EQT10-mile training – Week 7 10/6/15

Fall in Western Pennsylvania. It brings to mind images like this:

Colors flourish during the fall in the Keystone State. (Photo from visitpa.com.)

Sure, pictures of fall foliage are pretty to look at, but, let’s face it, Western Pennsylvania weather doesn’t usually permit much time to enjoy the view.

Instead, we’re usually treated to sites like these every fall:

Wind, rain and dropping temperatures are part of every fall in Western Pennsylvania. (Photo from edgarsnyder.com.)

Training for late-season races, like the EQT Pittsburgh 10-miler, require logging miles in mucky, yucky, wet and windy conditions,which hit the region last week. Naturally, the bad weather coincided with the toughest week of training. Those following Fleet Feet Sports’ Train to Run program – like myself – faced a trio of 6-mile runs to go with a 9-mile jaunt. It created some interesting conditions in what had been an unusually warm and gentle weather cycle.

9/28  – A day after trekking up the sizable hill to my house, I opted for a course with a couple climbs, a mile or so on the Five Star Trail and finished 6.14 miles in 52:05.

9/30 – Made a left turn in a place I usually take a right and ended up running through Southwest Greensburg a bit. Ended up strolling along College Avenue,. eventually rolling though Academy Hill and St. Clair Park before heading home. The wind was strong and in my face for a long stretch of the run. It reminded me of running along Swan Beach at the Outer Banks during nor’easters. Not fun, but it makes a runner stronger. Did 6.06 miles in 51:45.

10/2 – The cooler temperatures were nice, but the wind wasn’t highly appreciated. So, on Friday, I sought a flatter run. I went through South Greensburg, went through Midway and caught Five Star Trail for a few miles before making a left at Sunset Cafe (great place to eat – the calamari is terrific) and returning home. Covered 6.56 miles in 55:02. Easily the best run of the week.

10/4 – The big day arrived. The longest run of the 10-week training program. After getting decent sleep, two mugs of coffee and some water, I went the same way as Friday’s run with a couple small variations to add distance. After taking Five Star Trail for about 3.5 miles, I hit Lynch Field. Now, during longer runs, I’ve noticed my brain stops complex functions. At some point, determination and stubborness  takes over, and it usually comes between miles 5 and 6. Keep in mind, this doesn’t happen for a 6-mile run, only when the run is 7 miles or longer. Not sure why. Anyway, the brain shut off before descending into Lynch Field, which is why – at Mile 8 – I opted to turn into Academy Hill. For the next sixth-tenths of a mile, I was running uphill. My pace slowed, my breathing intensified, but I made it. And I kept going. I covered 10.12 miles in 1:26.40. It took 9:35 to cover my ninth mile and 9:07 to cover the 10th.Other than that, my pace was great and, most importantly, my confidence for Oct. 25 is sky-high.

EQT 10-mile training – Week 6 9/28/15

Not an Iron Maiden fan. Never have been, even with my musical roots firmly planted in the 1980s. But, when it comes to running in Greensburg – and most of Western Pennsylvania, hills are an unavoidable circumstance when piling miles on to a workout plan. That’s why my mind often thinks about “Run to the Hills.”

Now, this blogger has lived in tons of hilly neighborhoods – Dormont, South Park and Bethel Park among them. None of those communities seem to hold the number undulating roads as the City of Greensburg.

My home is located on Summit Drive, and it’s aptly named. If Summit Drive isn’t the highest point within the city limits, it’s awfully close.

Before left-calf injury No. 1, which happened in August of 2014, ascending Summit Drive to finish runs was a regular accomplishment. Over time, I found five different access points to scale the hill toward Summit Drive – each a different type of brutal.

Following left-calf injury No. 2 and a right-foot sprain and the subsequent decline in endurance and leg strength, climbing Mt. Summit became too much. During the first five week of following Fleet Feet Sports’ training program for the EQT Pittsburgh 10-miler, I didn’t attempt a full run up the hill home.

That changed in Week 6.

9/21/15 – More than a week passed since a treadmill run, so the timing was appropriate to work on consistent pacing again. A five-mile run in under 41 minutes, never running slower than a 7.4 mph pace.

9/23/15 – Back to the street of Greensburg for a run with a steady incline between miles 2.0 and 4.5. Yep, poor planning on my part. Traversed 6.43 miles in 54:58. Later that day, did a 5:30 p.m. spin class with Erin at LA Fitness. Talked to the instructor, my boy Kevin, before class. I told him about my run, and he told me about his 9:15 a.m. class. We questioned our collective sanity in tackling a second test of endurance that day so, naturally, he made class tougher than usual. Glad I did it.

9/25/15 – For the second consecutive week, Erin was working in Pittsburgh on Sunday, so that meant I had to get Anna to Sunday School. That eliminated Sunday as a long run day. I set out Friday morning for an 8-miler, and it was a strong run. Mile 7 was at a 7:47 pace, and I finished 8.44 miles in 1:11.00, including a 78-second stop for traffic at Huff Ave.

9/27/15 – The legs were slightly weak from Friday’s run, but, on Sunday while  Anna was in Sunday school, I put in 4.79 miles in 39:57. Miles 1-4 were strong, with paces ranging from 7:50 to 8:08. After Mile 4, it was time to climb Mt. Summit. The next .79 miles weren’t fast – it was a 9:50 pace – but I made it from the bottom of the hill to my front door. A huge barrier knocked down.

EQT 10-mile training – Week 5 9/22/15

Inspiration, move me brightly. light the song with sense and color;
Hold away despair, more than this I will not ask.
Faced with mysteries dark and vast, statements just seem vain at last.

Some rise,
Some fall,
Some climb,
To get to Terrapin.

Counting stars by candlelight, all are dim but one is bright;
The spiral light of Venus, rising first and shining best,
On, from the northwest corner, of a brand new crescent moon,
While crickets and cicadas sing, a rare and different tune,
Terrapin station.
In the shadow of the moon,
Terrapin station.
And I know we’ll get there soon,

(Terrapin! )
I can’t figure out,
(Terrapin! )
If it’s the end or beginning,
(Terrapin! )
But the train’s put it’s brakes on,
(Terrapin! )
And the whistle is screaming,
Terrapin!

Let my inspiration flow!

Those words – written by Robert Hunter, sung sweetly and soulful by Jerry Garcia and performed by the Grateful Dead – are goose bump-inducing. “Terrapin Station” – an epic, multi-part anthem performed 302 times by the Dead beginning in early 1977 – produces a state of euphoria. Its lyrics inspire freedom, and, for me, it’s the perfect running song. When a run begins to flatline and “Terrapin” enters my headphones, my legs and lungs find something extra. It’s like Jerry’s voice is guiding me through the run. My lips mouth the words. Sometimes, my arms even raise in triumph. (Yep, if you’ve seen a short, headband-wearing dud running the streets of Greensburg while jamming out, it’s me.)

Sound stupid? Maybe to some, but, to me, the right music is as essential to running as stretching, the right shoes, hydration and determination.

Music is moving, and the right songs can shave seconds off the pace and help set personal bests.

Generally, I prefer running to the Dead. From “Bertha” to “Promised Land” to “China Cat Sunflower/I Know You Rider” to “Morning Dew” to “Touch of Grey,” the Dead’s expansive and easily accessible catalog provides ample choices for this runner, but it’s certainly not the only band worth a listen when pounding pavement or staring at the television screen on a treadmill. Glam/hard rock like KISS, Guns n’ Roses, Motley Crue and Tesla get the job done. So does rap, particularly the early 1990s gangsta sounds of Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Nate Dogg (R.I.P.) and company. Eminem usually works, too. I’m not likely to see Foo Fighters live, but no song makes me dig deeper than “Walk.” I’ve nearly pushed myself to tears while listening to that amazing call to action. Matthew Wilder’s “Break My Stride,” Katy Perry’s “Roar” and DJ Khaled’s “All I Do Is Win” work perfectly.

It doesn’t matter what music moves you, but it is important to play the right music for you when breaking down barriers and going for goals.

Music played an integral role in a solid week of training for the EQT Pittsburgh 10-miler.

9/14/15 – Last week, I said on this blog that I didn’t mind missing Sunday’s long run because of illness. That’s only part true. Missing a run made me determined to make up for things, even if my sinuses weren’t cooperating.

After dropping Anna off at school and walking Ringo, I went to the basement for a programmed, 30-minute ride on a stationary bike. A couple moderate hills helped provide resistance and I covered 11.1 miles in 30 minutes. From there, me, myself and my tissues hit the streets for a 4.52-mile run in 34:39. My first mile was a 7:50 pace. The second mile was 7:12. Seven friggin’ 12! The third mile was 7:33.

Not going to fib, I surprised myself.

9/15/15 – Kicked the distance up to 5.38 and got it done in 43:58 – not as fast as Monday’s run but a solid pace.

9/16/15 – Erin had a rare Wednesday off, so we did spin class together. Great ride. Felt it for hours after completion.

9/17/15 – A couple of variables forced changes in schedule for the fifth week of training. 1. Erin was off Wednesday and Friday, and since I missed the long run in Week 4, doing two spin classes sounded like a good idea; and, 2. Erin was working in Pittsburgh Sunday. Anna needed to get to Sunday School and church, so that meant Sunday was not a good day for my long run.

So, with legs still tired from spin class, I stumbled onto the streets of Greensburg, where I completed a 7.03-mile run in 1:01.04. Given Greensburg’s terrain, hills were unavoidable, and I encountered four of them on this run. It was tiring, my pace wasn’t outstanding, but I conquered the distance.

9/18/15 – Second spin class of the week and, for the first time in 2-plus years of spinning, I didn’t enjoy the class. The music mix had too much pop. Only one song – Eminem’s “‘Till I Collapse” – moved me. About 50 minutes into class, I was wishing I lifted weights instead, but I finished anyway.

9/19/15 – I digested plenty of vegetables Friday, which made Saturday morning slightly uncomfortable, but I had to get out before Anna’s 11 a.m. soccer game. I covered 5.23 miles in 43:09 – another decent, but not great run.

EQT 10-mile training – Week 4 9/15/15

It’s inevitable, barring an iron-clad constitution or an impenetrable immune system. Elementary-aged children catch some sort of cold early in the school year. Most parents soon follow.

Count me, and my wife Erin, among the many whose defenses were rendered useless to whatever nasty viruses Anna brought home from Amos K. Hutchinson Elementary School last week. By Wednesday, my sinuses were filled. By Friday night at work, they were releasing their nastiness en mass. I must have went through 15 tissues at work that night and sneezed enough to make a case to be part of an allergy study.

Running with a cold means my shirt is often a handkerchief. Whatever works!

The cold was mostly a functional cold but, by Sunday, getting in a long run was going to be difficult. So, please don’t shame me, I skipped my first run in my Train to Run program with Fleet Feet Sports. (Don’t worry. I’m making up for it this week, even if the sniffles still persist and last week was a taper-down week.)

9/7/15 – A day following a successful 6.5-mile group run with the Fleet Feet Flyers, I hit the streets and put in 4.22 miles in 35:08. Not great, but not bad coming off my longest run since the Pittsburgh Marathon.

9/8/15 – A much-needed weight training session. One thing I’m struggling with during my 10-week training program is finding the time to lift.

9/9/15 – Congestion kicked in, but I surprised myself by running 4.03 miles on a treadmill at LA Fitness Greensburg in 32:48 following a brief weightlifting session.

9/10/15 – After lifting with Erin for about 45 minutes, I went back to the treadmill and put in another 4.03 miles in 32:45. Not going to lie, getting the two treadmill runs in while feeling under the weather bolstered my confidence. It wasn’t something I would have done when I was running well. I would have skipped the miles, chalking it up to not feeling well.

9/11/15 – Spin class with Erin. I CRUSHED IT!!!!! After class I told Erin, “The beast is back.” I ate those words 48 hours later.

9/12/15 – Coaching my daughter Anna’s U8 soccer team. Somehow coaching a team with 14 kids ages 6 & 7 is as tiring as a tough run.

9/13/15 – Sunday was the worst day in terms of congestion. I played hookie and didn’t feel terrible about it.

On to Week 5.

EQT 10-mile training – Week 3 9/7/15

Stumbled on this Facebook post last week.

For those not interested in clicking, it’s a photo with a fill-in caption that read, “I run ________.”

My initial thought, maybe because it was morning, was, “I run to the bathroom after my morning coffee.” Then, it switched to, “I run because I love icing-filled donuts, cake and french fries.”

Then, I stopped being a smartass for 15 seconds and thought about it. My answer is “I run because my life depends on it.”

That’s a pretty dramatic statement and, no, I won’t drop dead if I stopped running today, but everyone has a motivation, and living is mine. Both of my grandmothers died from a heart attack. One of my grandfathers suffered multiple heart attacks. My father had one when he was in his early 50s. I have no desire finding out first-person.

While running regularly is no guarantee I won’t have a heart attack at some point, it’s provided ample health benefits – injuries of the past year aside. It also alleviates symptoms of after-work problems, which can be numerous in the highly stressful, demanding world of newspapers. There’s that point of every run where I forget about work or whatever else is bothering me. It’s just me, the run and my music, a journey to the finish line and a feeling of overwhelming satisfaction upon achieving goals.

Speaking of goals, a few more were met during my third week of following Fleet Feet Sports’ training program for the EQT Pittsburgh 10-miler.

8/31/15 – I used to love running in heat. These days, not so much, but I went out and put in 4 miles in 32:48 while focusing on form and speed. My second mile was at a 7:50 pace, something I hadn’t approached in some time. My run concluded about a mile from my home (poor planning on my part) so I did a light jog in intervals heading back to Casa de Kovak.

9/1/15 – Spent more than four hours scrambling to finish clearances in order to coach an U8 soccer team, which includes my daughter. Ended up having time to ride the stationary bike in the basement at Level 7 resistance for 40 minutes. My special twist to the workout – 40 push-ups before and after the ride, and every 10 minutes during the ride. Two-hundred push-ups and 40 minutes of resistance riding is a killer calorie burner.

9/2/15 – Mondays were previously reserved for treadmill running. Last week, Wednesday was Treadmill Day and I knocked out 5 miles in 41:44. Later that day, Bob Shooer and Karen Harr from Fleet Feet stopped by the Observer-Reporter offices for my latest podcast. Check it out here.

9/3/15 – First weight training of the week. Good times.

9/4/15 – I didn’t drink a drop of alcohol Thursday but I felt hungover Friday. I was tired, my head hurt and my lungs were tight. Undaunted, the streets of Greensburg called and, somehow, I muddled through 5.03 miles in 43:32. Total struggle.

9/6/15 – More weight training.

9/7/15 – Woke up at 6:05 a.m. and made my way to the Strip District for my second group run with the Fleet Feet Flyers. My goal was to finish a 6.5-mile course, which I did, feeling strong for most of the run. For a portion of the circuit, I ran with Dave (I think) of Mt. Lebanon. He didn’t run his first marathon until 53, and he’s finished six of them since starting. Really enjoyed the conversation, which lasted about 2 miles.

On to Week 4.

‘Warde,’ old dad

“My dad is warde.”

That sentence was the first one my daughter, Anna, wrote in first grade. She started first grade last Wednesday and, a few days ago, she came home, we began to go through her folder, and she pulled out a piece of paper with several written sentences.

For those unfamiliar with early first grade handwriting/spelling, “warde” means weird. The first sentence Anna wrote as a first-grade meant to read, “My dad is weird.”

Anna was pumped for her first day of first grade. Sorry for the shadow.

Well, Anna is right. I’m a little off. I must be having worked nights and weekends the past 18 years. Then again, I’m fairly certain I’ve never come across anyone normal. So, in my opinion, we’re all a little “warde.”

The sentence caught me off-guard, though. For years, I was Anna’s self-described “best friend.” She loved my music, pretended to pay attention to Pitt basketball and the Pirates and put me on a pedestal.

Things shifted during kindergarten and, by Father’s Day, I knew exactly where I ranked. The homemade card read,” Dad, you’re still my friend but you’re not my best friend.” On her list of best friends, I now rank eighth.

In reality, I probably rank a little lower and, while it’s a bruise to the ego, it’s also OK. Anna looks at me sometimes like I have an ear growing from my forehead, especially when I’m jamming in the car. She still goes to hold my hand but, once she realizes what she’s doing, Anna quickly pulls back. Rock music is no longer appreciated. It’s all Taylor Swift and Katy Perry all the time.

When I drop her off at Hutchinson Elementary, I tell her, “Love you, kiddo.” She replies, “OK, dad.” She shuts the door and heads up the stairs to school. I watch her walk up before I pull away. For a few seconds, I think about old times and where life may take her. To me, she’s still my little buddy. I’ll probably always think of her that way.

EQT 10-mile training – Week 1 recap 8/23/15

“You have to remember, you’re starting at zero base.”

Julie Amsdell, director of marketing for Fleet Fleet Sports Pittsburgh, said that to me during a fitting Thursday at the store.

Easier said than done, but this 41-year-old is getting comfortable with the fact my fitness is nowhere near where it was 13 months ago. And, in order to successfully build up and train, for the EQT 10-miler, which takes place Oct. 25, it’s something I continually reminded myself during the first week of training.

Unlike most people training for the race through Fleet Feet, I didn’t get started until Wednesday (two days later than the Train to Run program kicked off) and was unable to attend the first Sunday group run. The goal is to get to next Sunday’s run.

Day 1 (8/19/15) – Took part in morning spin class at LA Fitness Greensburg. Class lasted 60 minutes, and it was intense. My weight before class was 150.5 pounds.

Day 2 (8/20/15) – Took part in a brief 30-minute weight training session (core and back the focus) then took part in my first run in two months. I went 3.1 miles on a treadmill in 25:30. The pace was 7.3 miles per hour. I chose a treadmill so I couldn’t slow my pace.

Day 3 (8/21/15) – My legs were sore, but I took part in another spin class at LA Fitness Greensburg. This class lasted 65 minutes, and as the instructor Kevin told me afterward, it’s one of his two toughest rides.

Day 4 (8/22/15) – My first outdoor run since June 21, and I was unable to meet my pre-run goals mainly because I wasn’t ready to conquer the giant hill leading back to my house. (It’s called Summit Drive for a reason). Covered 3.64 miles in 30:08 according to Map My Run. Tired between miles 2 and 3 and endured cottonmouth near the end.

The Adidas men’s Supernova Glide Boost 7 won the “run-off” Thursday at Fleet Feet Sports Pittsburgh.

Day 5 (8/23/15) – Second consecutive outdoor run took place at Twin Lakes Park. Two laps around the lakes covered 4.62 miles in 40:49 according to Map My Run. The trail around the lakes undulates in some places and includes a decent hill with a winding path. As I expected, my pace slowed on the miles with the hill included, but, my lungs felt better than Day 4.

My weight at the end of Week 1 is 149.5 pounds. I lost a pound despite having birthday cake everyday since Thursday, which happened to be my 41st birthday.

On to Week 2.

Countdown to racing season

Gone with “Road to Recovery.” Hello to “Countdown to racing season.”

Is the left calf 100 percent healed? Not exactly. And the right calf gets awfully tight sometimes, but neither ailment is enough to be considered a hindrance toward impending goals.

And that’s why it’s time to be out with the old.

A couple weeks ago, a friend who runs a paralegal service here in Greensburg and who is a physically fit marvel, made a fitness-changing suggestion via a Facebook message.

“Have u tried compression socks when running?”

Now, compression socks became part of my life five, six months ago. Wore them to walk the dog. Wore them after the gym. Wore them to work. Wore them after visiting the chiropractor. Not once did I wear them to run.

Well, now both legs are adorned with compression socks every time I run, whether it’s a long, time-consuming one to bolster distance endurance; a hilly battle of survival on the streets of Greensburg and its surrounding areas; or a shorter, fast-paced burst to improve speed and kicks. Those socks may look odd, but they’ve been a fitness blessing.

And they’ve helped me become re-energized for the upcoming racing season.

First up is the Pittsburgh Marathon, which takes place Sunday, May 3 (the same day as our seventh wedding anniversary). I’ll be part of a relay team, headed by the friend who suggested compression socks to run with. From there, the plan is to sign up for some 5k, 10k, 10-mile and possibly an adventure race or two while gearing toward the Greensburg Half-Marathon, which usually takes place in late September.

Then, in 2016, barring any significant setbacks, I’m running the Pittsburgh Marathon in its entirety.

Road to recovery, 2/18/15

Metallica’s “Fade to Black” filled the room with a melodic, thumping beat. It’s delicate guitar – Kirk Hammett is an ax master – and surging tempo offers the perfect backdrop for a difficult climb.

Forty people – Wednesday’s morning spin class at LA Fitness Greensburg was a sell-out – catapulted from their seats and piled on the gears to reach the instructor’s desired RPMs. Not sure about the other 39 people in class, but hard rock/heavy metal songs coupled with a difficult climb get the adrenaline pumping. I couldn’t stop smiling throughout the song, even if the sweat started rolling off my head.

We were about 20 minutes into a particularly difficult 60-minute spin class, and I’m partly to blame for everyone’s troubles. Before the class, I was talking to the instructor in the locker room, and he asked what ride I wanted to do.

“I don’t care about the ride,” I told him. “Let’s get crazy. I’m ready.”

Famous last words, right?

As for that strength during “Fade to Black,” it didn’t last long. I kept riding hard, but Wednesday’s spin class was exhausting.

And much as that is my own fault.

When it comes to exercise, I go full-tilt. I see no point in not exerting effort during the workout. If I’m lifting weights, I move quickly, use a lot of weight (for me) and never do less than double-digit reps. In spin class, there’s no time to slack. A lot of riders don’t take it seriously, and they barely break a sweat. Fortunately for me, I’m a married man and a father. Tuning things out is a strength. I could actually teach lessons on it. So their lack of effort is lost on me. On the treadmill, I always add minutes from the previous run, throw in wild inclines or an intense kick at the end.

Only the strong survive. No pain, no gain. Yada, yada, yada.

The point is, I enter the gym every day with a goal of leaving it a better person. My want to push myself is partially responsible for the left calf injury I suffered about six months ago. Thanks to extra stretching, chiropractor appointments and common sense, the injury hasn’t returned.

And it better not, as I’ve committed to participating at the Pittsburgh Marathon as part of a relay team. It’s part of a slow, gradual build toward running the entire marathon in 2016.

It’s going to happen. I’m sure of it.

Now, off to the chiropractor for a 2 p.m. appointment. He’s going to strip down both calf muscles today. I won’t be able to walk later, but I’ll be able to keep on running.

The “joys” of home ownership

Old Man Winter is awfully cranky lately. Below-zero temperatures. Battering wind chills. And, lately, ice and snow joined the mix.

It’s enough to make a person want to stay inside with a crackling fire, thick socks and thicker blankets.

Inside the Kovak house, Old Man Winter (or maybe it’s just me) has been awfully cranky lately, too. There are thousands of reasons why.

New water heater, Check.

New furnace motor. Check.

New sewage pipes. Check.

It’s not a pleasant smell after a cast-iron stack pipe is cut.

As for the thousands of reasons, it’s all monetary. These fixes, replacements and repairs run well into four figures.

Springtime can’t arrive soon enough.

If you’re a home owner, you can probably relate. Things always need fixed, upgraded or replaced. During fortunate times, light bulbs, furnace filters, door knobs and paint jobs are among the laundry list of chores. These, however, aren’t fortunate times.

The water heater and furnace motor were two things, the stack lines were entirely another.

The problem dates back to late fall, when Erin and I bought a washer and dryer as Christmas presents for each other. (I was only down for this if the dryer was gifted to me.) The hose drains into a double-tub basement sink, which shares a stack line with our second-floor bathroom.

The tubs were quick-filling and slow-draining, but the problem didn’t swell to the point of alarm until about a month ago. That’s when the water line rose awfully close to top of the sink. Well, it wasn’t long before those waters started overflowing, creating a mucky pond on the basement floor.

Now, I’m no MacGyver. I can’t build a house from match sticks and chewing gum,. but I’m a bit handy when it comes to plumbing.

So I went to work.

The sink was snaked. Lead pencils, ribbons and pens caps were pulled up (exactly what did the previous homeowner do with themselves!). Sadly, the waters still rose and overflowed.

Industrial strength pipe cleaner was purchased in bulk. It seemed to loosen things up, but the waters still rose and overflowed.

Finally, a shop-vac was used to pump gunk from the pipes. The gunk kept coming and coming and … get the idea?

Convinced a professional was needed, a call was placed to Try County Plumbing. The owner arrived, prepared for a quick repair.

No such luck.

The stack pipe, made of popular 1950s product terra-cotta, was broken. Sewage was basically sitting underneath the basement floor. The job required jackhammers, an unending supply of buckets to haul away debris, a healthy constitution to fight off the smell and patience. The second-floor bathroom, where the bathtub/shower is located was off-limits. The washer and dryer were rendered useless.

Ahhhhh, the joys of home ownership.

Yep, this winter had me reminiscing about life as a renter, when problems were an inconvenience but the financial responsibility of a landlord. Life can be simpler as a renter, but not necessarily fulfilling. Since moving into the Hillcrest neighborhood of Greensburg, we’ve undertaken a long list of projects, and there’s no end in sight. But this house is a home. And it’s hard to put a price on that.