This morning it hit me that I am the second oldest full-time librarian at MCC and the oldest has just two years on me (there are twelve librarians). Four librarians are 1-5 years younger. See, I don't usually think of myself as being 54. Just to write that year for my age seems wrong. Most of the time I feel, oh, maybe mid-30's, which is goofy since I have a 31 year old daughter.
I am 10 months from my new age group for running races (triathlons already count me as a 55 year old). My father retired from Kodak at 55, one of the smart ones who saved his money well and got a sweet deal to leave in 1985. The pension doesn't go quite as far today for him, but still is a nice security blanket. Plus, at 80 in February, his big expense is golf in the summer and some bowling in the winter.
In November of this year I will have 20 years with NY State Teacher's retirement and be 55, so the percentage of my fixed pension goes up, to a whopping $15k a year or so. Yup, I'm one of those possible retirees sucking all your tax dollars away with my huge pension! LOL. The longer I work for NYS, the higher this pension goes, of course. It is nice, so don't think I'm knocking having a fixed retirement income, but obviously I'm not retiring on 15k a year and no medical insurance.
Here are my options for the end of 2011;
1. Stay at MCC in same position or a new one?
2. Take my 15k/year and find a new job with decent pay and benefits.
3. Make Jan continue to work, take my pension and become a house-husband (LOL-this is not an option)
4. Move to a state with less taxes, take the pension, find benefits, work part-time.
5. Jan and I become bicycle hobos. We sell and/or store our furniture, cars, house and travel till we can't or don't want to anymore. Then we...?
6. Write the next great American novel, Tom Hanks buys the rights to make it into a movie and we retire fat and rich.
7. Win PowerBall.
That's all I've got right now. Let me know if anyone reading this has ideas.
The Erie Canal, Running Paradise
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Dream
Last night I dreamt I was in a prison, a victim of being wrongly accused and convicted of some crime. It was a two year sentence.
After a few months I escaped from an outside work detail in the late evening and ran into the nearby forest. Jan had previously left a wetsuit for me (what a good wife). I swam across Seneca Lake in the pitch black night, arriving at a small park on the far shore.
There was a bike hidden among the trees (Jan again) and a change of clothes. I kept the wetsuit (they cost too much to toss away, plus couldn't leave evidence of my whereabouts). I began riding, still in the dark, hoping I didn't get run over or have a policeman stop me.
After 20 miles (which I completed in less than an hour!) I came to a small convenience store where Jan was waiting. We put the bike in the back of the van and took off, heading for Pennsylvania. We got on I-80 and kept going. With years of experience driving without sleep during many family vacations, this segment of the escape was easy. We merged on I-90 and kept going till we got to our new home, in the rural part of Wyoming. I don't think there is any part of Wyoming that isn't rural.
After many months of hiding out I was found not guilty, sued NY state and retired with much money.
Does this dream mean I should or shouldn't do another triathlon?
After a few months I escaped from an outside work detail in the late evening and ran into the nearby forest. Jan had previously left a wetsuit for me (what a good wife). I swam across Seneca Lake in the pitch black night, arriving at a small park on the far shore.
There was a bike hidden among the trees (Jan again) and a change of clothes. I kept the wetsuit (they cost too much to toss away, plus couldn't leave evidence of my whereabouts). I began riding, still in the dark, hoping I didn't get run over or have a policeman stop me.
After 20 miles (which I completed in less than an hour!) I came to a small convenience store where Jan was waiting. We put the bike in the back of the van and took off, heading for Pennsylvania. We got on I-80 and kept going. With years of experience driving without sleep during many family vacations, this segment of the escape was easy. We merged on I-90 and kept going till we got to our new home, in the rural part of Wyoming. I don't think there is any part of Wyoming that isn't rural.
After many months of hiding out I was found not guilty, sued NY state and retired with much money.
Does this dream mean I should or shouldn't do another triathlon?
Friday, January 21, 2011
Spencerport Running Secrets III
Dump Road.
This, of course, is not the real name of the road. Dump Road is actually Sals name for the extension of West Avenue that leads from the village to the Public Works department and out to Trimmer road.
There used to be a real dump in this area, the village dump that is now covered in clay, dirt and grass. The carnival people camp out on top of the small, grassy knoll once a year when they are in town.
Firemen use Dump Road for some competition once a year. They run and climb ladders, jump off of trucks and drink a lot in the bed of their pickup trucks cheering each team on.
Sals runners know this area as our long-time training grounds. It is marked at the 1/4 mile and 1/2 mile. The decade of the 1990's saw a few of us doing Yasso 800m repeats, up to 10 at a time, when training for Ironman competitions (Augie) and Boston marathon qualifying attempts. Our splits ranged from 2:45-3:05 with a 2 minute rest between.
Ten to fifteen years later our splits are slower, but at least we are still able, and want, to do it.
In the winter Dump road is the cleanest road in the village. The Public Works people take care of their road, as they should. There are no potholes on this road. It has a bit of a curve in the road, but that is okay. The wind usually comes out of the west, but that helps make up for the ever so slight downhill. It's also nice to have the wind at your back heading east. Lots of trees are helpful when nature calls. Traffic is light or non-existent.
Dump Road is still one of my favorite places to run in Spencerport.
This, of course, is not the real name of the road. Dump Road is actually Sals name for the extension of West Avenue that leads from the village to the Public Works department and out to Trimmer road.
There used to be a real dump in this area, the village dump that is now covered in clay, dirt and grass. The carnival people camp out on top of the small, grassy knoll once a year when they are in town.
Firemen use Dump Road for some competition once a year. They run and climb ladders, jump off of trucks and drink a lot in the bed of their pickup trucks cheering each team on.
Sals runners know this area as our long-time training grounds. It is marked at the 1/4 mile and 1/2 mile. The decade of the 1990's saw a few of us doing Yasso 800m repeats, up to 10 at a time, when training for Ironman competitions (Augie) and Boston marathon qualifying attempts. Our splits ranged from 2:45-3:05 with a 2 minute rest between.
Ten to fifteen years later our splits are slower, but at least we are still able, and want, to do it.
In the winter Dump road is the cleanest road in the village. The Public Works people take care of their road, as they should. There are no potholes on this road. It has a bit of a curve in the road, but that is okay. The wind usually comes out of the west, but that helps make up for the ever so slight downhill. It's also nice to have the wind at your back heading east. Lots of trees are helpful when nature calls. Traffic is light or non-existent.
Dump Road is still one of my favorite places to run in Spencerport.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
PSA
(Public Service Announcement)
When traveling long distances by anything but foot power, get up and walk once in a while and stretch and move your legs while in the chair. If you are waiting to board a plane, train or bus, walk around the terminal.
Wearing compression socks may also be wise, though not like Lou, who insists on wearing them with his Speedo suit on the beaches of Florida. This is not a good look.
Even if you are stuck in a desk job, get up and walk every hour or more frequently.
The alternative? Possible blood clots. You don't want them.
When traveling long distances by anything but foot power, get up and walk once in a while and stretch and move your legs while in the chair. If you are waiting to board a plane, train or bus, walk around the terminal.
Wearing compression socks may also be wise, though not like Lou, who insists on wearing them with his Speedo suit on the beaches of Florida. This is not a good look.
Even if you are stuck in a desk job, get up and walk every hour or more frequently.
The alternative? Possible blood clots. You don't want them.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Spencerport Running Secrets II
This isn't too much of a secret, with 200+ people participating every December, but the Pineway Ponds 5 mile race (now a Freezeroo) is a nice run. The course has two minor hills and a gradual incline up Trimmer and part of Canal road that makes the fourth mile slower than you might expect.
The first Pineway Ponds races were directed by Bill Kehoe and the CATS athletic club. MW and I helped Bill measure and design the course, which originally went in the opposite direction of the current Freezeroo. Many of our Sal's members, as usual, volunteered for these races and/or ran them. Pineway Ponds replaced the 10k kick Canal Days race course.
For awhile Kehoe also had a 4+ mile winter race utilizing Pineway Ponds as part of his Polar Cats series.
The current course heads east on Park Road, left onto Union st, left onto Clearview Drive, right on Ritson, right on Sandstone, left on Union, left on Ogden Town Line road, left on Trimmer, left on Canal road, left on Union, left into park. Mike and I designed it this way to go against traffic, which we felt was safer, and made the intersections safe (as long as runners aren't stupid and run in the middle of road, as some choose to do).
The first Pineway Ponds races were directed by Bill Kehoe and the CATS athletic club. MW and I helped Bill measure and design the course, which originally went in the opposite direction of the current Freezeroo. Many of our Sal's members, as usual, volunteered for these races and/or ran them. Pineway Ponds replaced the 10k kick Canal Days race course.
For awhile Kehoe also had a 4+ mile winter race utilizing Pineway Ponds as part of his Polar Cats series.
The current course heads east on Park Road, left onto Union st, left onto Clearview Drive, right on Ritson, right on Sandstone, left on Union, left on Ogden Town Line road, left on Trimmer, left on Canal road, left on Union, left into park. Mike and I designed it this way to go against traffic, which we felt was safer, and made the intersections safe (as long as runners aren't stupid and run in the middle of road, as some choose to do).
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Das Boot
Quick, ten things you can say about boots;
1. What happened to John, oh, management gave him the Boot.
2. Why, I should kick you in the behind with my Boot.
3. These Boots were made for walkin'.
4. Look at him Boot that ball. (football punter)
5. Boots, isn't he that guy who works for Fleet Feet?
6. He died with his Boots on.
7. He pulled himself up by his Bootstraps.
8. "They would not be smart enough to pour piss out of their Boots, if the instructions were written on the sole” (Garrison Keillor)
9. “A lie can be halfway round the world before the truth has got its Boots on.”
10. How many Boots do we have on the ground? (military troops)
Why all the Boot writing? Well, EW has a plantar fascia injury that won't go away and has been ordered to wear a boot to immobilize her foot/ankle. Also, I injured my Achilles Tendon and Jan has finally convinced me, after 5 days, that I need to wear her boot from previous injuries/surgeries she has suffered through. Jan promises me if I wear this for two weeks the tendon will heal.
I do not like wearing this. I am not a good injured runner. I get grumpy, more than my normal demeanor of grumpiness. I can't even bike, that hurt more than running. I can't do lower body weight exercises, so I concentrate on the upper half. I can swim without aggravating the tendon.
But I really like to run.
1. What happened to John, oh, management gave him the Boot.
2. Why, I should kick you in the behind with my Boot.
3. These Boots were made for walkin'.
4. Look at him Boot that ball. (football punter)
5. Boots, isn't he that guy who works for Fleet Feet?
6. He died with his Boots on.
7. He pulled himself up by his Bootstraps.
8. "They would not be smart enough to pour piss out of their Boots, if the instructions were written on the sole” (Garrison Keillor)
9. “A lie can be halfway round the world before the truth has got its Boots on.”
10. How many Boots do we have on the ground? (military troops)
Why all the Boot writing? Well, EW has a plantar fascia injury that won't go away and has been ordered to wear a boot to immobilize her foot/ankle. Also, I injured my Achilles Tendon and Jan has finally convinced me, after 5 days, that I need to wear her boot from previous injuries/surgeries she has suffered through. Jan promises me if I wear this for two weeks the tendon will heal.
I do not like wearing this. I am not a good injured runner. I get grumpy, more than my normal demeanor of grumpiness. I can't even bike, that hurt more than running. I can't do lower body weight exercises, so I concentrate on the upper half. I can swim without aggravating the tendon.
But I really like to run.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Spencerport & Town of Ogden Running Secrets
There are many advantages to living in the Spencerport area when it comes to running, biking and swimming. I'm going to divulge the secrets over time, in no particular order of preference.
The 10k Kick race course. The older runners and those who have been privileged to run with us know this course well. It is one of my favorite courses. It can be a timed tempo workout or a great hill workout. I count 9 decent uphills on this course and a couple of inclines.
Originally the 10k Kick was run as part of Spencerport Canal Days, but traffic concerns and lack of real support with the Canal Days people made continuing this race difficult. Bill Kehoe was the race director. The course was modified to finish at Pineway Ponds and later changed again to a 5 mile loop.
Here is the original 10k Kick Course. Begin at what is now Hi-Qual Heating on Amity Street, across from the Post Office. Head west to the end of Amity, turn left up Evergreen, left onto West Avenue, to Union Street. Turn right, then left onto Old Lyell road. Run to Bernabi Hill, turning right up the hill, then right at the top until you get to the sidewalk heading towards Coolidge Ave, turn right up the hill, left onto Maplewood, quick left onto Coleman, right onto rt31, quick right onto Prospect, left onto Hillcrest which changes for bizarre reasons to Parkhurst, and continue till you get back to Prospect, turning left. Another left takes you to Maplewood down the hill, then back up. Left onto Union, right onto Brockport Road, right onto Village Walk Circle, right to Village Walk, left at Village Trail. Turn left at Martha Street, left at West Avenue, right at Evergreen and right at Amity back to Hi-Qual.
As you can see, lots of turns and if you aren't going up or down a hill you probably went the wrong way.
This is a great route to use after running a 12-15 miler on the canal when preparing for a marathon that may have a few hills in the later stages. Watch for traffic. The exact measurement may not be a 10k, but it is close depending on how often you are on sidewalks instead of the road, take tangents on curves and run on the left or right side of the road.
Here is the MapMyRun link to the route.
The 10k Kick race course. The older runners and those who have been privileged to run with us know this course well. It is one of my favorite courses. It can be a timed tempo workout or a great hill workout. I count 9 decent uphills on this course and a couple of inclines.
Originally the 10k Kick was run as part of Spencerport Canal Days, but traffic concerns and lack of real support with the Canal Days people made continuing this race difficult. Bill Kehoe was the race director. The course was modified to finish at Pineway Ponds and later changed again to a 5 mile loop.
Here is the original 10k Kick Course. Begin at what is now Hi-Qual Heating on Amity Street, across from the Post Office. Head west to the end of Amity, turn left up Evergreen, left onto West Avenue, to Union Street. Turn right, then left onto Old Lyell road. Run to Bernabi Hill, turning right up the hill, then right at the top until you get to the sidewalk heading towards Coolidge Ave, turn right up the hill, left onto Maplewood, quick left onto Coleman, right onto rt31, quick right onto Prospect, left onto Hillcrest which changes for bizarre reasons to Parkhurst, and continue till you get back to Prospect, turning left. Another left takes you to Maplewood down the hill, then back up. Left onto Union, right onto Brockport Road, right onto Village Walk Circle, right to Village Walk, left at Village Trail. Turn left at Martha Street, left at West Avenue, right at Evergreen and right at Amity back to Hi-Qual.
As you can see, lots of turns and if you aren't going up or down a hill you probably went the wrong way.
This is a great route to use after running a 12-15 miler on the canal when preparing for a marathon that may have a few hills in the later stages. Watch for traffic. The exact measurement may not be a 10k, but it is close depending on how often you are on sidewalks instead of the road, take tangents on curves and run on the left or right side of the road.
Here is the MapMyRun link to the route.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
2011 Goals
What is a new year of running without goals? Here are my top ten exercise goals for 2011.
10. Lose 8+ pounds. Yes, for a normal human I am considered thin, for a runner who wants to be as fast and efficient as possible, I have a muffin top belly that needs to go away. This means cutting back on cookies, alcohol and controlling myself when a pizza is placed on the table. Maybe I should even eat a few more vegetables.
9. Stay injury free. Lost this one already as I am sitting here on January 2 with Jan's medical boot on so my achilles tendon stays immobile. I aggravated the achilles on Friday during a run and though it is not serious it seems rest would be best for a few days. After this, though, I will be injury free!
8. Race less often. Jan and I will both be picking our races carefully and aiming for just a couple of really big events (big meaning important, wanting to run at our best, not size of event).
7. Beat Lou and Mike and any other Sal's runner who dares to race me at the Lake Placid 1/2 marathon on June 12.
6. Qualify for the Boston Marathon at a yet to be determined fall marathon. My 2012 qualifying time is 3:45:59, which should be doable, but I've said many times in the past whatever time I needed was doable and only made it once.
5. Commute to and from work on my bike much more often, saving the predicted $4 per gallon cost of gas, the drudgery of driving on I490/I390 to MCC, and helping my weight and racing goals.
4. 2011 is probably a year of not participating in a triathlon for me. I see another attempt at completing the 1/2 IM distance as a goal for 2012 or later.
3. Continuing to swim, especially in Canandaigua Lake during the summer, but only because I like it, not for any competition goal.
2. Lifting weights more and increasing the amount of weight I can lift, then I will get a V-shape instead of Pencilboy look. This has been a goal since high school, so maybe at 54 it is unlikely. But, I enjoy weight training, if I couldn't run much or at all I would lift a lot even if I didn't get bulging muscles. I believe weight training is more important the older we get.
1. Bike around three or more of the Finger Lakes. We seem to annually do Canandaigua, but this year I would like to add Keuka and Seneca Lakes. Staying overnight in this area and enjoying a winery or two might be a good reward for completing this endeavor.
10. Lose 8+ pounds. Yes, for a normal human I am considered thin, for a runner who wants to be as fast and efficient as possible, I have a muffin top belly that needs to go away. This means cutting back on cookies, alcohol and controlling myself when a pizza is placed on the table. Maybe I should even eat a few more vegetables.
9. Stay injury free. Lost this one already as I am sitting here on January 2 with Jan's medical boot on so my achilles tendon stays immobile. I aggravated the achilles on Friday during a run and though it is not serious it seems rest would be best for a few days. After this, though, I will be injury free!
8. Race less often. Jan and I will both be picking our races carefully and aiming for just a couple of really big events (big meaning important, wanting to run at our best, not size of event).
7. Beat Lou and Mike and any other Sal's runner who dares to race me at the Lake Placid 1/2 marathon on June 12.
6. Qualify for the Boston Marathon at a yet to be determined fall marathon. My 2012 qualifying time is 3:45:59, which should be doable, but I've said many times in the past whatever time I needed was doable and only made it once.
5. Commute to and from work on my bike much more often, saving the predicted $4 per gallon cost of gas, the drudgery of driving on I490/I390 to MCC, and helping my weight and racing goals.
4. 2011 is probably a year of not participating in a triathlon for me. I see another attempt at completing the 1/2 IM distance as a goal for 2012 or later.
3. Continuing to swim, especially in Canandaigua Lake during the summer, but only because I like it, not for any competition goal.
2. Lifting weights more and increasing the amount of weight I can lift, then I will get a V-shape instead of Pencilboy look. This has been a goal since high school, so maybe at 54 it is unlikely. But, I enjoy weight training, if I couldn't run much or at all I would lift a lot even if I didn't get bulging muscles. I believe weight training is more important the older we get.
1. Bike around three or more of the Finger Lakes. We seem to annually do Canandaigua, but this year I would like to add Keuka and Seneca Lakes. Staying overnight in this area and enjoying a winery or two might be a good reward for completing this endeavor.
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