Today's Run - 2005-11-29

Cold, miserable rain. I wouldn't have gone out at all, but I was to meet Dave and Amy. As it was, we only did about 8 miles in 65 minutes. I'm still shivering.

Basement Progress

We met Dave and Jill at Jaiper Junction for some excellent Indian Cuisine on plastic plates yesterday. This was after Dave had helped me get going on the basement ceiling. This was something that was hanging over my head lately. We managed to get all the main tees up in the office, and we placed a few tiles in to make sure they'd work. They do. I'm happy to see some progress!

Yesterday's and Today's Runs - 2005-11-27

Nice, easy run with Dave yesterday. We did 10 from my place, on Sleepy Hollow, Rocklyn, etc, back on Miner. Pretty slow - 88 minutes - but that's ok. Later on, Dave helped me on the basement ceiling.

Today I scouted out a new course. Figured out a very good one in that the traffic isn't bad at all. I took Substation,Sleepy Hollow,Muntz,Metzger,Myrtle,Hartneck,thru new subs,back on Hick Ridge, Stearns. It's 11, but I did a bit extra today to make 12 altogether in about 101 minutes.

Thanksgiving Weekend (so far)

What a great time. Val came home Wednesday evening in the snowstorm, and we had everyone over for lasagne (I made it).

Thursday we had everyone again, including Dave and Carol and Bill. Mom stayed home because of the snow. It did stop snowing, but was extremely cold. Good food!

Friday the girls shopped and I made soup from the bird. Good stuff. We played some games, including the new trivial pursuit and fact or crap.

Today we shopped with Kathy and tonight we're headed over to their place for prime rib.

Last Two Runs - Today and Turkey Day

Turkey Day was a blizzard. It was very tough going into that wind, and the snow hurt my face. An extremely slow 10 miles in about 96 minutes.

Today was slow as well. The footing was bad - there was snow, ice and slush about. It was still cold as well - about 25 with a wind chill. I did about 7 miles in the neighborhoods in about 65 minutes.

Today's Run - 2005-11-22

We did Dave's usual 10-mile loop in 84 minutes. Starting to snow/sleet at the end - glad we got finished. Supposed to be bad weather the rest of the week.

Busy Day and Today's Run - 2005-11-21

Just talked to Veronica - she had her identity stolen, but they caught the guy and she thinks everything's ok. I told her to check her credit cards and credit report.

The day was otherwise busy - cats to the vet, shopping, working in the basement (countertops - and the plumbing's almost done!) and work work.

The run was good - the usual 11 mile loop in 92 minutes. Fairly steady. Nice morning, but I hate that traffic coming back on Substation.

Connecticut and Today's Run - 2005-11-19

Debbie and I made good time on our trip to CT yesterday... just about 8 hours. No real problems. When we arrived we checked out Veronica and Barry's nicely updated kitchen, went to dinner at the Lime, which I really liked until I saw a roach on the edge of our table, then watched Star Wars III.

Today's run was my most enjoyable ever here in Connecticut. I did my usual West Rocks / East Rocks run, but this time I started following the arrows that had been painted on the roads. I'd seen them before, but never followed them this far. They are the markings for a five mile race and led back to a school for the start/finish. The 1-mile mark was on East Rocks. It's a very nice course, and I'll do it again next time.

Altogether with the usual 6, the 5 for the course, and some extra back and forth, I figure I ran 13 miles in 1:46. Most of the measured course miles were at about 8 minutes.

Today's Run - 2005-11-16

Easy does it. I couldn't even get myself out the door this morning due to laziness, but I did so at lunch time. An easy 3 on the Presidential streets. Not too bad - 25 minutes.

I'm still sore, but not too bad. Been hitting the weights all week for the first time since April or so.

Today's Run - 2005-11-15

It was cool and rainy - not my favorite running weather. But Dave and I trudged through most of our usual route, cutting it a bit short. Somewhere in there I lost the key that I always pin to the inside of my shorts. Debbie had to come and get me as I waited at Dave's.

Huntington Marathon

The Tahoe Triple a month and half ago caused me to get into pretty good shape. Of course those times were slow as expected due to the elevation, hills and overall distance. Would I be able to rest, train myself back into shape and then taper in five weeks time in order to run one decently fast single thon?

More importantly, a year and a half ago I ran a 3:10 in Cleveland, but I haven’t faired as well in several tries since then. Would I be able to get back to that level this time?

And most importantly, what kind of nut would drive nearly 5 hours alone to Huntington, WV, run their little race, and then hop right into the car and drive home?

Yes, folks, these and other questions would be answered at the Huntington Marathon, also known as the HealthyHuntington dot Org Marathon, also known as the Marshall University Marathon. I had seen all three names at different times over the weekend. I decided I’d just call it the Huntington Marathon for brevity.

The ride down was fairly uneventful, but brought back a few memories. Debbie and I lived in southern Ohio for several years, and for part of that time I worked in Huntington. I also earned my masters degree from what is now Marshall U. We moved away almost twenty years ago, but parts of it looked familiar. After checking into the Roof, I went to the expo/pasta dinner. As expected, it was pretty small: I counted one vendor. The pasta dinner was actually pretty good, although the atmosphere left something to be desired. The friendly folks doing the serving were happy to inform me that the pasta was “Dean Ormish”. I didn’t know what I was supposed to make of that, but it really did taste good on that plastic plate (using the plastic fork). And speaking of friendly, I had forgotten how genuinely nice everyone was in this part of the country. From the race director (who was all over the place) to the race volunteers to the people at the hotel to the girls at McDonalds, it was service with warmth, and a smile. Made me want to puke.

The field was about the size I had expected: about 350 in the thon, with more in the half, the relay and the walk. Not bad for such a small town. The weather was acceptable: upper 50s at the start and 60s at the finish, with just a bit of on-and-off rain and some wind. The course was flat. How they managed to find 26 flat miles in West by-God Virginia was quite a feat. It did involve a bit of repetition, especially the parts around Ritter Park. The Park itself was as nice as I remembered it from my 25-year ago runs there. Most of the rest of the course was not especially noteworthy, but that was ok. So I’d have no excuses.

I got to my desired 7:15 or so pace right away, and quickly found myself running with a guy named Chuck from somewhere in Lake County OH, and a guy from Chicago. We got to the 10-mile mark whilst in the park at 1:12:30, and then the half-way point on some deserted road at 1:35:30. I was feeling great, and had to keep telling myself to be patient. Even so, I left Chuck and the other guy behind. At mile 20, I would let myself go; I’d unleash the beast. But until then I’d bide my time and run an even pace. 14 and 15 were into the wind and rain, so they required a bit more effort, but I stayed on pace. Miles 16-18 were with the wind, and I wanted to go faster, but I still held back. Even though I still felt strong, I mile 19 went by in a 7:38. It was possible that it was off, but this was a bit disconcerting after all the steady miles. Mile 20 (in the park once again) was back where it should be: 7:16. And I was back where I should be: 2:25:29.

Now it was time: Time to pick up the pace; time to become a madman. 7:10 miles the rest of the way would do it, but I wanted to run even faster. There was only one minor problem: my ole legs were a tad tired. 21 was still on pace, but 22 and 23 were in the 7:20’s, and then the last couple were even slower. I passed several people during those last few miles, but Chuck, who had caught up to me a few other times, passed my in the last mile. The Chicago guy was a minute behind.

The finish was in the Marshall U. stadium, on the field. Some volunteers tried to hand me a football to carry those last 100 yards, but I waved them off. That final sprint couldn’t erase the last couple slow miles, but it felt good. I finished in 3:12:39.

I got my age group award (first!) instantly. I got a massage after waiting less than five minutes. I got a couple pieces of pizza as I was walking out of the stadium and the pizza delivery gal was walking in (service with a smile). I drove home. I’ve had more painful long car rides, but not many.

So the answers were yes, no, and duh. And I’ll take the 3:12. But next year, I’m really going to unleash that beast.

Y'day Travel, Today's Run 2005-11-11

The work week started easy - I saw & enjoyed "Jarhead" in my spare time. It got real busy as it went on. Glad to get home last night. I'm fairly caught up...

Nice run in nice crisp (30F) weather today. I did the three mile loop on the roads across 303 in 23.5 minutes. I felt great.

Today's Run - 2005-11-09

I stuck to the hotel dreadmill because of the wind outside. Just what I wanted to do: 9 miles at MP (62 minutes). And it was easy! I know - it would've been tougher outside, but I'd have managed. I'm real happy with this one.

Today's Run - 2005-11-07

I arrived here in the Twin Cities last night. No problems with the travel.

I was kind of sluggish today. I did about 11 miles along the Mississippi, including a loop of Nicolet Island. Time was 91 and a half minutes. The weather was decent - about 45 or so, warmer than expected.

Other Stuff

Went to Kathy and Mike's for dinner last night. Lots of laughs.

Debbie and Kathy went shopping today.

Brunswick Rec Center 5K

It was pouring rain when I drove the two miles to the start. Then it
stopped - it was merely extremely windy during the race. It poured like
crazy again as I was driving home. So I suppose I should count my lucky
stars. I had expected a very small turnout based on last year's small field
as well as this year's weather. Last year I had placed third overall with a
relatively slow time of 19:50. This year I thought I might be able to do
better. Hey - maybe no one else would show up at all, and I would win by
default!

As you may have guessed, this didn't happen. Although the throng of people
at the start line of the Brunswick Rec Center 5K didn't quite rival that of
the nearly simultaneous New York City Marathon, I was surprised that they
had more than last year. There were perhaps more than one hundred, and
dang-it, some fast guys too.

So I couldn't have been a contender. I finished somewhere in the top ten -
maybe seventh or eighth. Based on my training and last week's 5K (19:10),
this week's time was a little disappointing : 19:34. Yeah, it's faster than
last year, but it better be - I should be in better shape. And yeah, I could
blame it on the wind. Maybe I will.

I did get a trophy for first master. Nice to know I can still beat all the
40-year old punks. At least the ones in Brunswick.

Today's Run - 2005-11-05

14 miles on the towpath with Amy, Andy, Brian and Dave. Not too bad - 59 minutes out, 55 minutes back. Unseasonably warm. I felt a little sluggish - maybe cause no coffee.

Basement Progress

Spent all day Thursday shopping - bought counter tops, ceramic tiles and paint.

Got some of the rooms painted, including the stunningly purple (aka potty=trained purple) bathroom.

Today's Run - 2005-11-03

Another solid one. This time it was speedwork at the track. 3 x (1600, 1200, 800). About what I wanted. Better than last time. Times were 6:25, 4:41, 2:58, 6:25, 4:40, 2:57, 6:20, 4:41, 2:56. I did the eleven miles in 83 and a half minutes. Solid.

Today's Run - 2005-11-01

November already.

Dave and I took a different route: the parkway. Surprisingly, there was too much traffic, both on the parkway itself and on State. The parkway is still nice however - I miss it. 10.3 miles in 90 minutes. I'm gonna round up to 11 + extra time, for the log. I'll make it up next run.