Juneathon day 4 was accomplished with a 3.5-mile bicycle ride around the lake/park. My favorite wheat field is turning golden. Harvest time will be in 2 or 3 weeks.
Running
Juneathon ’15, day 2
Yesterday’s fitness totals:
- 15 minutes of yoga stretches
- Bicycled to the office and back for a total of 8 miles in one day.
The morning weather was ideal for a bike commute. The evening commute was on the too sunny and warm side. 
It’s Juneathon eve
After spending another 6 months trying to manage Morton’s Neuroma and its contributing factors, and pretending I didn’t have a blog, it is time for another Juneathon attempt. I am taking a deep breath and resolving to see progress in mileage and fitness this month. I started last week with my first 5-mile run/walk in ages. It felt great to be out there.
Yesterday, I participated in a community bicycling event for all ages and cycling abilities. Adding up the miles cycled to, from, and as part of the event, my total was 11 miles, and a lot of fun.
Some things I’ve learned while being sidelined from running with Morton’s:
- Bicycling at a gentle pace can be enjoyable and does contribute to the fitness level.
- Yoga stretches done gently are great for posture and contribute to the fitness level.
- Walking to and from the transit system does contribute to the fitness level.
New year, new Janathon
How many emails did I get this week that said “New Year, New You”? Each one offered a product: makeup, exercise plan, clothing; a literal makeover inside and out. No thanks. I’m doing fine. I resolve to be more organized this year, and to otherwise keep doing what I’m doing. And blog more regularly. It’s been awhile…no, okay, it’s been months. But I’ve been busy while I was away. I’ve missed blogging, though.
My first two days of Janathon were identical and routine for me:
- 15 minutes of yoga with my favorite video series — Priscilla’s Yoga Stretches
- My 1.2-mile loop around the little park.
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I am finally reading On the Road, by Jack Kerouac. I’m forming my own clear opinions on this book. I’m not sure I will have the courage to write a review when I finish reading it. But I’ll try to say something; knowing whatever I say about it has probably been said before. It is quite a polarizing piece of literature. I now see why.
New shoes and the camera on my Kindle
It was that time again–to get a new pair of running shoes. Hooray! I’ve stuck with ASICS the past 3-or-so years, because they’ve done well for me. And yesterday was ASICS day at our locally-owned running store. ASICS were 20% off. So, I got a new pair of turquoise Gel Cumulus shoes.
Tonight I was messing around with my Kindle Fire HD and realized there was what looked like a little camera on the lower edge of the frame. So I went in search of the camera function. One would think I could just search through the apps until I found one called ‘Camera’. Not so. But I did learn that there are two camera apps on the device. One of the apps is just a little button in the corner of the Photo app window. The other camera app can’t even be located on the device unless you first download a file explorer app. But thanks to this video:
and this one:
I located both apps and figured out how to use them.
So then, I took the Kindle on a mile run/walk, in which I begin breaking in my new shoes. I had intended to listen to a book, but instead got caught up in experimenting with the two camera apps. The camera is front-facing, such as for video Skype and selfies–neither of which I do.
But I did take this new-shoe-selfie!
(I’m not that tan; it just looks that way because it’s getting dark outside.)
And then I had fun trying to aim and shoot some sunset scenes. Not easy. The camera itself is low resolution. Only the hidden camera app had zoom and adjustable settings for lighting and subject matter. That app also has a video option. The camera within the Photo app appears to be totally non-adjustable.
The book that I did not listen to, is True Sisters, by Sandra Dallas. I’m not very far into the book yet, but so far it is a rather dark story about Mormon women who made the trek with their husbands and families to Utah in the 1850s. Much of the journey was accomplished without horses or oxen. Instead, they pushed their belongings in hand carts. One of the couples in the story first made the voyage from Liverpool, England to the US, to then make the journey across the US. I’ve loved every book I’ve ever read by Sandra Dallas, and I expect this one to be no different. But the story has me bracing for a lot of heartache that appears to be looming ahead for these hard-working, loyal wives and mothers.
Janathon, day 23
Well, I broke my Juneathon streak this weekend. I had an excellent streak going…for me, anyway. But the blisters on the bottom of my foot, and a sore back caused by the heavy lifting while camping, caught up with me. I felt it was best to do nothing for a couple of days. I think it did help. I did 15 minutes of yoga stretches this morning, and my mile run loop, and everything felt normal again.
This weekend is our every-other-year quilt show. Eight-hundred-plus gorgeous quilts made by our local quilters.
Juneathon, day 20–in which a beloved place from my early running years is lost
According to this article, Kansas University will start next week removing the track from its Memorial Stadium, and leave the stadium dedicated solely to football. So many track and field greats spent their college years on that track. As a youngster, I was privileged to run on the track for practice and in track meets. And, I religiously watched the Kansas Relays there each year. I remember when they converted the track from cinder to the pink artificial surface. Talk about wonderful, inspiring memories. Here are a few of the greats who ran on the track.
Glenn Cunningham
Wes Santee (video not at KU)
Billy Mills
Jim Ryun (setting a national collegiate record on the track, in the “Glenn Cunningham Mile” event.)
A recent highlight video from the KU Relays
Yes, they’ve built a replacement track and field facility. But this really hurts.
Juneathon, day 19
Today I walked a mile. Tomorrow hopefully a short run. I think the blisters can handle it. That is all.
Juneathon, day 18–in which I try to catch up on my sleep
I’m doing my level best to get back in the work groove, and get all of the camping equipment cleaned and stowed away, and laundry done. Tonight I returned the rental car and intentionally walked back rather than taking transit, in order to get my daily fitness fix. It was a 3-mile walk. Foot injury didn’t seem too bothered by it, which is a good sign that I’ll be back to running soon.
Rather than show photos of laundry or a hideous cluster of foot blisters, here are some more scenes from the Roo Run 5k this weekend.
Yes, he is aware of the $100 fine for wearing a fuel belt in a 5k, hehe. But I’m advocating a rule exception for people who spent the night before having a really good time and then making it to the 5k start with almost no sleep.
And now I’m going to bed ridiculously early.
run | sew | read 