big fat lazy day

Today started like every other day. With great intentions about walking. I've had a pretty slim week, all week, under 10K steps, but usually around 8K.

The plan for today was to start early and set up my new online class. Hit the streets for a walk and get a sympathy card, then come back and grade and attend a webinar. I knew it wasn't going to be a supper active day, but I thought it would be a little active.

Wrong.

It is 1 pm and I have done a grand total of 484 steps. Even with taking the scenic route to the parking lot to class and back.

Things when out of whack when I discovered that one of my classes, that I haven't taught in a year, was rewritten. Instead of taking a 1/2 hour, it took took two hours. And I still have to read everything. By the time I was done, it was time for the webinar.

Some days you can't win. On a happier note let's talk about the Color Me Rad—it's like the Color Run (7/14 in Philly), but in Bethlehem. All the fun, less travel. It starts, of course at ArtsQuest. The most artsy place in south Bethlehem.

Angel and Bug and I are already signed up for Color Me Rad/Bethlehem. If you want to join our team go register. When it asks if you want to be on a team, enter every two feet and hendricks. And you're in. We picked the 9:15 wave.

Does this mean I'm not doing Philly? Heaven's no. It just means I haven't decided yet. It's the day after the 5K off road challenge in Palmerton. Will I be able to move?

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Updates: Lydia and Adonis joined me yesterday in "Nome". They are not staying in the cold, rather they are going back to Anchorage. I'm staying put in the hotel, right on the finish line drinking so much hot cocoa that I'm going to be sick.

I have cloned myself and am also walking to Jerusalem. The whole group should be there by Good Friday. Right now we are a little way into the Atlantic and are walking on water. Not a new idea.

I'm not good at cartooning so I think I might spring $5 for a 5 minute logo for the "Round the World" virtual walk. I might start another blog just for that, or have a colleague put together a simple site, or maybe ask my brother Dave to help me with WordPress. Just in case someone else wants to join me. Then I could put together fun things like a logo or a map, or a tshirt pdf for people to download. I don't want it to turn into a new career!

Finally,  this summer I'm thinking about taking a class to become a certified walk leader. I think it's more own a business oriented (like a Zumba instructor). That's not me. I have enough trouble balancing my own budget.

events for everyone!

Everyone knows how much I dislike wearing shoes, but I do know they have their place and I wear them. On Tuesday, I get to toss those shoes for the day. I can't wait.

One Day Without Shoes is April 5. They are doing it at NCC where I work, so that will be great. I can walk around campus barefoot legally! Except in the bathrooms. They are disgusting. I will also go to class early and participate in any of the activities they have.  It's sponsored by Tom's Shoes. For every pair you buy they give a pair to a child in a developing country. One Day Without Shoes brings awareness to the problems the children encounter not wearing shoes, like untreated infections.

On Wednesday, April 6, is National Start Walking Day. Allison and I will be walking at lunch time. But then we frequently walk at lunch time. The weather looks like the weather is going to be beautiful. 

I also posted both events on my every two feet FB page. I've pretty much decided to take the page down. I just need to get the courage to hit the delete button. I've already removed all the photos. every two feet was a huge failure. I'm not good at organizing. But I'm glad I tried.

I hope to go walking this afternoon. It's a beautiful day today. Then again with Bonnie tomorrow. Lydia can't make it again. I'm worried. She's been skipping too often. We need to get her moving again!

a beautiful day.

The weather channel website says it's 35. They must need a new thermometer. It's is beautiful out. And should remain that way for at least 10 days. I heard rumors of 60.

I posted a walk on every two feet for Sunday. It should be in the forties by then. Wish the hike in the woods would have been this Saturday. Oh well. I'll have to settle for walks in Fountain Hill and South Bethlehem.

I've got a new batch of brush burns today. I fell on the ice coming out of my garage. The snow had fallen off the roof and froze solid before I could move it. The one on my right arm hurts a lot. Pull a chunk of skin off. My roommate keeps asking when I'm going to the compost bin. My new answer....when the ice melts!

So after the dryer stops I'm headed off for a walk. Maybe I'll head up the hill by the hospital and up graham. Nice hills up and down. About 2.5 to 3 miles. Or maybe walk up to the hospital and doing the steps of the parking deck, up and down. That's 12 flights. The first stair climb is about three weeks away! I'm up to 15 minutes stepping in my stairway. If the warm weather keeps up I'll be able to do steps at Lehigh. Right now I think they are still snow covered.

I also tried to put a facebook badge on this blog. So people could go right to the every two feet page and sign up to walk. Hoping to attract more people. It came in all distorted. I tried to fix it but it still looked like crap. So I removed it. So much for marketing. Still trying to decide about postcards or business cards. Since they no longer allow me to post pictures under the every two feet name, it goes on my personal page, I took all the photos off. I also cleaned out the 2010 posts. All that's there is 2011. That's actually more in preparation for taking down the page, if I'm unsuccessful getting new walkers.

The Kutztown Fools Run turns out to be just a run, not a run/walk. Bummer.

decisions

It's tough walking outside right now. It's bitter cold and icy. Another big storm is due tomorrow. But I need to keep moving or in March I'll be back at square one. Besides, I have two stair climbs to do before the weather breaks.

Most would tell me to go to the gym. Let's not and say we did.  Yes, it is the logical choice for winter, but when have I ever been logical?

Decision No. 1 ... the easy one
When I'm at Walmart today picking up Pat's drugs, I'll buy a walking DVD. I certainly won't be able to do it everyday, I'd be so bored. But if I did it once or twice a week till the weather breaks it will be worth the money.

Decision No. 2 ... 
the hard one
I have been thinking about disbanding every two feet. The walking club that isn't. I really thought I could take my experiences from being a training walk leader into the real world. Make friends. Have fun. Marketing it solely on FB is not working. I have lots of "fans". But nobody other than family comes. Family I can email.

So do I pull down the page? I was seriously thinking about it. Still am. Or do I make up some poster or postcards or even business cards and distribute them. I'm sure Lyd will take them to her Barri Buddies. Where else? I'm not fit enough to be in the exercise column in the Morning Call. that would be great advertising.

every two feet had it's first walk May 15. So we're barely 7-months old. Maybe I should give it more time? Maybe I should throw some money at it?

Any ideas for marketing?

On a happier note Lyd has lost 101 pounds. The gastric bypass had a lot to do with that. I'd like to think her walking with us has helped also. You go girl.

Decision No. 3 ... 

Do I join the Volkssport group?  This is a national, perhaps international walking group. They do long short and long walks and multi-day walks. I remember talking about this during another winter. I couldn't find it in this blog, so maybe it was in the previous one.  It sounds fun. My biggest concern is that everyone will be 80. (I have a hard time remembering that I'm 55.) Membership is only $25/year. I spend more than that on a 5K. They also have a $6 new walker try-out packet. They are goal oriented, and each time you do a walk you get some sort of a patch ... like GS and a log book to track your mileage.

The closet club to me is in Quakertown, the Keystone State Volkssport. They have splinter groups. I think mine would be the Liberty Bell Wanderers. They have event's in Allentown, Bethlehem and Hellertown. Not to mention the Philly murals and sculpture.

I think I might be talking myself into walking with old people. Wonder if Bonnie would want to? She's a Girl Scout. She likes patches.

On a different note Jack LaLanne died yesterday. I remember watching him when I was a kid on the old black and white. He was on, but I never remember exercising. Mom either. Guess some things never change. He was my introduction to health and fitness as a child and I didn't listen. Guess I'm still not. Goodbye Jack.

build it and they will come. or not.

"Build it and they will come." Isn't that the line from Field of Dreams about a silly baseball field. And they did come.

A group of fellow walkers last year talked me into starting a walking group. I was good at organizing training walks. It would be fun. So I did. I built "every two feet". Other than a tight group of family and friends, they haven't come. Frankly, I'm disappointed.

I posted a walk on the "every two feet" FB page for this morning at 7:30. Trying to beat the heat, and with lots of shade in Historic Bethlehem. (photo of city hall garden.) I had no takers. My regular walking pals Beth and Bonnie even passed. Sharon did come but she's only good for two miles, and I was planning eight. Ultimately I only went four. It wasn't fun walking alone. I had forgotten that.

I really enjoy walking, and oddly climbing massive amounts of stars (yeah, surprises me too.). However, I need to have a motivation to get my fat butt up and out and do it. The threat of a heart attack and stroke aren't enough. Maybe, instead of "every two feet", I should just join the Volkssports people. There's a chapter in Q'town. Although with all the patches and things it feels a little like Girl Scouts.

People are busy. They like to exercise, or not, on their own schedules. It's been hot for 2 months. There's too many other fun things to do in the summer without walking. Maybe in fall, when it's cooler, people will come. Or not.

All too soon, it will be decision time. "every two feet" isn't growing. Should it continue?

ditto

The heat wave continues. I didn't even post a walk on the every two feet page.

The temperature clock at the high school says 118. Okay, it's a little off, but it feels like 118. I should have taken a picture. Maybe if they haven't fixed it yet I will. I always forget there's a camera in the phone.

I took today off, sort-of. Bonnie is in North Carolina and I didn't want to listen to Sharon whine about how hot it was. So I played hokey and took Sharon to the gym instead.

Yesterday I walked with ML in the morning, then walked downtown to T'ai Chi and home. I had a 32 ounce container of water and I ran out before I got back. I should have refilled it at the church. I think I really like T'ai Chi. There is free T'ai Chi at the Yoga Loft on Tuesday and Thursday this week. I think I'm going, especially since there isn't any at the church this weekend because of the holiday. Right now it's still frustrating because I don't know the moves I can't really concentrate and meditate and remove move stress. But maybe one day.  I think the version at the Yoga Loft will be very different from the informal church group.

Friday I went out with ML in the morning, and then again with Betsy. We went in the morning instead of the afternoon because of the heat, but it was still pretty hot.

Tuesday to Thursday I did nothing except climb the stairs at work. We didn't walk at lunchtime or anything. Monday, I went out with ML in the morning.

So perhaps I'm using the heat as an excuse to be a lazy butt. So be it. But the weather patterns are so weird this year. Usually May and June I develop good habits so that when late July, August heat waves roll around, I'm committed. This is our second heat wave and it isn't July yet. I don't even want to think about August.

4-mile walk

Today's training walk was four miles. I opened it up to the every two feet people, but no-one outside family came—Sharon, Beth, Bonnie, me and Megan (photog) because she's in town. Beth, Megan and I all wore out new every two feet tees. (Bonnie's Boobies, and a limited amount of every two feet tees are available for sale as a fundraiser for my Avon 2-day breast cancer walk. Leave a comment and I'll get one to you. $15.)













I wanted to do the across-two-bridges hike, but it wasn't four miles, it was five. That's pushing it. So instead we started at the ice house, went up Connostoga, up Union to New, up New to Market, and then walked a nice flat, cool mile down Market street. As we were going out Market Sharon bailed. The hills had gotten to her, and she went on her own back to Sand Island. When we arrived at the Minsi Trail Bridge we hit the "no pedestrian" barricades. (orange) I knew they are doing work on the south-side end by the casino. But I also knew the bridge was open to the stairs. We ignored the signs and kept going to the stairs. We had planned to go down them to the tow path, but the barricades became serious, you had no choice. (white) I certainly won't walk on the road of that bridge! Especially the last few feet which no longer exist, and there is no lane to walk in. But I've seen people do it.

During our training walk I almost ran into an old man. After that I started practicing walking with my head out, and picking out focal points. It was tough. My whole posture changes, for the better I'm sure.

Everyone met back at the cars where Sharon was waiting on a wall. Then we went to Perkins for brunch. Any calories burnt, were reapplied!

Tomorrow is the Tortoise and Hare 5K in Wind Gap. Bonnie, Sharon and I will be doing it. I looked the route up online and it appears that the largest hill is a 2% grade. I don't think that's very steep. I was kind of worried. Wind Gap is not the flattest borough in the state. Where we are walking must be the top of a mountain.

Right now I'm heading out for a hike up Wyandotte Street.

the last few days

I need to get a new pedometer. I really want to know what my step count is at the new office. The stairs are one thing. But it's a three or so block walk to campus now, and frequently you have to go across campus to get to the building you need. So my step count has zoomed.

I did well walking this week. Tuesday Sharon and I walked down to CVS and took the scenic route home. Wednesday, I walked with Bonnie. It was hot and humid, and it's still May. Thursday it was dark and gloomy. When I left Easton there was a hail storm. We decided not to walk. Murphy's law of walking: It will rain....no make that storm...when there is no shelter and you are the far away from home. (who is Murphy?) Friday morning I went out at the crack of dawn with Mary Liz and Sharon, then walked in the afternoon with Betsy. This morning, I also walked with Mary Liz and and Sharon.

Today I also emailed my walking group from the 3-Day about every two feet. Maybe I can get them to join the group. Tomorrow is our second walk. And the t-shirts came, so it's really cool. The regulars have theirs so it will be cool if someone other than me wears them tomorrow.

I'm hiking up the mountain tonight. The Indian on the mountain is dressed for Memorial Day. I of course, need to take her picture. Beside, it's two more steep hills. Every little bit helps.

another saturday, another 5k

Today Bonnie and I did "Joan's 5K Run/Walk". It was at the Hanover Township Community Center.

It was raining at the start, I had on my raincoat, but it got so hot I took it off. The rain felt good. This photo was taken after the race. (more) I'm the one in pink that looks mad at the world. I look that way in every picture. I have no idea why.

Bonnie is in much better shape than I am. All that time at a gym really does pay off. She can walk circles around me.

So the race begins and we are going a a pretty decent clip. I was wondering if I could sustain it, and then Bonnie says Lets powerwalk from here to here. I think we did it 6 times. I started saying "yes, Jillian". She laughed. Jillian is the personal trainer from the Biggest Loser. Bonnie has a PT, so it's how he pushes her. (Sadly I got sucked into the Biggest Loser and I'm hooked. However it doesn't inspire me, it makes me eat. So does Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. But yet I watch anyway.)

I finished in 51:38. Bonnie came in at 51:35. My best time, in Birks, is 51:04. Today I had those hot sneakers on.

Our next 5K is Memorial Day in Wind Gap. If that doesn't have a few hills I'll be shocked. Then there is a 4-miler on the 4th of July that we're signing up for. "Jillian" want to improve our time each time. I'm in deep doo-doo. But 4MP is recommended to do the Philly Marathon in November and Bonnie said she'd do it with me.

I also posted the inaugural Every Two Feet walk for next Saturday. Rt 512 Wegman's. Meet at the pharmacy window lot. 9 am. Easy three miles.


My friend Betsy, whom I walk with on Fridays, walks fast. I can keep up with her. She is now power walking with her husband during the week. I guess we are going to have to add some powerwalking into our mix if I'm ever going to keep up with Bonnie.

76%!

My sister Sharon cleans at the senior high rise. Her clients get food boxes to fill their pantry and what they can't or won't eat they send home with her. Most of it goes to the foodbank.

Yesterday I was getting the foodbank bag together. The postal carriers are having their food collection Saturday. As I was packing the bag I noticed these cup a soups. I used to eat a lot of these back in the dark ages when I started working. Just add hot water from the water cooler, stir, steep and eat at your desk. Then I discovered take-out.

 So we were talking about the "old days" like old people do and I decided to flip it over to see the salt content. I'm not normally speechless, But I was ... 76%! But it is "enriched with vitamins." I guess that makes it okay. The girl on the package looks about 14. The type on the package is geared to teens, especially the La Moderna across the bottom.  I toyed with the idea off tossing them because I didn't want to give the foodbank crap. But then my mama voice started haunting me. You don't waste food. It's better than having nothing. It's still in the bag.

This week I pulled my crap together enough to order the t-shirts for Bonnie's Boobies and Every Two Feet. Proceeds from sales will go to my Avon fundraiser. We'll have 48 Bonnie's Boobies to sell from Child medium to 3XXL. (Sizes for everybooby ... itty bitty titties to jumbo titties). I still have yet to post an Every To Feet walk. Shirts are made in the USA and printed in beautiful downtown Tatamy.

I also dropped the ball on the fundraiser. I thought I emailed the church to request a date. I didn't. No wonder they didn't respond.

Oh wait. This is a walking blog. I've walked this week also. I keep it around three miles. Twice today. Once June comes I start either up the difficulty or the mileage. Since the Avon is only 40 miles, training won't be as hard or as time consuming.

Maybe I'll even get to weed my garden. Cool.

sorry for not posting

When I started this blog mys sister Barbara said something like, if you're going to do it, you need to post. So many people send me their link and then nothing for six months. I think I've done well, and actually when walking season came I was hoping to post more often, not less often.

Sometimes life does not work out the way you plan.

I've been very blue from the events of last month, started a term online, and had so many projects to grade from my on-ground class that blogging was the least of my priorities. Throw in a two-day Horses in the Classroom faculty development workshop and free time goes out the window.

But I have to walk. And I've walked a lot.

Tuesday, Thursday and Friday I did two-miles with my friend Mary Liz.  Monday and Wednesday Alison and I walked around College Hill at lunch time, length unknown. Maybe a half hour. Friday afternoon I did about an hour with Betsy. We didn't take the dogs, they moved. ): It was nice and weird, at the same time. Saturday and Sunday I walked with Bonnie. Saturday was three miles. Sunday a little more than two.

Monday I went out at lunchtime. Tuesday I walked with Mary Liz and the hike to the classroom from the remote lot. Today we walked the stairs from campus to town and College Hill back to campus. Plus I made two trips to Markle Hall and one to Farinon.

Plus I signed up for two 5Ks even though I swore them off last year.

And I went took Sharon to the gym twice AND worked out on the equipment. Including Easter Sunday. I still have the trial from Dave to use at 24/7 fitness. I will use it.

The "every two feet" Facebook page is up and running. Search "every two feet" to join. I hope to post one walk a month even in winter. I have 14 "fans", two who are strangers. How fun is that?

Yep, this fat girl is back to walking. It's about time. Now I just need to brush the dust of my pedometer and start to wear it again!

making progress

Today I set up the Every Two Feet walking group on Facebook. (Search every two feet) As soon as I pick a date for the first walk, I'll email my training group from last year. We'll see if this happens.

I also talked with my friend Betsy and starting Friday, we'll be walking again. This time without the dogs. They've moved to suburban Philly with Beth. ):

Then I emailed Mary Liz about morning walks.

Tonight, I'll talk to Bonnie about training walks for the Avon.

Looks like this fat girl is returning to walking. And not a minute too soon.