a new challenge

I'd miss so much if I didn't read the newspaper. I'm too lazy to log on to my FREE digital subscription, and have no desire to search for bad news. The ore me go digitial, the more ignorant I will become.

In today's paper was a photo of children walking. It got my attention. The caption said it was BASD school children kicking off a new walking challenge—Get Your Tail On The Trail. That got my attention!

From the website: "It doesn’t matter if you are fifteen or eighty five, physically-fit or a self-proclaimed couch potato, this challenge is for everyone. Get outdoors, get active and explore nature by walking, running or biking the D&L Trail, 165 total miles of natural beauty in our own backyard." I've always wanted to do this, and the AT. So this is the perfect time to start. I have 6 months to finish. Like all these programs you logo you miles via the Trail Tracker and receive free prizes as you achieve your milestone goals.

Just signing up allows the mail carrier to bring you goodies! Travel water bottle, drawstring backpack, flyer with list of key events, information on how to track your miles, D&L Trail Map and of course, St. Luke’s Live Your Life Program Information. The hospital is a major sponsor. Apparently they want people to get healthy so they don't have any customers! That would stop the expansion plans...

Reach your 50 Mile Goal and receive a Get Your Tail on the Trail t-shirt. Reach your 100 Mile Goal and receive a Get Your Tail on the Trail hat. Reach your 150 Mile Goal and receive a Get Your Tail on the Trail cooler. Reach your 165 Mile Challenge Achievement Award and receive a Get Your Tail on the Trail fleece jacket and 165 Mile Challenge car window magnet.

I think this is doable. We'll be training for the half marathon so we'll need distance and space. I don't think you have to do the whole trail, but I'd be game. We've got many sections covered. Kathy has a section of the trail in Mauch Chunk, Angel in Easton, Bonnie in A'town and Catty, Lyd's in Northampton,  Dawn in the slate Belt, and me in the Christmas City.

I signed up today, but the tracker isn't active yet. They better get it working soon. Schools almost over, and I can start serious walking. I have this, the Passport to Fitness, the Walk This Way program. I can kick some walking but this summer. Not to mention my walk around the world. I might post that on the virtual run Facebook page.


Speaking about milestones, I hit the 500 mile mark on my Fit Bit Tracker a couple days ago.

Saturday is the Dirty Girl mud 5K is Saturday in Scranton. Tatalicious is down two members—Bonnie and Lydia. Kathy, Dawn, Bonnie, Lydia and I are still going to get mighty dirty. It benefits breast cancer research.

Sunday is the Lung Assn. Walk For Life at Rodale Fitness Park in Trexlertown. Not sure if we are doing that or one of the Passport walks.

idita-walk 2013

The party is in Nome again.

Grab your sneakers or snowshoes and join "The Scoobies" as we take the virtual Idita-walk. This is an event to promote physical fitness in the spirit of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race. The Iditarod Sled Dog Race is 1049 miles long beginning at Anchorage, Alaska and finishing in Nome, Alaska.

Bonnie, Megan, Kathy, Adonis, David and I all did it last year. Who's coming this year? (See February and March posts. The discussion on FB was priceless!)

Bonnie was the first Scoobie to sign up. She's participant #70. Dave is 101, and I am #102. What number will you be? It's only $10 and supports boy scouts.

Update 12/1: They sent my certificate. Almost forgot to post it.

Dave emailed that his wife "Barb is #116" and that "Teresa, a friend from the gym, is going to sign up too".

Later he emailed that they reordered the numbers. Bonnie is 69, Dave 98, me 99, and Barb 115.

a sea of pink

Today was the Making Strides breast cancer walk. There was a lot of people.

Is anyone familiar with Connestoga Street?  We came down the hill to the historic district and out Old York Road, down Union Blvd., and back Connestoga. When we reached the little bridge, about halfway down, We could see people still coming down the hill! A mile plus solid of people.

Kathy had a death in the family, and Bonnie had a conflict, so Sharon went along and did the first section of the walk. Pooped, and unwilling to walk up both the Center City and New Street hills, she bagged and went back to the start line. Lydia and I finished the route. It was better—we could walk slightly faster, but not extremely fast because of all the people.

The highlight for me was see in my friend Gail, who has been doing the 3-Day for about a decade. We trained together when I did it.

I think I probably did in excess of four miles today. Walking from the parking garage to the site and back, and then walking Adonis on his 1/2 mile route.


Now, it's off to a Mexican joint for dinner!

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.

last 5k of the year

Today was the Peeps Fest 5K. I beat Bonnie for a change. But only because she's a little out of shape from having multiple surgeries over the past year or two.

Also there were some people from my program. (Sarah, who wrote the book we are testing, is #560, above.) I walked as fast as I could and came in at a pathetic 52 minutes. I was the last one from that group to cross the finish. My walking coach came in at 37. I dream about 45. Hell, I dream about 48 or 49 consistently. (Boring dreams, huh?)

Lydia said I couldn't bitch about my time in my blog. I did just fine. So I'm not going to whine. Bonnie and Kathy came in at about 54, and Lydia and Dawn came in at 61ish.

It was a new route for the 5k, but similar to one I did frequently while training for the 3-Day (or the 5-mile variation!). It started at the blast furnace (aka the ArtsQuest Center) past the old Steel parking lots, out Columbia, and over the Fahy bridge. Then we went up Center, out Church, out Market and came back the Minsi Trail Bridge. Down third and back onto Steel property via Founder's Way.

Tomorrow Lyd and I are probably doing the Princeton Volkksport 10K. She's made herself a 500 mile walking challenge for the year. Piece of cake.

they stopped the walkers not the traffic!

I'm more than a little pissed off. I'm livid.

The Jingle Bell 5K was today. I've done it twice before. To get to the finish line you need to cross Hecktown Rd. It has a light. Today as we neared that intersection the cops were directing traffic as they should. Now I've seen before that they leave a car or two go when there is gaps. I'm fine with that. But today the cop STOPPED THE WALKERS NOT THE TRAFFIC. I shouted I'm being timed. They didn't care. No, I'm not going to win any prizes but you don't stop. Your body starts to relax, and you have to regain momentum. Argh.

This year I finished slower than last year. Only 10 seconds, but still. Maybe if the !@%$* cop didn't stop the walkers I could have come in in the 49s or at least as well as last year. Very disappointed.

Today we walked as a team. Ellie's Angels. Lydia wore wings. Yes, they are upside down, but otherwise you couldn't see them. It was her friend Kathy's 1-year Anniversary of doing 5ks. She's logged over 800 miles walking this year. Kathy kicks asphalt.

This race is usually fun. Everyone wears crazy costumes. How they ran in the tree outfits is beyond me. A photog from the Morning Call took out picture. Her digital camera had a recorder in it. You said your name and town right into the camera! The one that appears online is just a general start pix. I haven't seen it in the printed paper yet.

B104 also took our picture for their website.Were #12 if it doesn't come right up.

Everyone but me did much better than last year. Kathy and Lyd got to the intersection as the cop was leaving people thru. Sharon didn't mind waiting.

Name  /  2011  /  2010  /  difference
Gayle  / 50.58  /  50.48  /  +.10
Kathy  / 52.19  /  63.30  /  -11.11
Lydia  / 54.02  /  61.50  /  -7.48
Sharon  / 65.56  /  60.01  /  -5.56

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.

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.

crossing ben's bridge

Today was the City Of Hope Walk for Hope. It benefited women's cancer programs.

The walk began in Camden and crossed the Ben Franklin into Olde City Philly. The reason I wanted to do it was to cross the Ben. I admit it. I'm shallow.

We left Lyds at 7ish and headed to Camden. No traffic. We got there in 1.5 hours. So we arrived an hour early. But of course if we left later we would have been late.

The starting line was Campbell's field. A beautiful ballpark but not as nice as our Coca Cola Park. It might be my local bias showing but I don't think so.

We were early and they started late. To enter Campbell's stadium you have to go up a flight of stars. The walk started at the concourse at 10:10. A mass of people came down the stars and headed toward the bridge.

The bridge was 50% of the walk. We climbed three flights of stairs and were at least 10 feet above the traffic. The line of people stretched below us for a while. Bonnie and I were crossing over the ball park and people were still coming out.

The walk thru Philly took forever. We kept thinking the finish line was near. (It was billed as a 5K.) But it wasn't. We walked for about sixty-five minutes. Kathy's pedometer said we went 3.77 miles.

This walk was very organized at the ball park. It was a mess at the end.  They were supposed to have school buses to shuttle us back to Camden. We waited almost an hour and it never arrived. We took a cab back to Camden. Even going back to Philly we still didn't see a bus!

Traffic was horrible going back into Philly. I have no idea why. It was a parking lot. We abandoned our plans to go to a museum and got on 611/309 to come home.

(The pixs are from Lyds FB page. I borrowed Sharon's camera and don't have a card reader here.)

5k weekend

Tomorrow I'm doing a 5K alone for the first time in a long time. It feels odd. Bonnie is on-call on a nursing shift, so no 5Ks for her. I guess I forgot to ask Lyd.

It's both an easy and hard walk. Starting from the Rose Garden you head out Broad. LV flat. Then you go up Pennsylvania Avenue. A serious hill. Then back Union Boulevard. Again, LV flat. The race is called Isa's Run For the Cure and benefits Alex's Lemonade stand. How much you wanna bet they are giving us lemonade to drink?

Sharon wanted to do this race, but I was worried about the hill. So she's going to walk in from Dawn's and meet me at the finish. Ironically, there will be a nice hill. But it's shorter, about 1.5 miles, and not timed so it's better. Pat is also waiting at the park for me and were heading to pick up Lyd and go to a butterfly thing in Jim Thorpe.

Saunday, Kathy, Lyd, Bonnie and I are headed at the crack of dawn to Camden for the City of Hope's Walk for Hope. We get to cross the Ben Franklin into Philly on foot. So cool. Hmmmm, do I need money to pay the troll?

Right now, I'm heading to do my 3 mile walk with Betsy in South Whitehall.

The weather is great, I'm energized for a change, and am raring to go.

i got thrown out of the pool!

Today was the Quakertown 5K Dash and Dip. We didn't quite dash, and we dipped and then I got tossed out of the pool. I was dressed inappropriately! Excuse me, the old man in the Speedo was dressed inappropriately, not me.

But that's the end of the story. You'll have to cool your heels to find out why.

We —Sharon, Lydia and I— met Kathy in Quakertown. Bonnie is still on the disabled list. We're hoping to pull her off the bench for the Alburtis 5K.

Before we start, let me say how wonderful Kathy looks. She's half the size of when I met her at the Jingle Bell Run. The baggy clothes she's wearing are not doing her justice. I think she had her surgery soon after Lydia. She's working the program to the letter and it shows. Way to go Kathy!

I picked up our goodie bags Friday night so we didn't need to register.

We arrived maybe a half hour early. It was hot, but we found some shade and waited for the race to start. Some headed to the bathroom. We all came prepared to battle the heat. Friday I had bought some sports drink and mixed 1/3 with 2/3 water in two bottles to take along. Lydia brought a bottle of G2 and Kathy had something yellow mixed. I think Sharon was drinking Propel. Maybe not. Again, stay tuned.

This race started on time. It was two loops of the park plus a serpentine in the parking lot.  "If you return in 12 minutes, and aren't Kenyan" the announcer said, "we'll know you only did one loop." Stereotypical yes. Funny, for me yes.

It was fairly flat. A few minor rises in elevation. Nothing I'd call a hill. There was some shade, some macadam, some stones, and a little dirt. I did not try to break any records and tried one power spurt. Didn't last long. I came in at about an hour, on the nose. Crappy, crappy time. Then the guy said they miss measured the course.

I was also having a problem with my New Balance Toning sneakers. I was walking over on them like I did when I was a little kid. Guess they need to go in the Soles4Souls bin.

Kathy and Lyd walked together most of the route. Then the G2 decided it didn't agree with her and she booked it to one of the many port-o-potties. Kathy kept going and came in at about 65 minutes. Her pedometer on her iPod said 3.7 miles. They announced it was 3.25.

When Lyd re-emerged Sharon was going past and they walked in together. They came in at a hair under 68 minutes. Sharon looked like shit. On the way home she said she was queasy but wanted to finish. She said she was drinking a lot. She handed me her water bottle and it felt full. She poured a lot out when we got home. So what was she drinking   those tiny cups they give you on the route? I sent her over to the very bored EMT people. They checked her out, forced her to sit and drink.

We went to the pool. I wore those horrible shorts because I knew I could swim in them. Lydia dove in as is also. Kathy brought her suit. I haven't been in a pool in a million years, and I was actually afraid to jump in. Once I got wet I was better. None of us could swim. Kathy and I could keep afloat, but Lyd doesn't have any skills.

After playing in 5 feet for a while we went to the kiddie pool. It's padded! They have this mushroom shower thing that's fun. Then we went to the slide. That's where I got in trouble.

First spot of trouble. I'm to fat for the slide. Too wide I guess. I got stuck. It had water running in it and I had to push myself to the bottom. The bari-sisters had no problem.

I finally got down and the life guard calls me over. Tells me I need to get out of the pool. I was dressed inappropiately. Huh? He was talking softly and I only heard every third word. My shirt was apparently the big problem. I was covered. I had a bra on. Oh wait. I had a beige bra on. The reason you do that is so you don't see your bra thru a white shirt. Maybe he thought I was doing a wet t-shirt thing? Oh vey. I have neither the body or the boobs for that!

So we left. We were close to leaving anyway I guess.

Speaking of boobies. Yesterday they closed the route for the 3-Day in Boston because of the heat. It was too dangerous to walk. today they opened the rout at 6 am so people could head out early. They might close it early again if temps reach 100. Here, it's 93 and seems less humid. I hope my sister 3-day-ers get to finish the rest of their walk and do so safely.

new personal bests!

Saturday was a let's get physical kind of day. A stair climb and a 5K.

The 5K was in the morning at Coplay park, near the limestone kilns. It was an 8K run, 5K walk, 1//2 mile run for wee ones. I picked up Bonnie and Megan in Allentown and Kathy joined us at the park. She lives in Jim Thorpe. The walk was for pediatric cancer and had 1200 participants. The park was packed with people and the neighborhood with cars.

The start time was posted as 9:00. Kathy had picked up our packets on Friday so we got to avoid the registration line. There looked like there would be enough time to get to the car and back.

I totally dislike carrying the "goodie" bags. Actually I wish they were discontinued totally. Usually all they have in them are ads from the sponsors or maybe literature on the cause.Actually I really don't need another t-shirt either. My sister wears all mine. Kind of ironic. The person that sits in a yellow chair all day wears race shirts. Mostly because she's too cheap to buy clothes. It would also involve standing up.

I'm walking back from the car, the second time. And I can hear the loudspeaker, but didn't understand what they were saying. It wasn't good. The run would start at 9, the kid run at 9:15 and the walk at 9:30. Say what? It was cold standing around.

During the last mile I called Lyd and told her to meet us at the parking spot....The Log Cabin on 2nd Street.

Our finish times:
Megan cleaned our clocks and came in at 45 minutes.
Bonnie finished ahead of me at 47.06.
I came in at 47.08 a personal best
Kathy (Lyd's Barri Buddy) came in at 49.41. Also a personal best.

When we arrived back at the car Lyd was waiting and we headed to Wilkes Barre.

We were going to tailgate at the arena, but it was cold. We ate in the car.

The have one section of stairs for a tribute walk. It features pixs of climbers loved ones. I had emailed Dicks photo the night before with a message that said I knew it was past the deadline but I'd give it a shot.

After we took this group pix the organizer, Donna Reifler, came over and talked to Lydia. We had our photo taken by there photographer.  I hadn't told her about emailing the photo. Donna told her that is was in the tribute walk. Then we said silly GS songs to uplift the mood.

The firefighters go first, then the "elite" competitive group, and then the regular people.

Lyd hadn't trained because her dad was so sick, so she did half plus the finish flight in 18:38. Just wait till next year! Megan, cleaned our clocks again at 14:19. Bonnie was 18:01. And I brought up the rear at 18:46.

While we were waiting to pick up our shirts, A reporter from the Wilkes Barre Times Leader interviewed her. You can find the link here. In the bottom pix, to the right of the firefighter, you can see her day. He's in the second row.

When I got home my roomie dared me to do the steps in the house. So I did fifty step ups too!