Saturday, September 18, 2021

I’ve Still Got It

Yesterday was the day I was to have checked into a hotel in Redondo Beach, so I could participate in this morning’s 5K.


After testing my walking legs out at the mall a few weeks back, realizing they were in poor shape from having not trained in over a year, not to mention not wanting to deal with the hassle of traveling, I cancelled the hotel.

I was prepared to eat the 5K registration fee, but then thought to email the organizer to see if the registration could be converted to virtual.

"No problem at all", was the reply but that "It may take a few days after the race to ship your items".

"Items" would be my Bib Number, so I can log in my results, and whatever else is included in the swag bag.

Waking up this morning to feeling a long walk was just what I needed to clear my head of stuff that’s been bugging me, I suited up and headed out to start training.

Thinking the University might now be open to walkers, I headed there first, with a plan to head for the mall if the University's parking lot area was still blocked off.

The area was open.

Two security cars were parked where they’d be highly visible, but none of the occupants bothered me, and there were others walking about.

The first 0.45 miles was a struggle, but then, as being out in the sunshine began to feel good, my legs warmed up, what fresh air I could get through my mask kicked in, and I got lost in the music playing on the iPod. The struggle passed, I was in the flow and, before I knew it, I completed the entire 3.13 miles.

I’ve still got it.

Had not my Runkeeper App failed to accurately record my time and miles, beyond 3.0, I could have counted the 5K done and, when my Bib arrived, submitted my results.

However, since it did fail, I’ll have to redo the walk when the items arrive. But that’s not a problem, because the weather is back to walking weather AND, when I saw how many steps my fitness tracker had logged in, how many calories it indicated I’d burned, I’m ready to make this an every Saturday morning thing again.


Runkeeper failing is not new, so I'd better play it safe next time and see if the phone can run Map My Walk and Runkeeper simultaneously, so I can end up with the correct miles and minutes.

Other than that, nothing much going on, except my to-do list, which had been cleared, now has another visit to the medical center added to it.

When I returned from the flu clinic, there was an email from the doctor’s office that the next refill on my blood pressure medication would be withheld if I did not come in for my annual blood draw.

Seriously?

You’d subject me to a stroke?

Had I been advised blood work had been scheduled — which notification I did not receive, I could have taken care of it the day I was getting the flu shot, no need to threaten.

But whatever.

So, other than another trip to the medical center — soon, I’ve got nothing else on my to-do list. I can just coast into the 1st of Halloween (October 1), when I can put out my candy corn door mat, candy corn door wreath AND, because Activity Director is hosting a Halloween Decoration Contest, I’m going all out this year by adding candy corn lights to the balcony and a candy corn window poster.

I’m going for the look of the wicked witch’s home in Hansel and Gretel, except I’m substituting candy corn for the gingerbread, cake and pastry that covered the witch’s home— but it would be cool to recreate the gingerbread house in its entirety (if only I had the storage space).

Can’t wait to walk around, see what other residents come up with.

All are being encouraged to decorate their patios/balconies and front doors, but to keep it “family friendly”.

I guess that means no skeletons, blood, gore.

If Activity Director doesn’t get the participation she expects, and that I’m hoping for, that will just mean I win whatever the prize is hands down.

18 comments:

  1. Meant to say, Congratulations on still having the walking power!

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    1. You've been missing for a few days. I was getting concerned. You need a blog so we can check in on you.

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  2. Good for you! I'm impressed. We just signed up for a virtual 8 mile walk for next year. We used to do the walk in person, but with COVID it's all virtual and we also have 5 days to complete the walk instead of all in one day. I'm quite happy with that.

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    1. That would be GREAT that one doesn't have to finish in one day. I'm a little tired of virtuals but, for the time being, virtual is the safer way to go.

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  3. I sent several comments which did not get published!
    The last ( before this one) was that I was hoping you will do your nails in Candy Corn colors!

    Not sure why I am not getting posted. Hugs, JanF

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    1. That's weird, but glad you're okay. For sure, I'll be doing my nails in candy corn.

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  4. I'm curious. How many steps is a 5K?

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    1. Interesting question. I don't really know, but think it would depend on whether you have long legs or are short and have to take more steps. One online site indicates that for me, at 5 feet 6 inches, it would average out to 6,948 steps. So let's say in the neighborhood of 7,000 steps, more or less, depending on your stride.

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  5. Nice job crushing that 5k even though your app checked out! My running club starts its Fall-Winter tortoise and hare races next weekend. First event is a 4k I think I can handle.
    Holding your prescription hostage - HA!

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    1. Are you running the 4K or walking? If I were to have a stroke because the medical center withheld my prescription, I'd make sure to have that stroke on their premises, leave them with the fallout.

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    2. Gonna run, that's the plan anyway.

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  6. I take it you dig Candy Corn? *winks* Congrats on the Walk and that you realize you still got it GF! We do a lot of walking now that the Weather is Cooling off some, which means in Arizona its ONLY 104 and now 110 now, in late September. *LOL* Family Friendly, shit, how many Kids... Families even... live in your Seniors only complex, Right? *Eye Roll* Who among the Seniors is gonna be scared shitless by a little Gore and Blood anymore... Pleeease! They would Hate a Tenant like me, I'd be inclined to save up my Pennies and buy one of Big Kenny's Rob Zombie Lifesize Haunted Attraction Zombie Props and put it out on my Balcony! *winks*

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    1. I actually hate candy corn, but it's cute for Halloween decorations and nail art :-) Kids visiting their grands would probably love to see something spooky and bloody. I would as well, but we have people here, like Church Lady and that woman who complained about the painted rocks, that have nothing to do other than find fault and complain.

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  7. Congrats on that. I actually grew up in Redondo Beach. I used to go to the Pier every weekend.

    My doctor does the same thing every 6 months. If I don't see her she won't refill any of my medications, not even my diabetes stuff.

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    1. Though I grew up, and later lived a hop skip jump to Redondo Beach, don't think I've ever been. If they're willing to risk our health over the dollars they get on a refill, I'll have to agree with commenter Dawn, on the last post, that it's a money grab. Doctor has a quota to fill.

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