The 19th

June 19th, otherwise known as Juneteenth, was a week ago. The new National Holiday commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. There is also an online news organization called, the 19th. This blog post is about none of that. It's about Dan's 19th mile (out of 19 miles) today.

Dan's long runs haven't been so hot lately. Wait. Let's rephrase that. Dan's long runs have been too hot (although not very good) lately. The same goes for most of his recent running. The heat and humility sure do take a toll. (For a slightly more complete list, there's heat, humidity, hills, heavy legs, humility, hubris, and so on...) Yet, today's run hasn't been all that terrible.

He called out some friends, since companionship is never a bad thing, and they responded. He also got lucky with some slightly cooler weather. And he hadn't been on Lester Rail Trail, his old long-run stomping ground for a while. Put all that together, and you have the ingredients for a decent Day. And so it was, at least until now.

Miles 16-18 had been alone since all the peeps had to leave. They have real lives, you see. These are usually the tough miles, where a run becomes a slog. Today, however, Dan had managed to keep going at his decent just-under-ten=minute-per-mile-pace. But could he do it for one more?

Dan can call it quits at 18 and legally (by his own standards) still consider this a long run. Today, however, he is indeed going the extra mile. Literally. Lo and behold, even that one is somewhat decent. Should he go even one more? Call it an even, nice-round-number twenty-miler?

Nah.

Deer Flies (an open letter)

 

Deer Flies:

Thank you for ruining a perfectly good run. You started with a surprising bite on my cheek (the one next to my nose, not that other one). I certainly didn't expect that. But then you followed up with nibbles on my neck, shoulders, and head (right through my cap). 

It had started out as a pretty good run. I was staying up in Geneva, Ohio, and I'd just discovered a neat all-purpose trail winding around and through the woods near the Spire facility. Even though it was hot, the area was so pleasant that I couldn't help but enjoy myself. Until I didn't. That is, until that first cheeky cheek bite of yours. Then, the fun and games were over.

As always, I tried running faster to get away from all of you party-poopers, to no avail. The one little bit of satisfaction I got (other than from finishing the run) was when I was able to catch one of you that I'd swatted, and then pull its little wings off. How did you guys like that?

I'm guessing not too much. Too bad.

Sincerely,

Your Breakfast

All's Well That Ends...

No, it didn't end well. But at least it did end. 

After a string of decent to good long runs, I was due for a stinker, and today, I got one. The weather certainly helped. When I looked at the temperature, it just said, 'ludicrous.' Luckily, I had the company of some of my running friends for much of the run. But like last week, I was to do the final part (about seven of the eighteen) on my own. And that was the tough part. It got hotter and hotter, and I got slower and slower, cranking out miles on the 'ole Claggett M.S. Track.

Somehow, I got through it. But, as they say, it wasn't pretty.

2024 Lighthouse Half Marathon Race Report

151. Sounds like a fine (or at least strong) rum, eh? Well, it's also a strong run, at least for me. Why 151? It's about where I've been for my best half-marathons over the past couple of years. Yeah, sub-150 would be nice, but it's been a while since I've done that. Maybe again some day.

I drove up to Fairport Harbor with Chadwick Sunday and his Stepdaughter Natalie. Even though it's a fur piece, the commute seemed to go quickly with the ongoing fun conversation. I don't get up that way often enough, but when I do, the racing is usually pretty good. I've never done (or even heard of) this particular race before, but it seemed familiar. Fairport Harbor, with its great beach and city park / square is an excellent place to hold a race.

Two hundred some of us lined up on a pleasant Father's Day Sunday morning, and we were off. During the early miles, I tried in vain to catch up with the 1:55 pace group. I think I could have, but it would have wasted too much energy. It wasn't too long before I fell into a rhythm, and although I was still behind the pace group, I thought things were going pretty well. 

The race took us East, over to Painesville, where we did a big loop through lakeside neighborhoods and parks, and then back to Fairport Harbor. Halfway went by in 57 minutes. I caught up with that 1:55 group sometime around mile eight. Although I'd had 1:51 in the back of my mind as a stretch goal, I didn't want to push things too much too fast. I was indeed picking up my pace, but I'd need to finish much faster to beat that mark. Just to be conservative, I thought I should stay with the pace group for a while.

But I didn't. For some reason, I went right by them. My pace (now mostly in the 8:30's) had been getting a little faster with each mile, and theirs was pretty steady. I hit mile ten in 1:26:30. That's pretty good, but I'd need to run faster still for the final 5K, in order to reach my goal.

Somehow, I did run faster still. My final three miles were my fastest at 8:21, 8:18, and 8:07. The time on the clock as I crossed the finish line was 1:52:00. Dang! But I was pleasantly surprised that my official time based on my chip timing was 1:51:57! (The rum is strong with this one, Jedi Master.) I was also unpleasantly surprised to learn that I did not win my ancient age group; I was second to someone named Randy Barkacs. He's the guy who beat me at the Medina Half. I don't believe I've met him, but I'll have to do so sometime.

Regardless of my place, it was a pretty darn good Dad's Day for me. It always feels good to finish strong. Now, it's time for some rum.

Hey Mr. Lawnmower Man

Hi Mr. Lawnmower Man. Nice to see you mowing the football field whilst I'm trying to run on the track. 'Trying' is, of course, the key word here. I see that since you make your turns on the track itself, you slow down or speed up in order to avoid occupying the same space and time as me and the other runners, among whom is another, more famous old guy named Ron Ross. We runners do the same, but it's arguably more important that you do. Thank you. I'll be here for well over an hour, as I'm only around eight miles into my planned eighteen-miler today.

The first part of my run had been with friends, and that portion was slightly less mindless. But doing more than half the run alone called for some true mindlessness. So queue the track. 

Early in the run with some buddies. Nice smile from Ella.

Somehow, it all works. This was never going to be a stellar long run, even though I've had some decent ones in recent weeks. Yet, it's okay. I manage to pick up the pace as I go lap after lap, mile after mile. 

Eventually, I say goodbye to Mr. Lawnmower Man and complete my long run. Not too shabby.

2024 Hornet Dash 5K Race Report

The Hornet Dash is a fantastically fun event put on by some of my friends. I saw bunches of them too. My run? 26:19 for 8:28 pace. Nearly a minute slower than last year. I guess I got what I deserved.

I'll say it again: I hate 5Ks. ... And I need to do more of them.

I made it to Princeton

That's Princeton, WV, not Princeton, NJ. And it was to hike, raft, and run (a little). 

The running was almost, almost, not quite, heaven. Actually, it wasn't that great at all. But I did manage to shuffle around a little. Nothing to write home about. With that in mind, I'll quit this post right n

The comeback kid

Sometimes, it's the time after a marathon when you feel like you are truly in good shape. Cleveland is now two weeks in the rearview mirror, and Medina was only last week. Although I've had some pretty stinky training runs between the two races and just after, yesterday and today saw some pretty decent ones. 

Yesterday was my long run day on Lester Rail Trail. It was a nice, cool morning, and (with the help of some friends), I kept my pace pretty steady at a bit under ten minutes per mile, and even my later miles were as good as the others. 

Today's eleven on the country roads around here was slower, yet this was steady as well. Steady is good. I'm pleasantly pleased.