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.