and found this link that solved the problem.

I uploaded the data on my Garmin Forerunner305 to connect.garmin.com. I got my inner geek on and looked at all the Google Maps of where I have run my past several months!

A sad tech note: My Panasonic SA-HT790V DVD/VCR Home Theater Sound System died. It threw up a F09 error, then refused to power on. A Google search found that the power supply has died. I liked that DVD/VCR with its booming 5.1 speaker system. I only had 3.1 speakers hooked up but watching and listening to action movies like Iron Man, Transformers, Transporter 3 was quite the experience! I do have another DVD/VCR but it doesn't have a speaker system so the sounds comes just from the TV ... so not the same!

Keeping active, Doug

Fleet Feet Dirt Cheap Stage Race

Saturday, November 14th to Sunday, November 15th

I ran 3 times on 2 days, 19.5 miles in the Fleet Feet Dirt Cheap Stage Race held in Mendon Ponds Park. CJ came in from Cleveland to give me support and watch me run. She took most the pics that are posted. She was also my masseuse for pre and post run stretches.

Sat: 3 miles, FF DC Stage Race 1, 45F, easy, walking stops, no pain. I missed a turn up Cardiac Hill and was DQed. There were some injuries ... a girl broke her ankle and another girl sprained her ankle. There were 73 runners, overall results are here, age group results are here.

Finishing Stage 1
Sat: 5.5 miles, 45:04, 8:12 pace, FF DC Stage Race 2, 60F, easy, walking stops, no pain. A long run in the Devil's Bathtub area. I took a tumble going down a hill and did a somersault over my right shoulder. I shook myself off and continued onward. Later, I found some serious mud like everyone else. I finished 45th out of 82, overall results are here. I was 11th out of 15 in my age group, results are here.

Somewhere during Stage 2
Climbing up the stairs at the Devil's Bathtub as I finished Stage 2
The battle scars of Stage 2 after I took my head over heels tumble
Sun: 11 miles, 2:05:51, 11:28 pace, FF DC Stage Race 3, 45-55F, sunny to cloudy, calm, walking stops, no pain.

I survived the 11 grueling miles of Stage 3. I ran in economy mode, just putting one foot in front of the other ... watching out for roots, rocks, logs and the occasional pile of horse poop as usual when you run trail. I had two Gus, one at 5 miles and one at 7 miles. I usually ran in a loose group of other runners. An encouraging word, a warning or help with trail selection every now and then helped on the journey ... especially around mile 2 when the trail made a sharp right off the main trail that I and another runner so wanted to follow. I finished 49th out of 74, overall results are here. I finished 9th out of 12 in my age group, age group results are here. Here is a map of Fleet Feet Dirt Cheap Stage Race #3 course, link Garmin Connect - Activity Details for FF Dirt Cheap Stage Race #3, 2645 feet of vertical climb, 1254 calories burned!

Full of energy before Stage 3
Somewhere during Stage 3 with my "posse" that I ran with for 5 miles or so
Digging up the hill as I finished Stage 3
I was a bit out of it for a couple of minutes after I finished
The swag ... a sweet sweatshirt and Salomon water bottle

All in all, a great way to spend a weekend! Many thanks to Fleet Feet and Yellow Jacket Racing for putting on an excellent event. Can't wait until next year!

Keeping active, Doug

Sunday, November 8th to Friday, November 13th

Sunday, November 8th to Friday, November 13th

I ran 4 times over 6 days, 21.5 miles

Sun: 6.8 miles, 55:51, 8:13 pace, Seneca-Titus-St Paul up to Carter-Zoo-St Paul-Ridge run, 55F, sunny, calm, 2 stops, no pain.

Just your average run. I carried water, took 2 little stops to hydrate. A beautiful Sunday afternoon ... ideal for a run after taking 3 days off!

Tue: 6.2 miles, 52:24, 8:27 pace, Fleet Feet Cobb's Hill run, 46F, night, calm, 2 stops, some pain.

Just your average FF Cobb's Hill run, 3 Y's with a sharp stitch in my right side thrown in for good measure. It lasted about 1/2 Y on the first Y. It was right underneath my ribcage and hurt like hell for a bit. I slowed to a walk. I ran OK after that.

Wed: 4 miles, 8:34 pace with a burst to 7:30 pace, Planet Fitness workout.

Just your average PF workout ... 2 miles on the treadmill at 8:34 pace with a burst to 7:34, 2 sets on the machines, then ditto on the treadmill.

Thu: 4.5 miles, 39:38, 8:48 pace, FF Social run, 40F, night, calm, no stops except for traffic, no pain.

I ran social with the 4.5 mile group because I didn't want to get lost. It was a really nice run ... very scenic running back along the Genesee River with the street lights and Freddie-Sue bridge reflected in the river.

Fri: Rested up for Fleet Feet Dirt Cheap Stage Race on Saturday and Sunday.

Keeping active, Doug