you can stop the emails ...

But I totally forgot about the packets of flyers that come in the mail. Sigh.

today

Tail on the Trail announced today the winter challenge. 30 miles in 30 days. Not much of a challenge. But I'll do it anyway.

Today's walk was hilly. I got to thinking as I walked it that I used to think these hills were steep. They aren't. I think I need a new neighborhood.

Today's walk  was down the hill and back up to Seneca. Then down Seneca, and up Clewell to Jeter. Down the steep hill at the hospital (almost lost mama in her wheelchair on that one!) and up St Luke's Place. Then down Fiot, and back up Fiot and home.

Again, it wasn't a long walk, but I got it done.

I took my iPod and took a pix of these red berries. It is my first picture for 2015. I need to remember to take it with me for the camera function. (All the music on it stinks. Never buy workout tapes.) I'll have to borrow the SLR from school for the Niagara Falls Volkssport trip in May.

I've also been busy unsubscribing from race-fitness emails. My in-box used to be filled with  them. So many temptations. But if I stick to "buy only essentials" I can't be tempted. I'm weak.

I nearly failed at this goal about a week ago. I found a Nordic Walking workshop in King of Prussia. I was literally filling out the form to sign up and I stopped myself. The same day I found a Chi Walking workshop in NYC. Both were about $100. Plus travel. Clearly non-essential.

The only other pre-paid events on my calendar are the Idita-Walk, Tri-To-Help in Lancaster in February, and the Yuengling Loger Jogger with my niece and friend in April. I was doing the Tri-To-Help with a fitness friend, but she withdrew to do yet another half marathon. (Her plan is two a month for the whole year. No thank-you.) Other than that it's Volkssport walks/events and just plain old walking.

Now where is my log info for the Idita-walk?

pumpkin pie 5k

This morning was the Pumpkin Pie 5K.

When I awoke, and it was finally light enough to see, I determined that it was safe to go to the event. It's was 36 and the porch train was dripping on my head. Good sign that there would be no ice.

I picked up Sharon at 7:30 and Lydia at 8, then we headed down 248 to Nazareth. I dropped them at the Y and looked for a place to park. I got really lucky. Meters were free and the spot I selected was plowed! As a bonus it was only about 2 blocks from the Y. That never happens in Nazareth.

I didn't do this race last year, I don't remember why, but in 2012 I finished it about 50 minutes. This year I finished in 51:48. So I increased my time by a minute and a half. Maybe I'm slower. It snowed the whole race., so maybe it was the slush and wet leaves. Who knows.

There is a lot of people on the route cheering you on, which is both helpful and annoying.  I finished second last. For a while I was last, and the copy was creeping along behind me. I pasted a mom and her daughter and ditched the cop. So much more pleasant. As I walked past the car I clicked the trunk button on my keys and threw my coat in. I might have missed a beat, but it was pretty seamless.

Sharon and Lydia did the 1.5 mile fun walk. Though Lydia tracked it at 2 miles. Sharon was pooped at the end. I found her on a park bench waiting for me.

Saturday is the Turkey Trot. Bonnie and Megan, I think are doing that one.

what happened to my mojo?

Yesterday  Bonnie, Megan, the Wee One and I did the Bethlehem Volkssport walk. We had a great time doing the the second-loop 5K.  That loop goes west to the tomb of the Unknown Soldiers, the armory, then back to the Fahy Bridge. Up the hill and circles thru the cemetery. Basically a odd shaped figure eight. It was chilly but nice. The baby even fell asleep for awhile. We parked in front of the Moravian Bookstore -- why didn't I go in? -- and went shopping in the Christmas Village. It was my best walking total in a long time.

But I'm still looking for my mojo. Can't find it anywhere. I have had about six weeks, maybe even eight weeks of sucky totals for walking. I made my goals maybe twice, but only because of half marathons. My clothes are telling me I am gaining weight. Yet I exercise less and less and stuff more and more into my pie hole. Pie-hole stuffing is out of control. Today was the first day in forever I ate vegetables. And I love vegetables. It stinks.

Even if my Fitbit wasn't acting wonky this week, I would have still had lackluster totals. Again.

I did no exercise walking today. First I was going to call Lydia. Then not. Then I planned a route in the neighborhood. But something always got in the way. Obligations from 20 directions. Can't anyone do anything themselves. No. because I'm a push over.

Do you want to know how bad my laziness has gotten? Thursday I walked down to the South Bethlehem Volkssport walk at the Comfort Suites and collected the paperwork and then didn't do the actual walk! Who am I and what have I done with Gayle? I had sixteen people to walk with and I went home. I just had so much grading to do.

I even missed my regular Friday walk with Betsy. She cancelled, so instead of walking I shopped for Toys for Tots while I was driving Lydia.

Sadly, the more I don't walk the more it becomes easier to sit on my fat ass and let it get fatter. Any ideas how to get me out of this rut, let me know. I'm begging.

Meanwhile I have two 5Ks this week. I'd better get my fanny moving.

This week the swag came from Tail on the Trail. (Thanks for the pix Lydia!) We had gotten a long sleeve grey tee a couple weeks ago. now we've gotten a flannel blanket with a plastic back. I'm guessing it's for picnics after your walks. I'm kind of perplexed over the super-duper stadium cushion. Isn't sitting something they are not promoting? It's nice. If anyone needs a stadium cushion I have one. Otherwise it's going in the hand-me-down bag. The blanket is in the emergency kit in the car.

50% walkers at the spartan spirit 5k

Today was the Spartan Spirit 5K at the college I work at. There was probably only about 100 people, and almost half of them were walkers. So cool.

Sam Spartan came (the mascot), and there were students helping. But what was nice was this is the first race that I can remember that was really diverse. Makes sense at a community college. It always puzzles me why the turn out at these things is overwhelmingly white. If you watch any track meet, that is not the case.

If I had to guess a lot of the walkers were faculty. Not many students. I had asked my students Thursday night if any of them were doing the race, and they said no, that 9 am is way too early in the morning. One pm would be nice—First thing in the morning. Clearly there is a generational gap.

I think the college didn't hire a race company. It was all volunteer. Another reason why it was so cheap. I think they used the timing equipment from the track team.

Runners were timed. Walkers were not. The trophies were made at the fab lab —my happy place on campus. The t-shirts featured my design. I offered them 4, they picked the one I liked least, but oh well.

We all gathered inside and out, and then walked over to what appeared to me as the finish line. One chute said runners, the other walkers. They did speeches and the girl was singing the Star Spangled Banner and mid-way through a air horn went off. We were at the wrong line! Everyone moves.

Finally it begins. We looped the parking lots and then headed out to Green Pond Road. The girl behind me says to her friends. "I have air." They ask her what she meant and she said it was the first race since giving up smoking and she could breather. Kind-of cool.

Near the end of Green Pond we turned into Moravian Academy and looped around their campus. At times the"air" girl passed me, and then I passed her again. At this point she was behind me. I hear, "I'm out of air." Her friend said something like you can't turn around years of smoking in a couple weeks. She never passed me again, but she did finish shortly after I did.

I have no idea what my time was. There wasn't a clock and I don't wear a fancy watch or use a smart phone.

Other Odds and Ends:
I didn't buy the bridge photos. They cost the kings ransom. 

My fitbit is still acting wonky. At 8 am, it said 5:09 pm. And was still counting my numbers from yesterday. I'm going to try and reboot it tonight. I think it started celebrating Lehigh-Lafayette a little early ....

autumn revelations

I walked today at lunchtime. I was stressed to the max and it was either take a long walk or say something stupid and get fired.  I chose the walk.

Dang I wish I had my camera with me. (Photo from Wikipedia.) College Hill was painted in brilliant shades of red. There isn't much prettier in Easton than Victorian mansions cloaked in bright red leaves.

Since the D&L marathon two weeks ago I've been thinking a lot about racing and what role it will play in my life moving forward. It started at the pre-race dinner. Person after person stood up and said how wonderful racing was, and how they break down in tears from joy when they finish. It was like a Hallmark card for walkers. I have never shed a tear or jumped for joy. Sure I was happy it was over. I was happy I finished. But that's it.

The day of the race I counted down the miles like I always do—7-6-5-4-3-2-1-thank goodness I'm done. They hand you a medal which is lovely for about 2 minutes. Then my mind switches gears to what shall I do with this? And I really don't need another t-shirt. Three-quarters of them go to Pat or Goodwill.

But I was signed up for another the next week. It actually would have qualified me for a group called Half Maniacs. After becoming a member the least you could do was one Half a month to keep up your membership. The highest —52 in one year. Yep. One a week. Clearly those people have no life outside of races. And an endless supply of money. Half marathons are not cheap. Plus you need to add in travel, hotels, tolls, eating out, ect.

My fitness friend Nora is a member. She rarely does a 5K or a 10K anymore. She loves the half, and I anticipate that she'll move towards full marathons soon. She check race results. She knows the race staffs. She does two every month. I think I'd rather shoot myself.

Last week I was bored to tears at the Deja Vu. Solitude was not one of my life skills. There was no joy at the finish. Just relief. The shirt went into the hand-me-down box.

The 10K on Sunday was great. But was it because it was half the length or was it because I was walking over a beautiful body of water? Again, no joy at the finish, just relief. And wanted to be sure I caught the right bus back.

Saturday is a 5K. Looks like I'll be going it alone. Again. Bonnie just had surgery, and Megan can't make it. It's at NCC and I designed the tee shirts. I got to go. The money benefits my kids. But I'm not sure I want to.

Bottom line: With the exception of NCC, races are expensive and getting more expensive. I have to buy health insurance next year so there goes my disposable income.  I need to get really picky.

I'm not sure if I've signed up for anything next year. I have to look. (Oh wait—The Yuengling Lager Jogger with Angel and Eryn, and the Hangover 5K on New Years Day....bet there's more.) I need to evaluate how much racing I will actually do. Will 2015 be more Volkssport? More state parks? More fitness challenges. Not sure.

In the meantime,  I found a plastic box for the medals. Not quite ready to recycle them to Medals4Mettle. Maybe when the box is full.

will race for free beer

Or not. The line was way to long.

The Oktoberfest 5K was today. We had a huge group—Bonnie, Lydia, Megan, Dawn and Lyds friend Joleen. It was cold today waiting for the race. We all wore layers. Most of us wore the shirts we picked up yesterday. Nice, right? I had a pink shirt under mine. It is Pinktober after all.

We planned to meet at the entrance to ArtsQuest at 10 am. Megan and Joleen arrived first, then Dawn and her husband, and finally Megan and Bonnie. The race had at least 4K people. They capped it at 5K and were still selling entries.  It was wall to wall people. The broke us into four waves with beer themed names. We were in the last wave. The first was at the start line near the Welcome Center. The last was in the "Keg" section. The line up for that began at PBS. Yep, we pretty much had to walk two blocks to the start line. It took almost 8 minutes for us to cross. Thank goodness for chip timing.

We quickly splintered by pace. Near the beginning I actually passed Megan and Bonnie. How did that happen? But soon Bonnie passed me. Then Megan. Once we hit the hills, I was doomed. Those two, like my friend Angel fly up the hills. I passed them on the way down. But then they passed me again and it stayed that way.

The course went out first, up Webster, out Columbia and over the Fahy Bridge. Then up Center, out Church, and down around the city center and down Lehigh.  Over to Sand Island, turn around and come back.

I met Bonnie and Megan again on Columbia, near the back side of Looper's. Bonnie said "You caught up". And I said something about them seeing the finish line and they'd speed off without me. But they agreed on the bridge that we'd all cross together. And we did. My foot must have hit first because I finished in 50:48, and they finished in 50:50. Our unison was a little off. Dawn finished in 56:50, and Lydia and Joleen in 63:55.

They did not give us our traditional gingerbread cookie medals at the finish which I found odd. You had to wait in line. It wasn't a horrible line, like the one for beer.

Dawn was going to try and save hers. I don't know about the others. Me, I'm eating it. I assure you, it will be gone by morning. Hope it tastes as good as it smells. I heart gingerbread.

color me pink

Yes, it's Pinktober first, and you know what that means. Gayle will be draging out her pink wardrobe. Walking in Breast Cancer multi-day walks bulks up the pink wardrobe. I have enough, for a whole month, with few repeats. 

So it began today. Pink skirt for work, pink t-shirt and ribbon socks for Zumba. I have enough pink t-shirts for about three weeks. I have more than enough pink reusable shopping bags and no doubt I will succumb to another before the month is over.

Yes, I realize the color pink will not cure disease. And the whole pink thing is a giant marketing scam. Just like dumping water on your head was for ALS. Yes, I also know that there is lots of diseases that don't have a color, month, or even a budget to get awareness out there. If you figure out a way to get your disease noticed, I'll support you. Until then, I'm going to party in pink.

This week has been horrible for my numbers. Unless something dramatic happens I will not make my goal of 87,500 steps this week.  Or 140 floors.

I've been fighting some nasty poison and it got the best of me Sunday. I think the build up of Benadryl hit. I was lazy. But Sunday night, at dusk, I walked up and down my hill about 10 times so I could make at least 10K steps and 20 floors.

Monday I had full intentions of walking after work. But the television didn't work and I had to go to the cable company and then spend two hours on the phone with tech support, ect. But the time the smoke cleared it was dark. I didn't want to walk up and down the hill again. Actually I wanted to eat something really fattening and drown my sorrows. I didn't. Total not much more than 5K

Tuesday we did the North Bethlehem Volkssport walk. I forgot my fitbit, so it didn't count. Another sad day under 5K.

Tonight I will take the scenic hilly route to Zumba. Yeah, it's four blocks away. I'm going to try and make it a mile and a half. Or at least a mile. Maybe I will make my 12,500/20 goals. I hope so.

Today registration opens for the Lager Jogger. Angel would like to do it. It's all hills. And the line is too long to get the free beer.

Saturday I'm thinking about doing Columcille. It's different, and not too far. And I think Megan and Lydia will get a kick out of it. Sunday is the Octoberfest 5K.

Maybe I'll turn into a pink superhero and end the week strong.

morning star celtic classic 5k

Today was the Morning Star Rotary Celtic Classic 5k. Yeah, it's a mouth full.

We didn't do this race last year, but in 2012 it started at a different place and went to the south side. This year, it began at the Luckenbach Mill, and headed to Union Blvd, out Main, and down the HBI path back to the mill. We went past the mill and out Conastoga Street. We crossed Union Blvd, and headed out the Monocacy Trail to Burnside Plantation. Then we turned right on Paint Mill Road and made an immediate right on to Mauch Chunk Rd. Up Geopp, and down Monocacy and back to the mill.

I finished in a hair over 51. Bonnie in a hair under. Megan came in 15 seconds behind me. Our times were slightly higher than the last time, but trails were not involved. I'm happy with it.

When we first started the race I thought it was odd that a girl had a Camelback for a 5k. On Mauch Chunk Rd we ran into her again. It wasn't a Camelback. It was oxygen! We leap frogged a lot but ultimately she ran into the finish and beat me.

This race always has good cheese, lots of fruit and water, and the best part—men in skirts.

The "boys" were meeting Bonnie and Megan at the event to hang out for a while. I had a meeting with a client at noon, and I didn't bring a cent with me, so I opted to walk home.

meandering walk

Yesterday was the packet pickup for the Celtic Classic 5K. It was at Memorial Pools parking lot. I arrived at about 3. Pickup started at 4. Since Betsy wasn't available for our Friday walk, I decided to walk around the park for an hour.

First I headed toward the mill and back up the hill. Then I headed toward the recycle center and dropped off the recycling I was carrying. Then I headed toward Schoenersville Rd. It took forever to cross the street, and I made my way up to Catty Road. And turned left on Kaywin. Kaywin is a lot longer than I thought. It brought me out at Eaton Avenue and I made my way to CVS.

After shopping, I went up 8th Avenue, and crossed illegally at the Wawa. Made my way across the fields and back to the Pool. It was 4.5 miles and past 4:30. But on the up side, all my errands were done.

I walked up for the packets. It took a while. irst I had to get our numbers, then our chips on yellow ankle bracelets, then for shirts, then for bags. I think the bags should have been the first stop.

With rush hour traffic it was nearly 5:30 when i returned home.

walks I'm planning

People always ask what I'm signed up for. Even though I am mad, frustrated, discourage, and generally pissed off at myself right now these events are a go. I've already paid for the bulk of them.

2015, on the other hand, may be a very different story.

September
1-- Saucon Rail Trail 10K 8:30 am, the give you the best, most comfortable, and ugliest socks ever. Mine from last year are threadbare I wear them so much.

13 -- LBW 30th anniversary walk and picnic. It's a 10K around Lake Galenda.

19 -- Bacon 5k run/walk Challenge if you are crazy, you can eat a half pound of bacon at the half way point. No thank you. I could easily eat a half pound, hell a whole pound, of bacon. But not during a race.  Ordered a larger t-shirt. I'm giving it to Dave. He's a huge bacon, and Iron Pigs fan.

20--Tail on the trail event in Palmer (rt. 33 access point). These usually start around 9

27--Morning Star Rotary Celtic Classic Run/Walk, 8 am.

October 
5--Yuengling Octoberfest 5k run/walk, 10:30 am. Pricey but you get lots of stuff. Most of which I will give away.

11 (maybe)--Turn Bath Pink 5k, 9 am. The pink fire trucks will be there the weekend before.


17-19 -- we've been talking about doing the State College Volkssport weekend. Hard to get counties. But if we are going we'll need to make reservations soon. Even after their staff's fall from grace, Penn State is football.

November
2--D&L Half Marathon. Walker Friendly. 4.5 hour time limit

8--Deja Vue Half. Walker friendly. 5.5 hour time limit. You have to scroll to the bottom of the page for the half.

9-- Across the Bay 10K. I think I told them I'd finish in 1:45. So I'll be under the gun.

bringing up the rear

There will probably be very few pictures from now on. I lost my camera, again. Maybe I should take my iPod.  Photo on right is a "file" photo.

Since Lydia didn't come to the Alburtis 5K today, it was my turn to bring up the rear. I came in last of our group at 51:02.

I am not getting any better. And it frustrates the hell out of me. In 2010 I came in at 51:20 which was a personal best at that time. In 2011 I finished in 48:38. Pretty much my best time ever, especially with all the hills. In 2012 I came in at 49:58. Last year I signed up, but didn't go. I don't remember why.

Clearly my times are getting worse. Why? I have no idea. It certainly wasn't the weather. It was a beautiful day. It wasn't the course. I've walked it at least three times before. I know where all the hills are and I power walked down each of them. I know I'm slow going up them. I know when I walk alone my times are always worse. I tend to daydream and listen to the woodpeckers.

Three things I know for sure. 1) I am frugal. I'm doing less races to save money.  2) I am healthy. I go slowly up hills but my heart doesn't feel like I'm going to explode. Though today it felt like I was walking on the side of my shoe. 3) I am easily distracted. This is the big one that impacts my time. My head goes on these little journeys and I slow down. I did not stop today for wildlife or art or architecture. But it does happen.

When I first started doing 5Ks I walked alone and my times sucked. Then Bonnie started coming and I did better. I had someone to talk to, and least until the last 1/2 mile, later the last mile, still later the last half. Now, she's off at the start and I see her at the finish. She always beat me, but now she cleans my clock. Bonnie was on fire today. She finished in less then 48 minutes. And "wasn't pushing" herself. I was giving it everything I had. She was cheering me on at the end and I told her to "shut up". I was already pissed about my time, I did not want a cheerleader.

I totally "get" why Lydia doesn't want to do a half alone. We are very much alike.

Megan was about a minute ahead of me. I don't know her time. I could at least see her.

I am so frustrated right now with exercise. I think my frustrations started to boil this week. First golf. then shitty results at the race. Then a friend bought a fit bit and is scoring 10-15K a day WITHOUT going for a formal walk.

What the hell am I doing wrong? And more importantly how the hell do I fix it? It's hard enough to fit in the exercise I do, do. I just want to crawl in a corner and cry sometimes. Instead, I'll go grade.

fridays in the 'burbs

Every Friday I walk with my friend Betsy in the 'burbs of Allentown. Since Bonnie has been off, she frequently joins us. Today she brought the Wee One also.

Let's just say the Wee One did not like his walk today. He cried thru the first half. Slept thru most of the second half. We went a slightly different route that was a little longer. Maybe 3.5 miles. We even took the gravel woods path and thru grass. It worked great.

Then he cried on the way home. So I moved to the back to entertain him. It worked...mostly. Silly stories and songs and being goofy works on a 4-month-old.

I'm kind-of-over crying babies.

Tomorrow's Race Against Racism 5K was cancelled due to lack of entries. Frankly it's a hard concept to advertise. So instead we will be walking the Palmer bike trail. Probably the lower half that connects with the D&L in Bethlehem Township. I'd like to do the new part that connect the River Trail with the D&L in  Hugh Moore Park. I've never have been on that section before.

 

lock ridge park

Today, Bonnie, Megan, the wee one, and I headed to Alburtis and Lock Ridge Park.  We chose it because we thought it was all was paved. It's mostly paved.

Lydia was sick—she's got Bonnie's 5-pack-a-day cough—so she didn't come. Rumor has it that she spent the day reading. Jealous.

When we arrived we parked and a dog started barking at us. We said out loud "would leave their dog in the car on a day like today?"  I said, maybe they went to the latrine. Five minutes is fine. Then a girl came over and said "he's mine". Turned out they were doing a photo shoot of shelter animals, and he doesn't play well with others so he had to stay in the car.

She was no more than 20 feet away, so he was okay. (Now. He was a pit/bull mix. Abused. Megan noticed the scar on his back. It was ugly. The rescue-girl said that was 100% better. I can't imagine what condition he was in when he arrived."

A loop—with several paths— at Lock Ridge is about a mile and a half, so we walked around twice. But we didn't take the same paths so we were a little closer to 2.5 miles in an hour. The one by the railroad was flooded and we couldn't tell how deep it was. Probably fairly deep. It extended into well onto the grass. So we didn't complete it. We turned around an came back.

There was one much longer path, but that one was not paved. Megan didn't want to jostle the baby around on stones.

I usually only come to this park for the 5K in August. To get to the park we drove to the start point, then followed the 5K route. A lot out-of-the-way but it worked. During a 5K there is no time to look at anything or take pictures. Today, I looked at everything and took pictures. I found two staircases and took them both. The others continued on. That's fine, I'm a big girl. But then I came to a fork in the road and yelled "Which way did you go?" They yelled "left" and I went left and caught up with them. The museum was not open until one, so neither were the bathrooms.

What is this place you might ask? From the Lehigh County website: "What looks like a stone castle was a coal burning iron furnace. The beauty of the furnace and surrounding structures belie their industrial roots."

When you live in the Lehigh Valley you can't escape iron. Or limestone. And by extension cement.

laughing at my nighmare 5k

Today was the second annual Laughing at my Nightmare Run, Walk or Roll 5k. I did worse than last year. I don't know if I am getting slower or if it's because I haven't done many races lately. Maybe a bit of both.

Today it was Bonnie, Megan, the wee one, and me. It started at East Hill Moravian Church and went out Shakespeare to the education campus, around Freedom and East Hills and back. This year there were quite a few walkers, and several non-stroller rollers. It was a nice size group.

There were more rolling hills than I remembered from last year.

Last year Bonnie finished in about 50:30, me at 50:48. This year the wee one came in first at about 50:11 and then Bonnie at 50:13. (The only way she could win is she drug the stroller behind her.) I came in at 51:12 and Megan at about 58:20. This is Megan's first race since pregnancy/birth so she's a bit out of shape. I'm sure in a few weeks she'll also clean my clock.


Since Megan has moved home and has joined the walking group (join might be too strong a word) I need to find places that are stroller friendly, AND that we haven't done to death. Tomorrow we'll be walking at the Lockridge Furnace in Alburtis. Other options are the Tatamy Trail, Penn Pump trail in Palmer, and the Palmer Rail Trail.

kreiderville 5k challenge. 2014 edition

This is a tough course. No way to get around that. We've done this race three times before.  (2011, 2012, 2013). You choose 5 or 10K if you run. No choice for walkers.

We arrive, parked on the lawn and hiked down to the bridge. No crazy lines this year. Maybe it was because it was a Sunday, but  there were less runners and hardly any walkers. I walked illegally. I went to the registration tent and they couldn't find me on the list.

This year the 5 and 10K started at the same time. The course never changes significantly.  It starts with a small hill up from the covered bridge, and you turn a corner, go down a bit. Then you go up. And up. And up. For 9/10 a mile, then turn a corner and go up another 1/4 of a mile. Everything that comes after that is a walk in the park. They don't call this a challenge for nothing.

Halfway up the hill everyone was out of site. Usually I'm in the back walking with Lydia. But she didn't go this year. I had hopes I'd be further front. Hope spring eternal. I was dead last. At the top of the hill I saw these silos filled with corn.

I finished in 55:40. About my time the first year. Last year I was over 60 minutes. the year before 58. The first year 55:37. Of course I didn't cross the finish line. I was a nonparticipant.

These are the signs on the road. I loved them.

we beat beethoven

Sunday was the Reading Symphonies "Beat Beethoven" race. Beethoven was there. And the town crier was there. And the young people's symphony was there playing their little fingers off.

It was a beautiful day for a race. And they changed the course. That horrible uphill to the stadium was gone. Lydia, it's safe for you to go back. The big hills are all gone!!!

Bonnie and I arrived about 20 minutes early and walked around a bit. Then it was off to the races. The new course allows you to hear the music at several locations. That's because they have it piped thru the athletic fields sound system. After the race we got a snow cone and listened to the rest of the concert. A few 10k-ers did not beat Beethoven. But they played the 5th, again, for the kids fun race.

At one time Beethoven conducted the orchestra. The baton flew out of his hand and hit a violinist. Oops. At that point the conductor took his baton back.

Bonnie finished in 51:05, I think, and I finished a minute later. If I would have moved just a bit faster and stayed with the group of 10K=ers, she would not have seen me and sped up. For a change I could have won!

(Left: Bonnie chats with a dead man.)

hippie dippy earth day 5k

Okay, Earth Day was Tuesday. They should have had this last week. But it got a lot of people to the new Lehighton Trail head for the dedication today.

Lydia, Bonnie and I did the Earth Day Hippie 5k. And we dressed the part. Bonnie's tie-dye was almost vintage--almost 13 years old--straight out of her husbands drawer. Mine I made last year at Musikfest. Lydia made hers at the Kutztown Folk Festival. (Maybe we should Maria's girls here when they are up....)

Aren't these little ones cute? Mom pushed the stroller wearing tye-dye from head to toe (plus Birks!)  But these little gals walked almost the whole thing.

There was about 1/3 walkers. Probably more. 

The trail started at the new Lehighton trailhead. This is the new "end of trail" for now. It needs to be connected to the Weissport trail and the Jim Thorpe section. Little by little the trail grows. Soon it will be 165 miles.

It was out and back. It seemed long. The weather was beautiful. Bonnie finished in 52. Me in 52:16, and Lydia in 54! Way to go Lydia. She even ran over the finish to get the solid number.

We were there probably a half hour after the race waiting out the awards. I ate two oranges and was still very hungry when we arrived at the retro diner. This place has not been remodeled since the 1970s. Of course, it's located in a economically depressed town.

The decorations were retro. The plates were retro. Even the candy was retro—Ludens, Denytene, Chicklets and about 15 flavors of lifesavers. When we ordered a Coke, she asked it RC was okay. RC! I haven't heard of that in decades. Frankly I thought they went out of business. Clearly not. A retro diner with retro soda. Nice end of the day.

Yesterday Bonnie and I walked with Betsy. Bonnie's watch said it was 3.5 miles.

Tomorrow Bonnie and I are doing the Beat Beethoven 5K. You have to be back before the symphony is over. Hopefully Beethoven will be there again this year. As you can guess, the race benefits the Reading Symphony.

My camera comes home from Africa tomorrow. I hope it had a good time.

st. patricks day 5k

Today was the St. Patrick's Day 5K, before the parade. A week late. Why? I'm clueless.

Things were different. We usually meet at Memorial Hall. Today it was in the student union. Across campus. There was a volleyball meet in Memorial Hall.

Parking was more of a nightmare than normal. The volleyball game, a symposium, tours you name it. I ended up parking on Liberty, I think. But to do that I arrived about an hour early. I was alone. It was boring.

I took my iPod. That helped during the actual walk. But I was dead last for the whole thing. I think I was the only walker. There were a few run/walkers. The course was similar. Start at Memorial Hall, go down to 21st, then to Tilghman, back to 26th, and repeat. The second time you go to 19th. I guess that's the extra 10th mile to make it 3.1.

At the split I was at 22.38. I think that's pretty good. I finished in about 45 minutes.

No pictures. Sorry. I left my camera at work on Thursday night and can't do selfies with the iPod. I tried. They were horrible.

After the race I went to Cedar Crest Boulevard. I wanted to go to the Highmark store for "affordable" health care. That March 31 deadline is looming. Highmark comes up in my searches as the cheapest each time. And they are not cheap. The highest ones are $1K a month! I thought talking to a "real" person might help. But alas they were not open. So I walked to the other end of the shopping center and bought sugar-free frozen yogurt with fresh fruit.

one thousand three steps

Yesterday we planned to do the Wegman's walk. Lydia overslept and didn't come, Bonnie was a little late, and the walk evolved into the Lehigh stair climb.

We are nothing, if not flexible.

I left my camera at school, so the photos are from my phone. Actually, they are not half-bad.  We headed up the hill to Sioux and out Sioux to Wyandotte. Since this walk is traditionally short, we walked down the Wyandotte street hill to Broadway.

The sidewalks on Wyandotte are a mess. Almost as bad as Fiot.

We headed out Broadway to Fourth, and then to New.  We headed up New to Campus Square. And started our stair climb. Problem is we didn't start counting until we almost arrived at Packer Avenue. Oops. bonnie guess-timated 35. I think it was closer to 75. But oh, well. I was not walking down and redoing them! We took the selfie in front of the Love sculpture.

 Then we started climbing stairs. I have no idea where we were on campus. The picture below is Bonnie going up a long flight next to Grace Hall. We came back down on the other side of the Neuman House and went back up next to Zoellner.

Ultimately we ended up at the top of the hill where the frats and sororities are. Then we had to come back down, trying not to go down stairs.

On our way up we were at about 700+. I said we need to get to 800. But then we were at about 850. So of course we had to get to 900. Which turned into about 925, then we had to get to 1000. It's a horrible mind game.

We were at about 975 so we went down the hill and came back up to 8th Street via  the stairs betweent eh parking deck and Chi Psi. We were three short. So we went down a flight and back up.

Total stairs: 1003.
Total Distance: 4.1 miles.

Then we headed home.

Afterwards I went to New Balance and bought new sneakers. Made in the USA of course.

Tomorrow, I'm off to the St. Patrick's Day 5K in Allentown.