2 5Ks, a back injury, a snowstorm and a blackout

Who says this fat girl has no fun? Two 5Ks, a back injury, a snowstorm and an ongoing blackout all in one weekend.

All last week they were talking about a snow storm—in October. I didn't take them seriously. I didn't scramble to get the porch furniture away, or cover the ancient A/C. Nothing. I figured the Poconos might get some, but we'd get rain. How many times is the weather people correct?

Saturday was the Lasko 5K in Easton. When we left the house it was drizzling. Kathy didn't come because it was snowing in Mauch Chunk. We we are prepared for rain. While we were waiting for the race to start it deluged. The rivers were running fast and the rain was coming down heavier.

The Free bridge was slippery, then we headed up the Main Street hill to the triangle, turned around and returned. Bonnie and I chose the sidewalk coming back. Then we headed up to Centre Square, thru some alleys, out Spring Garden, and eventually came down the hill by McDonalds and back to Scott Park.

There was tons of hills. Sharon didn't last long. She went back.

Bonnie came in first at 51:10, I think. I came in at 53:28, and Lydia 58:55. She finished the race with her new friend Karen. Karen Lasko. The widow/mother of the walk title.

We didn't stay for snack and chat. Sharon hopped in Lyds car and they went to the 248 Diner to get us seats. We went to target to buy dry clothes. We ate, ran to Wegmans and got home to huge trees down on Itaska street. I didn't take a pix. I should have. These photos were taken on Saturday around 2.

When we came in the house Pat said the power was out. I had turned on the heat, but it's an energy saver model that it ignites electronically instead burning constant. Of course, it hasn't come back one. They say the blackout will last till Thursday! Or longer.

Sunday the storm was over. Bonnie called said she wasn't going to Fitzy's 5K. It's one we both enjoyed last year. Sharon and I decided to try. Step one. Get some breakfast. Nothing was open. Every light in the south side wasn't functioning. We stopped back at the house to tell Pat, no food, and were off. Susquehanna Street was an obstacle course of fallen trees. Near Bonnie's there was a crashed snow plow. A tree fell on it.

As we headed down 222 the snow became less and less. By the time we reached Reading there was only two or three inches. We stopped for a quick bite at McD's and I felt fine. We were about 10 minutes away, and then had a lot of trouble finding the park, and arrived with about 2 minutes to spare. I drop Sharon off to sign me in and went to look for parking. I missed the costume contest.

I parked, went to get out of the car. And suddenly my back hurt. The part where it connect to your tush. I did the 5K, it was a street course and they cleared it fairly well. Time: 51 minutes. It was hilly, but more rolling hills.  My back hurt no more, no less. We stopped at the VF outlets, and came home. I took at bath, my back felt better and we decided to go for supper at 4 so we could be back by dark.

At home, I laid on the couch in the dark. Couldn't read or knit by candlelight. Laptop was dead. Phone dead. Nothing to do, I dozed. Later I tried to get up. I could barely move. I did get up, got moving and went to bed. At 4 am, it was even worse. At 7 when I got up. I was in so much pain when Bonnie called. I called the doctor. Yes, mark this day on your calendar.

She thinks it's a disk. She gave me a relaxer, and a RX strength of Aleve. She told me the relaxer would make me loopy. I can take up to three. One seem to do the trick. Tonight to sleep I'm opting for loopy.

I did forget to send my Bethlehem to Bethlehem numbers in  for the "virtual" walk to Bethlehem, Israel.

I was able today to access my program forms so I sent those in. With the weather, I really didn't follow the program over the weekend. There are still trees in the street. The one on Itaska is still there! I'll try walking tomorrow at lunch time. And then Wednesday. But no speed walks. Not yet.

program begins

So the Program started this week. I'm not really sure what I'm allowed to say about it. I really need to ask. I keep forgetting. So I'll just in general terms.

What's important is that it's forcing me to walk at least 5 days a week. Monday was Day 1. I did about 2.5 miles, with a stop on the way home at Ahart's for groceries. (Weights!) I was going about my 5K pace. Straight out Itaska, up Wyandotte, out Summit, thru Lehigh and back Packer, Brodhead and Broadway. There was some hills, nothing major. The piece on Wyandotte is short. The best walking was at Lehigh. Awash with pink ribbons and balloons. Wish I had my camera.

The challenge for me will be terrain. If you live in the 'burbs" the terrain is rolling hills and streets with no traffic. I don't have that. I'm trying to find the flattest ways to go without using the Greenway every day. Then there is the issue of sidewalk/street quality. And construction. Lots of construction.

Today I was supposed to do intervals. I did nothing. I leave the house about 6:30 am and don't arrive home till 10 pm. Just no time. Although I took a walk at lunch time. Then ate a fat ladden sandwich.

This weekend I have two 5Ks. Maybe I can come in on both under 50 minutes. That would be sweet. But the Sunday one does have hills. The Saturday one is in Easton, it might also.

The food journal is forcing me to eat better. If it goes in the mouth it gets written down. Just like I did last fall. Everyone knows my love/hate relationship with the journal. And nutritionists in general. I think that will be the hardest part of the program. Tomorrow, maybe I'll eat better. But probably not.

our route yesterday

Convoluted, at best. But this is the map Lyds phone pedometer made. And she corrected me. It was 3.38 miles. The phone pedometer uses mapmywalk.com.

Tomorrow, I start the Walk Your Butt Off program.

maybe we should get a map

Earlier in the week Lyd asked on FB if we were going to walk today. We had a choice of driving to New Hope for a Volkksport event or do our own thing. I have a poop-load of work to do, so I voted for stay home. (It's 9:30 pm. Still haven't started. She asked me 2 hours ago if the blog was updated.)

Then she posted again, how about stairs at Lehigh. Okay was my reply.

Lyd and Bonnie arrived in time for our 10 start time. We set off, up the hill, to the university. Lydia set her phone pedometer. However, it does not account for terrain.

We went out Sioux, down Wyandotte, out Summit, down Brodhead, and out Packer to the campus gates at Packer Chapel. Then we headed up, up, up, up, and up some more. 500 stairs in all.

As we traveled up the stairs and the mountain to the frats and sororities, we started to encounter lots of pink. The sororities had panted boulders pink, they tied pink ribbon to trees, and hung up "Think Pink" signs for breast cancer awareness month. We stopped occassionally to take pictures. Lyd had started whining about the stairs. We reminded her who's idea it was!

Once we were at the top, we had to figure out how to come down. I knew Upper Sayre Drive did not take us to a city exit. But I'm not sure which road did. I knew that there was two. Maybe one day I should get a map? Actually I'm downloading one now.

The map shows buildings, parking and streets. Not stairs. But the street we came out was University Drive. The other one that exits is Memorial Drive west. I'll try and remember that for when we train for the Wilkes Barre stair climb.

After finding University Drive, we left campus, headed out eighth street and retraced our steps home. 3.8 miles according to the pedometer program. I should see if there is a way for Lyd to print out the little maps it makes.

When we returned to my place I took Adonis and my neice for a walk, as promised. Or maybe he took us.

i didn't fall off the treadmill!

Again, I arrived at Rodale early. I allow time for school buses and traffic, and have none. The other person being tested was late. She had it all! Ironic, huh.

We go into the gym and they asked who used a treadmill before. The other woman said she did. I said no, I tried but could never get them to work.

So he explained that this model has a warm-up time. This one had a countdown before it started to move. I was a sissy and held on for most of the test. He told me he could see me getting more relaxed and used to it.

The test was pretty easy—warm up and then go as fast as you can for 1 minutes, cool down. I had a learning curve on the dang machine. For the last 1/4 mile, I mostly didn't hold on. I finished in 17.35. That's about what I do a 5K at.

It was funny because he said I kept grabbing back on the rails because of my posture. I should keep my shoulders behind my heels and walk upright. Like I do with regular walking. I didn't tell him I walk hunched over, looking at my feet.

This afternoon I'm going on the Friday walk with Betsy. Then Saturday, Lyd and I are doing the stairs at Lehigh. It was her idea. Not mine.

and so it begins ...

Today was my initial meeting for Walk Your Butt Off.

I was in the second group, reporting at 7:30. First thing the weighed and measured me. Yikes! My weight was up about 3 pounds. But I guessed that. I've been eating like a pig in preparation for this. Storing up the calories.

Most of the measurements didn't shock me. I was already prepared after filling out the forms. What did shock me was that the fancy computer scale said my body fat was 50%. A full HALF of me FAT. OMG is an understatement.

Then we went to orientation. Filled out the waviers and the photo releases. Standard stuff. There wasn't a confidentially agreement, so I guess I can talk about it. Maybe I should ask?

We went thru the walking part of the program. Basically it is interval training just like we did at First Strides. But kicked up a notch, or five. They issued us a Timex sports watch to do the timing. Now if I could find a rocket scientist to set it, I'll be in good shape. Sadly I bought one before the Relay for Life, and haven't used it since because I can't set it. Guess I'll give it to Lyd or Sharon.

Another component is strength training. Scares the heck out of me. I'm not good at strength training. I can't do a push up to save my soul. And these knees were not meant for squating. We'll see how that goes. 

Diet isn't a diet. It's a bunch of behavioral changes and portion control. But no measuring.

Then the before and after photo shoot. I wore a 1x. Which was great. I even got to keep the socks.

I have to tell you when I was taking off the shoes, they were reviewing the pixs, and at first I didn't recognize me. The hair was one thing. I've only had this cut a little over a week. But the person on the screen was "regular fat" not ginormous like I see myself.

I didn't see everyone. Maybe about 10 of the 30 people. Nobody had a person to lose. Everyone was overweight.  I guess because more morbidly obese people would not yield the same results in only 12 weeks? Or maybe they need to be medically monitored. I don't know.

Friday is my walking test. Yikes.

corn maze workout

Today Lydia and I took our 9-year-old nephew to the Seiple's Farm Corn Maze. I had no idea how much walking you did in a maze. And it's difficult walking. Holes, stalks, rocks, sticks....all kinds of hazards.  It would have been fun to turn on Lyds Driod pedometer, but we forgot till it was much to late.

greenway

Bonnie, Lyd and I went to the south Bethlehem Greenway. We took the scenic route thru Lehigh and the residential areas of the southside and entered the Greenway from Hayes Street.

Then we took the Greenway to the Banana Factory, used their bathrooms and saw my homeless nephew Chris. (Long story.) Epic Church holds services on the gallery and Chris was attending.  Then we headed up Broadway and wove our way back home.

Lydia trail mapping app on her phone said we did nearly 4 miles and drew a map. G-Maps pedometers said we did 3. Big difference. I'm splitting the difference and saying 3.5.

We did do 86 stairs. That I'm sure of. Lydia always counts them.

lighting the night

Today was different. Bonnie and Lyd did a Volkssport walk in the Parkway and I went to an art thing in Easton. It reminded me a whole lot of Touchstone, when they were still the People's Theatre Company, performing in parks.

My former colleague was thinking about doing the Light the Night walk tonight, depending on how her daughter felt today. She texted late this afternoon to say they weren't going. I decided to go anyway.

I stopped at the dollar store and got some glow sticks to wear. When I arrived I signed in and got my glowing balloon. The place was packed! Tents and people everywhere.

The walk started shortly after I arrived. It was short! Maybe a mile. Those of us at the front of the line nearly met the people at the end of the line. I crossed the finish line and headed back up to the tent area. They were tearing everything down...bizzare. Apparently the party was before the walk.

haunted easton walk

Tonight I went with a friend to the Haunted Easton Walk. A large group of people met at the square (which is a circle) and followed the town crier around. He had an assortment of ghosts and ghouls with him.

I don't know how far we walked. We used mostly alleys. It distorts your sense of direction. Maybe a mile or so.

Like most ghosts walks I think all the stories had a seed of truth.  I don't think I ever knew about the ghost at the library. Or the locale of the cities gallows hill. I did know about Freddie, the State Theatre's resident ghost.

The most interesting story was about the Hexenkropf Rock (German for witches head). It located near  Echo Ridge GS camp.

I think what piqued my interest in this story was that my friend Angel's novel has important scenes near there. I kept thinking, "does she know about that"? I looked it up on the net when I got home, then sent her the story. She knew about it. It's already in the novel as a "passing reference". Maybe that's why I missed it when I read the book.

Interestingly, the Hexenkropf rock shows up on the climbing websites. It's only 791 feet up.

Didn't take my camera to the walk. Used my phone. Pictures universally horrible. Sorry.

they picked me?

I set up a new email in preparation for closing down my current accounts in January. I need faster internet for my teaching jobs. My old walking one was long. What was I thinking? ThreeDayBCWalk@--- I set it up when I first did the 3-Day.  I have to now write that on every 5k form I fill out. The new one is e2feet@. Short and sweet. (It's a g-mail account if you aren't a webcrawler wanting to SPAM me.)

Problem with new emails is you forget to check them.

About 2 weeks ago I signed up for the "Walk Your Butt Off" test group. Never in a million years did I expect a reply. But there it was. Sitting in my inbox for two days. I GOT PICKED. (Clearly my B2B tallies are going to go up!)

Wednesday is orientation. Friday is my walking test. It will involve a treadmill. Maybe I'll finally actually find out how to make it work. They don't like me.

Wednesday we will get measured and "before" pixs taken. Meet the author of the program.

Don't know how much I'll get to say about it. I'll take my camera, but not sure if I can use it. We'll see.

The program ends January 19.

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Speaking of the Bethlehem to Bethlehem Program, I've been averaging about 28 miles a week. This week will be much lower. But starting Wednesday my guess is that they'll go up to maybe 50. That's what I did training for the 3-Day.

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This weekend Bonnie and Lyd are doing the Volkssport walk in the Parkway. Bonnie realized it was the Women's 5K weekend. The parkway will be full of people! I'll be in Easton at an artsy-fartsy thing.

Sunday the three of us are doing the South Bethlehem Greenway.

Next weekend we have two 5ks.

2012

I need to get of of my safe and comfortable rut. So I'm going to try one new physical activity a month, starting in January.

We talked about ideas on the walk yesterday. And I've been talking about it in the car pool. Here's the ideas so far.

Are any of these safe for a person without medical insurance?

• Snow Tubing
• Skiing
• Cross Country Skiing (Did this once at a Girl Scout weekend. Does that count?)
• Paint Ball (odd choice for a pacifist)
• White Water Rafting (we know what happens to me in the river. Just saying.)
• Zip Line (I'm quivering just typing it.)
• Tree Top Course (I actually did this at Girl Scouts also. It was fun in a terrifying way. If it include the tight wire walk the answer is NO! I fell on that one at camp.)
• Rock Climbing (I've done it once or twice on a wall. Horrible at it. Maybe on real rocks would be better.)
• Scuba Diving (in Pennsylvania?)

One thing I know I won't do is to jump from an airplane. Skydiving is off the list. I won't fly to do something or go somewhere fun!

a tough hike

Today was the Octoberfest at Bear Creak Mountain Ski Resort. As part of the event they held a Volkssport walk. (Volkssport is a German concept.)

I found Volkssport last winter when looking for walking activities. I joined the national organization and signed up with the regional chapter—The Liberty Bell Wanderers. I started getting emails from them in maybe May, but they are often cryptic. I didn't understand. I also don't understand the spread sheets on their website.

I've been emailing back and forth and finally started getting newsletters. This month they sent a flier for this event. Finally I could attend something.

Bonnie is still on the DL, and Kathy has joined her. So it was just Lyd and I.

We parked and found the sign in table. Just like 5ks they have tons of info out on walks. I picked up a bunch.  Suddenly this all started making sense. The also gave me my starter kit. Two books—one to record my kilometers, the other is the starter book. I do 10 walks and send it to national and I get a real book. They stamp them when you're done. You can also earn patches/pins and also buy some. Lydia bought the October one (pix). She wants to get a tote to put them on.

We signed in, and were given a copy of of the form. We were told that we'd need to turn it in at the end, so that they knew everyone got back. I like that.

Lots of people had walking sticks. We soon found out why!


We started with one of the hardest walks—of course. It was a hike. The path was at times muddy, slippery, narrow, rocky and very hilly. It had wooden plank bridges to cross the numerous streams.  And log steps. The first 5K was tough. Really tough, but well marked. The person assigned to marking it did an excellent job. They also put caution tape up so that you wouldn't accidentally go down a deer trail.

At some point the music started for the festival so we got to hike and listen to Polkas. It actually helped. Kept your mind off how hard you were working. They played the Beer Barrel Polka and the Pennsylvania Polka a lot! Not quite sure why there are loud speakers in the woods. Must be a safety thing for the skiiers.

I was sweating out of every pore. I worked harder than I do at any 5k race and went twice as slow.  Now, as I sit here and type this I have muscles hurting that I didn't even know existed.

We saw no one till the last couple hundred yards.

The 5k check in was at the top of the chair lift. They had water. One of the volunteers took our receipt and marked us off her list. And pointed us toward the second half of 5k.

The first half was up, up, up. The second half was down, down, down. At one point Lyd said she was going to lay down and roll. It was that steep. We were walking under the chair lifts!

This section of the trail was not as well marked and we went astray a couple times, but we always found the trail again. That's when we encountered the steps in the picture. Finally we were back out in the parking lot and headed back to the sign-in tent.

I had my book stamped, we checked in, and we headed for the bathroom in the resort.

Lyd met me in the lobby and said. Let's go back. I'm going to join. She did. I guess she had fun.

palmer bike trail

It is gorgeous this weekend. No  rain. No storms. No heat and humidity. Instead of walking I took a ride on the Palmer Bike Trail.

My bike is at my friend Angel's house. So I emailed her and asked if she wanted to go. She said yes.

We got the bikes from the garage and I sat on mine. Flat tires! The gas station was about 6, maybe 7 blocks away. The bike shop was one. Angel rode ahead to see if it was open. I walked my bike and met her there. The Broken Spoke filled my tires for free! Got to love local independent businesses. They know I'll come back one day and shop there.

We rode thru Wilson, past the high school, thru the shopping center and ultimately rode on the Palmer Bike Path. When we got to the Bethlehem Township Trail we turned around and came back, this time crossing over to Easton High and picking up the Wilson Trail. I love how all the municipalities are working together to make one long trail. The Wilson Trail, once you cross Northampton Street is tough. We didn't do that part today.

The route turned out to be 5.5 miles, with hills. I'm calling it 3 for the Bethlehem to Bethlehem log.

You'll have to wait to see the pixs from the Volkssport walk tomorrow to see my new haircut. Helmet is covering it today.

rain!

It's been a very long time since I did an entire 5k in the rain. I've had close calls, but the rain always seems to stop, not today.

Today was the Allentown Rotary 5k at the Trexler Game, scratch that, Nature Preserve.

When I picked up Lyd it wasn't raining. But by the time we got to LCCC it was. Sometimes hard. We registered and then went and sat in the car till 15 minutes before the race started to stay dry. (right) Both of us had "plastic bag" rain ponchos.

We started by walking down a gravel macadam hill to the start/finish line. When the horn blew we were off and continued down the paved hill, further and further and further. Because we were at the game preserve we passed a herd of Rocky Mountain Elk. (One buck and eight does equal on lucky boy.) I'm guessing the hill was 3/4 of a mile. It wasn't steep but it was long. It was also scattered with wet leaves and slippery black walnut shells.

We crossed the footbridge and then a slippery, wooden pedestrian bridge. I really wanted to forge the creek, that's the best part of going to the game preserve, but frankly the creek looked like a river. (left)

There were two spots on the covered bridge trail that had a wooden boardwalk. The lady in front of me fell on her butt on the first one. I took my time. I slipped, but didn't fall.

As we approached the covered bridge I had an odd thought. I've done a lot of 5ks this summer that involved covered bridges. It's beginning to feel like the covered bridge trail on foot. We crossed the covered bridge and headed back to the pedestrian bridge trail. And back up the long hill.

I was doing pretty good till the hill then lost steam as usual. Six or eight people passed me. I finished in 54:55. Lydia finished in 58:39.

it's october

Happy Birthday Barb.

Happy Anniversary
Bonnie and Al.

Last year at this time I was getting ready for the Avon. It would have been an 18-mile training walk weekend. Ditto the year before for the Avon and the 3-Day. Ditto the year before for the 3-Day.

Lyd posted this on FB today. I stole it. All that walking and I don't take my own advice. Why? No health insurance. I can scrape up the money for the mammy, but what if it's positive? So I do nothing. That isn't good. I know that. But for me there is no other choice.

Tomorrow is the 5k at the Game Preserve. (Yeah, I know, it's Nature Preserve. Fifty-year habits are hard to break. And General Trexler won't mind.) Bonnie is out of the hospital and on the DL again, so she isn't going to do the 5k. But Lyd is. Erin and her family will be doing the Kidney Walk at the Parkway.

Next Sunday is a 10k Volkkssport walk at Bear Creek's Octoberfest. Can't wait. My first event. I'm going to make friends with lot's of old people and get the skinny on how this works. I know that if you want to be official there is stamps and patches and stuff you collect. Silly incentives hook you in. It will be cheaper than 5k event fees, and you'll get to walk and talk with people longer distances. They even have 15ks! I'd love to do a 15k. And walking vacations.