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.

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.

disappointed

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Today was the Pumpkin Pie 5k in Nazareth. It was for runners only, but I walked. I walked as fast as I could and did it in 54:30. So disappointed. I'm apparently learning nothing with my program.

The course information said rolling hills.  Some of the hills were way past rolling. The web site says it's been wheel measured at 3.1 miles, but the map on MapMyRun.com says 3.23 miles. Maybe that's why my time was a little higher.

This race was chipped timed. You fasten it to you shoe. At least 5 people lost their chips. I didn't pick them up. I didn't want to slow down at all.

Lydia and Sharon did the fun walk. It was supposed to be 1.5 miles, but Lyd's pedometer on her cell phone said it was 2 miles. They finished in about 34 minutes.

This afternoon I have to do my Challenge walk for my program. I'm going down to the Greenway to do it. Maybe when I take Sharon home.

remembered the camera, forgot the card!

I made sure the camera was charged for todays Turkey Trot. I really wanted to take a pix of my timing chip. Alas, the picture is from borrowed from the net. I brought the camera, but forgot the memory card. It wouldn't even turn on. Big fat bummer.

So we met at the Luckenbach Mill. There was almost 1000 people walking and running. Well, mostly running. They had a photographer, one of those sites where they charge you a lot for the pictures, rather than the free downloaded from Flickr/Picassa sites. Oh well.

Since Sharon picked up my race packet I just needed to pick up the chip. It attached to my shoe with a twist tie. They cut it off at the end of the race. It supposed to make it fairer.

From About.com:

Chip time is another way of saying "net time," or the actual amount of time it takes a runner to go from the starting line of a race to the finish line.  ... When you register for a race, you receive your "borrowed" chip, programmed with your information, at the same time you get your race bib. The chip usually attaches to your shoelaces, although some are connected to a Velcro strap that goes around your ankle. At the end of the race, someone will be there to collect the chip from you.

As you move across a special mat at the starting line, the chip registers that you've started the race. Then, as you cross the finishing line, the chip registers that you've finished the race. So, in other words, the amount of time that it takes you to reach the starting line (since most people are not right at the front of the race) doesn't count in your overall time. ... Your chip time is different than your "gun time," which is the amount of time it took you to finish the race from the moment the gun (or horn) went off.

I was cold waiting for the race to start. I had on long underwear top, athletic shirt, and my race tee on. On top of that I had my black athletic jacket. My fuzzy hat from Barb, a pink scarf and pink gloves. The jacket went around my waist at mile one. I wanted to take off another layer but didn't.

They moved the starting line from other years, so everybody who was waiting got crunch backwards, mixing up the runners and walkers. I could tell from his tee shirt that one of the runners was a Marine. He had one leg and one of those funky hook legs for running. There was also fire people in full gear, and an assortment of people with turkey hats.

I didn't here the start, but people started moving. I didn't notice a mat at the start, but there could have been one. I ran the first block or so because if I didn't I would have been crushed to death. Survival.

Finish time 52:23. I'm fine with that. It's a hilly course and I stink on hills.

It felt odd doing a 5K without Bonnie. Maybe next week she can come.

it snowed on thanksgiving

This week I went walking Tuesday at lunchtime, it's only about a mile but it's great to get out of the birdhouse. Since we went to see Harry Potter after work, I skipped t'ai chi. (Bad fat girl.)

On Thanksgiving I thought about doing a 5K in Doylestown. But there are no buses running and my sister was volunteering at the senior center serving Thanksgiving lunch. So I didn't go, and drove her uptown instead. I came back and wrapped her "corporate" gifts and then took a walk. It was snowing. I haven't measured the distance, but I went to Aharts and back so it was at least 2 miles.

Today I went walking with Betsy. It's always about three miles. Maybe a little more. And Logan and Izzy were visiting and they came along. It's been a while since I walked with the dogs. Takes a bit of getting used to. Izzy likes chasing falling leaves. Logan likes to "do his business" in leaf piles.

Bonnie was hoping to walk in the Turkey Trot tomorrow, but she just called and canceled. Her knee is really swollen again. Drats, my one chance to beat her and she doesn't come. Because of the race, I don't think I'll make t'ai chi tomorrow either.

Sharon picked up our race packets this afternoon, so I'll actually have my shirt. From what she said, they are switching to chips instead of clocks, so I "pick up my timer chip tomorrow".

Timer chip. I am so freaking excited.