Turkey Creek Festival 5K

Merriam Kansas…….  Ran on May 21, 2011

This was my first 5K since 2008. I had considered running this in the past, but never actually made the leap to it. Since the race layout is close to my home, I walked the course a couple of times before race day, just to get a feel of the course. The logistics of the course were fine. The city of Merriam did a nice job of hosting the event. They had a DJ playing music who kept things exciting before, during and after the race. At this event, and most all subsequent races thus far, they played the National Anthem before the race, quite refreshing. Wouldn’t be wonderful if these races had a Christian prayer before it began? Sadly, I don’t see that happening anytime soon at a public racing event. Unlike other races I have run so far, the DJ announced your name as you were about to cross the finish line. I would describe this race as a nice, small, hometown charm race. A few steep hills were hidden here, kept the heart a pumping. A good chance I will run again in 2012.

How It All Began!

Over the last several years, I have taken up walking for the enjoyment of it, and as a stress reliever. I believe to some degree, whether conscious of the matter or not, I have, for most of my life, always enjoyed a nice walk, whether to ease my mind of a stressful situation, or just for the fun of it, probably both.

Almost a year and a half ago, I lost my job of five years.  To say that I miss the  income would be true. To say I miss the stress, politics and pettiness, would be a lie.  Just prior to losing my job, I began, on May 2, 2010, recording my daily walks, both at home, and during my breaks at work. After I lost my job in June of 2010, I greatly increased the miles I  walk each day, and I will very soon cross the 5,000 mile mark. A small amount of those  miles have been on a treadmill or an elliptical machine.  In May of this year, 2011, I began running, in addition to my walking, and have entered several road races. Recently, I successfully finished my first half marathon, 13.1 miles. I plan to use this
blog to record periodic information on runs I am training for, and competed in,
or any other information I find interesting in my walks and runs. I had in the past, in 2006 and 2008, ran in the Kansas City Corporate Challenge 5K races in Shawnee Mission Park in Shawnee Kansas. I hope you find some of what I have to say interesting.