another day, another 5K

Today was the last 5K in my crazy Thanksgiving exercise blitz. It ended like the others with another disappointing time. With all this interval training I'm doing you'd think I'd get faster. No, I'm not. Sadly, I feel like I'm working harder for the same result. Clearly I've hit my peak and it sucks.

Celebrate Joan 5k is the total opposite of the Turkey Trot. There was maybe 50 people there. When we arrived we saw no Port-A-Potty. They said it was on the way. It's a 2-hour event. How late can they deliver it?

The course starts at the Fish Hatchery and goes down to the Iron Bridge and comes back. They don't use the regular 5K course because of Lights in the Parkway. It's a gravel course.

Lyd decided to walk with Sharon. She was 5k'd out. It's a good thing she did.

I remembered it having just one hill by the "solar system" walk. But there was another. And it was a doozy. Steep up. Steeper down. Had I remembered I would have never signed Sharon up.  Lyd had to help her up and she held on to Lyds shoulder coming down. They finished in 63:39. I finished 10 minutes earlier at 53:39.

a family affair

Today was the Turkey Trot in downtown Bethlehem.

Kathy came down from Mauch Chunk and met Lydia. Then they both came, with Adonis in tow of course, to my house. Adonis stayed with Pat and off we went.

We parked downtown by Granny McCarthy's at a three-hour meter. I maxed it out. I didn't want a ticket during "special event" parking fine season.

We headed down to the historic area. There was a mix up in Kathy's registration, caused 100% by me, so she needed to register and a turkey pointed the way. Really. I took his picture. This race used timer chips in the number bibs. Same day registrants were issued ankle chips. I took a picture. It really resembled the monitors celebrity criminals wear.

There was 13K-14K runners and walkers. It was mobbed.

All of Lydia's family turned out for the event. J, I believe, is on Nitchsmann's track team. He also plays soccer. R is 10, I think. They both ran. J finished in 21.47.5 and was 22nd in his age group. R came in at about 35 minutes. Sister-in-law Jeanine finished in 56.02. And brother Todd, just hung around and waited for his family to finish. I put him to work taking a family picture.

Jeanine and Lydia walked together. I started out leading our group, but Kathy caught up. Then we stayed together or leapfrogged  for the rest of the race. The hills killed me.

Entering Sand Island the Heritage Patrol was handing out water. By the time we got there, they were out on our sided. We did the loop of the island, came back, and then they were out of water on that side. With this cold I really wanted water. I didn't take any because there is usually lots at this race. Lesson learned. I also needed a tissue, horribly. Forgot to restock after yesterday's 10k. This cold is not letting go!

Ultimately I finished first at 52.33.7.  Kathy came in 30 seconds behind me at 52.56.2. Next week she'll so beat me. Lydia finished in 57.30.

Speaking of my program, I need to go out and do it shortly. With this nasty cold I didn't do much of it this week. I'm going to get scolded. I don't really care. I don't think it's working. I'm sure it's me, and not the program. I'm not getting faster with my program, I think I'm getting slower. And expending more energy. It stinks.

Dec. 8 is the weigh in. I hope I haven't gained more than 5 pounds. That would be so embarrassing.

hersheypark happy

Today was a Volkksport walk with the Susquehanna Rovers—The Candyland 10k. We picked up the flier at the Bear Creek event in October. It was in Hershey.

There was four trails to choose from, the Candyland was pink. We followed the pink markers. The other trails were yellow, white and blue. One of the trails was a 42k. That's a marathon.  At times the trails merged.

We began the trek at the community center and worked our way around the education complex. In Hershey, you go 12-13 years to school and never leave the campus. You just switch buildings. How boring.

We pretty much weaved us thru the town, around the chocolate factory and the amusement park. Sadly, because of the Clean Air Laws the town no longer smells like chocolate....one of my most vivid childhood memories. Alas, clean air is more important. A couple times we took a road, turned around and came back. I didn't care for that.

One of those times was at the Derry church. Right next door to the Presbyterian church. It was built in 1732 and is now housed in a glass house. It had a really cool church graveyard next to it. It reminded me of the time we went to see Abe Lincolns birthplace on a visit to my sisters house in Kentucky. This tiny log cabin inside a huge marble building.

The next time was a Hershey Park. It said on our maps where the restrooms were, and that you had to pay for the park, but the Chocolate World "ride" was free. Yes, it tells you how chocolate is made, but more importantly for Hershey, it markets the heck of of their products. Ending in a giant store. It even has a food court!

We were more than 3/4's done at this point, but sitting on the ride did us no good. It was just long enough to make us relax, making the trip back up the hill twice as hard.

The final checkpoint was at the firestation. We walked right past it. Somebody called out to us to come back. They had Hershey Kisses. Guess I have to add that to my food journal. Drats.

Lydia wa snot a happy camper the last mile or so. Six miles is still tough for her. Soon she'll be wanting to do a 15K. She even said she might try the 42 on her 42nd birthday. We'll see.

disappointed

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Today was the Pumpkin Pie 5k in Nazareth. It was for runners only, but I walked. I walked as fast as I could and did it in 54:30. So disappointed. I'm apparently learning nothing with my program.

The course information said rolling hills.  Some of the hills were way past rolling. The web site says it's been wheel measured at 3.1 miles, but the map on MapMyRun.com says 3.23 miles. Maybe that's why my time was a little higher.

This race was chipped timed. You fasten it to you shoe. At least 5 people lost their chips. I didn't pick them up. I didn't want to slow down at all.

Lydia and Sharon did the fun walk. It was supposed to be 1.5 miles, but Lyd's pedometer on her cell phone said it was 2 miles. They finished in about 34 minutes.

This afternoon I have to do my Challenge walk for my program. I'm going down to the Greenway to do it. Maybe when I take Sharon home.

an ordinary week

Nothing extraordinary happened this week. No 5Ks No Volkssports walks. Nada.

I did my intervals and for the first week since I began this program, I completed every workout. I guess my back is healed.

Next week will be a different story. Thanksgiving I have a 5K. I also have one Saturday and Sunday. Then on Friday I have a 10k Volkssport walk. There might be daily blog posts!

george washington bridge

Today I walked over the George Washington Bridge, with 2500 of my closest friends. No it wasn't a charity walk. It was the Girls Scouts "Bridging to the Next Century" event. I took my friend Bug. She's a Brownie. Mom came too.

We were originally scheduled to go to Philly but that event got canceled and merged with this one.

The bridge is about a mile across, and we walked five or six blocks to get there both ways, so we probably walked about three miles. Not to mention all the walking we did at the festival.

GS-NJ is big on security. On the walk to the bridge there was a rent-a-cop, a real cop, or a volunteer every 20-30 feet. You had to keep showing your armband. No pedophiles were sneaking into this parade and walking off with a child. We walked on one side of the bridge, all the runners, bikers, and walkers had to use the other side.

The bridge provided lots of wind resistance walking. Bugs hair was blowing all over. She was cold and wanted to go back. Instead, we tucked her hair in, pulled up her hoods and tied a scarf around her neck. No more whine.

At the Jersey side of the bridge they had port-o-potties so while I waited for Bug and mom, I noticed a old woman in a wheelchair being interviewed. Yes, I listened. She had five generations of Girl Scouts there. She was the oldest, her great granddaughter the youngest. It was so cool. They were crossing the bridge together.

saucon valley rail trail

 After my horrible and painful Thursday, I woke up Friday morning feeling not horrible. I guess time does heal. I even canceled my doctors appointment. I still can't bend correctly, and now my left thigh hurts near my butt. I'm just going to keep moving, and not do stupid things like pick up heavy boxes and nickles for a while.

Today we did the Saucon Valley Rail Trail. One day, the Saucon Valley Rail Trail and the South Bethlehem Greenway will meet. The Morning Call said "The new portions in Hellertown and Lower Saucon are both about 1.4 miles and connect to about 2 miles already opened in Upper Saucon Township. When other sections in Upper Saucon and Coopersburg are eventually opened, the 10-foot-wide multi-use trail will be 8 miles long."

Bonnie drove today. We parked at the Water Street Park and we headed toward Bethlehem doing the first set of intervals. During our warm up minutes, we saw some deer in the words next to us. You don't get that on a treadmill! We didn't go very far—the trail ended behind the salvage yard. We turned around and headed south. We walked until the intervals were done, and then to the next street. All in all we probably did three miles.

It's a nice trail, wide and tree-lined. There were bikers and walkers and families. But it was gravel and really hard on your feet. Maybe they aren't done with it yet.

Then at dinner time, I received a call from my programs nutritionist. She's much different thatn the one I saw last year.  She wants me to drink more. No, no Jack Daniels. Liquids like you would find in soups and stews. Those foods keep you fuller, longer. But of course I don't eat because I'm hungry. I just eat constantly. I'm doing better, but only because I have to keep a food journal. The minute that goes away, the grazing will return. I'm sure.

Yesterday I had a session with a walking coach as part of my program. She watched us walk, corrected posture and arm swings. It was a valuable session.

Friday I also walked with Betsy in South Whitehall. We walked, like we always do on Fridays, for about three miles at a brisk pace. Maybe not as brisk as usual because of my injury, but it was a good workout.

a long and winding story about my dumb back

But first some joyous news. My sister is out of ICU and on the mend! She's been in ICU for more than 3 weeks. Get better now Barb!

This back injury is, well, a pain in the ass. There is no other way to describe it. I only feel good when moving.

I'm beginning to feel like mama and Sharon and that I don't like. I hold on to furniture, I don't put things on the floor unnecessarily, I don't bend unless I have to.

If you are a new reader, I hurt my back 10, 11 days ago getting out of the car. I went to the doctor the next day and the meds seemed to be working. Each day the pain was less. I could get out of bed easier, and off of chairs.

But as soon as it gets better I swear I re-injure it. Monday I tried picking up a heavy box. Not a good idea. Then late Tuesday I got out of the car, and walked around the back. The car pulled away and I headed towards home. I stepped in some leaves that happened to be in a pot hole. Did that whole loose your balance and stay upright dance, and continued on my way. By that night I was in serious pain again.

Wednesday I felt better. I could get out of bed in about 5 minutes. I went for my walk, did my stretches and even got down on the floor. I headed to class. I stopped at Panera for food. While I was waiting, I sneezed. I sneezed with a force unknown to man. I crumbled under my ample weight, and since then I'm in so much pain. Couldn't sleep.

The back injury seems minor now. My hole butt hurts from my tailbone, down thru my upper legs and the hip socket. The hip sockets are the worse. The meds I took this morning seen to be doing nothing.

But I walked across campus anyway, and the more I walked the better I felt. I was nearly back to the office and saw a nickel on the ground. I carefully bent over to pick it up and all hell broke loose. Pain seared thru my upper tush and down my legs. At the same time it course up my body from my hip sockets. I literally held on to a car for more than a minute before I could walk back to the office. The three flights of stairs nearly killed me. I went up them like a baby, stopping every three or four steps.

I was nearly in tears when I called for an doctors appointment. (9:45 am tomorrow)

We had a staff meeting at 11:45. I brought my food with me to nuke when it was over. Then I just had to go down one more flight. Needless to say she saw me struggling and offered me Motrin. I probably should not have taken it with what the doctor gave me, but I took that at 6:15 am. I didn't care at that point.

Everything seems to have calmed down 1000%. My upper thighs still feel like I've done 2000 leg lifts, but the rest of my body is behaving.

Maybe I should call the doctor back? No. I won't do that.

I have a walking coaching session tomorrow that I don't want to miss. I am going to try my best to hide any pain I'm in. I don't want to drop being a walking program tester. Walking feels good. If I lose some of this weight, maybe it will help heal me. This bloody injury has motivated me to lose weight. Something I thought I'd never say.

Maybe I need a chiropractor?

there was no art on the art trail

Today Bonnie and I checked out the art trail in Easton. It's a lovely trail, needs signage and ART!

The official opening was yesterday. But they forgot to take down the construction signs. About half way in is a new dog park—complete with fire hydrant.

There's a few parking spaces on 13th Street.

We immediately noticed these white tubes everywhere. At first I thought they might be some art installation but it appears that they are very young seedlings. Of what I don't know.

The trail begins on 13th street near the old silk mill and follows the creek to Easton Cemetery. Then it appears to end. But alas, we discovered if you cross the bright blue bridge the trail continues. But then it seems to end again at the oil company.

It took us awhile to notice that Bushkill Drive now has sidewalks. So we crossed the street and headed down the sidewalk toward the bridge and recycling center. Then we picked up Bushkill Street (an alley) and headed to the Williams Center.

Bushkill Street looked like Armageddon from last weeks storms.

The best part of this walk was I had someone to do my program intervals with. Of course, by the end, Bonnie was winning. Maybe one day I'll finish first.

My back feels pretty good as long as I keep moving.

the sidewalks are done!

The sidewalks at the five-points intersection were horrific. I use them frequently. I hated them.

That corner once housed a Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips (yum!), then an excellent mini-market, then a horrific mini-market. The buildings been empty for nearly a decade. It was an eyesore—graffiti, crumbling sidewalks and parking lot, junk cars and probably drug deals.

Earlier this summer a sign appeared that they were building a TD bank. I was excited. The corner would get fixed up. They tore down what was left of the mini-market, dug up the lot and sidewalks and started with a clean slate. Yesterday I noticed the sidewalks were open—smooth, even, corner cuts—I was happy.

I do question the wisdom of a bank in that area. It might get robbed on a regular basis! I also wonder if they'll get business. I would think people who work in the neighborhood already have banks (or a credit union like me) or they have no need for banks because they have no money. I guess we'll see.

On another note—my back.

If you remember from an earlier post, I could barely get out of bed on Monday because of my back.  I didn't walk Monday but I went to work. As the day progressed I felt better. Then I went to bed. And I could barely get up again. But this time the recovery was quicker. I walked a mile and a quarter at lunch time and was exhausted. But recovered quickly.

Wednesday I did a slower version of my brisk walk. I finished it and didn't feel horrible. When I woke up Thursday I could get out of bed in about 5 minutes. Thursday we did the brisk pace at lunch, plus a trip across campus. Friday, getting out of bed was better. Then I made the mistake of lifting heavy boxes to deliver to a client. It set me back a little, but in the afternoon I did four miles at a brisk pace with Betsy.

Saturday, I tried the intervals. I am also able to sit on the couch again, with only minor trouble getting up. Earlier in the day is worse than later in the day.

This morning I was feeling good when  woke up at 4:30. I could actually roll over in my bed. And then I sneezed the mother of all sneezes. I thought it was another earthquake. The force of it made me yell, the pain was horrific. I had more trouble getting out of bed, but I still recovered quickly.

I think my body was telling me not to push it. I got the message.

Today, Bonnie and I are going to check out the new art trail. I'll let you know how it is.

the arts trail is opening!

The big grand opening for the Karl Stirner Arts trail is on Saturday. It follows the Bushkill Creek from 13th to the Williams Visual Arts Center. It's a quick walk down 3rd Street, maybe 6 or 7 blocks and you can connect to the Canal Towpath. My guess is it's about a mile and a half long.

Can't wait to try it. Maybe Sunday if the weather is nice and my back feels better.