we did it!

Who would put a staircase and a 2 mile hill climb at the end of a 100K? The Sierra Club. I thought the hill was gonna kill me. But it didn't. And we finished.

We left DC at 8 am for the trip to Whites Ferry, Maryland—the start of the 50K portion of the race. It was cold and damp. Rain looked like a certainty. We checked in, bid our ride adieu, and waited in the cold. At 9:55 they gathered us for instructions. At 10, on the dot, we were off.

We went to the canal path and turned right. At that point we kept a good 4 mph pace. We finished the first 5 miles in about 1:15. The crappy part was, at about 2.5 miles in, we turned around and came back. WTF? Apparently Whites Ferry is not 50K away, and we had to make up the difference.

We only spent five minutes there. They had real GORP, cookies, and fruit.

After the break we headed to the next stop. There was about 6-7 miles between stops. That leg wasn't to bad. After another quick 5 minutes stop, we headed out again. Lines for the port-o-potty were long, so we used one of the nasty ones we saw on the trail. We had found our stride. Or so I thought. At this point we were still pretty much together. And the group, though now spread out, was visible in front and in back.

Third stop. Again 5 minutes and I filled my water bottle with diluted Gatorade. And drank some. We were out about a mile, when my belly started making horrible noises. I got to the 4th stop and ran to the comfort station. All was again well.  We stayed about 15 minutes here. It was the lunch stop. Serious stretching was needed. We thought we'd finish by 8 but were slowing down.

After getting back on the trail my belly and colon started acting up again. I was praying for one of those nasty trail-side port-o-potties and there was none. There's never one when you need it! By the time we reached the next stop I was in full colon distress and barely made it to the green plastic promised land. I came out and dumped out the Gatorade. This was the last stop and the flamingo themed one.

At this stop, M called our ride and said come about 8:30. We arrived about 9:15. That's how slow the last leg went. Actually we did slow down considerably, but ultimately it was the hill that got me. For this leg M was always ahead of me. When we finally go to the stairs I stretched and made it up them okay. It was actually nice to use different muscles. The one that runs behind your knees felt like a rubber band stretched too tight. And my left heel hurt.

We crossed the bridge, then the parking lot and then saw The Hill. It was the Manayunk Wall for two miles. I bet it took me 45 minutes to get up the hill. Every muscle was screaming. My legs didn't want to move. My heel hurt. I was done.I was too close to the finish to quit. I would have crawled up that hill if I had to.

We finally arrived. The neighbor and his family picked us up, and he took a picture. Of course it was dark and it's just a big black square.

We checked in at the community center, and I found the first aid booth to check my heal. My sock was bloody but it was just cracked open. Then Dale, the first-aid guy, checked my feet for blisters. I had one blister that wrapped around my toe. I had 5 other major blisters. I think I was in first aid for a half-hour. My feet are covered with new-skin.

After gathering everyone up  we headed back to DC. It took everything in my power not to fall asleep in the car. Getting out of the car, and up the stairs to M's flat was also interesting.

Now off to those crazy stairs. Hope I can do them. We'll see.

crazy staircase

So yesterday we were walking around campus and my colleague mentions the "Exorcist stairs" in Georgetown. I saw, and slept thru most of the Exorcist in the 70s at the old Movies in Hellertown. I really didn't remember stairs. The priest falls down them after saving Linda Blair.

She said I had to go if I was in DC for any amount of time. There was a lot and they are steep. Today she sent me a link from Yelp. (That's where the pix is from.) As I read the comments I found that they are a favorite for not only tourists, but for runners and other people who exercise. Much like the stairs in P'burg, they are really just a quick — if you're in shape — way to get from point A to point B.

So now of course I want to go. Like a 50K in one weekend wasn't enough. I want to get to DC before rush hour. If I leave here at noon that would get me there about 4, I guess. Maybe I should leave earlier and go to the wacky staircase. I'm fairly sure Michel will not want to go.  Though Angel says he loves stairs. Or maybe I should go the day after. On may way out. We'll see. My interest is piqued.

national walk at lunch day

Today is National Walk at Lunch Day, and the Wellness Fare at Lafayette. Being the celebratory people we are, we combined the two events into one.

My office is off-campus so we headed to the Wellness Fair first. High point? Free food. We had a wild rice and apple salad, and a grain that looked like barley. I think it started with an F. There was also spinach wraps with white and black beans. All the food was very good.

Food services was promoting Meatless Mondays. I'd like to do this, but I'd like meatless two or three times a week. Think the roomie will be resistant.

There were heel checks, blood pressure and sugar checks, and skin scan. We didn't participate in anything. My blood pressure was high this morning. I wasn't going there. And I sure wasn't going to the face skin scan. Ignorance is bliss and I'm lousy about sunscreen. But mostly all health decisions are made by money and I have none to spend on fancy skin treatments or any type of cancer.

We left the event, and walked all over campus, did a couple set of stairs cut into the hillside and came back to work.

Saturday is the 50K. It's supposed to rain. It didn't rain/snow for most of the winter and spring so far. The one weekend I have outdoor plans it rains. Crap.

I think I'll need to eat like a bear storing up for the winter. I hear my walking buddy eats very little. He does the model diet—cigs and coffee. terrific for him. I need food. I also hear he gets quiet for long periods of time. Ut oh. It might be a very long hike.

personal best

Actually it was about 5-7 seconds less than the picture. It took awhile to get the camera out and on. Bonnie finished in about 42:44, and Lyd at 44:55, I think. Sharon came in with the sweep van at 58 plus. Sadly, even on a flat course she only has one speed. I don't think you get an any flatter course in Pennsylvania.

It was the Tempo In Depth Fitness Challenge. A fitness program that PBS started in January and climaxed today. We did three loops of first and second streets around the PBS studio and ArtsQuest. It could get boring if you did a lot of loops, but for this we knew exactly where we were and sped into the finish.

At the 1 mile mark we were at 13+. At the 2 mile mark, it was 28+. Clearly we were losing speed, but our goal became finishing in 45. Unknown to us Lydia's goal became the same when she saw the clock was a 30+.

As the Task Master I was very proud of her. She decided on her own that she could crank it up a notch and do it.  It might be a good place to start intervals with her.

There was also a health fair. Bonnie dared to have her BP taken after the 5k. Lydia took advantage of the chair massage.

Then it was the hike back to the car and a trip to Kohler's farm for meat. They'll be selling eggs soon. We saw the little chicks. People who buy their meat, I guess, are asking for fresh eggs. So they are raising chickens after 250 years of selling beef.

When we got home reality set in and we took Adonis for a walk.

terrific sign

I say this all the time. Walk on the left facing traffic.

I was excited when I saw the sign Monday while walking at lunch time. But there's one little tiny problem. You need to walk backwards (as noted on the sign) to obey the sign. The street is one way. The traffic is coming behind you no matter what side you are on. Oops.

americans don't walk and that's a growing problem

Today, from NPR. Great read. Now I'm off to check out America Walks and Every Body Walks and then off for a lunch time walk. It's 77 already and not even noon!

Today we're going down College hill, out next to the creek, and up Sullivan Lane hill and back thru campus. We'll be hot and sweaty when we are done.

south bethlehem art and casino

Today Bonnie, Lyd and I walked about 4.5 miles. We stayed on the southside side.

My goal was to see "The Four Elements" a new glass sculpture at ArtsQuest. It's installed in the spiral staircase. When we arrived at ArtsQuest they weren't open yet, but somehow Bonnie talked the receptionist into leaving us in! We were going to climb the stairs but she put us on the elevator. So be it. It is incredible. Words do not do it justice.

Then we went outside and played in the park. The side trip to the park/ArtsQuest is probably the reason why my calculations differed from Lyds phone app.

Then we headed thru The Steel around the casino, and back home the Greenway and Broadway.

Lyd's body must know what 3 miles is, because at the almost exact point she wanted to sit down. By the time we hit the 5 points she was whinny. Here's her post from FB. I'd be the task master!

"The task master was at it today on our walk on the Soutside of Bethlehem. We went through Lehigh's Campus, then down to ArtsQuest and around the Sands Casino and back to home base. Gone roughly 1hr 50min and taking time to snap some photos of the new Four Elements Art at ArtsQuest. Total miles came out to 4.7, mind you the task master said toward the end of the walk that it was just over 4 miles when she goggled it out this morning! I need to get cranky after 3 miles and I did do some complaining but have done far more at other times. Also, told said task master I was going to post how she is such a task master despite her intention to get me up and moving more miles and increasing my endurance levels. Said task master can be a real pain in the butt even if she is right sometimes..."

I'm right all the time Lydia!...At least where walking is concerned.

making taking the stairs more fun!

10K success!

I did a competitive 10K in 1:43:58! Way under my 2 hour goal. I can't lie. I was pooped at the end.

I picked up Bonnie at 8, and Lydia before 8:30 and we were off. We pulled into the part of the trail I thought it started at and it was not there. We were running late and I was in full panic mode. I decided to head to Saylor park because they had a large lot. Nothing. But there was a woman with a number on her shirt, and she told us where to go. We left the car and walked the half-mile to the start. There was no parking left.

Lydia did the 5K. We did the 10K. We started at 9.

There was very few 10K walkers. Maybe 10. The first group passed quickly. The second group passed. Then the really big girl passed. That started a game of leap frog between the really big girl and us.

The sweep bike (Kevin) followed us for a while and her for a while. I told him about the 50K. He told me the first time he walked the route it took about 2.5 hours.

When we reached Saylor Park we called Lydia. She was waiting at the finish line for us. After the call Bonnie kicked it into high gear and breezed across the finish line about 30 seconds before me. I came in 2nd last. The really big girl finished last. But she finished. I haven't a clue what her name is but I'm proud of her. I took her picture, but forgot to get her email to send it to her!

Lydia did the 5K in about 58 minutes.Needless to say she waited for us. Scored us fruit, water, and soft pretzels before they ran out.

When we go home Bonnie emailed that she signed up for the President's physical fitness thing I mentioned yesterday.

finishers certificate arrived

another challenge

Tuesday night while watching the Biggest Loser (my guilty pleasure) Michele Obama mentioned the Presidents Active Lifestyle Challenge. Back in the 70s Pat and Mim, next door, did this challenge. But then it was called the President's Physical Fitness Award and all the logging was on paper!  Now of course, the Biggest Loser is tying it into the show to get people to do it. That's just smart marketing.

So I jotted down the name, and today I googled it. And signed up as an individual. I signed up for PALA (Presidential Active Lifestyle Award), then I think I might sign up for the Presidential Champions.  And just like Volkssporting you can buy patches and pins and things.  Shoot, when I was in the activity list I forget to check if pole dancing was listed.  It might fall under "dancing". I checked walking stairs, walking, hiking, bicycling, and children's games. I figured that covered scooters and swings. (Scooter Thursdays at NCC till the end of the year!) If I missed something I think I can go back and edit the page.

One day when Bonnie and Lyd and maybe Dave are here, we should try the adult fitness test. It might be scary!

I just want to get everything done by election day, just in case the president changes! Now I just need to remember to log in. Hopefully you can do a couple days at a time.

Speaking of exercise, tomorrow is my first competitive 10K. My goal is 2 hours. Wish me luck.

now for something not walking related

I went down to the Kirby Sports Center yesterday to pick up tickets for the Joe Biden lecture in May. No, I'm not going, I have class, but a friend with friends, wanted them and there's a two ticket limit.

So anyway, I wander into the lobby trying to remember where the ticket office was and found this huge, malformed breast cancer ribbon hanging in a cage. I dug for my camera and went and investigate. Joe Biden could wait. The hand-made sign said "traveling ribbon of hope".

Today I looked it up. I found a story online from the Express-Times. It was created by Easton Middle School students back in October, and is traveling from school to school. Kind of cool. It's covered with signatures. How long it will be on campus, I have no idea.  But if you're ever at a basketball game on campus check it out.

it's official!

M and I have officially downgraded to a 50K on April 28. I'm very pleased. The thought of the 100K terrified me.

Didn't walk too much last week. Both Lyd and Bonnie were shocked that I said no to walking Saturday. I did other exercise instead. Scooters, poop loads of cleaning, hula hoops, lots of stairs, eating way too much Easter candy. 

10K this weekend. Need to walk everyday.

scooter!

Today, when I arrived at school Josh had a child's scooter. He received it as a gift today. Anyway, he played with it for about 2 hours before I got there. Then left me play. I started out looking like a drunk on the yellow line at a traffic stop. Quickly I got the hang of it. It's quite a workout. Alas, I had to give it back, and go to class. Drats.

Josh shot me on the scooter with his iPhone.

Note to self. Put that sweater in the hand me down bin.

anxiety lecture

There was a brown bag at school today on anxiety, and it's cousin stress. I'm anxious.

Shocked, huh? I'm not.

My mom called me a worry wort. For example. I had blood work on Friday morning. The doctors office didn't call yet. It's Wednesday after noon. I'm going back and forth between "no news is good news" and "I have some horrible disease". Which disease depends on what is being talked about or advertised. Generally cancer. Often diabetes. Sometimes even MS.

What I did discover, going thru the 10 levels of anxiety, is what type of anxious I am.  We had to mark down from 1-10 what we were after he covered each section. Somatic, emotional, behavioral were all 8's. Interpersonal was 6, and spiritual was 3. The biggie? Cognitive. It was a 10. Okay it would have been a 15 had there been a choice.

Cognitive is the one where you say to yourself, "I shouldn't be eating this whole bag of chips (smoking, shopping....)" and then continue to do it.

There is a reason this fat girl is still fat, and needs to keep walkin’.

national walking day

Tomorrow is National Walking Day! The official event in the Lehigh Valley is at LVIP IV.  I saw a sign today when I was at the bank. Although the industrial park is huge. How you'd find them, I'm not sure.

I have my 15 hour day tomorrow, so I'll be walking in Easton at lunch time, like always. Our walk will be on-campus because there is a stress/anxiety brown bag we are going to. If I learn one tip to reduce stress it will be worth it!

While I was on the Heart Assn website I set up every two feet as a walking club. I don't expect we will gt any new members outside of family, but what the heck I'll give it a shot.

Mark your calendars! National Walk At Lunch Day is April 25. Another Wednesday so again I'll be going it alone in Easton. Wish I lived in Philly were it looks like a big party comes with your walk!

april fools half marathon

A few weeks ago the route for the fall Bethlehem Half Marathon was printed in the Morning Call. We decided to walk it. On April Fools Day. We're crazy "walking fools"!

Potentially I had six people going: Me, Bonnie, Kathy and Lyd who went, and my friends Betsy and Pam. Betsy had another commitment, and Pam's husband had an accident, so they both had to back out.

The half starts at the Sands Casino at the former steel mill. I wasn't sure what the rules for parking there were, so we met at ArtsQuest, right in front of the blast furnace. Lydia only wanted to do a 10K so she left her car at Monocacy Park. Bonnie and I picked her up and brought her to the southside.

We left ArtsQuest and headed up Polk to Packer and past Lehigh. It was then I realized we were supposed to go to the casino first. Oops. We headed down Brodhead, across the Fahy Bridge, around the city center, and up Main. At Geopp we headed over to Monocacy and followed the creek to Paint Mill Road, and up the hill to Schoenersville. It was a hilly walk and we were only about 4 miles into it.

After a potty break at the Wawa, we continued down Illicks Mill Road to Lyds car—the pitstop. There we had items to replenish our supplies. We filled our water bottles, and had a snack. There was even gluten free ones for Bonnie. At the car, Kathy decided to bail, so Bonnie and I proceeded out Dewberry and down Linden to Washington. Then we went past Lyds old house, which is up for rent. Bonnie and I thought we should make an appointment to look at it. Not to rent it. We're just noisy. How did they rehab the house?

We worked our way back down to Broad and out Market to Linden, and back Church, and over the Fahy Bridge again. We finished the walk by going down First Avenue to the car.  Bonnie's feet hurt, so we never went to the casino. Missing that both times shaved about a mile off the route. Oh well.

I felt good and it took about 4 hours. It was a good training walk for the 100K—less than a month away.