Farewell For Now Eastport

 It was a beautiful downeast early winter morning! The bed felt so comfortable, but the good feeling after a workout can only come by doing a workout. I read my Bible, prayed, and then started my day. I did mostly the same workout as yesterday, but I did a loop around custom street and finished on the tracks and then up to The Motel East. The wind was strong out of the north, but the horizon was clear and bright. I came across a good number of deer and a man walking his dog on the end of the Deep Cove Road. Here are the stats, 9.63 miles in 2:27:02 for a 15:16 minute per mile pace with an average heart rate of 88 bpm with an elevation gain of 664 feet with an average cadence of 129 spm at 25 degrees. Life seemed perfect and still for today. Thank you Lord for this place that still feels like home.

Monday(Hope), Tuesday(Eastport)

 I started the weekend with a Covid test which was negative. On Sunday I headed to my parents in Hope. I made it there after a pitstop in Gardiner to exchange Christmas gifts. On Monday I did the Howe Hill loop. I had a surprisingly good workout. I did 9.07 miles in 2:18:35 for a 15:16 minute per mile pace with an average heart rate of 112 bpm with an elevation gain of 732 feet with an average cadence of 129 spm at 24 degrees on a beautiful Maine morning. This morning(Tuesday) I did 9.42 miles in 2:23:38 for a 15:14 minute per mile pace with an average heart rate of 98 bpm with an elevation gain of 522 feet with a cadence of 129 spm at 25 degrees on a cloudy downeast morning. I was so pleased to see my son-in-law Antonio at his work site. He’s such a hard worker with incredible ambition. God bless him!

Snowy Conclusion

 I woke up worrying a bit about my fighting off a cold. I lingered in bed, finally deciding to venture onto the roads. Even though my pace was moderate I realized that I was fine. I am glad that I have not needed to press the pace. The roads were covered with a coat of snow. The snow seems as if a Christmas gift. I decided on doing the figure 8 loop, but changed it doing the Randall road rather than traversing to the Woodlot loop. The distance is almost identical. I did 9.26 miles in 2:25:23 for a 15:42 minute per mile pace with an average heart rate of 127 bpm with an elevation gain of 197 feet with a cadence of 130 spm at 31 degrees. Thank you Lord for your blessings.

Day 1 of Vacation

 Today was a bit odd. I just feel a bit off. There is a lot of expectations and a lot of unknowns. I pray that I remain healthy and I make it to Maine. I headed out later and headed to the Ridge Loop. I did 9.41 miles in 2:18:28 for a 14:43 minute per mile pace with an 88 bpm average heart rate with an elevation gain of 237 feet with a cadence of 131 bpm at 31 degrees. I’m looking to you Lord.

Shortest Day/Last Day

 Today is simultaneously the shortest day of the school year and my last day of school for 2021. I did 9.07 miles in 2:25:08 for a 14:53 minute per mile pace with an average heart rate of 130 bpm with an elevation gain of 243 feet with an average cadence of 133 spm at 44 drizzly degrees. This year just feels different, but I am thankful for good health . Thank you Lord for your many blessings!

Recovery

 Yesterday had it’s school challenges. Today was a bit better. I did the Medford/Randall Loop doing 9.2 miles in 2:19:21 for a 15:09 minute per mile pace with an average heart rate of 118 bpm with an elevation gain of 224 feet with an average cadence of 133 spm at 36 degrees. Nice workout! God bless!

Christmas Week

 I’m trying to live in grateful, despite the unknowns and problems of the day. This time of year can easily become dulled by allowing the everyday issues of the day to crowd out the optimism of our eternity with Christ. The birth of Christ is a glorious occasion and brought hope to this dark world. The promise of hope is sealed by the blood of Jesus Christ. I pray that many people will accept this gift this Christmas season. A gift must be accepted to come to fruition. The promises of God only come through Christ. 

On the workout side of things I did the Longwood Loop doing 9.11 miles in 2:18:32 for a 15:12 minute per mile pace with an average heart rate of 102 bpm with an elevation gain of 261 feet with an average cadence of 131 spm at 27 degrees. Today I tried to soak in the sites, sounds, and smells of the season. God bless you!

Tired but Victorious

 I was tired, but thankfully I got around and got the workout done. I did the Woodlot, Ridge, 2 x Ryan , Randall Loop. Thankfully I didn’t see the workout squasher this morning on Whiskey Road. I did 9.03 miles in 2:15:45 for a 15:01 minute per mile pace with an average heart rate of 148 bpm with an elevation gain of 255 feet with an average cadence of 131 spm at 53 mild degrees. Thankfully I had decent workouts this week. One week and one day until Christmas. Grateful for Jesus!

A Change

  I did the Ridge Loop this morning. I headed out on the late side of usual time. This was the morning where there were a lot of little things that didn’t go quite right, but the big picture worked out okay. My watch paused for no reason for a little over a mile. I did 9.2 miles in around 2:18:00 for approximately a 14:50 minute per mile pace at approximately with approximately 272 foot elevation gain and approximately 113 bpm heart rate with an average cadence of 134 spm at 52 degrees. Nice quiet morning. God is good!

Countdown

 One week from today we start our Christmas break. This morning I was a bit slow getting out, thankfully I was faster getting around. I did the local figure eight plus. I did 9.12 miles in 2:13:57 for a 14:40 minute per mile pace with an average heart rate of 115 bpm with an elevation gain of 207 feet with an average cadence of 135 spm at 38 degrees. I saw 3 falling stars yesterday morning and 1 this morning. This morning’s you could see the tail of the comet as it slowly disintegrated in the low skies. I always try to be a bit more tuned into things this Christmas time of the year. God bless you!

Improving

 Today I started out kind of moderate, but gradually kept lowering my pace.  I did the Medford/Randall route doing 9.13 in 2:15:48 for a 14:52 minute per mile pace with an average heart rate of 125 bpm with an elevation gain of 205 feet with an average cadence of 132 spm at 43 degrees. I made it to work on time. God bless.

Good For a Monday

 Even with the early start and good pace, I just made it a little early. At least I didn’t feel rushed. I did the Longwood Loop doing 9.11 miles in 2:16:14 for a 14:57 minute per mile pace with an average heart rate of 117 bpm with an elevation gain of 299 feet with an average cadence of 130 spm at 42 degrees. The sky was just a beautiful pink and blue color on the horizon.  I didn’t see the school kids or the dog walker as I was a little early. I’m looking to the Lord. Thank you Lord for your goodness!

Good Going

 Somedays things kind of click. Today was one of them. I was a bit faster than usual. I even did my high rep deadlifts before school. I made it to school early. You can’t can’t count on these days, but they are nice when they happen.  I did the Woodlot, Ridge, Randall Loop doing 9.08 in 2:11:35 for a 14:29 minute per mile pace with an average heart rate of 149 bpm with an average cadence of 133 spm with an elevation gain of 236 feet at a temperature of 38 degrees. I am blessed in many ways.

A Bit More Positive

  I headed out on the early side of on-time.  I was slow, but had no hold-ups other than the pace . I did the Longwood Loop again. I did 9.1 miles in  2:18:59 for a 15:16 minute per mile pace with an average heart rate of 158 bpm with an elevation gain of 293 feet with a cadence of 130 spm . Tired bit pleased. God bless!

A Little Irritated

 Somehow redoing my password on my phone for the Nike app erased my data for the month. So for today’s workout, I have some scant data. Today I did the Longwood Loop doing 9.13 miles in 2:18:42 for a 15:11 per mile pace. I am blessed in that even though I am slow I can get the work in and make it to work on time. God bless you!

Slow , But Staying Positive

 I did 9.11 miles i approximately 2:20 for approval a 15:18 minute per mile pace. I hit the stop rather than the restart button. Hopefully I am more with it tomorrow Made it to work on time. Have a blessed day!

Wet and Tired

 I have been tired and slow. I need a little bit of a boost. Today I did 3 x The Woodlot Loop. My watch stopped a few times— so some stats other than the distance total is an estimate. I did 9.06 miles in a little of 2:20 for a 15:30 ish minute per mile pace. A lot going on. My daughter Ericka is staying with us and my three granddaughters. It’s a blessing. God bless you!

So Slow, but still a go!

 I was ahead of schedule, getting around much earlier. I just could not overcome inertia. I finished slightly earlier, but I took so long getting my workout clothes off. I did the Medford/Randall loop because I’m kind of tired of seeing the guy walking the dog when I finish up . I did 9.24 miles in 2:22:15 for a 15:23 minute per mile pace with an average heart rate of 169 bpm with a cadence of 132 spm with an elevation gain of 444 feet. Blessed day!

Disguised Blessing

 Today I started slightly ahead, fell a bit behind, but made it on time. I did 3 x Woodlot Loop. On the second lap, my running app kept pausing— finally closing. Fortunately, I restarted the app up so I could record the entire distance. I did 9.11 miles in 2:15:57 for a 14:53 minute per mile pace with an elevation gain of 216 feet with an average heart rate of 142 bpm at 39 degrees with an average cadence of 132 spm.  So grateful for these workouts. First day of December.