Making Turkey Hunting Look Good!

Is one sign of becoming a seasoned turkey hunter that you start ending up with fewer and fewer pictures of your victories? My first turkey back in 2005 necessitated that my hunting mentor, Randy, shoot a whole roll of 35mm film in a post-kill photo shoot. Yesterday, which was Indiana’s opening day, I was hunting solo and I took three pictures using the self-timer on my camera…the third one was good enough and then I put the camera away.  (Read on...)

Back on the Wagon and Ready for Turkey Season!

As I last reported, I fell off the fitness wagon. Well, I’m happy to report that I jumped back on the ol’ wagon and I’m ready to forge ahead. I met with my trainer last week, and we talked through what I had been going through, and she said it’s natural for that to happen, so I felt better about it.

HELP! I've Hit a Wall!!

It’s been nine days since I ran the “Ringing in Spring” 5K, and I’ve skipped workouts more frequently in those nine days than I have since I started on my “fatty to 5K” quest seven months ago.

Let’s take today for example...

Ringing in Spring 5K

Photo: my sister Anne and I after the race!

The Valparaiso YMCA’s “Ringing in Spring” 5K was last Saturday and, despite the rainy morning that only saw temperatures in the upper 40s at best, was a great time!  This was just my second 5K, my first was last month at Disney World, and it was a "fun run" without official times and placings, so this was kind of my first "real" 5K!

It's Almost Time to Ring in Spring!

My second-ever 5K, and first actual “race” (as opposed to a “fun run”) is a week from yesterday; it’s the Valparaiso YMCA’s “Ringing in Spring” 5K.

Yesterday I went and ran the course just to check it out…it seemed long, but that’s just because I do most of my running on the 0.75-mile track at Fairgrounds Park or on a treadmill at the gym. I’m not used to “stretching out” the 3.1 miles!! It’s a nice course, there’s some inclines, but they all seem to be greeted by declines, so that’s good. There was one incline mid-way through that seemed REALLY LONG…gradual, but long. I finished in 30:45, but I hope to do better in the competitive event setting with other people around to keep me motivated!

The current weather forecast for Saturday is calling for highs in the upper 60s and lows in the lower 50s. I think that sounds just perfect for a 5K! Hopefully the forecast holds true and it’s a beautiful day. Oh, and I should also mention that my sister and bro-in-law who got me into running will be home for Easter weekend and are going to be running with me on Saturday. Well, I’ll rephrase that; they won’t be running with me, they’ll be running behind me. They can do longer distances, like the two half-marathons they’ve done, but I do my miles a bit faster.

My First 5K...at Walt Disney World!

It’s been nearly three weeks since my first-ever 5K at Walt Disney World. I guess it’s time that I take a few minutes to blog about it!

First Race Jitters

My Disney World 5K is this Saturday. Last Saturday morning I awoke from a traumatic dream which involved missing my race and not realizing it ‘til later that afternoon.

Another “jitter” is that I’m worried about whether or not I can function when running “for real” as opposed to on a treadmill.