Hinckley History (Now I've Really Done It)

Now I’ve really done it: extracted all of the runs I’ve done on the Hinckley 9 mile course. In so doing, I am certifying my total insanity. Sorry..

Log ID	Date	Time	Description of Run
1	1/31/2010	77.5	Cold run at Hinckley with Brian. Hills were tough in the cold.
2	2/21/2010	76.5	I was sore, but managed to keep up with the fast crowd, so this was a good one! I'm also catching a cold.
3	3/7/2010	89	This was almost 10 minute pace. I ran with Scott and Michele, who didn't mind that pace. I wasn't too sore, but I sure was tired.
4	3/14/2010	84	this was a slow run of the loop, but faster than last week. Not so bad.
5	3/20/2010	81.5	not too bad - one of the better runs on this course. With Debbie, Debbie, Brad.
6	3/21/2010	80.5	I arrived early to do this Hinckley loop by myself. Not bad.
7	3/21/2010	79.5	This time it was with the group, mostly Greg. Just slightly better than the first round. First time I did it twice.
8	4/11/2010	74	The big loop around the lake with the gang. This was pretty tough after yesterday's race and today's early running. Still a PR however. I think.
9	4/25/2010	77	with the whole gang. Tough run on the hills.
10	4/25/2010	77	second big loop - wasn't sure I would make it, but I did. Not bad at all.
11	5/2/2010	79	first loop with Connie and Bob. Pretty easy going.
12	5/2/2010	77.5	second loop with Debbie and Debbie - Connie and Bob were ahead by a bit. Not bad.
13	5/2/2010	77.5	third loop by myself - way behind Connie and Bob. Still not bad, but it was tough
14	5/9/2010	78.5	an early loop with Debbie
15	5/30/2010	77.5	First big loop with Debbie. Not bad.
16	5/30/2010	90	later loop with the rest of the gang. Sure didn't feel that slow.
17	6/6/2010	82	Surprizingly good considering yesterday. I was at my best for the last few miles.
18	6/13/2010	78.5	this time it was the full loop with the rest of the bunch. Some bugs, but not nearly as bad - must have been the hour. Good run considering the distance and yesterday's race.
19	7/11/2010	83	A pretty decent early loop around the lake with Debbie, Scott, Michele. Fairly easy going.
20	7/11/2010	70.5	A much faster second loop with Mandy Yates and a couple of the guys. One of the fastest on this course. Pretty darn good running.
21	7/18/2010	82	first loop with Scott. Not too bad.
22	7/18/2010	67.5	MUCH faster loop with Brian and Mandy. Pretty sure this is a PR. Really tough in the heat/humiltiy.
23	8/8/2010	70.5	1st loop with Mandy. Pretty good.
24	8/8/2010	76.5	second loop with Debbie, finish with Ladd. Last two were very fast.
25	9/26/2010	72	felt like I was flying running with Mandy. Good run considering yesterday.
26	10/24/2010	76	1st loop at 5:30 with Jess - not too bad
27	10/24/2010	74.5	second Hinckley loop with Jess and Lee. A bit better.
28	10/27/2010	72	A really good solid hilly run with Dave.
29	11/3/2010	72.5	good hill running with Dave. Pretty cold out!
30	11/7/2010	71.5	first loop was fast with Mandy
31	11/7/2010	83	second loop with Jack, Dan D., Brad and Michelle. Slower, but at least I finished fast
32	11/14/2010	89	with Brian.
33	11/28/2010	78	pretty good running with Lee and Jack.
34	12/19/2010	78.5	not too bad - I ran by myself in the opposite direction - kept a steady pace
35	12/22/2010	72	first lap was fast with Mandy
36	12/22/2010	82	second lap with Debbie and Ladd. A little slower, but still a good one.
37	12/26/2010	79.5	good run in Hinckley with Brad. Not easy with the snow and wind.
38	1/2/2011	1:16:00	partially with Mandy, then she left me at Ledge hill. Not a bad run considering yesterday
39	1/9/2011	1:14:00	MUCH faster the second time around. Tried to keep up with Connie and Bob, but only did for half the run. Not bad in the cold however.
40	1/9/2011	1:26:00	brrrr. But nice run with Dan, Jack, Michele and Debbie
41	1/16/2011	1:21:00	first loop with Dan, Jack. 2nd half was pretty good
42	1/16/2011	1:24:00	2nd loop with Debbie, Michelle, Ladd, Dan, Jack. Steady.
43	1/23/2011	1:25:00	first loop at 4am. Tough going in the snow and wind.
44	1/23/2011	1:30:30	colder and snowier still. This time with the bunch at 7am. Tough to finish, but I made it.
45	1/23/2011	1:27:30	getting colder and snowier for second loop at 5:30. not to mention slower
46	1/30/2011	1:18:30	better second loop with Jess
47	1/30/2011	1:25:30	first loop. Not too bad.
48	2/6/2011	1:21:00	second loop with Dan, Jack. Finished strong, but felt like I was flying so the time shoulds bin better. Sloppy footing didn't help.
49	2/6/2011	1:23:00	first loop with Jack, Michelle. Finished strong
50	2/13/2011	1:21:00	the third loop with the gang was still good. Stopping for gu at half-way helped a lot!
51	2/13/2011	1:22:00	second loop with Jack. A little slower, but not bad at all
52	2/13/2011	1:20:30	got there at 4am for this one. It was tough to get moving, but then ok.
53	2/20/2011	1:18:30	third loop with the group really good, although second half was slower
54	2/20/2011	1:22:00	second loop with Jack. Still not bad
55	2/20/2011	1:20:00	first loop at 4am. Not bad
56	2/27/2011	1:21:00	didn't wakeup for 4am loop - this was at 5:30 with Jack and Michelle
57	2/27/2011	1:15:30	7am loop with Jack. I took off after Effie and did well to do the last 3 at tempo pace. Best (finish) in a while
58	3/12/2011	1:14:00	second loop, also with Dave. Still very good.
59	3/12/2011	1:12:30	good running with Dave on 1st loop
60	3/13/2011	1:28:00	another slow loop, but more fun with Jack and Wendy
61	3/13/2011	1:26:00	first loop alone. Not so good.
62	4/23/2011	1:16:30	first loop with Dave
63	4/23/2011	1:18:30	second loop was a bit slower, but I'm happy to have it in.
64	4/24/2011	1:21:30	decent enough run in the cool rain with the bunch. Pretty shot for the start of the second loop though.
65	5/7/2011	1:20:30	ran the old Hinckley Hills with the gang and felt good.
66	5/28/2011	1:21:00	First loop with Debbie and Michelle. It was slow, but still difficult for me.
67	5/28/2011	1:17:30	second loop with Dave. It was tough too, but at least it was faster.
68	5/29/2011	1:28:30	Slow going with the gang today. I had planned to take the day off, but this was better than nothin.
69	6/26/2011	1:23:00	this run felt slow, but the time wasn't as bad as expected. with several MCRR folks.
70	7/10/2011	1:23:00	first loop with Brad, Michelle, Jack. not too bad.
71	7/10/2011	1:17:30	second loop with Debbie. much faster. felt pretty good. getting warmer.
72	7/17/2011	1:20:00	first loop: not too bad. extremely humid
73	7/17/2011	1:16:00	second loop with Dan- faster!
74	7/30/2011	1:23:00	tough going with the gang in high humidity
75	7/30/2011	1:16:00	much faster second loop with Dave. humidity was even worse
76	8/20/2011	1:20:00	first loop with the bunch. not bad
77	8/20/2011	1:15:00	second loop with Dave. better.
78	10/2/2011	1:19:30	pretty decent run with Jack. maybe I'm turning the corner.
79	10/16/2011	1:23:00	first loop with Jack
80	10/16/2011	1:19:30	second loop with Brian. it was faster, but it felt MUCH faster.
81	10/23/2011	1:20:00	Good first loop with Ladd, Jeannine. Cool morning felt good. 2 shooting stars.
82	10/23/2011	1:21:00	Second loop alone. Not too bad, but I was pushing it. Felt like faster.
83	10/28/2011	1:20:30	pretty good run with Debbie and Michelle
84	11/25/2011	1:20:00	decent run with Dave.
85	12/18/2011	1:25:00	Not bad running with Michelle and Jack
86	12/24/2011	1:17:00	fast first loop with Dave and Debbie
87	12/24/2011	1:19:30	second loop with Dave. A little slower, but still very good
88	12/26/2011	1:20:30	seemed like much faster. I did do at least some fast running to call it a fartlek run
89	1/8/2012	1:24:00	Still suffering with sinus infection. Could've been worse.
90	1/15/2012	1:25:30	fairly slow going with Michelle. Cold day. Sinus' a bit better.
91	1/22/2012	1:14:30	Just about killed me. Tough to stay in step with Pete, Frank and Debbie. But I did it. Happy to have it done.
92	1/28/2012	1:17:30	Good Hinckley Hill run with Dave. Snow made it challenging.
93	1/29/2012	1:13:30	Best one of these in a long time.
94	1/30/2012	1:19:00	Decent enough start to this long run. Did this one alone. The ice was bad.
95	1/30/2012	1:26:30	Second loop with Debbie. Much slower, but okay.
96	3/4/2012	1:26:30	Hey - I did a loop (with Jack). Slow but happy to have it done!
97	3/4/2012	1:30:30	Couldn't get much slower, but I was thrilled to do two. Again with Jack.
98	3/18/2012	1:21:00	Pretty good run through a storm with the gang
99	3/25/2012	1:12:30	Well that was fast. Almost killed me.
100	3/25/2012	1:24:30	Second loop - much slower, but I'm still happy with it. Fun stuff.
101	4/8/2012	1:23:30	first loop - slow, but okay
102	4/8/2012	1:25:30	second loop - better than expected
103	4/15/2012	1:20:00	decent time for first lap
104	4/15/2012	1:26:00	second loop was a little slower. pretty tired. not bad however.
105	4/22/2012	1:30:00
106	4/24/2012	1:21:00	pretty decent run with Dave. I think I'm recovering.
107	4/29/2012	1:21:30	First loop with the bunch. Not bad.
108	4/29/2012	1:18:30	Second loop with Brian - better.
109	5/2/2012	1:23:00	real early first loop - not bad
110	5/2/2012	1:24:00	second loop with the gang - not too bad
111	5/2/2012	1:26:00	third loop - a little slower, but still ok
112	5/13/2012	1:23:30	surprisingly okay run with a few friends
113	6/3/2012	1:24:00	Good Hinckley running for lap 1
114	6/3/2012	1:21:30	good second loop. toe hurts, but other stuff better.
115	6/10/2012	1:19:00	good first loop with a fast finish
116	6/10/2012	1:25:30	Slower second loop. still okay
117	6/24/2012	1:28:00	slower than expected. and look at that weight!!
118	7/8/2012	1:25:00	slow going with Michelle. ok though
119	7/9/2012	1:43:00	could not wake up
120	8/4/2012	1:19:30	Not too bad for the first lap
121	8/4/2012	1:17:00	Better for second half. Good running today!
122	8/19/2012	1:27:30	easy does it run with the gang (they waited for me) still a lot of pain
123	9/2/2012	1:28:00	with friends. least pain in a while, so not bad
124	9/5/2012	1:20:00	best in a long time - with Dave
125	11/4/2012	1:18:30	Pretty fast run with Debbie and the group
126	11/4/2012	1:19:30	Another good one with the group. Altogether much better than expected today!
127	11/11/2012	1:29:00	Very easy does it run with Michelle and Jack. Actually tougher than it shoulda been.
128	12/16/2012	1:20:00	I was tremendously out of breath and had to walk effie. THEN, my knee hurt - bad. Is it the Hokas?
129	2/23/2013	1:21:30	much better run with a strong final 3 miles
130	6/22/2013	1:24:00	First of these in a while. With some MCRR friends. Felt ok.
131	6/29/2013	1:20:00	Nice solid run with Dave
132	8/17/2013	1:15:30	very fast and hard run with the group. but I was still up for more.
133	8/17/2013	1:17:00	a bit slower for 2nd loop with Will. only a bit.
134	11/17/2013	1:21:00	Great run with the bunch. Felt good!
135	12/21/2013	1:14:00	Excellent pace on this soggy run with Will, Renee, Brian B.
136	1/19/2014	1:24:00	First loop - not bad
137	1/19/2014	1:32:00	2nd loop - way slower. at least no knee pain
138	2/23/2014	1:22:30	Slow start, but good run overall! Some ice.
139	3/16/2014	1:30:30	Not bad, but it was pretty slow. With Rick
140	5/3/2014	1:18:30	good run on the hills with Dave

 

Split Second Decision

It's better to run fast than to run far... Of course if it's possible to do both, that would be nice.

That's been my mantra for the past year. You know, the year since the 2013 Cleveland Marathon, my last. And so it was once again today. Doing a rare run from home, I'm getting down to the end of my street in the early morning darkness, and suddenly - almost without thinking - turn left instead of right. Right would have taken me on the path to the first of two and a half six-mile loops, the original plan for the day. I'd been thinking that the between-loop pit stops would do me good, and allow me to run fairly fast for the circuits themselves. To do a longer course without a break would have most likely assured that the overall pace would be slower.

But here I am, heading west instead of east, in order to get on board my old 11-mile loop. Even though this plan would nearly ensure a slower pace, I missed those semi-rural country roads southwest of my home; this would be a homecoming of sorts. Maybe it's better to enjoy my run than to run fast... Of course if it's possible to do both, that would be nice.. In any case, this way I'd follow the 11 up with another four.

Yes, fast is relative. A week ago I did the Hinckley nine with Dave in 1:18, a pretty good (for these days) clip. Then after another three, I was wiped out. Nothing unusual about any of that, except that I suffered through some severe nausea for the next two days. That is unusual, but it was probably due to food poisoning or a stomach flu, and not running.

But it certainly did have an effect on my running, and not in a good way. I was finally fully recovered on Thursday, when I got a three-mile tempo run in. Yes, three consecutive miles at (barely) sub-seven minute pace. After gobs of attempts, I was thrilled to have finally gotten myself back to this level.

After a couple nine-minute-ish miles, I wanted to pick it up a bit. But just a bit; I didn't want to be greedy. As much as I try to move faster, I find myself slowing down instead. Now I'm doing ten-minute miles, and then slowing even further after a few of those. And I don't even know why.

Well, yes I do.

A Long Tale about a Short Run

Maybe we'll make it a short tale instead. Last year at the Race for Brunswick Blue Pride I did something around 21 minutes, and was the second male (but was also chicked). This year I ran over a minute slower (22 and a half), and finished well back in the pack. Although my first two miles were completed in about 14:08 or so, I can't seem to even do a sub-seven mile anymore. At least I'm consistent: each of my races for this year have been a steady minute to two (for the five-miler) minutes slower than last year.

Things can only get better, right?

Eight: the New Seven

For most of my running life, seven minute pace was the threshold. It was the pace where I would begin to go anaerobic; where I would begin to have difficulty carrying on a conversation. A more technical term for this is lactate-threshold pace. Yet another related word is tempo pace.

Tempo pace is the pace for a ten-mile to half-marathon race. Although there were times when I could run ten to thirteen miles as much as a half-minute per mile faster than this, three or more miles in a row better than seven minute pace was still a tip-top tempo training trot.

One other thing about seven minute pace: it's just about (actually about seven seconds slower, but let's not quibble) the pace required to run a three-hour marathon. Those who have known me for a while are aware that breaking three hours has been an obsession of mine for most of my running life. Until recently, that is. But that's another story.

Nowadays however, eight is the new seven. It's not impossible - I got down to eight-minute pace during some of today's miles, as well as the final six of Saturday's sixteen. But it is the pace at which I now begin to go anaerobic.

I really wouldn't be all that far off if I were to consider last year's ten-mile and half-marathon times. But I have a way to go to even get back that far.

Victims Rights 5K

I do this small, free, evening race every year, and it's never been pretty. Last night was no exception. I felt like I was going soooo much faster than I really was. And that last mile up Route 18 and into the wind is a doozie.

But it was good to see a few old running buddies that I hadn't bumped into in some time. And at least I finished in vertical fashion.

Exceeds... or, the St. Malachi Race

My previous post was about far exceeding expectations. This one is about slightly exceeding them.

The St. Malachi 5-Mile race is held around St. Patrick's Day every year. I've done it a cou ple times in the past, but it had been a while. My training over this winter from hell has been awful, and now I'd learned that so was my weight. So I didn't expect much.

But the weather was great - 40 degrees with a little wind. So of course I went out too fast. My first mile was just under seven minutes, and I was still at 21 minutes flat at 3 miles. Too bad the race didn't end there. I not only had to tired miles to go, but they were mostly uphill and into the wind. It was a struggle.

The final downhill quarter-mile was nice, and it felt good to finish that part strong. My time was 36:28, good for third in my ancient age group. I really don't know what my expectation was, but I am certainly okay with this. Of course it's two full minutes slower than my 5-Mile race times of last summer. I'd better start working harder. And expecting more.

Far Exceeds

Consider this rating scale:

It's from an article about rating rating scales, and it's a typical assessment mechanism. At a place I worked at a while back, we used such a scale to gauge our customer satisfaction. Customers, in this case, were the people we were doing work for, be they external to the company or fellow workers whom we supported.

If the customer liked the person requesting to be rated, they would naturally give them a higher grade. It would go something like this: "I like Dan a lot, and he's doing good work for me. I'll give him the highest score (a 2 on the scale above, or possibly a 5 if the scale contained scores ranging from 1 to 5)."

I unsuccessfully argued against the use of such a scale. Sure, it's good to have your customers like you, and it's very important to meet their expectations. But is it even a good thing to exceed expectations? They might be happy if the person they're rating does do more than expected, but doesn't that imply that we rateees/suppliers may be giving something (in our case, services) away for free? I can see that this too would be good occasionally, but if you give away the store one too many times, the store may eventually go under.

And what does it mean to Greatly Exceed Expectations? Isn't that really giving away the store? In what universe is that a good thing for the store?

All this went through my head when I stepped on the scale (the kind that measures weight) the other day. I hadn't been checking my weight for quite some time, but I still had my expectations. And, you guessed it, they were Greatly Exceeded! Unfortunately, not in a good way. I'm working on this little problem. I still do the fasting thing, but it's the feast days that need to be scaled back. Check with me in a month or so.

We Slow

First there was the Chevy Nova. Urban legend has it that General Motors experienced poor sales of the vehicle in Mexico and other Spanish speaking countries because the name translates to “doesn't go” in Spanish. Incidentally, I was surprised to learn just now that the story actually isn't true. According to Snopes.com, “This is another one of those tales that makes its point so well — just like the apocryphal one about George Washington and the cherry tree — that nobody wants to ruin it with a bunch of facts.” But then they went on to do just that. 

Today's Dick's Sporting Goods ad for other
inexpensive running shoes: the
Nike Downshifter and the ASICS Unifire

And then there was the Nike Attempt II. My daughter Veronica and I noticed this in a Kohl’s ad a while back. I explained that the major running shoe manufacturers sell their high-end models to running specialty stores, but make less expensive ones to sell at lower prices at retailers such as Kohl’s, JCP and Dick’s Sporting Goods. But the name, Attempt just sounds kind of funny for a running shoe. According to the definition, it implies "an act of trying to achieve something". Seems like a running shoe ought to be associated something just a little bit more than only an attempt. And since this one had a Roman Numeral 2 for a suffix, it wouldn't even be the first time one has tried it. I have just noticed that I wrote about this in an earlier blog post. Sorry for the duplication, but I couldn't resist. 

Ad in today's Walmart flyer for a We Slow Treadmill

Today I saw a Walmart ad for a Weslo Treadmill. Yes, I’m aware that Weslo is the name of the manufacturer and not the model. And yes, I’m also aware that it’s one word and not two. But if it were two, it would sound an awful lot like, We Slow. Now who would buy a treadmill that implies that we, the buyers/users are slow?

Not me. And it's not that I am not slow, especially these days. It’s just that I would never admit it.

There be Dragons

4:30 am – I’m doing my morning pushups in front of the TV, and Holly Strano tells me that the temperature is in the forties. This, after that huge snowstorm yesterday. I finish my exercises, petting Rosy, who’s curled up almost underneath me, in between sets.

5:00 am – Still waking up (those pushups and crunches had been in my sleep) I am now putting on my outside running clothes. It would’ve been faster to put on the inside running clothes that I’d had ready, but dang it, it’s in the forties!

5:15 am – Pulling out of the driveway, I realize I’ve gotten a later start than I wanted. My goal is always to get going by 4:45 so that I can arrive just as the fitness center opens at 5:30. This has yet to happen, however. The most common exit time is 5:00 straight up. Today is a little on the late side of that.

6:15 am – I am finally running (hooray), heading north from the fitness center. The road is clear, but snow is piled up three to four feet high on the sides, and right over the berm, so if any cars come, I’ve got nowhere to go to get out of the way. Luckily, traffic is light at this hour. I reflect that this is my first outside run in a week and a half; it’s been all mill. Of course the reason is fear of (more) wounded knee. Strange that I seem to be able to run at any pace or distance on the mill without encountering problems, but when I push the pace out in the cold, there it goes. A new theory presents itself to the inner workings of my brain: maybe it’s not the pace or the cold by itself, maybe it’s the shuffling through the slippery snow and ice I do on other runs, followed by the days of pace and cold. Then again, maybe not.

6:45 am – There aren’t all that many miles of roads in the park, and I don’t want to shuffle on the snow covered all-purpose trail, so I’m doing a little back and forth, out and back type stuff. It occurs to me that I could make this a worthwhile training run by running down and up Ox Lane a few times. As I’m almost about to turn down that road, I encounter a couple runners coming up. After a brief greeting, we pass each other, but one of them yells back, “Are you headed down the hill? There’s a pack of coyotes down there!”

6:46 am – Did I mention that it’s still dark? And that I’m afraid of large carnivorous wild animals? I decide to not tempt fate and simply go back and forth on the north-south road, Buttermilk Falls Parkway. The hills can wait.

((fill in the blank)) of life is just showing up

I've had some very good excuses, but I still felt a little bit bad about not making it to so many of my own scheduled Sunday morning runs at Hinckley. The excuses ranged from biblical snowstorms to being out of town. But since I had arranged the darn things, I still felt that I was a bit lagging in fulfilling my obligations. To me, you see, just showing up is pretty important stuff.

Today's excuses would've been no less valid. My wrecked knee from the previous day's run, and more biblical snow could've/would've/should've kept me at home once again. But they didn't. I did show up, although I didn't run the usual 5:30 am nine-mile loop with the gang. Nope, I bid my friends adieu, and then proceeded to shuffle around in the snow for a few miles.

The old knee was okay today. Shuffling agrees with it.

9:34, 8:22, 8:10, 8:05, 7:58, 7:50, 7:40, 8:13, 9:05, 9:00, 12:00, 13:42

Yes, those were my splits from yesterday's run. I was with friends Dave Gajewski, Chris and Larry Orwin, Kevin Jones and Chris' friend Colin (I don't know his last name). They tell a bit of a story. The crash and burn occurred suddenly, as usual, just as we made the turn onto the parkway with a couple miles to go. Larry very graciously stayed with me as we walked and jogged our way in.

I've mentioned this knee thing before. Now, unfortunately, I am afraid I have to mention it again. Sorry about this.

It was near 0F, and I was working pretty hard to keep up with the fast kids. We were lucky that there was no wind, and only a small amount of snow and ice on the roads. As we drove up the hill on Barr Road, the 'ole knee began to talk to me. Ease up, or else, it said.

I did listen. Larry and I went from eight minute miles to nine minute ones. But as we made that turn, I learned quite suddenly how inadequate my slowdown had been.

Dad-gum it. It had been a couple weeks since I'd had any pain at all. Except for my perpetual PF, I was beginning to think that I was going to be okay,

Okay, bear with me a while longer. Here are for my sudden knee blowout common denominators.

1) It's always cold. Often extremely so, like yesterday.
2) I'm always pushing the pace, at least somewhat faster than I would be otherwise.
3) It's always at the far end of a long run, or a long couple of runs.
3) It's almost always when I least expect it.

Okay, I'm done. For now.

Effort Miles

My friend and running partner Dave Gajewski does not own a GPS running watch. He prefers not to measure his running as precisely as some other runners. When running slower than usual (and therefore not as far) due to challenging weather conditions, he tells me he ran so many effort miles.

As someone who shuffled and slid through extremely deep snow for an hour today, and will call it five miles because he didn't wear his GPS because he didn't really want to measure anything accurately today and who has been known to do this shuffling and poor measurement in the past, even more so during this 'winter from hell' although it's not quite appropriate to call it that because it is kind of an insult to hell, but then hell is associated with heat and not cold, so it's not quite appropriate for that reason either... like the Dude, I can abide.