Day 2

On day two of the freedom marchers journey they had done over twenty miles. This is a feat graced by the hands of God. Not many people crunch a half marathon everyday in business attire nonetheless. 
So i got a little down on myself for being on mile six. If i could make my dream come true I'd trek fifty miles through the county one way camping at night and eating pasta dinners like the marchers. Yet my reality is a few road miles a day until i hit fifty four and that's okay.
I'm working on increasing mileage with every segment i do. I've not had a ten mile day yet but the miles I'm accumulating are rewarding. I know i could knock out fifty four on the treadmill in four days but my desire from day one was to take it on the road and in whatever weather comes my way.
So this morning i woke feeling like crap, i had a headache and my arches hurt but walking was still on my mind. I decided to skipped the morning run to let my body recover from the ailments it was battling and by noon i did feel better despite my "senior" pains. In addition I needed to be accountable to my running buddy for the day. A lady in my running group responded to a post i made about my March goals. I didn't mention why because it is not a predominantly African American group but she and some others figured it out, it pays to surround yourself with people who are thinkers.

We met at a running spot and walked. For those not in the running community this was an act of kindness that i truly appreciated. Runners run and walking at a slow twenty minute pace is a sacrifice. Im limping my way through life right now and its all i can do to maintain a steady pace. When someone who likes to log miles at a faster pace then you offers to go your pace it's a gift. I throughly enjoyed the conversation and quickly learned how out of shape I am. I was not used to talking while moving as a solo trekker and i struggled with my breathing during the chat. Everything else went well though we logged four miles that officially was 4.7. I top it off later to five as i ended up running an errand and could not resist walking the grocery store parking lot to get the extra tenths of the mile in. Today i say thank you to Keneen,who else but a sister runner would walk with me while dodging horse manure to get an extra mile on the way to fifty four.

Day 1 Bloody Sunday

Walking these fifty four miles has been a private affair for me. I am on the road to rediscovering my strength, not exactly a news worthy event. I have told few people about this. Well maybe more because i posted in one of my running groups and there are 400 lurkers in there and of course i have this blog but how many read it besides me is another lost in cyber story. Still i agonized over how i would commorate what happened. I thought about just walking silently and it suited me.Then i thought about the Carter Woodson quote above and said to myself walking with a picture feels right. It was just a selma50 logo nothing fancy but the photo kiosk in the store wasn't working. I ending up making a sign instead and off i went to find a bridge.

I put on my water belt, grabbed my sign and headed for the bridge. It was 2:30, late to be walking in Florida but i wasn't on a time schedule. I did want to walk the same time they did in Selma but gave that up in favor of just doing what i have to do. I decided to park downtown and maybe get in more miles before the bridge but it was hot ( it felt like it was 80 degrees) but was only seventy with a nice breeze in the shade. Unfortunately my route was not under the cover of trees. The usaul farmers market was going on so i warmed up by walking through there before heading to the bridge. As I arrived on the path to the entrance of the park that sits below the bridge a couple coming down the path from the bridge saw me and crossed the street to the other side. Curiosity got the best of them and the wife crossed back over to see what the sign said. She gave words of encouragement and i continued on. My knees were killing me as i approached the beginning but i was determined to keep moving even if it meant creeping along. I was not alone though i had my phone out playing the glory song from the selma movie. I haven't downloaded any gospel songs to my phone and dont like to walk to music but the occasion dictated the need for inspiration. I decided glory wasn't enough and thought up my own gospel hymns. It felt good to sing in black church voice considering Im catholic and cant hold a tune. I now know why they sang when they marched, as it made the incline in front of me easier to walk. As i was climbing up people were descending, the majority read the sign. An older white couple looking like the Archy bunker type gave me hateful looks. I found it amusing because the husband had the most artificial deep brown tan. Love my skin color and can't stand me,i have always found that interesting. I got maybe a look of confusion and a smile or two but i wasn't there to show out or off just walk. Let me say i was praising the Lord the entire time, it took divine intervention to help me make that trip up. Once i reached the top and prepared to go down the other side my knees stopped hurting. I may have hobbed up but my descent was slow and steady, i was truly thankful for that. As i came to the end of the bridge i saw a young man. He was looking at his phone but then eyed me. I knew that look he had a question. He wanted to know a little bit more about the sign. He told me he had heard of it but didnt know the details. So i told him what i knew which certainly not everything as im learning the story myself. This young man walked with me for a mile as we talked about whi we are as individuals and how we see the world. Turns out he is into community and though he no longer lives in the area he is doung good things in his new city. We need more people like him, its one thing to talk but when you practice what you preach that says more about who you are. As we walked across a lower span bridge we pasted an older black gentleman who shook my hand. He liked the sign and was supportive of what i was doing. It meant a lot to me because we all don't have to march or be vocal but unity in the community has its place. I was appreciative of both those twi individuals because i was enriched by coming in contact with them. As we neared the causeway for my return trip i bid the young man farewell and took a photo. I hadn't expected company but it sure was a blessung.

After leaving hin a runner i pasted on the way over stopped. She saw the sign the first time but wanted to give me advice on how to do the miles. She was so excited wishing me well, often people become moved enough to tell me way to go. Im under no delusions about the fact my large size plays a factor. This time i knew her intention was genuine and the heartfelt wish for my success came from an encouraging place. Today my decision to syay home seems wise. Its the places where we live work and play that we should be reaching out and making change. We have to connect to each other on our home turf. I did that this Sunday and can't wait continue the journey.

Orlando

I made the drive to Orlando yesterday for a unity march. I guess i need to back track though.
Friday i was in Publix trying to find something for lunch after scouting our a few places on my selma50 route. So being the age I am i did what most black folk do, i saw a black couple and asked what was going on in the area for the event.
Voila! The wife responded that her organization was having a unity march and prayer service in Orlando. She offered to go out to her car and get the flyers. As we talked by her car i decided that i was going to attend. On Saturday I began the first official day of my trek.
As i walked i noticed the new major league soccer team was having an event. It seemed the whole town was decked out in purple, there were posters everywhere. I spotted a young couple walking down the street and questioned if they knew about the Selma march. They didn't, they were just a couple on a date but i questioned aloud if young folks appreciate or cared about history or the future. The young man said don't assume we don't and have a blessed day. He wasn't pleased with my questioning and that is the way black folks tell people off with out being nasty so to speak. I wished him the same and although these were just two people on a date i hope they do know and respect what has been done for them enough to be the next steps on the foundations in our community and to the world. I also thought what a wonderful sight and how fifty years ago these two wouldnt have been able to enjoy themselves in mixed company for a night on the town. Then I continued on my way arriving early to city hall and i saw no one. I started thinking maybe it was cancelled or no one cared to come. The list of things to do that night was over flowing a concert across the street at the new performing arts center, Elton John was playing in the arena and that soccer party was gearing up.

Instead of waiting alone i went to move my car closer to the area. I had parked by the lake but didn't realize it was a little to far. Actually if i had been able to park longer at the meter i might have stayed. I learned on the way back to my car that i walked the wrong way and instead of two blocks i walked about four. No worries i found another good spot and preceded back to city hall. This time a few more people where there a few Omega psi phi frat guys and a couple stood around talking then suddenly a host of media showed up and at one point out numbered the participants. Surprisingly fox news was there and i avoided them as i was not interested in making it on their broadcast. I wanted to find people and discover their stories but most of all i had hoped to see diversity in the crowd. Well i got that in spats and am happy to have met some. folks.

This young Palestinian man told me he was proud to be here and appreciated freedom fighters.

There were also a group of Puerto Ricans showing support for what they said was a jailed freedom fighter.

Young college students i thanked for being there and told i was just proud of them for beating the odds and doing positive things.

They asked that the young who represented the future stand in front with the clergy and march is to the church.

Although the crowd was mostly older i found joy that some twenty somethings were there. Students groups from UCF were there talk about how they had set up organizations on campus to fill their needs. Also was happy to meet a young white couple who brought their two preschool agef girls and said it was their pleasure to attend. Considering we were talking voting rights i was sadden more of those in the latin community didn't show but some heads of their organizations represented. Which brings me to the the fact that we need to find new ways to reach out to todays young people. In Selma they had rappers and r&b artist for the annual festival. In the future we are going to have to modernize the way we present to the generations behind us. We don't have to lose the lesson to reach a greater audience. So as i walked the block to the church i made one promise to myself. Deliver the truth in a way that all can relate and know my audience. I m walking to improve myself and better serve this community not to just retrace history but to take the torch so many held to get me here and pass it on.

Selma

Sometimes even when the road is clear things become a blur. I wanted to drive to Selma for the 50th anniversary of bloody Sunday and planned to do so. Life has a way of breaking my heart over and over again though. I won't be traveling to Alabama for practical reasons but worst i keep seeing all these post from people who are there. It's so exciting seeing their joy but my own reality is not so jubilant. I had my race and lodging picked out and i made sure i had enough money to cover the trip and any unexpected expenses that might crop up. What went wrong, i asked myself. Gas went up,my knees hurt,a feeling i couldn't quite put my hands on came over me. I know my mothers not well, the clock is ticking on that one. I'm totally heart broken these days and I've been reaching out to grab anything i can to ease my mind. I needed this trip but could never rest leaving her home. So I decided on a solo journey where i walk the miles and pray. Not for yesteryears but for today. The spirit of unity must rise up and fight oppression everywhere and all the time. Voting rights are important and they have to be preserved not diluted. That being the case i walked this week preparing but today my knee is killing me. I will march anyway i stand alone with a force of many. On the local front i need to be heard so I will make my way to orlando to get the ball rolling. my story this week is all about community.

Treasure Coast

Although i started this post back in March I forgot to post about this race and now that it's June  for some reason don't remember all the details. 
I know at the time i started writing this recap i was also planning the Selma trip. Apparently in all the commotion the story was lost in the excitement. So sad and brief detail that it is let me honor the miles.
For the first time on my short race career i broke this event up. I did what i vowed never to do fpr good reason. I was physically unable to make it a one day affair. I completed the miles in two days actually doing fourteen.  They were none descript and mostly pounded out training miles.
Weeks later when the medal arrived i felt proud.When the path is easy i tend not to appreciate the effort as much as the tough road. Giving myself a pat on the back for making it through the struggle.

Swamphouse

Woke up this morning tired with an achilles that was tender, all from a 5k. Im telling you racing on cobble stones is no joke. The orlando race took me out but i knew i had to get my Swamp miles in.
Since i never race back to back i took on this ome as a virtual.  Some people don't like them or call them training runs, i xall them challenges. It's hard for me to keep a good pace when I'm not on a clock. So i headed to a favorite running spot for locals.
Well being Sunday and having four marathons within driving distance of the area i saw none of the regulars. I changed into my race shoes, put the pedometer on (yes I'm high tech lol) and started on my way.
I was stiff at the onset but trudged on despite the sky looking like it would open up and bless me. It took until the mile mark before these old muscles of mine warmed up and let me relax. I was still slow but feeling better about the way things were going and then it happened.
I wanted to stop, i was losing interest but i wasn't tired or hurt. I knew it was the let down from the previous race day so i just made myself keep going and the thought went away. By mile three i had experienced a light drizzle that was more of an April shower in March. I found it refreshing because it was hot. The thermostat on my phone said it was seventy but it felt like eighty. I had not drank much water up until that point either.I learned from my first half not to over hydrate myself so i waited until mile three then gave myself a water and energy drink break.
I continued on and the miles got not easier but more comfortable . I was glad to hit the nine mark because that's generally where i feel home free.
I love doing these long virtuals do to the fact my thoughts move into a zone that is basically my own private race world.They are different than a training session in many ways. First im concerned about time and second i keep tabs on what it will take to conquer the course I've choosen.That's different than my training because all i worry about is staying in shape for distance. It's also differs from an actual race in that i see the people i meed to beat, am subject to being pushed by cheering from strangers or am influenced to speed up or block out competitors moves. Thank goodness i finished this one it showed me i still have work to do.

Checking out Orlando

This new active life has taken me on quite a ride since September.
Today i completed my last race from the first run calendar i set up back in August as a newbie. It marked the end of my scheduling   innocent. I've started to develop a more keen sense of what type of races will be doable for me and which ones are desirable. Thinking back over the first quarter of my season i see this journey is far from being over and made has already made for some interesting encounters. Heck it has been full of surprises both good and bad. So I can honestly say that it's was so fitting i would end my freshman quarter and transition into the second quarter of my season in  Orlando.
This is the town where i started a new life in the sunshine state and the place where i learned the joy of running. The great weather and all the beautiful places to train kept me in shape and laid the foundation for where I am today. It was the place i proudly called my hometown and just being back and seeing it's growth was exciting.
I hadn't visited the downtown district in so long i had to use gps to find the expo park. Once i arrived and found a metered space it was obvious things had changed in O town.
I looked up and saw that the skyline was now littered with new condos and skyscrapers glore. There were funky little eatteries, coffee houses and specialty shops in revitalized neighborhoods. Downtown had diffently become the place to be and if i meant the city had to kick the homeless that adorned the area out and destroy a traditional african american neighborhood then so be it. Yep,  the new city beautiful was totally unrecognizable to me.
I didnt have time to gawk at the newness of the place though I was on a doubled mission. After getting a parking spot with a great view of lake Eolas fountain and depositing two dollars in coins for a maximum two hour time limit i was ready to begin.
First i needed to get my swag bag and secondly i wanted to scout out where to park on race day. Spaces in town were at a premium and i had to have a good plan to secure one.
It was a short walk to the park to pick up the race packet, no line to speak off. I was a little turned off by the color of the replacement shirts the race organizers offered  but it wasn't a major problem. They had some problem with a supplier and had to ditch them for a new company. That changed the color optoon and so the women ended up with a gray and the men had a deep blue.  It was the first time i ordered a womens shirt and yes i was disappointed with the color. I was told i had to wait for race day to change but by then i wasn't in the mood. While standing in the starting coral on a runner told me she got to change hers on Friday. I guess it all depends on who waits on you in the line. With that task finished i  began walking the surrounding streets to find Saturday parking. Two weeks earlier i missed an exit off of 275 and arrived in Safety Harbor late. It took me nearly forty five minutes of circling neighboorhoods to find a spot. I was determined that would not happen again.
As i walked around something had changed. I noticed that people were more gaurded. White fright was real and blew through the air. I walked pass people whose demenor changed as they saw me. Grown white men eyed me very suspiciously and crossed the street to get away. A white female began walking faster when she realized i was behind her making a brave run against the light. This was no surprise the media has villified the face of crime so much that they didn't see the black woman in casual clothes and carrying a purse and swag bag as someone just going about her day. To them i was their greatest fear and the danger rattled them. If their friends base were more diverse maybe they could have chilled. It was to cold to let my thoughts linger on their ignorance though.The temperature was in the sixties but the wind chill made it seem fifty. I began moving with a swiftness on my parking space hunt and finally found a nice street that was suitable. I made my way down it and eased into to a little bakery cafe. I should not have been surprised at the fact of all the businesses on the street i subconsciously choose the one with my greatest nemisis, bread. In the display cases i saw croissants,  sweet breads and pastries as i waited for one of the employees to take a phone order. I wanted to ask about being ticketed on side streets. The three hour time limit didn't leave me much time after the race to get back to the car. I was doing the 5k and that was last at 9 am. The young lady on the counter  reply was so pleasant, she was just awesome. We talked for awhile and she told me she came to town from Wisconsin and had watched the place grow and rents skyrocket. Warning that parking was big business and to be careful.
As i was leaving the shop i felt joyful to meet such a balanced young woman indeed her sunny personality made my day.
With that checked off i headed back to the car where i met four more runners and enjoyed a wonder talk. What started out as a not so great experience turned to a good day.
Early the next morning i set out with mom in tow for the race. Two weeks earlier she was along for the ride to Saftey Harbor. We found a spot no problem i was the first one on the street. We sat and watched as twenty minutes later the spaces were all gone and it was only 5:30.
By seven o'clock i headed to publix to get mom some breakfast, a sub.I had to wait in front for it to open and discovered it was the spot for several running groups to meet up.
I met ladys from a local orlando group and talked tp a nice couple while waiting. After getting my mothers needs taken care  of i went for a walk. I don't know why i decided to knock off two miles before the race but i did.
Finally the wait was over, the national anthem sung and we were off. I didn't exspect the sloped cobblestone streets to be a priblem but they were. They wore down my feet but my pace was good the fiest two miles. I used a lady in blue as a target and that eorked until mile three.  A trio of women who talked the whole way caught amd passed me along with a guy i tjought i left behind. I kept moving though and enjoyed the tranquil side streets i hardly ever get a chance to see. I felt good as I turned into the home stretch when people began their ladt sprint to the line. A couple thanked me for pulling them as the wife battled a problem with her shin splints. The asked if i wanted to sprint wirh them to the finish but these knees wouldn't allow me. I watched them roll on and kept my steady pace.
Thankful to have made it across the finishline i took my medal, checked my time and headed to the car.
This was not my usaul race post but i dedicated it to my mother.I did this for her today, i felt joy she could share this with me. I met a mother and daughters in the park who were running together but i felt like the true winner just having my mom with me. Her heart was to weak for all the walking but she sat patiently in the comfort of the car . It felt wonderful knowing she was there waiting my return. I proudly showed her my medal like a little kid. Even though she had already seen the guys parked behind us carrying huge age group trophies and wearing the larger half medals she was joyful over mine. As we drove home she said she was just happy to be out. That my friends was the best damn feeling EVER.