12 Oakdale

Back in the spring, when I signed us up for the local 5K, October 11 seemed way, way off. Yet, so much of life, it found its way to us. Fortunately for Grant, he’d been walking each morning. So far, only about a mile, but still. I, on the other hand, had done absolutely no training. I did walk home from Town Hall Thursday, the only walking I’d done in weeks (months?). Yet, this morning, we got up and drove over to the start - absolutely no way were we adding that extra .5 mile over and back to our day. 7:30, the 5K is off and running. I say goodbye to Grant and start walking. My competitive nature kicks in, and I start to try to catch the next person in front of me. Soon I’ve finished 1 mile, then 2, didn’t see the 3 mile mark, turned the corner on Fifth, and was at the finish line. Because of the stupid tariffs and backup at Customs, no medals for us.* Leis instead. I roamed the tents, getting 2 chicken sandwiches, candy, popcorn, a delicious kale smoothie. Sitting on a bench in front...

Up early for my second Run Among the Lakes 5K. Since I hadn’t trained, I planned to walk at a brisk pace and enjoy myself. 75° when we started, so a little warm, especially since I’d acclimated to the New Zealand and Sydney weather. But still pleasant enough. Clear skies.  The local Baptist pastor prayed over us, he led a very few of us in singing the national anthem, and we were off. I always start at the back so I don’t get trampled by the fast runners and those who think they are. There is always a few that have to bull their way through to the front. Your time doesn’t start until you cross the start line, so I don’t understand this need. The route had changed from last year, staying more in central Windermere rather than heading south to 13th Avenue. As usual, I hadn’t bothered to learn it, figuring I’d follow the herd. I figured right. I kept up my steady pace, focusing on a person in front of me to catch up with. I learned this technique from Coach Howard when I first started...

 Not that I want to run a 10K, but I would like to be able to jog a whole 5K. Still using the Zen Lab app which moves from C25K to 10K which first 8 weeks are the same. Every run starts and ends with a 5 minute warm up/cool down. Pace includes those 10 minutes. Wk      Date     Mileage            Run/Jog                                  Pace          Place 7       02/20      2.31               25 min jog                             15:39         Home             1       03/05     1.74               8x ( 60 sec jog/ 90 sec  wa...

Another 5K, another day of rain. It poured all day Saturday, so packet pickup was a drive through at Magnolia Park.  Our morning birding trip to Circle B Bar with Orange Audubon was cancelled, and the Bloom and Grow Garden Society’s Diamond and Denim dinner was hastily moved inside to the Oakland Park Community Center. A miserable, soggy day. Rain all night, and when I got up this morning. This time, though, I was determined to run, even in the rain.  59°: tights, shorts, 2 long sleeved shirts, cap, gloves, and poncho should be fine. By the time the race started, the rain was down to a slight drizzle. I’d overdressed.  The path was pretty muddy, so I was worried about slipping. Especially because the birds were starting wake up. I’ve had bad luck birding while walking. Jogging while birding would be worse.  I forced myself to keep my eyes on the trail, with only a few lapses. I’m pretty sure I saw a blue-gray gnatcatcher fly across and land in a low bush, but I kept ...

Another time through the Couch to 5K from Zen Labs. This time to be ready for the Lake Apopka Scenic Trail Run 5K on February 18th. Frolics amid the gators. Every run starts and ends with a 5 minute warm up/cool down. Pace includes those 10 minutes. Wk      Date     Mileage            Run/Jog                                  Pace          Place 1      12/20        1.92              60 sec jog/ 90 sec  walk         15:17        Home 1        12/22       2:13             60 sec jog/ 90 sec  walk         16:10       Home 1       12/24     2.17     ...

I thought about running Saturday, but fortunately it rained. Sunday we were the morning shift of ambassadors at LAWD. I briefly thought about jogging when we got home, but came to my senses. Monday, MLK Day, we decided to actually visit LAWD, so were up and out too early for any jogging. Whew. Early this morning, I heard rain, but by the time it was light, even though the skies were still gray, there was no rain and no reason to avoid my run. I am at the last outing of Week 4 in my second time through the Couch to 5K app. It’s getting tougher and isn’t as novel; I need to be wary of calling it quits. I remind myself I am grateful I can still jog. I’ve also packed on pounds through my thorough enjoyment of Christmas cookies and candies. Time to bite the bullet, not Hersey’s Kisses. It’s 5 weeks until my next 5K. Easy enough to gnaw off 5 pounds with the old eat-less-exercise-more. I’m still convinced that eventually scientists will find that lying on the couch, eating potato chips is th...

Saturday was supposed to be the culmination of my 9 weeks of training for a 5K. However, the weather didn’t cooperate. All week, we were warned of big storms over the weekend. Bad winds and rains were coming into Central Florida from the Gulf of Mexico then heading south. I got emails from the Santa Twilight 5K that they were watching the weather and would make a decision about cancelling.  As the week progressed, the weather looked milder, but not good. Saturday, we woke to 20 knot winds and rain sprinkles, then bands of rain. Our first stop was at a gated community for an estate sale which was touted as having good plants and great pots. All I saw was the sad detritus of people gone. We moved on to Gideon's Bakehouse to pick up my order of Kris Kringle (white chocolate) and Von Krampus (dark chocolate with Andes mints) cookies, half for us and half to take to Utah. I also bought 5 kinds of cookie bites, all for us, no sharing, unless the Christmas spirit hits me. In Winter Park, ...

 I’ve downloaded the app from Zen Unlimited Fitness. Free for a week, then $14.99/3 months. My plan is to complete the C25K, then run in the Clermont Twilight Santa 5K on December 16th, if I’m not in Salt Lake City, helping with the new baby. Every run starts and ends with a 5 minute warm up/cool down. Pace includes those 10 minutes. Wk      Date     Mileage     Run/Jog                                  Pace          Place 1      10/16     1.35               60 sec jog/ 90 sec  walk   18:34          Home 1      10/18     1.66                          ”                     ...

17:24 was my pace at the Run Among the Lakes 5K here in Windermere, my first race in 9 years. Another of my “seemed like a good idea at the time”, back when I signed up. I have been trying to walk more ever since I got such a dismal score on my Dexascsn bone density test. My back and hips are none too good, my femores, especially the left, are osteoporotic. Meh. I thought the challenge of a 5K would spur me on. Grant and I strolled occasionally around the neighborhood, but it was so hot, I didn’t have much enthusiasm to do it often. I also walked inside once or twice a week, in the air conditioning, following a YouTube video. I thought I’d been making progress, until I hustled along the sand blocks of Oakdale Street to a meeting at Town Hall. (The block in front of our house is one of only a few streets paved in Windermere.) My hips were really sore after that. Perhaps I should walk the course a couple of times before the race. My first time was at a 22:21 minute per mile pace. At leas...