The Sonoco Credit Union sponsored 5K run/walk hosted by the Cross Country Team at Coker and the Cobra Club was a lot of fun. The organizers are tying to increase the interest in running and they had teams from several of the area's elementary schools in competition. It was a blast to see them competing and I am sure North Hartsville Elementary is happy that they ran away with the trophy. The Coker connection with the community is strengthened significantly with an event like today's race.
I am a walker. Turns out I am becoming a pretty slow walker. I finished first today in the overall walk but my time was about 37:23. That is my slowest competitive time. I DESERVED that time because my miles have been down of late, my lifting has been sporadic of late and I was far from my best condition. The sort of scary thing is how much this slow time is still causing a lack of energy about six hours after the race. I am used to soreness and being tired for an hour or so but the lack of a quicker recovery is shouting to me that I need to get back to more regular exercise and quit turing over in the mornings for an extra hour of sleep.
Clyde Weaver was running again today. I have told him he is my running hero. Clyde is moving into his eighties, he has fought off a couple of heart attacks and he is still pounding the pavement. He is a true example of a life-long exerciser. And, for any of you who are thinking running is for the young, the race today was run by a guy who is 42. Okay, to me that is YOUNG but his time was 17 something-- that is moving at any age.
Finally, these races can't be run without a lot of volunteers. So, thank you, to all of those who were volunteering. The Strictly Running race team did a great job with the set up and it was pretty much a perfect moring for a race and from children in strollers to eighty-year + runners, it was a great morning; but it is still kicking my butt.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Magnificient Morning in Hartsville, South Carolina
Wish I could say I was up with the crack of dawn but I have learned a new skill, rolling over and nodding back to sleep. But, today, as those eyes kept closed a bird began a refrain -- puffer get your out of bed.
I did. Thanks bird!
As I walked down the road Tom was just getting his paper, already enjoying a cup of coffee and the antics of two of his dogs as they greeted the new day. Both of us were being treated to the songs of Spring coming from a few of the trees around the neighborhood.
As I started down PowerLine Road the light show that was the morning sun breaking the horizon through the textured cloud cover was like being welcome to one of the world's most majestic catherdrals. (you guys would have recognized the clouds from Jana's sunset photos the other day.)
As the sun's power rays lit up specific paths and trees, squirrels and birds there was a choir of flocking birds reminding the world of the gift we are given every day. Less than a mile later a single feathered create was chanting Come (caw)Come (caw) Come (caw) as if in a call to prayer. Nearly at the same time cars were driving into parking lots at chruches around the town as some special Saturday morning activity seemed about to start.
The sun rose, the clouds thinned and as the four miles were nearly over a giant tree next to Coker's new LIT Center seemed to come alive with song as hundreds of robins and sparrows were scattered among the branches singing about this Magnificient Morning in Hartsville and calling more people to join in the celebration of this new day.
The first day of Spring may officially be in March but the arrival of all the new winged visitors this morning, the brisk morning breeze and brilliant blue-cloud shrouded sky says February 16 was the first day of Hartsville's Spring.
I am still sweating a bit though this morning walk as not all that strenuous. It was a tremendous way to begin this day and while I may wish I were still a runner, the walking pace allowed me to enjoy the cathedral of a mafnificient Hartsville morning that probably would not have been the case had I been going for a seven or eight minute a mile pace. See, there are some benefits to the experience that comes with the years.
I did. Thanks bird!
As I walked down the road Tom was just getting his paper, already enjoying a cup of coffee and the antics of two of his dogs as they greeted the new day. Both of us were being treated to the songs of Spring coming from a few of the trees around the neighborhood.
As I started down PowerLine Road the light show that was the morning sun breaking the horizon through the textured cloud cover was like being welcome to one of the world's most majestic catherdrals. (you guys would have recognized the clouds from Jana's sunset photos the other day.)
As the sun's power rays lit up specific paths and trees, squirrels and birds there was a choir of flocking birds reminding the world of the gift we are given every day. Less than a mile later a single feathered create was chanting Come (caw)Come (caw) Come (caw) as if in a call to prayer. Nearly at the same time cars were driving into parking lots at chruches around the town as some special Saturday morning activity seemed about to start.
The sun rose, the clouds thinned and as the four miles were nearly over a giant tree next to Coker's new LIT Center seemed to come alive with song as hundreds of robins and sparrows were scattered among the branches singing about this Magnificient Morning in Hartsville and calling more people to join in the celebration of this new day.
The first day of Spring may officially be in March but the arrival of all the new winged visitors this morning, the brisk morning breeze and brilliant blue-cloud shrouded sky says February 16 was the first day of Hartsville's Spring.
I am still sweating a bit though this morning walk as not all that strenuous. It was a tremendous way to begin this day and while I may wish I were still a runner, the walking pace allowed me to enjoy the cathedral of a mafnificient Hartsville morning that probably would not have been the case had I been going for a seven or eight minute a mile pace. See, there are some benefits to the experience that comes with the years.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Habit vs Decision
Teaching nights - from 5:30 to 8:00 makes a mess of my normal workout schedule. Being lazy has been wreaking havoc with my normal morning walks. Instead of popping out of bed when my lids lift at 4:55 a.m. I consciously slam the lids, roll back under the covers and try hard to fall back to sleep.
Those are not good things because it is not my imagination that the pants are fitting more snugly than a month ago and those times when I do darken the Y's doors are proving harder and harder to lift what was routine only a few weeks back. Take last night, for example. I was dumb bell benching and the first set of 12 at 55 per almost stopped me from doing a second set. While I did fluctuate the weight from 45 to 55, and I did get one set of eight at 60 lbs, it was a struggle.
So, yesterday I did get in the second workout in a row this week. Worked some chest, some abs, back and triceps. The aerobic workout was on one of the machines at 30 minutes -- a little over 300 calories, a lot of sweat but probably could have worked harder.
Today's blog is a way of trying to move my mind to the frame that I stop at the Y instead of passing by after class this evening. That is not a decision that is easy because when I leave that night speech class I am pretty worn out. We'll see what happens.
I am hoping the fact that I have given up sweets for lent may help me get back to regular exercise.
Those are not good things because it is not my imagination that the pants are fitting more snugly than a month ago and those times when I do darken the Y's doors are proving harder and harder to lift what was routine only a few weeks back. Take last night, for example. I was dumb bell benching and the first set of 12 at 55 per almost stopped me from doing a second set. While I did fluctuate the weight from 45 to 55, and I did get one set of eight at 60 lbs, it was a struggle.
So, yesterday I did get in the second workout in a row this week. Worked some chest, some abs, back and triceps. The aerobic workout was on one of the machines at 30 minutes -- a little over 300 calories, a lot of sweat but probably could have worked harder.
Today's blog is a way of trying to move my mind to the frame that I stop at the Y instead of passing by after class this evening. That is not a decision that is easy because when I leave that night speech class I am pretty worn out. We'll see what happens.
I am hoping the fact that I have given up sweets for lent may help me get back to regular exercise.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
