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.

wednesday night

Wednesday I received a text from Lydia. Walk and dinner tonight? I replied sure.

After eating dinner (mom's pastich with sausage instead of ground beef) we took the dog for his half mile loop. Then we hopped in the car and headed to ArtsQuest. After parking in one of the lots, we headed out towards the casino. I figured it would be 2.5-3 miles. And only one hill.

After crossing under the Hoover Mason Trestle, we stopped for our photo op in front of this huge silver item that says "Safety Involves Teamwork".  Guess that means we shouldn't have been standing in the middle of the street.

On thing I noticed was a lot of families. The Event Center must have been having a family show. the parents and children were all dressed up!

We walked past the hotel, the outlet malls, and headed past the casino to 4th Street. We stayed on the casino side of the street and walked back toward ArtsQuest. When we arrived at the car, we were a little short of Lydia's goal, so we walked in circles in the parking lot. People must have thought we were crazy!

walking south bethlehem

Today Lydia and I did a variation of the South Bethlehem Volkssport walk. I say a variation, because we started at my house and trimmed other spots off.

We headed up to Sioux and out Summit to the Admin building at Lehigh and played in their sculpture fountain.

Then it as thru Lehigh and time to take selfies with the sculptures. This bronze lad looks like he's hitting on Lydia! After Zollner we headed down to the green way to the casino and outlet mall then back under the Hoover Mason Trestle.

We stared at it awhile trying to figure out if progress was being made. Couldn't. then continued on our way. They ripped down another building on this route, and the fencing said HMT gate 3? What is that?

It became abundantly clear when we hit the Steel Stacks. They've put up a sign—"HMT Hoover Mason Trestle take a walk through history. Under construction." They are also putting up Musikfest.

All in all it was about 5.5 miles. A good walk at about an 18 minute mile pace. Even better since this is about 5th day in a row I've worn my Birks to walk in.

Before Lydia we't home, we took the dog for a walk.

peeps 5k

Today was the 5th annual Peeps 5K, held during Peeps Fest. I think I've done all five, and the  two or three 1st night races before that. I'd have to check Pat's drawer to be sure. (She takes the bulk of my shirts. The most athletically dressed La-Z-Boy potato in the world.)

This year it was Megan, Bonnie and I, the others were at work. Since there was no packet pickup, we headed down at about 12:15, picked up our tees and race bibs and then we went inside and walked around a bit. It was very cold out. When we arrived they were having the kids fun run. It was more like a 50-yard dash. We missed the mascot race.

 When we returned outside, it started to snow.

Did I mention is Megan is 7 months pregnant? (I guess that means there was 3-3/4's of us there!)

We were standing around waiting for the race to start. No announcements. No gun. No nothing.  People just started to move! It was weird. Usually, Megan flies out ahead of us, but being pregnant she picked a slower pace. Bonnie kept looking backwards for her. It was also slippery with the snow. Especially the expansion joints on the bridge.

The route was the same as previous years. Out first, up Webster, out Columbia and over the Fahy Bridge. Then up Center, out Church and Market, returning on the Minis Trail Bridge. Megan dropped out at about mile 2--the wee one was not happy--and took the van back. She met Bonnie at the finish.

Bonnie and I crossed the finish at about 53 minutes. Considering the hills, I guess that isn't bad. Bonnie and I finished in a sprint, trying to beat each other. I think it was a dead heat.

Afterward, we went over to the Hotel Bethlehem to change the Volkssport stamp to 2014. Then later, I took the walk box back to the Comfort Suites in Allentown.

Oh, and I walked Adonis three times. Today made up for a little of my laziness this week.

This week I also registered for the St. Patrick's Day 5k, the Idita-Walk, and the Beat Beethoven 5K.

big bird!

Bonnie and I have walked nearly every Tuesday and Thursday this term. I have both mornings off, and she is out with her hand injury. When you walk that much you need to be creative or the routine becomes boring.

Last night I saw on Channel 69 that a life-size Big Bird was brought to our local PBS Station. He's made of Peeps. Peeps are made in my town. It only makes sense. Walking down to visit Big Bird. The perfect walk.

We left my house and headed up to St. Luke's. We went out Ostrum and Brighton, down the bridge ramp and out 2nd/Columbia. Then it was down Webster to First, and out to the Steel. The PBS station is on some of the redeveloped property.

We arrived at PBS and the door was locked. Oh well, they aren't open. Then we heard a click. Apparently they keep it locked all the time. Bird was right there in the lobby. His feathers are Peeps, with the heads cut off, and smashed a little. His legs are Bunnies, and the pink rings are Peeps. His snout is also Bunnies. Oscar is also made of Peep bodies, but they were dyed  dark green.

It was terrific. I can see why Just Born, the makers of Peeps, wanted it here for PeepFest.

We came home the Greenway and found the new Crepe store on New Street, and stopped for groceries. Total, it was about 4.25 miles.

These walks always end with a late big breakfast, since I eat dinner at 3:30 pm before class.

yee haw! my volkssport trail was approved!

"Hi Gayle,
At our meeting last night, we all agreed to add Bethlehem - South to our Year Round Events for 2014.  ...

By the way, everyone was excited to hear about the new Beth. walk.  I think it will be very successful."

You cannot believe how excited I am. I had to do more work last night before it could be turned into national. I needed directions to the hotel, what special walking programs it qualified for, and agree to the 2A rating.

2A means moderate hills and pavements.

"Special programs" are walks you do toward a goal. Like finding 20 diners, cinemas, that type of thing. While we were doing the test walk, Dave kept asking about water towers, and pointing out flag poles. Now I know why. Honoring our Flag is a special program. As is Water Towers. The south Bethlehem walk qualifies for  Flags, Cities in Song, National Register and Fraternal Organizations. Locally it also qualifies for two Pennsylvania counties—Northampton and Lehigh.

Here's the synopisis I wrote. I'm sure they'll tweak it:

This walk takes you thru Lehigh University, the South Bethlehem Greenway (a rail-trail), pass the skatepark, and thru the former Bethlehem Steel. Right now the redeveloped area includes a casino, hotel, outlet mall, PBS station, arts campus, skating rink, and of course, Steel ruins. The walk continues into Fountain Hill past the mansions of 19th century Bethlehem movers and shakers.

In fall I'll have to actually write the trail. This won't go into effect until January. I have a lot of history to look up!

the week so far

Monday kicked off with a walk with Bonnie. Since the heat wave broke, we did about 3.5 miles around her neighborhood. Lots of hills to burn and extra calorie or two. When we got back to her place she made smoothies for breakfast—sweeten coconut milk, strawberries, bananas, protein power and something else. They were thick like milkshakes and delicious. Alas, I can't have another until September. Today I started the diet for Preventions sugar cravings diet test panel.I also bought dumbbells for the program.

Tuesday, was doctor day. It was totally uneventful. She didn't complain about my weight, blood pressure, numbers, nothing. It was oddly refreshing. My weight was 228.5. Last Wednesday it was 225.5. Three pounds in one week? I doubt it.

Lydia came after work for supper, then we walked Big A. After giving him to Pat, we hopped in her car and went to Emmaus. We did her Passport To Fitness rubbings at South Mountain Park and the Wildlands Conservancy. The path on South Mountain was about 1.5 miles round trip. I'm thinking the Flood Plain Trail at the Wildlands was just over a mile. Half mile with the dog. We probably got in 3 miles. We probably would have walked longer at the Wildlands, but it was getting dark.

I decided to try the exercises for the program at 10 pm at night. Not a wise idea.  I woke up Wednesday with aching shoulders, neck and knee. My knee still hurts, but it is better.

Wednesday, my colleague and I walked downtown for lunch. It's restaurant week. My last supper, so to speak before this wacky diet. I had a 1/2 fried artichoke sandwich and a salad. Have you ever had fried artichokes? OMG. Good thing I had to walk back up that hill.

After dinner I headed down to ArtsQuest for the Musikfest 30th Anniversary volunteer photo. There are 24 original volunteers left. They gave us the blue shirts there for the photo. Then we had to give them back. They forgot to embroider 30th anniversary on them. Oops. Sitting on the right is Mary Pongraz. She was my teacher at Broughal back in the 60s. I was the only one there that called her Miss Pongraz. Mary just doesn't sound right.

 

I remember when this skirt had one tshirt on it. What is amazing is thirty years later it still fits. As a graphic designer I see the evolution of the logo.

I left The Steel and headed over to the D&L for the Wednesday Walking Workshop. 

Over the weekend they were trimming the trees on the canal path. To me, it looked like a tornado blew thru and destroyed everything. Glad to see the PPL tree trimmers prune just as badly in the forest. One of the workers was killed when he cut the line and they closed the path for a couple days. My hope is that is why nothing is cleaned up. The canal is dammed with fallen branches. I could have cried. There is no shade on the path, but the power lines are free. I don't like the trade off.

We walked from The Wooden Match to the Minsi Trail Bridge and back. When we got to the Minsi we climbed the stairs and came back down. On the way back, we used resistant bands. I was drenched by the time I got back.

Michele, the walking coach, is the workout coach  for the Sugar Cravings Program. After the workout, she went over the exercises with me, and showed me adaptions. Hope I remember them all. Maybe I'll try them tonight. Should have had someone videotape it.

The rain is back, so I'll be doing a Leslie walk tonight.

Tomorrow Bonnie, Pat from the Liberty Bell Wanderers, and I are going to test the new South Bethlehem 10k walk. It will be my first official trail design. If it goes well, and the board approves, paperwork will be submitted to have it sanctioned by the AVA.

Remember the weights from above? Wednesday 225.5, Tuesday 228.5, tonight 224.5. WTF?

Oh, if that isn't enough, sometimes this week I earned my 1000 mile badge on FitBit! 

we're getting a high-line!

Imaging my delight when I opened the paper this morning. We're getting a "high line"! The High Line is a park/walking path from converted elevated railroad in New York City.

Ours will be the Hoover Mason Trestle at the Steel. I'm so happy I could dance. Even more exciting is they are starting it in May/June! And will only take a year. If you want to see the architectural drawings go here. There's a slide show on the architects page.

Also from their page:

In its heyday, the trestle was used to carry ore cars from the Ore Yard area - currently the site of the Sands Bethlehem Casino Resort - to the blast furnaces. It was part of an overhead material conveyance system that, for the most part, still exists. The project area includes the entire length of the Trestle – 2,000 feet – which currently extends from the recently completed Visitors Center at the Stock House to the entrance of the Sands Bethlehem hotel. ... The trestle, named for the New York engineering firm that designed it, was commissioned in 1905 under the leadership of Charles Schwab, the company's first chairman.

If you want to read the whole story I'm posting the link to the Bethlehem Patch. The major papers links don't last.

Redevelopment kicks butt.  Now, if he local kids could resist the urge to spray paint it, it will be a site to behold.