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Trails for Two

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They call me MISTER Fluff
Tim C
Mike MacLellan
Michele "1L" Keane
Julie
9 posters

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Trails for Two - Page 14 Empty Re: Trails for Two

Post  Mark B Sun May 14, 2017 12:08 am

ounce wrote:At least the location was thoughtful of the car, rather than out on the road.

I'll guess:
1.  water pump
2.  radiator hose
3.  radiator

Too far forward to be the heater core.

The mechanic thinks it's a bad freeze plug, but they won't know for sure until Monday.

In the meantime, our race went well. Smith Rock is gorgeous, and Alita made it through some amazingly steep sections (as in climbing on all fours) and pressed on after her bad knee (probably muscular) started sparking on the steep downhills.

After the race, I started working the phones and upgraded our AAA so they'd take our car home once it's fixed. The only cost was $29 to upgrade. I also checked our air miles and realized we had enough points to fly from Central Oregon to Portland ... for about 11 bucks. Sweet!

Now we just have to get home from the airport and live with one car and two jobs until the car arrives. Worst comes to worst, we rent a car for a few days.

It's not ideal, but it could be a heck of a lot worse.

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Post  ounce Sun May 14, 2017 9:55 am

Mark B wrote:
ounce wrote:At least the location was thoughtful of the car, rather than out on the road.

I'll guess:
1.  water pump
2.  radiator hose
3.  radiator

Too far forward to be the heater core.

The mechanic thinks it's a bad freeze plug, but they won't know for sure until Monday.

In the meantime, our race went well. Smith Rock is gorgeous, and Alita made it through some amazingly steep sections (as in climbing on all fours) and pressed on after her bad knee (probably muscular) started sparking on the steep downhills.

After the race, I started working the phones and upgraded our AAA so they'd take our car home once it's fixed. The only cost was $29 to upgrade. I also checked our air miles and realized we had enough points to fly from Central Oregon to Portland ... for about 11 bucks. Sweet!

Now we just have to get home from the airport and live with one car and two jobs until the car arrives. Worst comes to worst, we rent a car for a few days.

It's not ideal, but it could be a heck of a lot worse.
Ohhhhh, I didn't catch that "downtown Bend" was in Bend (I thought it was slang or someplace in Vancouver).

Freeze plugs, aka core plugs, welch plugs, or expansion plugs are designed to allow the engine block to be drained of coolant in cold weather to keep the water from freezing and cracking the engine block.  Even cylinder heads have freeze plugs...or at least they did. 

It takes a lot of miles and years to have one rust out, which looking at the age of your Ford, it's not surprising.  The mechanic should replace all of the freeze plugs on the block, which I'm sure he'll do.  I'm going to guess there are 3 freeze plugs on your 4 banger, one between each cylinder.

You might ask the mechanic to check on other things (engine mounts come to mind) to replace while the engine might be raised (I don't know how accessible the freeze plugs are).  The labor cost is getting the access to the freeze plugs.

Most water cooled engines (like farm tractors) have freeze plugs.  Air cooled engines (like an old VW Beetle) do not.

Good turn of events for y'all!
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Post  Michele "1L" Keane Sun May 14, 2017 11:00 am

Congrats on the race!!!!  And screw the car pics, where are the race photos?  

As for the car, check to see if your insurance covers a rental - it often does even for something like this.
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Post  Mark B Sun May 14, 2017 11:44 pm

Smith Rock Ascent - 15 mile race

Weather: Mixed. Warm sun, cold wind, partly cloudy, some snow-hail mix. Gear: Lone Peak 2s, shorts, T, pullover, jacket (stowed), gloves (stashed), hat.

Alita's first big trail race (not counting the Elijah Bristow timed event), and it proved to be a challenging one. There's a LOT of climbing in involved in this, which we understood, but we never expected the backside approach to Gray Butte, the 5,000-foot peak that marked the high point of the race. It was so steep -- on scree and loose dirt -- that at some points the only way to progress up was to go on all fours. It was righteously, insanely steep. Alita could barely make it up, resorting to taking 20 steps then resting briefly before going on. We have a 46-minute mile for that part of the run.

We made it to the top and were pleased with that. On the downhill portion, though, Alita's knee started acting up, and we ended up walking a lot of what would have been nice to run. The odd thing is, when she hit the flat or an uphill section, she could run without issue. Go downhill again, and it started hurting. She pressed on, though, toughing it out, and we made it to the end NOT in the DFL position. She got checked out and iced at the finish, and the knee is fine now. It was just too much for it, we think. 

The weather was fun. It had been 80 in Central Oregon a few days before, and we were getting frozen precipitation on our approach to Gray Butte. In a way, it was preferable over rain. It was sticking, too, but we didn't get enough for it to accumulate.

We saw the 15-mile winner, Max King, fly by us going the opposite direction early in the race. He looked relaxed and very, very fast. The guys trailing several minutes behind him looked like they were hurting.

The run went pretty well for me overall, though I felt super-chilled and surprisingly rotten afterward. I was better after a couple of hours, though.

Average HR for me: 130

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Post  Mark B Sun May 14, 2017 11:47 pm

ounce wrote:
Mark B wrote:
ounce wrote:At least the location was thoughtful of the car, rather than out on the road.

I'll guess:
1.  water pump
2.  radiator hose
3.  radiator

Too far forward to be the heater core.

The mechanic thinks it's a bad freeze plug, but they won't know for sure until Monday.

In the meantime, our race went well. Smith Rock is gorgeous, and Alita made it through some amazingly steep sections (as in climbing on all fours) and pressed on after her bad knee (probably muscular) started sparking on the steep downhills.

After the race, I started working the phones and upgraded our AAA so they'd take our car home once it's fixed. The only cost was $29 to upgrade. I also checked our air miles and realized we had enough points to fly from Central Oregon to Portland ... for about 11 bucks. Sweet!

Now we just have to get home from the airport and live with one car and two jobs until the car arrives. Worst comes to worst, we rent a car for a few days.

It's not ideal, but it could be a heck of a lot worse.
Ohhhhh, I didn't catch that "downtown Bend" was in Bend (I thought it was slang or someplace in Vancouver).

Freeze plugs, aka core plugs, welch plugs, or expansion plugs are designed to allow the engine block to be drained of coolant in cold weather to keep the water from freezing and cracking the engine block.  Even cylinder heads have freeze plugs...or at least they did. 

It takes a lot of miles and years to have one rust out, which looking at the age of your Ford, it's not surprising.  The mechanic should replace all of the freeze plugs on the block, which I'm sure he'll do.  I'm going to guess there are 3 freeze plugs on your 4 banger, one between each cylinder.

You might ask the mechanic to check on other things (engine mounts come to mind) to replace while the engine might be raised (I don't know how accessible the freeze plugs are).  The labor cost is getting the access to the freeze plugs.

Most water cooled engines (like farm tractors) have freeze plugs.  Air cooled engines (like an old VW Beetle) do not.

Good turn of events for y'all!

Yeah, we just made it home a few hours ago, flying in and having a neighbor pick us up. I think we've worked out a system where I'll drive Alita and Alec to school, head to work, then drop the car off at Alita's school, walk back to work, and then take the city bus home if I can't catch a ride home with someone at work.

I'd read that the freeze plugs might be near the timing belt area, so that'd be an obvious thing to replace if they've got it disassembled anyway.

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Post  Mark B Sun May 14, 2017 11:49 pm

Michele \"1L" Keane wrote:Congrats on the race!!!!  And screw the car pics, where are the race photos?  

As for the car, check to see if your insurance covers a rental - it often does even for something like this.

I'll see what I can do on photos.

Our auto insurance doesn't cover road service, but I'll check to be sure. Our AAA Plus didn't quite have enough oomph to allow reimbursement, but our new AAA Premium will, in the unlikely event we need it again.

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Post  Mark B Mon May 15, 2017 12:01 am

Trails for Two - Page 14 18425210

The start-finish line. The race begins by dropping you a couple hundred feet into the bottom of a canyon by the Crooked River, from whence you do all the further ascending.

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Partway up the first climb. If you look closely, you can see the starting area in the middle of the photo.

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The road up on the first big climb. This was pretty challenging, but it wasn't the REALLY steep part. I was too focused to stop and photograph that. And too scared I'd drop my camera and watch it go bouncing down the side of the mountain.

Trails for Two - Page 14 18425510

Alita and I, partway up the first climb.

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Views from the first climb.

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The scenery was spectacular, even though the High Cascade volcanoes were hidden by clouds.

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On our way back after summiting Gray Butte (that pointy mountain behind us), with maybe 4 miles to go before the finish.

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The finisher award - a nifty souvenir glass!

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Showing off the spoils of the day...

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... for both of us. Smile

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Post  ounce Mon May 15, 2017 9:29 am

Mark B wrote:
ounce wrote:
Mark B wrote:
ounce wrote:At least the location was thoughtful of the car, rather than out on the road.

I'll guess:
1.  water pump
2.  radiator hose
3.  radiator

Too far forward to be the heater core.

The mechanic thinks it's a bad freeze plug, but they won't know for sure until Monday.

In the meantime, our race went well. Smith Rock is gorgeous, and Alita made it through some amazingly steep sections (as in climbing on all fours) and pressed on after her bad knee (probably muscular) started sparking on the steep downhills.

After the race, I started working the phones and upgraded our AAA so they'd take our car home once it's fixed. The only cost was $29 to upgrade. I also checked our air miles and realized we had enough points to fly from Central Oregon to Portland ... for about 11 bucks. Sweet!

Now we just have to get home from the airport and live with one car and two jobs until the car arrives. Worst comes to worst, we rent a car for a few days.

It's not ideal, but it could be a heck of a lot worse.
Ohhhhh, I didn't catch that "downtown Bend" was in Bend (I thought it was slang or someplace in Vancouver).

Freeze plugs, aka core plugs, welch plugs, or expansion plugs are designed to allow the engine block to be drained of coolant in cold weather to keep the water from freezing and cracking the engine block.  Even cylinder heads have freeze plugs...or at least they did. 

It takes a lot of miles and years to have one rust out, which looking at the age of your Ford, it's not surprising.  The mechanic should replace all of the freeze plugs on the block, which I'm sure he'll do.  I'm going to guess there are 3 freeze plugs on your 4 banger, one between each cylinder.

You might ask the mechanic to check on other things (engine mounts come to mind) to replace while the engine might be raised (I don't know how accessible the freeze plugs are).  The labor cost is getting the access to the freeze plugs.

Most water cooled engines (like farm tractors) have freeze plugs.  Air cooled engines (like an old VW Beetle) do not.

Good turn of events for y'all!

Yeah, we just made it home a few hours ago, flying in and having a neighbor pick us up. I think we've worked out a system where I'll drive Alita and Alec to school, head to work, then drop the car off at Alita's school, walk back to work, and then take the city bus home if I can't catch a ride home with someone at work.

I'd read that the freeze plugs might be near the timing belt area, so that'd be an obvious thing to replace if they've got it disassembled anyway.
Yes, you are quite right on the freeze plug(s) are probably on the front of the block AND the end of the block, if there is room.  If he separates the engine from the transmission, then there's one or maybe two there.

If the water pump is blocking access to the timing belt, then consider replacing the water pump, too.  I don't know the engine size or year model, so I'm just winging it.  Maybe even some sort of sensors that are a booger to get to.
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Post  Mark B Mon May 15, 2017 10:07 am

ounce wrote:
Mark B wrote:
ounce wrote:
Mark B wrote:
ounce wrote:At least the location was thoughtful of the car, rather than out on the road.

I'll guess:
1.  water pump
2.  radiator hose
3.  radiator

Too far forward to be the heater core.

The mechanic thinks it's a bad freeze plug, but they won't know for sure until Monday.

In the meantime, our race went well. Smith Rock is gorgeous, and Alita made it through some amazingly steep sections (as in climbing on all fours) and pressed on after her bad knee (probably muscular) started sparking on the steep downhills.

After the race, I started working the phones and upgraded our AAA so they'd take our car home once it's fixed. The only cost was $29 to upgrade. I also checked our air miles and realized we had enough points to fly from Central Oregon to Portland ... for about 11 bucks. Sweet!

Now we just have to get home from the airport and live with one car and two jobs until the car arrives. Worst comes to worst, we rent a car for a few days.

It's not ideal, but it could be a heck of a lot worse.
Ohhhhh, I didn't catch that "downtown Bend" was in Bend (I thought it was slang or someplace in Vancouver).

Freeze plugs, aka core plugs, welch plugs, or expansion plugs are designed to allow the engine block to be drained of coolant in cold weather to keep the water from freezing and cracking the engine block.  Even cylinder heads have freeze plugs...or at least they did. 

It takes a lot of miles and years to have one rust out, which looking at the age of your Ford, it's not surprising.  The mechanic should replace all of the freeze plugs on the block, which I'm sure he'll do.  I'm going to guess there are 3 freeze plugs on your 4 banger, one between each cylinder.

You might ask the mechanic to check on other things (engine mounts come to mind) to replace while the engine might be raised (I don't know how accessible the freeze plugs are).  The labor cost is getting the access to the freeze plugs.

Most water cooled engines (like farm tractors) have freeze plugs.  Air cooled engines (like an old VW Beetle) do not.

Good turn of events for y'all!

Yeah, we just made it home a few hours ago, flying in and having a neighbor pick us up. I think we've worked out a system where I'll drive Alita and Alec to school, head to work, then drop the car off at Alita's school, walk back to work, and then take the city bus home if I can't catch a ride home with someone at work.

I'd read that the freeze plugs might be near the timing belt area, so that'd be an obvious thing to replace if they've got it disassembled anyway.
Yes, you are quite right on the freeze plug(s) are probably on the front of the block AND the end of the block, if there is room.  If he separates the engine from the transmission, then there's one or maybe two there.

If the water pump is blocking access to the timing belt, then consider replacing the water pump, too.  I don't know the engine size or year model, so I'm just winging it.  Maybe even some sort of sensors that are a booger to get to.

It's a 2.0-liter 16-valve "Zetec" engine in a 1999 Ford Escort ZX2. I'm hoping he can get to the plugs without pulling the engine, but I have my doubts.

Until then, we're a one-car family. I just dropped the wife and kid off at school. I'll drop the car off at her school during my lunch and walk back to my office, and then take the bus home to the nearest park-and-ride, where she'll pick me up. It's a bit of a hassle, but we'll survive.

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Post  Michele "1L" Keane Mon May 15, 2017 11:59 am

Maybe its time for a new vehicle as 1999, was the last time Prince partied.  Thanks for the photos - and it just re-enforces why I don't do trail running - I'm afraid of heights and I would have bailed at mile 1!   Common reaction for someone who had a bad knee as the jarring going down when it is that steep is not uncommon.  She can work on strengthening the quads and it will help.
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Post  Mark B Mon May 15, 2017 12:38 pm

Michele \"1L" Keane wrote:Maybe its time for a new vehicle as 1999, was the last time Prince partied.  Thanks for the photos - and it just re-enforces why I don't do trail running - I'm afraid of heights and I would have bailed at mile 1!   Common reaction for someone who had a bad knee as the jarring going down when it is that steep is not uncommon.  She can work on strengthening the quads and it will help.

We're going to embark on a quad-strengthening regimen as soon as the soreness wears off from the run. She held up really well, considering the lion's share of the 3,244 feet of descent came AFTER completing most of the 3,238 feet of climbing. Her quads nearly locked up on the one stretch where it took 46 minutes to do a mile. We were on all fours at some points, and our toes were so sore that night from climbing in those conditions that it was hard to sleep!

Her knee recovered quickly, though, and isn't bothering her now. That's why I'm 95% sure it's a strength issue.

We're hoping to keep the cars (we also have a 1997 Ford Contour with 235,000 miles on it) because we've got a kid about to head to college, and because newspaper editing jobs and special education paraeducator jobs are rewarding only in non-financial ways. Hopefully we can get a few more years out of them.


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Post  Michele "1L" Keane Mon May 15, 2017 3:51 pm

Mark B wrote:
Michele \"1L" Keane wrote:Maybe its time for a new vehicle as 1999, was the last time Prince partied.  Thanks for the photos - and it just re-enforces why I don't do trail running - I'm afraid of heights and I would have bailed at mile 1!   Common reaction for someone who had a bad knee as the jarring going down when it is that steep is not uncommon.  She can work on strengthening the quads and it will help.

We're going to embark on a quad-strengthening regimen as soon as the soreness wears off from the run. She held up really well, considering the lion's share of the 3,244 feet of descent came AFTER completing most of the 3,238 feet of climbing. Her quads nearly locked up on the one stretch where it took 46 minutes to do a mile. We were on all fours at some points, and our toes were so sore that night from climbing in those  conditions that it was hard to sleep!

Her knee recovered quickly, though, and isn't bothering her now. That's why I'm 95% sure it's a strength issue.

We're hoping to keep the cars (we also have a 1997 Ford Contour with 235,000 miles on it) because we've got a kid about to head to college, and because newspaper editing jobs and special education paraeducator jobs are rewarding only in non-financial ways. Hopefully we can get a few more years out of them.



I get that - about the college tuition thing - glad to be done.  I have experienced that same quad thing in a downhill race - yup all she needs is a little quad strengthening which doesn't necessarily require a gym.  Just get a 5-10 lb ankle weight, sit on the edge of a chair/couch/bench and do quad raises.  That is how I started years ago - and I still do them that way if pressed for time - with my 8 lb ankle weight for the 1980s.
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Post  Mark B Mon May 15, 2017 9:11 pm

Car update:

I just heard back from the mechanic, who traced the week to a pipe that connects the water pump to the thermostat. The pipe with metal, and had corroded all the way through. It needs to be replaced.

One small issue is that that pipe is not available anymore, but they can jury rig something with a hose. Aside from that, the biggest challenge is getting to the location, which would account for the bulk of the expense in labor costs. All in all, it is going to set us back about 400 bucks.

Could be a lot worse.

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Post  ounce Mon May 15, 2017 9:52 pm

Good news!  Have you regularly swapped out the anti-freeze over the life of the Escort?  If the mechanic has good knowledge of the Zetec, you might pick his brain on what you might be able to replace before it breaks, e.g. I had a '95 Dodge Spirit and it was recommended to change the timing belt before 125K.  I do a lot of preventative work, although lately the dealer hasn't told me about things to replace early. 

I tend to keep things until something really breaks, like when the Spirit started a deep knocking sound normally associated with crankshaft bearings wearing out.  I kissed it goodbye at 216K.
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Post  Mark B Mon May 15, 2017 10:13 pm

ounce wrote:Good news!  Have you regularly swapped out the anti-freeze over the life of the Escort?  If the mechanic has good knowledge of the Zetec, you might pick his brain on what you might be able to replace before it breaks, e.g. I had a '95 Dodge Spirit and it was recommended to change the timing belt before 125K.  I do a lot of preventative work, although lately the dealer hasn't told me about things to replace early. 

I tend to keep things until something really breaks, like when the Spirit started a deep knocking sound normally associated with crankshaft bearings wearing out.  I kissed it goodbye at 216K.

Uh... cough, cough... not as often as I probably should have. Embarassed

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Post  ounce Mon May 15, 2017 10:22 pm

Mark B wrote:
ounce wrote:Good news!  Have you regularly swapped out the anti-freeze over the life of the Escort?  If the mechanic has good knowledge of the Zetec, you might pick his brain on what you might be able to replace before it breaks, e.g. I had a '95 Dodge Spirit and it was recommended to change the timing belt before 125K.  I do a lot of preventative work, although lately the dealer hasn't told me about things to replace early. 

I tend to keep things until something really breaks, like when the Spirit started a deep knocking sound normally associated with crankshaft bearings wearing out.  I kissed it goodbye at 216K.

Uh... cough, cough... not as often as I probably should have. Embarassed
It's really pretty easy to drain and refill.  In light of your admission, you might ask the mechanic to inspect the radiator and heater hoses and check the serpentine.
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Post  Mark B Tue May 16, 2017 10:54 am

ounce wrote:
Mark B wrote:
ounce wrote:Good news!  Have you regularly swapped out the anti-freeze over the life of the Escort?  If the mechanic has good knowledge of the Zetec, you might pick his brain on what you might be able to replace before it breaks, e.g. I had a '95 Dodge Spirit and it was recommended to change the timing belt before 125K.  I do a lot of preventative work, although lately the dealer hasn't told me about things to replace early. 

I tend to keep things until something really breaks, like when the Spirit started a deep knocking sound normally associated with crankshaft bearings wearing out.  I kissed it goodbye at 216K.

Uh... cough, cough... not as often as I probably should have. Embarassed
It's really pretty easy to drain and refill.  In light of your admission, you might ask the mechanic to inspect the radiator and heater hoses and check the serpentine.

The serpentine is pretty new, actually. I'm pretty sure they went over everything as they were looking for the leak.

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Post  ounce Tue May 16, 2017 4:11 pm

Those were some nice photos.  Next time, attach a GoPro camera to your hat or vest.  There has to be some good audio grunting and cussing going on.

No rock as a prize, eh?
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Post  Mark B Wed May 17, 2017 9:54 am

ounce wrote:Those were some nice photos.  Next time, attach a GoPro camera to your hat or vest.  There has to be some good audio grunting and cussing going on.

No rock as a prize, eh?

There may have been cussing. Definitely some grunting when we were scrambling slowly up a firebreak (about 900 feet climbing in 2/3 of a mile) practically on all fours. That race gave me a whole new definition of the word "steep."

No rock this time. The souvenir glasses were sufficient. Very Happy

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Post  ounce Wed May 17, 2017 10:38 am

And did the minor child have all the beer cans and pizza boxes dutifully stowed in the hall closet?
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Post  Mark B Wed May 17, 2017 10:44 am

ounce wrote:And did the minor child have all the beer cans and pizza boxes dutifully stowed in the hall closet?

Pizza boxes were stacked on a kitchen counter. Dishes were piled up in the sink. Gonna have to teach him about this magic box called the dishwasher...

No beer cans. Carbonated beverages make him spew. He can't stand the fizz.

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Post  Mark B Thu May 18, 2017 10:58 am

Barefoot Run: 3.1 miles

Weather: Mostly clear, cool. 45-47° Gear: Bare feet, shorts, T, jacket (shed after warming up)

It's been hectic since coming back from Central Oregon (being a one-car family will do that), so today was my first opportunity to squeeze in a run since the Smith Rock 15 miler. (Though I did walk 1.5 to 2 miles per day.) My soreness has all ebbed, and my body was ready to go.

The run went well. I felt a little tightness in the sole of my left foot, which was odd, but it relaxed after a bit. My HR was solidly in the low HR target area, and my pace was good: 10:11, 10:02, 10:08. Three miles felt like enough this morning (and it was all I had time for, anyway), so it was all good.

Average HR for entire run: 137

---

Quick car update: The car is fixed (for LESS than the estimate!), but there was a hiccough getting it delivered back to The 'Couve. The AAA person I talked with said, categorically, they do NOT tow cars that are in operating condition. I went but-but-but they told me it was okay! When I got to the point where I said a supervisor had OK'd it on Saturday, they started checking and confirmed that someone higher up the food chain had made an exception for us. The tow company is supposed to pick it up in about 20 minutes from now. If all goes well, I'll have the car before lunch. Whew! That was a huge shot of adrenaline for so early in the morning, but I'm glad it's working out.


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Post  Mark B Fri May 19, 2017 10:54 am

Unplanned Uptempo Run: 3.36 miles

Weather: Partly cloudy, mild. 55° Gear: Topos, shorts, T.

Getting back into the swing of things with an unexpected uptempo run this morning. I started out with the intention of doing 3 or 4 miles at a low heart rate, but I was surprised to see a fairly peppy pace at a reasonable heart rate. I let my legs decide and went with it.

I didn't expect sub-10 in the second mile, but I decided to make it a 3-mile run since I was pushing it a little. Which, of course, gave my body permission to run a little harder in the third mile. What can I say? My splits/HR were 12:17/114 (5-min walking warmup); 9:55/143; 9:43/146. No wonder my legs were feeling it!

I walked the last quarter mile as a cool down.

Average HR for entire run: 130.

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Post  ounce Fri May 19, 2017 4:28 pm

Mark B wrote:
ounce wrote:And did the minor child have all the beer cans and pizza boxes dutifully stowed in the hall closet?

Pizza boxes were stacked on a kitchen counter. Dishes were piled up in the sink. Gonna have to teach him about this magic box called the dishwasher...

No beer cans. Carbonated beverages make him spew. He can't stand the fizz.
You realize when he goes to WSU that he'll need a letter from home to the fraternity he chooses to not make him drink beer during hazing or mixers. 

As an aside, boy, can you imagine the legal contract that exists now to join a fraternity?
Mark B wrote:Barefoot Run: 3.1 miles

Weather: Mostly clear, cool. 45-47°  Gear: Bare feet, shorts, T, jacket (shed after warming up)

It's been hectic since coming back from Central Oregon (being a one-car family will do that), so today was my first opportunity to squeeze in a run since the Smith Rock 15 miler. (Though I did walk 1.5 to 2 miles per day.) My soreness has all ebbed, and my body was ready to go.

The run went well. I felt a little tightness in the sole of my left foot, which was odd, but it relaxed after a bit. My HR was solidly in the low HR target area, and my pace was good: 10:11, 10:02, 10:08. Three miles felt like enough this morning (and it was all I had time for, anyway), so it was all good.

Average HR for entire run: 137

---

Quick car update: The car is fixed (for LESS than the estimate!), but there was a hiccough getting it delivered back to The 'Couve. The AAA person I talked with said, categorically, they do NOT tow cars that are in operating condition. I went but-but-but they told me it was okay! When I got to the point where I said a supervisor had OK'd it on Saturday, they started checking and confirmed that someone higher up the food chain had made an exception for us. The tow company is supposed to pick it up in about 20 minutes from now. If all goes well, I'll have the car before lunch. Whew! That was a huge shot of adrenaline for so early in the morning, but I'm glad it's working out.

Good news on the car.  Hopefully it'll behave itself, after its field trip.

Oh?  You run?  In 45 degree weather, too?
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Post  Mark B Sun May 21, 2017 3:47 pm

ounce wrote:You realize when he goes to WSU that he'll need a letter from home to the fraternity he chooses to not make him drink beer during hazing or mixers. 

As an aside, boy, can you imagine the legal contract that exists now to join a fraternity?

Alec in a fraternity? That's about as likely as me qualifying for the Olympic Trials Marathon. Totally not his personality.

Still, yeah. The contract. And imagine the liability insurance! affraid

ounce wrote:Good news on the car.  Hopefully it'll behave itself, after its field trip.

Oh?  You run?  In 45 degree weather, too?

The car's doing pretty well so far. Crossing fingers that it behaves itself.

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