#13 Turkey Tracks in Oklahoma City

My 13th 5k was called Turkey Tracks and was held in Oklahoma City on Thanksgiving Day.  Sponsored by the Toys for Tots Campaign and the Marine Corps, it's an easy way to do some good during the holiday season.  Thanksgiving in Oklahoma can usually be described as balmy.  Temperatures hovering somewhere in the 50's at least.  This year it didn't start that way, but ended up there.

It is sunny, but very cold this morning.  Somewhere around 25 degrees.  I dress in multiple layers to the point that I ressemble the Michelin Man.  I don't care.  I want to stay warm.

There is something truly decadent about walking a 5k before sitting down to a meal that takes an hour to finish.  Before stuffing yourself so full that you feel the need to eat in shifts. "No pie for me right now.  Let me wait thirty more minutes. ...and make sure we have whipped cream."

I was supposed to walk this 5k with my niece.  She's 8 and has boundless energy.  She promised me that she wouldn't run ahead and become separated from me.  Her mom, (my sister) is running the race.  She will finish well before us and I don't want to cross the finish line and have her ask me "Where is my daughter?"  That will not be good.  So I elicit the promise.  I should have known this would not bode well.

Before the race begins we are joined by long-time family friends, Roy and Suzanna and their kids....and immediately the horsing around begins.  Between the two younger kids, there is kinetic energy that should be bottled.  We could sell it for a million dollars.  It's renewable, inexhaustible and biodegradable.  And green, as far as I know.

Back to the race.

The gun goes off, and so do the kids.  Running at full speed, cackling as they go.  I think to myself, "I could run this race.  I could keep up with them.  They are only 8.  How fast could they go?"  I start jogging after them.  My legs are screaming "Shin splints!  Shin splints!!"  A block ahead of me, the kids stop running and catch their breath, laughing hysterically.  Then take off again at full speed.  They stay about a block and half ahead of me.  I jog to keep up, thinking what my sister will do to me if I lose her eldest child.  None of it is good.  Least of which is that I will not be having any Thanksgiving dinner as the event is being held at her house. Definitely no pie.  This is a future too horrible to contemplate.  Must not let 8 year olds ruin my eating plans.

I look around for Roy. He is already on their heels and egging them on.  "He will stay with them, won't he?" I ask. Yes, is the reply  and I think, Thank God.  

Now, relieved of guard duty, I can concentrate on a more relaxed pace.   Along the way, at mile marker #2, I overhear a conversation about whether the walk is 5 miles or 5 kilometers and the conversion rate.  Several walkers chime in, and the result is similar to a discussion of programming a VCR to record one program while simultaneously watching another.  Nobody has the answer and everyone has just enough information to be dangerous.

After I cross the finish line, I rejoin the group and we head back to my sister's house.   A little after party with mimosas and appetizers.  This is living.  It is important to get a good layer down before the Thanksgiving meal has begun.

As with most things, this challenge has provided me with learning opportunities.  This weekend taught me:

1. I should warm up better before the race to avoid shin splints. Even if I am only walking.

2. When an 8 year old says, "I will walk with you. I promise not to run", it must be taken with a grain of salt.

3. Americans are never going to get the conversion rate correct regarding miles and kilometers.

4. Champagne and appetizers are the best way to warm up after a race.

#12 - Holiday in Lights 5K

My 12th 5K for this challenge was the Holiday in Lights Run/Walk in Sharon Woods last weekend.  The park has a holiday light show and carloads of people meander through the route viewing Christmas lights while listening to Christmas tunes on the radio. A standard holiday activity in my neck of the woods.

For starters, it was cold.  29 degrees.  I wore so many layers, that I feared drinking anything because I would eventually have to use the bathroom and take everything off.  In a Port-O-Let.  Not a pretty picture.

There were some hard-core individuals who insisted on wearing shorts and t-shirt.  They should have been given a special test and sent home.  (I would have done that if I were in charge...but sadly, I am not the boss of them.)  There were families dressed as elves....well, most of the family. There was Mom Elf, Dad Elf and two middle school-aged boy elves.  Then there was teen-text princess who rolled her eyes and stood apart from the group sighing heavily, wanting nothing to do with them. Ah, the holidays....it brings families closer.

I started near the back with the stroller crowd, thinking that participants wearing jeans probably weren't really running.  I was wrong.  It was a good race, partially because it started with limited light.  As the walk progressed and the sun set, it became darker and you couldn't see all the hills.  So that was a bonus.

I want to report that I actually ran some of this 5K.  It was downhill and there was considerable momentum built up, but it counts anyway.  


What have we learned today?  The Holiday in Lights in Sharon Woods Park was much easier in a car.

#11 - Run for the Troops

Number 11 was a Run for the Troops held at Otto Armleder Park near Lunken Airport.  It was a small gathering, about 80 people. I know it had about 80 people because I finished 79th in the race. In my defense, there were a lot of people with "U.S. Marines" and "Navy" written across the front of their shirts.  Even the big guy running in Dockers placed ahead of me. I try not to take any of this to heart.  I figure I'm ahead of everyone still on the couch.

But I digress. Back to the race.

It began with a presentation of colors, singing the national anthem and a prayer.  I don't think any other race has begun that way.

The Yellow Ribbon Support Center was started by the parents of Matt Maupin, a serviceman who was ambushed and taken prisoner while in Iraq serving our country.  His family began to send packages to servicemen with Matt's picture on the box in order to keep his situation in the forefront of their minds.  Soon they were sending packages filled with basic necessities to any soldier in need.

His family kept his name in the news as a reminder to all of us back home, that Matt was not home yet.  His remains were found and returned to his family roughly 4 years after he was ambushed.  I remember his funeral procession.  The funeral was held at Great American Ballpark as the family wanted a space large enough to hold anyone who might come, since so many from across Cincinnati had become familiar with Matt's story.  Afterwards, the funeral procession inched up I-71 towards Gate of Heaven cemetery. People lined the highway and every overpass to pay their respects.

I (and countless others) waited at the exit near Gate of Heaven to see his funeral procession.  There were several members of the Sheriff's department also in attendance.  They saluted the hearse as it passed by.  Everybody was quiet.

It struck me as odd that that the 5K last week celebrating Halloween was far more populated than the 5K this week supporting our soldiers.  No judgement here.  Just an observation.  Makes me think.

#10 Highball Halloween

After a two week hiatus...I'm back!  I know, I know...you missed me.

#10 on the journey is.....the Highball Halloween 5K.

The Highball Halloween is a 2-day affair held on High Street in Columbus.  The street is closed off for several blocks and boasts a 5K, a fashion show, a costume contest, food and drinks.  What more could you want?

Costumed attendees swarm to the area.  There were Pirates, Zombies, Pirate-zombies, Zombie-pirates and so many "Waldos", that is was important to note where Waldo was NOT, rather than where Waldo was. 

Characters from the movies and TV shows abounded.  Top Gun, Minions, Gilligan's Island, Coneheads, Scooby-Doo, Star Trek, Fraggle Rock, Tele-tubbies, X-men, Black Swan, the Griswold's (from Family Vacation) and my personal favorite, the Muppets featuring Beeker and Dr. Bunson Honeydew. 

Super heroes were everywhere....Batman, Batgirl, Robin, Superman, and a bunch of guys in capes that I didn't recognize.  Other off the wall costumes included boxes of cereal, a mammogram machine, Shark-nado, a disco ball, a loofah, beer bottles, a pair of door-to-door Mormons, and firefighters.  No wait, The firefighters were real.

Some women use this particular holiday to wear their skimpiest outfits and parade as a prostitute.  Men put on a maroon suit, act like an asshole and call themselves "Ron Burgandy".  Hey, whatever works, my friend.

The best group costume can best be described this way....

There were 12 of them.  All dressed in blue dresses and straw hats.  They stood in 2 straight lines.....the youngest one was Madeline.  They were great.  

We arrived late. So late in fact that the registration table had been dismantled and no one could tell us where to start the race.  Finally, one organizer told us the route to take.  He warned us that the police would stop supporting the race and traffic would return to normal in about 5 minutes, but we could go if we wanted to...just stay on the sidewalk.  Then he told us to eliminate the bike path portion of the route because "you shouldn't be there at this time of night...especially alone."
("Stay clear the moors" starts to run through my head.)  So we opted to NOT do the 5K. 

We immediately ran across the finish line and gathered our priceless drink tickets and finisher's medal and preceded into the party. The hot chocolate with bourbon was over-rated, but the apple cider with rum was a winner.  The fashion show was over-the-top.

Because we chose to NOT walk the 5K, I walked a 5K with Pam, two days later.  Hey, it counts.  I got the finisher medal, the t-shirt and remember, you are not the boss of me.

I discovered who he is.....

Well, I just couldn't leave it alone.

I had to figure out who my mystery "Richard" was.  I did a little checking and googling and I discovered this article:

http://www.citybeat.com/cincinnati/print-article-2409-print.html

and here:

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/northeastnotes/2011/06/30/blue-ash-resident-%E2%80%98knows-he-can%E2%80%99/

This guy runs every weekend and sometimes twice a weekend.  5K, 10K, half-marathons, full marathons.  You name it, he is running somewhere in the area.

Last year, he posted a list of every event he was running in and asked anyone going to those events, for a ride.  He is visually impaired.  I had no idea.

Kinda makes my piddly, little goal seem.....oh, I don't know, ...what's the word?

Lame.          

Yes, that's the word.  

#9 Running Scared 5K

Running Scared 5K is a small, neighborhood run to benefit the local Catholic school in Reading, OH.  It had all the aspects of an October run.  
- Costumed runners. 
- A race route through a cemetery. 
- A smorgasbord of food available at the after party. 
- A beer truck.
- A local band. 

I could write about the costumes.  A woman with a giant spider on her back and her friend, covered in cobwebs.  An entire family dressed as bumble bees.  Pets and their owners dressed in matching costumes.  Super heroes with capes.  The woman dressed in a bright purple belly dancer costume, cheering from the sidelines.

Or I could write about the food or the band.  (Lots of it and Good tunes)

But this story is about a fellow walker.  His name is Richard. 

I can't tell you much about Richard.  I don't know how old he is, what his back-story is, or even what he looks like, because Richard was in front of me for the entire race and I didn't get a good look at his face.  He did have a halting gait and I only know that his name was Richard because, in addition to having a halting gait, Richard also had a coach.  A mentor.  A cheerleader.  A fan club of one. Not really sure what to call this guy, but Richard's "Guy" (as I will now refer to him) was all of those things and more.

"Guy" cheered Richard on.... every step of the way.  "Doing good Richard.  Keep the pace.  We have some room to move now, Richard."  Richard kept pace.  Richard plugged away.  "Guy" ran the race backward, so as to face Richard, and cheer him on.  Seriously?  Backwards?  I would have fallen on my ass.  

Richard finished the race and so did "Guy"...... long before my daughter and I did, because we were the very last ones in the race and once you harness that position early on....you don't want to let go.  (Picture this if you will.......the police car is behind you, lights are rolling, following you at its slowest speed, in order to return the closed streets to traffic flow, and you don't speed up.  It's a pride thing.)   

Anyway....back to Richard and "Guy"......After the race, I lost track of the pair.  Maybe Richard and "Guy" went to party elsewhere.  Maybe they were taking a well-deserved rest.  Maybe the race was a first stop on a long list of to-do's for the evening.

But this pair got me thinking.  Every now and then, you have the opportunity to witness a slice of somebody else's life and get a peak at the obstacles they face and you wonder "how do you do it?  How do you get up and face the day? Each day?"

With a little help from my friends. I get by with a  little help from my friends.  - Lennon and McCartney

#8 - Reggae Run

Twenty years ago, Maria Olberding was a 27-year-old training for the Boston Marathon.  She was brutally murdered as she jogged through her Hyde Park neighborhood.  Shorty after her death, in an effort to mitigate their grief, her family created an event that combined Maria's love of running and reggae music and called it "Reggae Run".  

Held annually for the past two decades on the first weekend in October, this year's event was held for the first time in Eden Park.  The walk starts near Sawyer Point, circles around the baseball stadium, back to Sawyer Point and climbs the hill into Mount Adams, ending in Eden Park.  

The walk was hot, muggy and sticky.  As we approached the end of the race, it started to drizzle.  Seriously, it was gross.

However, once inside Eden Park, the party begins.  An array of food (sub sandwiches, cake, hot dogs, hamburgers, brats, metts, goetta, pie, cupcakes, pizza, chili, jambalaya, bagels, taco salad, fruit and cheese) and of course, beer and wine.

The Ark Band provided the music under the covered Seasongood Pavilion.  

In time we made it through the food booths and up to the Pavilion.  Did I mention that it was raining?  Not a light drizzle,  at this point, mind you.  It's a downpour.  Gallons of water.  We sought refuge under a tree.  It didn't help at all.  So we drank wine, listened to reggae and danced in the rain.

Some people feel the rain.  Others just get wet.  -Bob Marley

Thank you to the Olberding family who put on a great race and party.  

I am making plans to attend the party next year.  Who's in??

#7 Adams County Half Marathon and 5K

Describing a race route is a lot like reading a dating profile.  There is a code.   'a few extra pounds' means "I've never been inside a gym" and 'devoted to family' means "I live with my mother" and so on.  This race was described as a "rolling course in Amish country".  That means "steep inclines through paved roads while dodging lots of horse shit".

With that in mind, we headed the Adams county for the next installment.  We got up before God, (I know this because the sun wasn't up and apparently that's His job.)  Drove through winding roads in Adams county and discussed what we would do if we met "the Children from the Corn" during the race.  It was a lively conversation for 5:30 AM. 

It was a great day for a race, weather was cool.  As we walked, Amish kids handed out cups at the water stops.  They were dressed in their traditional garb and travelled by either buggy or scooter.  Their eyes grew very large at some of the colorful athletic gear worn by the runners.  

After the race, there is the table with the usual bananas, apples, water, and Gatorade.  This race also had pie.  Amish apple pie.  After inhaling the slice, you realize that you didn't use a fork.  

Who cares.  It's pie.  

Perhaps other races should offer pie.  I may start a movement.

The medals given to all the participants are pictured below.

How cool is that?  

#6 Power is Teal - September 21, 2013

#6 - Power is Teal Walk for Ovarian Cancer  September 21, 2013.

This started poorly.  First, I realize that I have no teal clothing.  I do have the shirt for the event, but after participating in a number of walks, thus far, you really need to have the chosen color for all accessories. (Boas, gloves, hats, shin guards, whatever.)  Light blue simply will not do.

Secondly, it is raining.  Actually, I should be grateful.  It had been pouring.  Now it's only raining.  After arriving at the Lunken playfield, we discover a muddy mess.  And it's chilly. 

(Yeah, I know....first world problems.)

By the time the walk actually starts, it has stopped raining.  We (a group of neighbors, friends and family) are walking in honor of Martha.  Martha, a 3-year survivor, is in charge. (of course, she is.) She is on stage, making announcements, herding survivors over for a photo, announcing that raffle tickets are still available, reminding folks that the auction takes place after the walk, etc. Her family is volunteering for this event serving on the set-up committee, registration booth and "whatever-else-needs-to-be-done" committee.

The ovarian cancer walk is significantly smaller than the walk last week to support breast cancer.  According to various studies, breast cancer will strike 1 woman out of 8.  Ovarian cancer will strike 1 woman out of 67.  Often called a "silent" cancer, some of the symptoms of ovarian cancer (persistent indigestion, low back pain, loss of appetite or quickly feeling full, persistent lack of energy) are often ignored or attributed to digestive discomfort.

While not as populated as the breast cancer group, this teal group is equally as fervent as their pink counterparts.  The edict to "Know Your Body" in order to detect ovarian cancer early, comes through loud and clear.

Again, I am touched and amazed by the teams of supporters that surround these individuals in their moment of need.  This supportive walk is just the tip of the iceberg for the legion of family and friends who organized dinners, arranged for carpool pick-ups, ran errands, and sat in doctor's offices with her because there was a need.  

Power IS Teal.

#5 September 15, 2013   Children's Hospital Heart Institute

Because this Fifty 5K challenge has been going so well, I decided to "double up" this weekend and complete two 5Ks.  Today, I was joined by my daughter, Lauren, and together we walked a 5K at Voice of America Park in West Chester.  The sponsoring organization was Children's Hospital Heart Institute and they were raising money for summer camps for children.

I need to point out that my daughter is not a morning person.  She wanted to come with me, but was lured out of bed only by the promise of breakfast out after the walk.

The walk was an easy flat course, two times around the lake on a paved path.  Easy, peasey, lemon squeezy. 

The runners started first, followed by the walkers. One runner, took of like a shot and rapidly gained the lead.  We hung out near the end and meandered our way around.  About halfway through the first loop, we were lapped by the leader, a young woman.  I was tired just watching her.  Then we were lapped by the next runner.  And the next.  

I was starting to feel the effects of the walk from the day before. Sore feet, aching knees.  Maybe this "double up" wasn't a good idea after all.  Lauren was starting to fade.  We took our time at the water stops, finishing in just over an hour.  

Others kept running.  We had though that we were the final participants to cross the finish line, but we were wrong.  Several teams were doing a relay run.  Tagging in and out, each team member would run several laps, then swap places with another.  I inquired as to how long they were running.  

6 hours, was the reply.

I cannot make the stuff up.

For the remainder of the day, I would look at the time, and think to myself, "They are still running."

Wow.  Commitment.  Good for them.

#4 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure

#4 - Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure September 14, 2013

Big and Small, Save them all.

Save the Ta-Tas

Walkers for Knockers.

Saving Second Base.

Tough enough to wear pink.

Save the Treasured Chests.


All of the above statements were found on t-shirts at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.  This is a BIG event.  Held in downtown Cincinnati, the walk follows a route around the baseball stadium, over the bridge to Kentucky, around Newport on the Levee, and back to Ohio via another bridge, ending at Great American Ball Park.  

I was joined by my friend Margaret and together we walked in memory of our friend, Bev.  Bev didn't have breast cancer, but she did have cancer, and anyways, you are not the boss of me, so I can walk for Bev whenever I want.

Many runners/walkers had pinned commemoration badges on their t-shirts.  They were walking for Mom, Grammie, Nana, Aunt Janet, Aunt Sue, Aunt Barb, Brenda, Mary Anne, Tanya, Joan, Mommy, Cousin, Sister, Sister-in-law, Natasha, Victoria, Andrea, Sylvia, Dolores, Co-workers, Neighbors, Friends, and on and on it went.  Some badges listed one name, others were filled with names.

Before participating in this walk, I was more than a little concerned.  I thought it would be sad.  A walk in memory of all those women who lost their battle or who are fighting this hideous disease.  Surely this could not be a good time.

But it wasn't sad.  It was a celebration.  It was a time to remember those who lost their battle, but also a time to celebrate who they were.  And to offer support to all those who are currently fighting.  

I was amazed at the number of young girls at the race.  Growing up, I remember a time when you did not say the word "breast" in polite company, much less discuss methods for prevention or detection of breast cancer.  It just wasn't done.  

I was amazed at the number of women at the finish line who proudly announced how many years they had been survivors. 

I was amazed at the number of bald women, wearing pink boas and survivor t-shirts, laughing with their teams of supporters.  




She fought like a girl...and won.

#3a - Buddy Walk September 7, 2013

After careful thought...I cannot count this one as a 5k.  Even if I include the walk from the parking lot and back,  I still don't think it was 5k.

But it was fun.  The Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati has been doing the Buddy Walk for 12 years.  It is a fantastic organization that has helped my family tremendously throughout the years.  

We walk this year (as we do every year) in memory of Lindsay Smith, a young girl with Down Syndrome who died at age eleven and a half.  Melinda, Lindsay's mom, and I became good friends shortly after our daughters were born less than a month apart.  Lindsay's mom has a "don't mess with me attitude" that is evident in every part of her life. Often, when I am struggling with something in my life, I tell Melinda about it, and she "cuts through the crap" and asks me rather pointed questions about the problem and everything becomes very clear as to the path I should take very quickly.

Years ago, I made Melinda accompany me to the first Buddy Walk.  She wasn't interested in going and was quite verbal about it.  She did relent, and then began to formulate a idea about having a "team" of walkers in memory of Lindsay.  The next year, over 100 walkers, all wearing pink hats, walked in memory of Lindsay.  That year, the team raised over $7,000 for the Down Syndrome Association.  each year is a different cast of characters from Lindsay's life.  Aunts, uncles, cousins, former teachers, neighbors, and now, newcomers who never got to meet her participate in a grand leisurely stroll around Sawyer Point park.  At the end, we release pink balloons for Lindsay.

All in all, a good day.

5K #3 - Cheetah Run

This 50 5Ks is a horrible idea and I should not have told anyone about it.  

I am thinking this as I climbed the steep hills around the Cincinnati Zoo this morning.  Then careening down the opposite side...praying I wouldn't fall down.

As with many things, the Cheetah Run sounded like a good idea in theory.  Walk around the zoo, see the animals, get another 5K under my belt.

In practice, it was a rude awakening.  We arrived at the zoo before the animals were awake. Jo, my intrepid walk companion, had no coffee.  Rocky was.....energetic.  She was going to run the 5K.  We were going to walk. 

I should have known that something was up when other race participants were discussing finish times and heading to the front of the pack.  Jo and I hung out in the back near the stroller crowd.

The gun went off and the crowd surged forward. It took about 20 minutes for us to meander the route through the zoo.  As we are exiting the zoo to circle around outside, the leaders of the pack are re-entering  at the same point.

Kinda demoralizing.   

Lots of steep hills and water stations later...we finished in 1 hour.  We were passed by numerous strollers.

Then had breakfast at the waffle place.  Yum.  So worth it.

August 30, 2013.

#2 Lady Distance Classic - Fleet Feet store in Blue Ash.  My second 5K was much more solid than my first.  At least I didn't trip and fall on this one.  It was hot and muggy and it began at 6:30 PM.  The course ran through the City of Blue Ash, by the middle school and junior high, then through a neighborhood with no sidewalks.

It is rapidly becoming clear to me that there is a language amongst runners and walkers than I do not understand.  At each of these walks, I am surrounded by people who trade information about their latest run accomplishment ...and I have no idea what they are talking about.  Clearly, it's in code.  A private language that is used in the presence of an infidel.

I think about walking these 5Ks with friends but am finding it better (for now) to use the time to think....mull over some ideas rattling around in my head.  I also think that if I wait to do this until someone becomes available....I will never do it.

In a week that has held 2 early morning meetings, my annual physical, a tetanus shot, a flu shot and my yearly mammogram....well, let's just say I'm not walking a 5K on Saturday.

August 26, 2013

#1 Lady Distance Classic 5K

First let me state that I am not a goal-oriented person.  I mean, not really.  I set goals, but they are usually incredibly easy, achievable within 10 minutes or purely about what I already want to do.  
  
--I will read one more chapter. 
--I will have ice cream now.
--I will stay in bed 5 minutes longer.

This is different.

I have set a goal of walking 50 5K races before I am 50.  I turn 50 in February of 2015, so I have roughly 18 months to accomplish this goal.

Why would I (a noted non-exerciser) choose to inflict said pain on her body? 

Blame it on Rocky.
  
SHE is an avid runner and SHE runs in half marathons and SHE jogs 10 miles for FUN.  I know, I know.  There may be something wrong with her, but SHE won't stand still for a minute to determine what it is.

Anyway, SHE had this goal of running 13 half-marathons (13.1 miles) in 2013.  That's a little over 1 every month to you and me, Sparky.  I get tired just thinking about it.  But She is having a blast and it is somewhat infectious.  I say somewhat because I think it will be a cold day in hell before I run a half marathon.  But it is pretty cool to watch it.

So I started thinking about it and decided I should get off my lazy ass and do something.

And so, we are off.  Walked in my first 5K last Saturday, August 24, 2013.  A calm 5K walk through Blue Ash organized by a local running store.  No big deal.

I'd like to tell you that I had a fantastic time.  That I was energized.  That I was inspired.  That I felt the weight of the world lift off my shoulders.  

But you would know that I was lying.  Within 100 yards of the start, I tripped and fell on the cobblestone sidewalk, twisted my ankle, skinned my shin and caught myself with my hand. People behind my stopped to check on me, suggesting that perhaps I should bail out now while the store was still in sight, rather than pressing on.

After checking for any apparent "death-causing" injuries and finding none, with my pride deeply wounded, I trudged onward.


An auspicious start.   1 down, 49 to go.