Merry Christmas!

December 26, 2009

Hamburg Trail aka Humbug Hill

9 miles

ET 1:35:01

Ave Pace 10:33

Starting Temp 26F winds 16 mph some ice on trail

I hope all had a very Merry Christmas!

It was a great Christmas for us! Sally was adorable and excited. She didn't eat much dinner but sure went after the peppermint ice cream. Tommy didn't know what to make of it all and was as interested in an empty box as any of his toys. Susan, as Executive Chef & I as Sous-Chef managed one of our best ever dinners.

As Kevin & Matthew used to say, it was "burrring cold" this morning.....Let's see, ankle brace, shoes, socks, shoe covers, YakTraks, two layers bottom, two tops, plus vest and fleece, gloves, hat, Extreme Masque, fuel belt. Heck by the time I was dressed I was ready for a nap :))!

With a brisk headwind at the start (much better than on the return when you're sweaty) we started off down Hamburg Trail. This gravel trail never seems to be smoothly graded so I was careful to watch my footing running on my injured ankle, I definitely did not want to twist it again. Patches of snow and ice and a few branches on the trail kept our attention. Everyone did very well, surprisingly we finished Humbug Hill close together without much loss of pace. Humbug is 1/2 mile of 6% grade (to put 6% into perspective it means for about every 30 paces we were climbing 6 feet) This section is not part of the Katy Trail since locomotives don't pull that steep of a grade.

My ankle was a bit stiff for the first couple of miles but then began to loosen up and by the end felt fine. I was glad to have the brace to protect against the unsure footing. We barely felt the cold after the first mile and until we finished, then the wind came up again and it was off to the car to get sweaty tops exchanged for dry ones.

We're off to Chicago tomorrow, running clothes will be packed for what should be a very chilly run along Lake Michigan.

"Remember, the feeling you get from a good run a far better than the feeling you get from sitting around wishing you were running." Sarah Condor

RunGrampyRun

December 23

The best laid plans of mice and men oft go astray! Yesterday evening when I walked into the house fully intending to do a short speed workout, who was there but Sally! Instead of hearing run grampy run I heard play grampy play. Want to venture a guess as to what I did yesterday?

Determined to get my miles in I was up and out this morning. Too wet and too dark for a safe speed workout I decided to go a bit longer. The rain didn't bother me at all, however on the return loop, about a mile from the house it happened. While I was crossing a street, I looked over my shoulder to check to make sure no one was turning and stepped in a hole. Unfortunately I didn't step all the way into the hole, the inside of my foot stayed on level pavement while the outside dropped a couple of inches. I managed to stay upright but my ankle got quite a twist. I was trying to "walk it off" but it wasn't working. I can tell you though, if you are limping down the street, you really don't have to be worried about being bothered by drivers stopping to ask if you're okay.

I had just decided to look for a house with a light on (because of course, this time I did not wear my fuel belt thus no cell phone) when a kind woman pulled up to ask if I was okay or needed a ride. I gladly accepted and greatly appreciated her help.

As I sit with an ice pack strapped to my ankle there is a question that I must ponder. Do I look so old that she would have wondered if (as she said) that maybe I had had a hip replaced and was just out for the exercise?

I am going to go with it was DARK and also remember the wise words:
"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth!"
RunGrampyRun

December 21, 2009

Chesterfield

5 miles

ET 45:17

Pace 9:03

Beginning temp 38 no wind

What a beautiful night for a run. Temp was perfect for a winter run altho I do prefer the heat!

Last night was longest night of the year, we're heading in the right direction :))

Run felt great, kept good pace even on the hills. Was great after slower run on Saturday. Looking forward to tomorrow, will do 5k speed workout.

RunGrampyRun

December 19, 2009
Queeny Park
8 Miles
ET 1:28:16
Pace: 11:02
Cold, overnight dusting of snow, some mud

With great poetic license taken a holiday poem for all:

You know Coach Kristen and Tim
Jen D and Jim,
Coach Bob and Jen B
Erika and Patty
But do you recall
The oldest runner of all?
Eric the Grampy runner
Had a very yellow vest
And if you ever saw him
You would even say it glows
Then one snowy evening
Patty called to say
Eric with your vest so bright
Would you pace my group so
I can get their names just right?
Run Joy! Run Nick! Run Lisa and Larry
On Stephanie, on Alecia, on Jennifer and Elizabeth
Run Mel and Jen

To the top of Dog Hill
Up Turn and Grind
Through the woods
Through the fields

No pit stop for Mary
They ran not just one loop but two
And when all done they shouted with glee
No more Queeny hills for me!
Then alas Patty let them know

Next week is Humbug Hill

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good run.

SALLY'ism: When Susan comes to Sally's door she has begun to yell out: "Daddy, your Mommy is here!"

RunGrampyRun

December 14, 2009

3.1 miles

28:03 ET

9:02 Pace

50 degrees at start 40 at finish

Wind 16 mph

Weather felt nice when I left office, by the time I changed and headed out the temp was dropping and wind increasing. First half running into the wind, cold. Making the turn felt great. Pace picked up.

SALLY'ism:

When Sally saw this year's Christmas tree she, of course wanted to handle the ornaments. I asked her to touch with only 1 finger since they were breakable. Her reply........"Grampy, I'm a carefull girl not a breakable girl............................................well, maybe a little breakable."

RunGrampyRun

December 10, 2009

Fleet Feet Social Run

5 miles

46:10 ET

9:14 Pace

What a beautiful night! The sky was clear, the winds from yesterday simply blew away. The temperature was in the high 20's. As I did on Tuesday, I over-dressed for the temperature. I'll get it right, the fear of being cold will disappear after a couple more runs. It was a small group tonight, only 8 of us. After the run FF had hot chocolate & marsh-mellows for us. Patty, see what you missed.

When I walked in, Kristen noticed that I had 2 different shoes on. My Saucony's, which are getting some miles on them, and my older Brooks. The Brooks didn't even have an insole! I must have run in them on Tuesday since I hadn't put them back in the closet. I did begin to feel the lack of insole by the end of the run but otherwise couldn't tell much difference. I wasn't "pulling" to the left or right!

I was a great night for a run, I am really glad I went out.

I've received a couple of emails asking about my running history.....stay tuned for my journey.

Run Grampy Run

First Foul Weather Run of the Winter Season

December 8, 2009:

Forest Park

5 Miles

50:33 ET

10:06 pace

When I awoke this morning the weather forecast was not great--cold and windy. I had a haircut scheduled for 3:30 near Forest Park so a run around the park seemed to be the thing to do. As I was dressing I kept looking out the window, the Christmas lights were swaying in the wind, the skies were gray and threatened rain. One word reverberated in my head-----brrrrrr!

I wasn't going to run right then but just packing my bag was hard. After all, if I didn't take my gear I couldn't run after my haircut and then I could say, "Oh well, it's too late" after I got home and had dinner. With trepidation the bag got packed and put in the car.

By early afternoon the rain was really coming down, the dread set in again but by 3 I was changed and off to the salon. As I walked in the door Lisa asked incredulously if I was going to run in this weather? One of her clients was sitting in the warmth sipping a glass of wine, yes another temptation.

After Lisa finished and I downed a couple of peanut butter cookies and a few chocolate covered macadamia nuts it was time. Outside, in the rain, I stood anxiously waiting for my Garmin to acquire the satellite signals. As the rain came down, my car called to me from just across the street: “Come, sit in my dry interior, just push one button and I will warm your butt!” But, just in time, the Garmin was ready and off I went.

The rain is lightly but coldly pelting my face. It was 40 degrees, too warm for my Extreme Masque, too warm even for a Balaclava. At a quarter mile, I stopped for a traffic light, crossed the street and turned onto the bike path. AHA, I thought, no biker in his right mind would ride in this weather; I’ll have the trail to myself. They just aren’t tough enough! At a half mile. I’m warmed up, the rain has all but stopped, and hey this isn’t bad at all!

It was great being out there virtually alone I passed only 1 walking commuter and a couple of runners the entire time. I decided to be adventuresome and take some unfamiliar trails. New sights and a new perspective on the park. I won’t take the JFK trail again. It was designed for wheelchairs with a lot of switchbacks.

By two miles I was actually getting too warm, I unzipped my jacket and felt a rush of warmth rising across my cheeks. I calculated my turn-around point and headed back toward the car. As I approached the car it was only 4.8 miles, now there was no hesitation, I passed the car ran around the block to be sure I got my promised 5 miles, after all, I would only be cheating myself!

It felt good to get that first nasty weather run under my belt, once again realizing that it just isn’t that bad once you get going.

Run Grampy Run!