Baltimore BOT-Fest

[Honeibee]

Oh Dave, what a fun video! She should be so proud! They should show it at her school.

 

[Optimator]

ALERT! ALERT!

The Biergarten no longer serves Optimator (The beer that is. They still served me!). They have some acceptable brews, but still...

And after a couple of days at the Food and Wine festival sampling suds from around the world my favorite was probably some good old Sam Adams Cream Stout. Exotic? No. Darn good? You bet.

 

[Jodi]

ALERT! ALERT!

The Biergarten no longer serves Optimator (The beer that is. They still served me!). They have some acceptable brews, but still...

Wait, WHAT. That SUCKS!! Why did I know that was going to happen? No more keg tapping & giant mug? Did you ask them WHAT they were thinking??

UGH!

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

ALERT! ALERT!

The Biergarten no longer serves Optimator (The beer that is. They still served me!). They have some acceptable brews, but still...

And after a couple of days at the Food and Wine festival sampling suds from around the world my favorite was probably some good old Sam Adams Cream Stout. Exotic? No. Darn good? You bet.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! So are you going to change your screen name now Mike?

 

[Optimator]

Wait, WHAT. No more keg tapping & giant mug?

Oh, there was still a giant mug to be had, just new brew choices: Altenmunster Oktoberfest, Weizen, Hovels, and Pilsner. I selected the the pilsner since I had already sampled the Oktoberfest and Hovels at a kiosk. It was quite acceptable.

Dave - I guess I'll keep the Optimator tag since I don't know how to type the two little dots above the U in Altenmunster.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Dave - I guess I'll keep the Optimator tag since I don't know how to type the two little dots above the U in Altenmunster.

I'm a big fan of those two little dots - the umlaut - I wish I had them in my name...

 

[Jodi]

Maybe the Optimator is gone only temporarily? So they can make room for Oktoberfest crap?? Mike, was anything you had as dark as the Optimator, though? I'm thinking about not returning to Disney now!

 

[Honeibee]

Hey Howard, how about you start that discussion about pre-MCM dinner???

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Hey Bots, my video of the Wine&Dine Half Marathon Course was put up on the blog if you want to take a look.

Video Tour of Disney's Inaugural Wine&Dine Half Marathon Course

 

[KeenHo]

Hey Howard, how about you start that discussion about pre-MCM dinner???

Ola BOTS!!!

Mike~ Sad news about the Optimator. I think I could get by with a Pilsner or follow Jodi's lead with another brew. However, that does suck.

Sorry I havent posted in a while... at least anything major. I have been quite busy. As you know last weekend I visited the Pavarini B & B in South Salem, NY for the Ridgefield Half. I ran a good race there, my second best half ever (1:55:51, 8:51 Pace) and this weekend I ran the Delaware Distance Classic 15K in reconrd time (for me at least) with a 1:18:40 / 8:25 Pace.

The Ridgefield race was cold at the start, but it quickly warmed up one I started moving. At the start, I was taken off guard when everyone bust forward. I wasn't quite ready. I was trying to eat a power bar. Well, I started with everyone else and saw Charlie's orange hat off in front and to my left. I did an around the right move and passed him, but fully thought he'd catch me and we'd run together (that didn't happen). I thought that Jodi and CindyLouBQ were out ahead and that I was simply not seeing them. So, I ran and I ran trying to "catch up" to them. I pushed the whole race thinking I wanted to catch up to them, and I wanted to keep ahead of Charlie since he beat me by a nose last year. Towards the stretch I kept looking back expecting him to be on my tail. He wasn't. Nor did I see Jodi or Cindy.

When I knew I could beat 2 hours, I felt good and I pushed it to the finish. I saw Judy there taking pics and scream teaming. When I walked back to her, she said I was the first of our group to finish. I literally didn't believe it. I was soon followed by Cindy, Charlie, Jodi, then Kelly. It was enjoyable, I liked how I pushed and was able to keep it moving at that pace. We all cooled off rapidly and made it back to the cars and home to clean up.

Today's DDC 15K race was warmer.. not by much but it was very good running weather. The distance isn't for the average 5Ker around here, the field is mostly made up of running clubs sending their top runners to snatch up bragging rights and some limited prize money. I started off well, and was able to maintain my pace pretty much throughout the race.

Miles: 9.34
Time: 1:18:41
Pace: 8:25
Splits: 8:29, 8:09, 8:11, 8:24, 8:27, 8:37, 8:25, 8:35, and 8:37.

The course is mainly flat, which helped, but there were a few pesky ups and downs. My previous course and distance PR was 1:20:06 in 2008.

I don't think I am ready for MCM quite yet, I need to get a couple of LR's in before then.

Speaking of MCM, Judy reminded me about the Saturday Dinner options. Last year a few of us (Bill, Lynda and family, Judy, Charlie, Kevin F.) went to Bertucci's or something similar. The year before, Cam, Denny and M'Lisse went to Maggiano's... I'd like to see if we can get a group together to go there and get reservations.

Here is the location and a link to them menu:

2001 International Drive
McLean , VA 22102

http://www.maggianos.com/EN/Pages/Menu.aspx?001.025.0071

Perhaps Mike and Kathy can vouch for it's delicious food and quality. I know it'll most likely be busy, but I assume we can get ressies. I'd be hapy to drive my car there and take up to 6 folks besides Cam.

Let me know what you think.... quickly. So we can get something planned.

Thanks! Have a great week!



Howard

 

[lourodrigis]

Hey BOTS!

Mike - Sorry about the Optimator. Glad they still have the tub of beer through.

Howard - Nice job on the 15K PR! Tell Cam I saw her co-worker Jessica at LBI yesterday. She blew by me around Mile 17 and we chatted at the finish.

The LBI 18-miler is in the books. Always a great race, even better when the weather was like yesterday. It was probably low 60's at the start with not a cloud in the sky. For the first time ever we had a little tail wind the entire race instead of the usual nasty head wind.

Instead of running an even pace I decided to run the first 6 miles at sub 8 mpm pace so that I could dog the last 6. That never seems to work as I get real tired around Mile 14 and struggled to keep a 9 mpm pace. I even got a little light headed twice and had to focus hard on the pavement in front of me.

Finished in 2:33:52 (8:34 mpm) with a 9-mile split of 1:12:58 8:06 mpm and 12-mile split of 1:39:24 8:17mpm. Always to go back to the St Francis Center for a shower and a huge buffet post race. These people run a great event every year.

Next up...a 26-mile training run this Sunday called the AC Marathon.

Lou

 

[Optimator]

Lou - Congrats on a good race. You are way ahead of me, fitness wise. Enjoy Atlantic City.

Howard - Again, those are some great runs.

Pre-MCM dinner: DD14 (yikes, how did she get to be 14?) has a band competition that Saturday somewhere around Richmond. I am one of the able body parents that gets to lug a huge two piece table/stage onto and off the field as part of their performance (some artsy-fartsy knights of the round table theme). I haven't seen the schedule yet but I assume it to be an all day affair. We'll see.

Running-wise, I had to cut my Friday 20 miler short at 12 miles due to some out of the blue knee pain. I took Sat and Sun off and everything felt fine for a 6 miler this morning. I'll try a LR later this week. The train wreck that will be MCM just gets more and more interesting.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Good Morning Everyone: I'm trying to keep up in the swing of training - ran 6 miles on Saturday, and did a short run yesterday. I wish I knew what was up with my shins and feet. I have a lot of soreness down there. Might be time to go back to the doctor.

Howard- nice job on your recent races. Wow, you are really consistent with your pace. I wish I could get down there at that speed, but right now I'd be happy with sub-10 mpm.

Lou- awesome job with your LBI 18 miler. Good luck with the AC marathon this weekend.

Mike- hope nothing's serious about that knee pain. Good luck with the rest of your training.

 

[Jodi]

Hey BOTS

Long time no talk

How's the knee, Mike?

How's the shins, Dave?

Howard - You are just a running machine. Any LRs planned before MCM? I wouldn't bother...I think you'll do just fine.

Lou - Glad LBI went well. AC is THIS weekend?? DOH. You'll be all set for NYC

And how are the rest of you BOTS? Don't make me list all your names, I'm getting too old to remember.

Well Bruce went for his stress test & other cardio-crap & they've found that he has an enlarged ventricle. They think because he has asthma that he's pretty much just "dealt" with for a long time, that his heart has been working too hard to get that blood into his pulmonary system, therefore causing the heart to enlarge. Not the heart, but the ventricle. Great. His primary told him today that he can still run & train for NYC, but he has to take it "easy". He has an echocardiogram on Tues. & will meet with the cardiologist later in the week to see what he should or shouldn't be doing. I think there is medication he can take to reduce the swelling & there's surgery, too. Right now he has to get is asthma under control so he can stop working so hard to breathe.

Training for NYC is going pretty good. Bruce ran 8 yesterday & I ran 6 today. I suppose I should get a LR in sometime soon . Feet are holding up...we'll see. We'll see what hurts Bruce more after his LR...his feet or his ventricle! .....

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

How's the shins, Dave?

Shins suck, but thanks for asking...

Well Bruce went for his stress test & other cardio-crap & they've found that he has an enlarged ventricle. They think because he has asthma that he's pretty much just "dealt" with for a long time, that his heart has been working too hard to get that blood into his pulmonary system, therefore causing the heart to enlarge. Not the heart, but the ventricle. Great. His primary told him today that he can still run & train for NYC, but he has to take it "easy". He has an echocardiogram on Tues. & will meet with the cardiologist later in the week to see what he should or shouldn't be doing. I think there is medication he can take to reduce the swelling & there's surgery, too. Right now he has to get is asthma under control so he can stop working so hard to breathe.

Training for NYC is going pretty good. Bruce ran 8 yesterday & I ran 6 today. I suppose I should get a LR in sometime soon . Feet are holding up...we'll see. We'll see what hurts Bruce more after his LR...his feet or his ventricle! .....

Wow, this sounds pretty major. So was this a scheduled stress test, or was Bruce having some sort of trouble? If he has to take it easy, then maybe he can just hang back, run with you, and you guys can have some quality couple time together. Seriously, I hope it's nothing to worry about. Best wishes to Bruce.

 

[KeenHo]

Howard - You are just a running machine. Any LRs planned before MCM? I wouldn't bother...I think you'll do just fine.

Well Bruce went for his stress test & other cardio-crap & they've found that he has an enlarged ventricle. They think because he has asthma that he's pretty much just "dealt" with for a long time, that his heart has been working too hard to get that blood into his pulmonary system, therefore causing the heart to enlarge. Not the heart, but the ventricle. Great. His primary told him today that he can still run & train for NYC, but he has to take it "easy". He has an echocardiogram on Tues. & will meet with the cardiologist later in the week to see what he should or shouldn't be doing. I think there is medication he can take to reduce the swelling & there's surgery, too. Right now he has to get is asthma under control so he can stop working so hard to breathe.

Jodi~ I plan on a LR this weekend of at least 15 and maybe one next weekend at 20, that should give me a full week to taper down and emulate some of the LA's around here.

I hope everything works out well for Bruce and his ventricle issue. Sounds like taking it easy is important, but by the nature of running a marathon, there is no taking it really easy. Take care of him. Maybe you should be theathered to each other during the marathon? Keep us posted on his upcoming tests and the results. Bruce and you are family.

I managed a run last night after work. I rushed home and got out just before 6 PM, it was dark by 6:30 PM (that sucks!).

Miles: 6.0
Time: 53:30
Pace: 8:55

Dave~ I hope you can turn your shin issue around. Pesky problems seem to follow us runners most of the time.

Lou~ Great run last weekend! Best of luck with the AC Marathon this weekend and New York ahead.

To all of the other BOTS, please check in: Colleen, Sara, Chester, Jen, CindyLouBQ, Cindy, Matt, Judy, Mike, Kathy, etc.



Howard

 

[Honeibee]

Geez, Jodi, see what living with you will do to a guy?

I'd better shut up. I'm going for my stress test this afternoon.

 

[mla1977]

Hi Bots! If my boyfriend goes away for the weekend I may sneak down to DC and either crash your prerace dinner or find a spot to cheer you on the course. He said something about going away for a few nights with his friends, but I'm not sure if it will be over the weekend or not.

Aaaanddd... I'm in for sure, no backing out and switching races. I'm doing the Marathon in January!

I'm hosting a Spooky Virtual Race. Check it out in my blog!

 

[Optimator]

If he has to take it easy, then maybe he can just hang back, run with you, and you guys can have some quality couple time together.

Wait, we like The Cloud. No reason to put him under any additional stress!

 

[Theta]

Good morning all!

Hope all have an exciting weekend plannned.

Well, not much training going on her in NC. Just couldn't put together anything more than 10 miles this fall, so I decided to defer my MCM until next year. That was probably a waste of another $30, because well, the knee, neck, hip, etc, etc, are ouchie!

Have a great day.