Spring Has Sprung
Part 1
My friend Liz joined me for a 2.6 mile walk this morning. The weather was beautiful and we enjoyed the time together. We were talking the entire time and the miles went by very quickly.
We didn't start until 8:00 this morning, so there was a lot more traffic on the trail. The bicycles were very visible. I rode the MS 150 about 17 years ago, so I'm aware of the etiquette for riders. Many are great and always call "on your left" when they pass. Unfortunately, quite a few are either ignorant of the courtesy or are just rude and fly by without any warning. It is such a small thing and really makes a difference in the safety for the pedestrians. It is aggravating that they don't make the effort.
There were a lot of walkers today and lot fewer runners. That may have been due to our later start. I didn't get a sense of anything particular about the people today because we were involved in our conversation. I did see one really big dog. It looked like a Weimaraner, but was as big as a Great Dane. It was pretty far away, so I couldn't tell for sure the breed.
Tomorrow is another day - and another walk.
Part 2
Sunday was a different day. The sky was clear and the temperature was mild. The wind, however, was very active.
The flower of the day was the Azalea. With the cold, wet weather we've had, the bushes didn't flower as early as they normally do. Every spring in Houston they have the Azalea Trail. It is a fund-raiser where you can pay the fee to look at a number of the beautiful azalea installations around the city. Some of them are really breath-taking when they are in full bloom. Since this is generally held the first week in March, I don't think they had a very good showing this year. This weekend was when the bushes bloomed. There were bright pink, red, and salmon in evidence at the park and they were beautiful. There were a few patches of Indian Paint Brush, but it will be another couple of weeks before they come into their own. I also saw a couple of bunches of bluebonnets. I think there will be a lot more by next weekend.
The native grasses are getting very tall. They don't mow in many areas of the park in order to keep the native plants alive and strong. It appears that someone does keep the area to either side of the path cleaned up so there isn't a lot of overgrowth. I'm guessing that they have to do it with weed whackers because they could never get mowers so close to the trees. Whatever they do and whoever does it - it looks great and it makes for a wonderful place to enjoy.
When I completed the first half of the walk and was ready to turn around to head back, I decided to take "the high road." That is what I call the alternate path that is on the opposite side of the park. I have seen a lot of people walking their dogs and a number of mountain bikes taking that path. It is higher and much more in the sun that the path I generally walk. It is only partially paved. There is a lot of loose gravel and a couple of place with lots of sand. I hit one spot where the sand was wet and I sunk into it. It wasn't too deep, but it surprised me. I spoke with a number of people out with their dogs. For some reason, they are more talkative than the walkers and runners. The wind was more of a problem, partially due to the limited amount of cover and partially due to the fact that I was walking into it. By the time I got back to my car, my forehead and the muscles around my eyes were very tight - apparently I was squinting even with my sunglasses. It was really tiring and when I got home I was exhausted.
This was really a tougher weekend than I've had before. I will do the same repetition next weekend and hope I do better.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Daylight Savings Time
Part 1 -
I figured I would get up earlier today to get started so I could miss the majority of the cyclists on the trail. I forgot that with the change to Daylight Savings Time last weekend, it would still be dark at 7:00 am. It was finally light enough for me to be comfortable on the trail at 7:20. On top of everything, it was very overcast today and the sun didn't ever come out from behind the clouds. I could have slept a lot longer.
Getting out earlier gave me a new perspective. The wildlife hadn't pulled back to avoid the people. I saw a bunny right next to the path, several squirrels on the path and a lot of birds that aren't usually visible - woodpecker, mocking bird and something smaller that a sparrow that I couldn't identify (I may need to get a book). I think I heard a goose in some distress, but I didn't see it.
The plants are all reacting to the warmer weather. The red bud trees are all in bloom. I saw one today that has a really dark purple bloom. I've never seen one with a color that strong. There are a bunch of trees with multiple white flowers. I don't know what they are, but they look like the blooms from fruit trees. The clover flowers were in bud. I think if the sun had come out, they would have opened. The yellow weeds are still out in full bloom. There is the promise of lots of bluebonnets (the Texas state flower) nearly ready to open. If the weather stays warm, they could be out in force next weekend. I even saw one - just one - Indian paintbrush with a bud. Those don't generally open until we've had several weeks of really warm weather. The tree pollen, that has been hitting those of us with total misery for the last two weeks, is clearly visible. It looked like yellow chalk lines on the path. The pollen had settled around the areas where the rain during the week puddled. When the water evaporated it left the pollen to blow in the wind. Luckily, I took my Claritin-D last night before I went to bed and wasn't terribly effected today. If my luck holds I won't feel it tomorrow either. Think good thoughts for me.
Today I was very aware of being "in the middle." I saw a number of folks who were in their late 60's and 70's. I applaud their commitment to staying healthy and their ability to walk the distance. I saw quite a few in their late 20's and 30's. They were all very intense - like it was some kind of contest. I think most of them will get over that when they hit their 40's. There will be a few that treat their entire lives like a contest. I'm so glad I'm not one of them. I only saw a few people in the 40 - 60 age range - where I am. I usually see more, so I assume that they had the good sense to sleep in and not tempt the rain gods who made themselves apparent a couple of times during my walk.
Tomorrow, I plan to do it all again - weather permitting. I'm supposed to walk even if it rains, but I don't have any rain gear yet and I don't want to get sick, so if it rains, I'm staying home.
Part 2
I got up at 6:30 on Sunday, but it was only 38 degrees and the weatherman said it wouldn't get up to 40 until 9:00 am. That's when I decided there was no way I was going to walk in the cold.
My daughter told me I shouldn't have wimped out and should have walked because it can be that cold in NYC in October. I believe it may be 38 when we start out in the morning for
the walk, but I think it will warm up more than 2 degrees in the first 2 1/2 hours.
So instead of walking five miles, I did all my laundry and cleaned (really cleaned) my bedroom before noon. I spent the rest of the day quilting. All in all a good trade off.
Until next time.
I figured I would get up earlier today to get started so I could miss the majority of the cyclists on the trail. I forgot that with the change to Daylight Savings Time last weekend, it would still be dark at 7:00 am. It was finally light enough for me to be comfortable on the trail at 7:20. On top of everything, it was very overcast today and the sun didn't ever come out from behind the clouds. I could have slept a lot longer.
Getting out earlier gave me a new perspective. The wildlife hadn't pulled back to avoid the people. I saw a bunny right next to the path, several squirrels on the path and a lot of birds that aren't usually visible - woodpecker, mocking bird and something smaller that a sparrow that I couldn't identify (I may need to get a book). I think I heard a goose in some distress, but I didn't see it.
The plants are all reacting to the warmer weather. The red bud trees are all in bloom. I saw one today that has a really dark purple bloom. I've never seen one with a color that strong. There are a bunch of trees with multiple white flowers. I don't know what they are, but they look like the blooms from fruit trees. The clover flowers were in bud. I think if the sun had come out, they would have opened. The yellow weeds are still out in full bloom. There is the promise of lots of bluebonnets (the Texas state flower) nearly ready to open. If the weather stays warm, they could be out in force next weekend. I even saw one - just one - Indian paintbrush with a bud. Those don't generally open until we've had several weeks of really warm weather. The tree pollen, that has been hitting those of us with total misery for the last two weeks, is clearly visible. It looked like yellow chalk lines on the path. The pollen had settled around the areas where the rain during the week puddled. When the water evaporated it left the pollen to blow in the wind. Luckily, I took my Claritin-D last night before I went to bed and wasn't terribly effected today. If my luck holds I won't feel it tomorrow either. Think good thoughts for me.
Today I was very aware of being "in the middle." I saw a number of folks who were in their late 60's and 70's. I applaud their commitment to staying healthy and their ability to walk the distance. I saw quite a few in their late 20's and 30's. They were all very intense - like it was some kind of contest. I think most of them will get over that when they hit their 40's. There will be a few that treat their entire lives like a contest. I'm so glad I'm not one of them. I only saw a few people in the 40 - 60 age range - where I am. I usually see more, so I assume that they had the good sense to sleep in and not tempt the rain gods who made themselves apparent a couple of times during my walk.
Tomorrow, I plan to do it all again - weather permitting. I'm supposed to walk even if it rains, but I don't have any rain gear yet and I don't want to get sick, so if it rains, I'm staying home.
Part 2
I got up at 6:30 on Sunday, but it was only 38 degrees and the weatherman said it wouldn't get up to 40 until 9:00 am. That's when I decided there was no way I was going to walk in the cold.
My daughter told me I shouldn't have wimped out and should have walked because it can be that cold in NYC in October. I believe it may be 38 when we start out in the morning for
the walk, but I think it will warm up more than 2 degrees in the first 2 1/2 hours.
So instead of walking five miles, I did all my laundry and cleaned (really cleaned) my bedroom before noon. I spent the rest of the day quilting. All in all a good trade off.
Until next time.
Monday, March 15, 2010
I'm Official
I am now officially committed to walking in the New York Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. I've signed up and am now accepting donations - feel free to click on the link listed to the left and make yours.
This is taking me well outside my comfort zone. I would rather watch a bad movie (sometimes a good one) or sew a quilt than go outside. Spring is my least favorite season because the tree pollen is awful here and I'm very allergic. I'm also a total Ludite. I use technology, but only as much as necessary to get through the day. I don't text and I rarely surf the web, unless I need to find something. My daugher is embarrased by my new flatscreen becauase it is only 26". I've never read blogs, let only writing one. So I'm taking the plunge - doing something physical and something technological. We'll see how it works out.
I did my first "official" training walk last weekend. I walked five miles and cut 15 minutes off my previous time. It is still taking me about an hour and 15 minutes, but hopefully I'll be able to cut that down. I think starting a bit earlier in the day will help - there won't be so many people on the trail. At any rate, I'll want to start adding more mileage as I continue my training.
The day was beautiful - clear and very temperate. It was cool enough to need a sweatshirt, but not cold. The sky was so blue and the grass was very green - we've had a lot of rain lately. Some of the trees are already beginning to bloom. There were some flowering weeds and the promise of wildflowers.
There are a lot of people who walk their dogs in the park. There is a lot of green space where the puppies can run. I've enjoyed watching them. Their personalities are so different - the labs mind so well; the Jack Russels walk thier owners instead of the opposite; the boxer off the leash was very confused when he heard his mistress call him, but he saw me instead - he figured it out; the little white dog who thought he could take out the passing dog who was at least twice his size. There are a lot of squirrels and the dogs behave just like the dogs in "Up" - running after them as soon as they are in sight. I laughed out loud.
I have thought about taking an IPod with me while I walk. With my luck, I wouldn't hear a bicycle come up behind me and get nailed. Instead, I hum - a lot. Sometimes I hum a song, sometimes just a tune from inside my head. I can hum the same tune for the entire walk. Sometimes I'm aware of it, sometimes I'm not. It is kind of a weird OCD thing I've always done. I don't know if it is loud enough for anyone else to hear, but I enjoy it.
I'm going to take my camera with me next time. I'm hoping some of the wildflowers will be in bloom so I can get some nice pictures. If I'm able to get something good, I'll add it to my next post.
This is taking me well outside my comfort zone. I would rather watch a bad movie (sometimes a good one) or sew a quilt than go outside. Spring is my least favorite season because the tree pollen is awful here and I'm very allergic. I'm also a total Ludite. I use technology, but only as much as necessary to get through the day. I don't text and I rarely surf the web, unless I need to find something. My daugher is embarrased by my new flatscreen becauase it is only 26". I've never read blogs, let only writing one. So I'm taking the plunge - doing something physical and something technological. We'll see how it works out.
I did my first "official" training walk last weekend. I walked five miles and cut 15 minutes off my previous time. It is still taking me about an hour and 15 minutes, but hopefully I'll be able to cut that down. I think starting a bit earlier in the day will help - there won't be so many people on the trail. At any rate, I'll want to start adding more mileage as I continue my training.
The day was beautiful - clear and very temperate. It was cool enough to need a sweatshirt, but not cold. The sky was so blue and the grass was very green - we've had a lot of rain lately. Some of the trees are already beginning to bloom. There were some flowering weeds and the promise of wildflowers.
There are a lot of people who walk their dogs in the park. There is a lot of green space where the puppies can run. I've enjoyed watching them. Their personalities are so different - the labs mind so well; the Jack Russels walk thier owners instead of the opposite; the boxer off the leash was very confused when he heard his mistress call him, but he saw me instead - he figured it out; the little white dog who thought he could take out the passing dog who was at least twice his size. There are a lot of squirrels and the dogs behave just like the dogs in "Up" - running after them as soon as they are in sight. I laughed out loud.
I have thought about taking an IPod with me while I walk. With my luck, I wouldn't hear a bicycle come up behind me and get nailed. Instead, I hum - a lot. Sometimes I hum a song, sometimes just a tune from inside my head. I can hum the same tune for the entire walk. Sometimes I'm aware of it, sometimes I'm not. It is kind of a weird OCD thing I've always done. I don't know if it is loud enough for anyone else to hear, but I enjoy it.
I'm going to take my camera with me next time. I'm hoping some of the wildflowers will be in bloom so I can get some nice pictures. If I'm able to get something good, I'll add it to my next post.
Intro to My Insanity
My adult daughter, Ashley, has convinced me to walk with her in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in NYC in October. This is a real stretch for the couch potato I have become and it will require me to do some serious training.
I've started walking with a friend a couple of miles on Saturday morning, but I know that won't be enough. So, I'm also walking a minimum of five miles on Sunday. Luckily, I have a beautiful park with great trails to walk. I share the path with lots of cyclists (training for the MS 150), runners, dog walkers and even a few people on roller blades.
I will be recording my thoughts and hopefully some photos of my walks. I hope you enjoy following my training process.
To donate to my walk go to http://info.avonfoundation.org/site/TR/Walk/NewYork?px=5419561&pg=personal&fr_id=1970 and make a donation. Thank you in advance for the help.
I've started walking with a friend a couple of miles on Saturday morning, but I know that won't be enough. So, I'm also walking a minimum of five miles on Sunday. Luckily, I have a beautiful park with great trails to walk. I share the path with lots of cyclists (training for the MS 150), runners, dog walkers and even a few people on roller blades.
I will be recording my thoughts and hopefully some photos of my walks. I hope you enjoy following my training process.
To donate to my walk go to http://info.avonfoundation.org/site/TR/Walk/NewYork?px=5419561&pg=personal&fr_id=1970 and make a donation. Thank you in advance for the help.
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