April 2022: Photos and Thots From Along the Way

The Photographs Keep Piling Up

The Miles Keep Adding Up Too

Walking south, under Oxford Street, beside the River Thames

Introduction:

Recently, the plan was to slowly and steadily turn some of my walking miles (approx. 45 miles per month) into running miles with an eye on participating in a "slow and Steady Eddie-style" half marathon in September of this year.

But I think I may have not just one, but two over-use injuries at the moment (April 6th); a sore right ankle keeps my mind focussed on stretching and strengthening that area; a recent (first week in March) calf muscle strain or pull has interrupted my three-times per week slow walk/run outings. The strain is a real pain! What's with this getting older?? 

Still, I walk six times per week - most often with a camera - 'cause it's a habit, you know. 

Photos From Along the Way:

Port Bruce. I did not walk or run to this fav destination : )

TVP North, a lovely walk for hundreds and hundreds per day.

Just not right now!

Green and Gators on St. Patrick's Day

Winter kicked up a fuss during March

Out walkn in the 'hood

Big Gazebo! That looks like a nice place to sit on St. Patrick's Day

TVP North was a wee bit greener on St. Patrick's Day

Occasionally I take out a package of magic markers: Brain Power!

For certain, spring is on the way

Many thoughts about my walking and running are shared below in a series entitled Steady Eddie: A Walking and Running Habit (Parts 1 - 4).

Scroll down to Part 1, or use Blog Archive for the month of March in the right hand margin to easily view the four entries in order.

More miles to walk, more thots to share... will soon follow.

Please link to Steady Eddie: A Walking and Running Habit (Part 1)

Photos by GH 

WALKN Alone in The Wet.

Good Reason to Stay Indoors.

The River is Rising.

On rainy days, London's pathways are generally deserted, except for a few lonely dog walkers, and the Canadian geese that congregate at Harris Park (above). I'll venture out as well on occasion, umbrella in hand, camera and coffee money stored inside dry pockets.

But yesterday was too much. Too much rain, too much slushy water built up at the edge of the road. So, I changed into cycling gear, grabbed a good book and did some 'readn and ridn' on my exercise bike instead, counting every 20 minutes on the bike as one mile of walkn, as per my handy-dandy, scientifically-accurate equivalency chart.

(20 minutes of volleyball is also equal to one mile of walking but who would want to play volleyball in Harris Park on a rainy day?)

Can I walk a marathon per week (26.2 miles) from January to March?

By the end of March I will likely be near the end of 'Transition Zone 2' (TZ2), a set of 120 walks that will prepare me for a new season of walking/jogging/running at an easy pace. I'm not thinking about running an actual marathon, but I think a good spring - fall goal would be to walk/run a marathon's mileage per week.

Over the last ten weeks I have averaged 27.7 miles, so I'm already comfortable with the marathon distance per week. Smooth jogging and running, however, is another kettle of fish.

We shall see what we shall see.

More photos from along the way:

Today's post - WALKN Miles in 2017 (23)

Please link to WALKN Miles in 2017 (22).

Photos GH

Photos From Along the Way (2).

Gray Day in Harris Park

Walkn north but Lookn south

The paths were pretty clean the other day in spite of an earlier fresh snowfall. A bit of snow in the air made large buildings in the distance look like they would fade from view any moment.

Snow in the air suggests a bit of a breeze was in the forecast.

But I had it at my back all the way home.

Easy walkn.

Link to Photos From Along the Way

Photos GH

Long Road Back 13

Walking in Prince Edward Island

"I walked around soy bean fields and into deep, dark woods"

I did not complete as many walks last week (four) as during previous weeks, because I took a short vacation in PEI for eight days and was sitting inside a truck for four of them. However, four good walks (MM13 - MM16) is better than none and during those walks I saw some pretty fine scenery and trudged up and down some pretty good hills.

 "Looking and walking south on Cambridge Rd."

 "Looking and walking east on Peter's Rd."

 "Yippee is right. That is one long drive. No time for walking"

"I sent home a few emails so I wouldn't forget to fill in my log"

Link to Long Road Back 12

Photos GH

My Morning Walk: "trying to spruce up"

Counting today I've walked three times to The Fun and Fitness Centre this week with the hope of losing five pounds before attending the Spring Ball in my best pants. And I've seen a lot more people out walking this week so I'm not alone in trying to spruce up.

While walking across the bridge on Ridout St. near Thames Park, I noticed something unusual (maybe it's usual and I'm just not in the know) floating upon the surface of the once mighty Thames River. Suds. Foam. Soapy stuff.

["A steady stream of suds"]

["Looking east, toward Labatts, from Ridout St. bridge"]

["Looking west from Ridout St. bridge"]

What is this stuff? Is it usual or unusual? Is a business near the Thames trying to spruce up their digs and pushing old suds down a drain?

Link to My Morning Walk

Photos GH

Fun and Fitness: "Five weeks in a row"

I've only been reaching my fitness goals by the skin of my teeth lately. Only a long ride last night kept me on track for the week.

["Stalingrad by A. Beevor motivated my long ride"]

That being said, and even though the holiday season puts many demands on everyones' time, good books and a long-term 100-mile/week habit have helped me toward five 100-plus weeks in a row. 

["101 miles for the week. I'll take it!"]

Sure, last week's 101 miles isn't much of a plus, but it keeps my streak alive (likely until the next time I travel north to babysit my twin grand-daughters).  

Until then, I'll try to live by the modified Boy Scout motto below.

Photos by GH

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Please click here for more Fun and Fitness

Fun and Fitness: “Reset. Mode. Set.”

I finished September on a positive note in the ‘fun and fitness’ category of my busy, highly complicated life. I collected my goal of 100 miles or points and more.

Three rides last week. One hockey game. Two healthy walks. 111 miles. That’s 11 extra (EXT) points for the week, for a total of 591 EXTRA points in all. 

And though I’m 66 points away from a new record (RECORD is 656 extra points), I plan to set a new one (NR) by the end of October. I’m gunning for a hat trick this month as well, so if you hear strange noises in my back laneway, it’s just me in my workin’ mode... practising my slapshot.

[Photo by G.Harrison]

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Please click here for more Fun and Fitness

60 Plus: I’m making a dent

I don’t mind being over 60 years old. I have all I need. Money enough to buy oatmeal and all the additives I like in my porridge.

And yesterday, for the first time in years, I touched my toes while doing my four-minute stretching routine. At least I made a dent in the toe of my running shoe, and in my book, that counts!

Also, I’ve been walking regularly for 8 weeks or so, 60 to 90 minutes at a time, and on Monday I jogged for 50 meters in Harris Park and my legs felt great.

The stretching and walking habits are paying dividends, the hill repeats are adding to my muscle mass (I love throwing in words like that!) and I could likely run a five km. road race in the fall without falling over.

Now, if I could only find my keys to the shed. The grass needs a trim.

[Photo by G.Harrison]

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Zoom w a View: Signs of sprrring PT 2

Steve Coad, Wortley Village resident and sports columnist for The London Free Press, is now running in shorts. No more long johns.


["Go Steve, go!": photo GH]

He got me thinking... I still have running shoes with some miles left in them.

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Thinking about jogging, running, walking the bike paths?

Please click here for more Zoom w a View, i.e., Signs of spring PT 1

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Zoom w a View: My Morning Walk Pt 2

I was a little late getting out the door this morning for my fitness walk - I had to finish a section of yesterday’s crossword. Yes, I had to - but once I got moving on the tree-lined streets of Wortley Village all pistons fired smoothly.


I cycled 30 miles last night on the exercise bike, and play hockey this afternoon, so my exercise routine for the week is off to a good start.


Will I have extra energy on the ice and pop in a goal or two? We’ll see. If I score a good one, you’ll be the first to know.


Because of the recent rain, neighbourhood trees and flowers are looking good and healthy.


The hugging trees are two blocks from home and I always look to see if they are still fond of one another.

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