I could write reams about all the rain we’ve endured the past two months. We’ve had rain nearly every weekend since mid-April. That’s not counting the weekdays – there’s been plenty of rain then as well! Even our Memorial Day holiday was spoiled by showers on Saturday, but we also dealt with that stinkin’ hot, 90-plus degree weather. Overall, this Spring has been quite forgettable and not my cup of tea at all.
Yesterday, Mother Nature once again spoiled my plans by throwing some rain and storms into the Saturday mix. I had planned on participating in a 5K race/walk, but, when I was ready to leave the house, it was raining, and an all-day rain and some storms were predicted, so I backed out. Likewise, I was looking forward to a vintage vehicle event, a gathering of Model A cars, and that event got scratched late Friday due to the impending soggy Saturday weather. Enough already with the rain!
This morning I left the house at 7:10 a.m., and one glance at the sky told me those dark and brooding clouds likely would spell doom for today’s 5K race/walk slated for 8:00 a.m. at historical Heritage Park. I was proven wrong, because luckily the rain held off during the race (yay), but once the after-race/walk festivities were finished, the rain began in earnest. Great … the weather folks predicted NO rain until late today. “Wrong again” I sneered as I walked quickly to the car, thinking of the few errands that would take me in/out of the rain before I finally got home.
As I mentioned above, I participated in Fish & Loaves 9th Annual Happy Soles 5K Run/Walk held today at historical Heritage Park in Taylor, Michigan, along with 225 other runners and walkers. The trek is considered a certified “flat and fast course” which began at this Park’s open-air pavilion, and took participants outside the Park, through several neighborhoods, then through a lovely wooded area, and ended up at our starting point.
The event raised money for the Fish & Loaves Community Food Pantry, a faith-based, non-profit, volunteer-operated organization based in the city of Taylor, Michigan, which assists in giving food and adequate nutrition to Taylor residents, as well as those in need in six surrounding cities.
After we picked up our race packets and donned our tee-shirts and bib numbers, we assembled for the start of the race as the speakers blasted a song called “All About That Pace” which was a parody of Meghan Trainor’s “All About That Bass” song that was popular a few years ago. We were all straining at the bit to start, especially the runner named “Captain America” who was front and center, and, likely a wee bit chilly in the overcast and sunless sky and 62-degree temps.
We were informed of the race route and water stations, a woman sang the national anthem, and we were off at 8:03 a.m.
I was not trying to set any records here, just enjoying the walk and I had my camera handy to capture some of the sights along the way for this blog post.
The runners were already way ahead of the contingent of walkers as we first trekked along a busy street, then the route took us through a few nice neighborhoods, where several dogs were going just a little crazy at the large crowd that passed by their turf. Much barking ensued as owners, still in bathrobes, came out to retrieve their pooches and shoo them back into the house until the hubbub died down.
In one neighborhood, we were alerted that we had just crossed the mile #1 mark.
Soon we were out of the residential area and headed toward the walking trail at Heritage Park, a path I’ve been on several times before. This was our mile #2 marker.
But, instead of following the tried-and-true pathway, orange cones steered us off the beaten trail and into a wooded area.
I’ve seen the trail leading into this woodsy portion of Heritage Park before, but never ventured there myself, and I doubt I would go alone when I return next time due to its dense wooded area. Here are some photos from this delightful part of the route. I was intrigued by the huge trees that had fallen in this forest or were damaged somehow, and, combined with the tall trees, they gave a nice ambiance to this woodsy setting.
We hiked quite a piece along this trail, still a little muddy in places from Saturday’s rainfall, but enjoying occasional glimpses of sunshine, when suddenly we heard loud music as we approached our first refreshment station. One walker exclaimed “civilization!” after hearing the music.
We had volunteers cheering us on as we were now ready to head down the home stretch, having passed the railroad car and walked the perimeter of beautiful Coan Lake.
Here we would find ourselves at mile marker #3.
For the last leg of our journey, we ended up where we began, at the Sheridan Open Air Pavilion where we would cross the finish line.
Our time was registered here from the computer chip in our bib number. I snapped a photo of the time as I approached the finish line, meaning I did my 5K in exactly one hour. The first 300 people to finish the race received a medal which I featured at the top of this blog post.
As I mentioned above, I was at the 5K more for the enjoyment and picture-taking, as well as adding some more miles to my yearly tally, and the food pantry is a very good cause. So my stats were not stellar at all. I had some errands and my pedometer was right around the five-mile mark by the time I got home today.
All in all, a good day despite that pesky rain, and I’m a happy soul from the Happy Soles 5K Run/Walk.
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
That sounds like a fabulous walk! I used to run in competitive races (long ago) and enjoy the walks so much more. Send any extra rain to us, please.
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It was very nice Janis and I kind of poked along so I could take some photos for the blog. I would have liked to linger in that forest-type area longer because it was very nice there. I have never been a runner and admire those who have the stamina to do so – there were award for different age groups and there were several 70+ women running and did very well in their stats … I think one woman in her 80s ran as well. I couldn’t hear as her family gave a big cheer when her name was read, but I think they said 80s. I want to be “that girl” when I’m that age. I would love to send you some rain – I am very frustrated with it. I had a 5K slated for last Sunday as well and it rained.
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Congratulations Miss Linda……………………….you done real good 5 miles in one hour hooray for you………………..you were fast walking!………………………..that is nice too that the money went for a good cause…………………………..You Go Girl!
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Thanks Ann Marie – That is a very good cause and I thought it was just feeding the hungry in Taylor; I didn’t realize there were six other cities included. That little jaunt into the woody area was so nice and I really enjoyed it!
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I enjoyed all those photos of the backs of participants.
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Ha ha – there were a lot of them too because 226 people registered for the walk and it was a sea of powder-blue shirts on the route. Glad you enjoyed the photos of the event Anne.
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There is no one about to take photos of our backs when we walk. It was cool, but humid, this morning. I was uncomfortably warm when we got home. Sitting by an open door has now cured me.
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No, mine either. It was cool this morning as you read in today’s post, BUT … we are having a return of the muggies and 90-degree temps the end of the week. Not looking forward to that … and, just as you said, might as well have skipped Spring. It was downright chilly yesterday and today when I went out. It did warm up very gradually. I have to get out and check the A/C once I turn it back on from the cottonwood.
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Wonderful nature, look like same that we have here. We can share, you can give us some rain so can we give you sun.😁 But we want the rain in the night, not daytime.😁
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Yes, I loved that little trip into the woods … I had seen that trail when I walked before and it was very nice but a little deserted if no one else is there. I never see other walkers veer off the trail when I am there walking on the weekends … they all stay on the asphalt walking path like me. So I kept stopping and enjoying it and exploring a bit while other people were around. I’d be glad to share the rain with you John. 🙂 I wouldn’t even care if it rained at night – it is this constant rain in the morning and these storms or threats of storms. I looked at the weather for next weekend and beyond on the online Weather Channel … if they are correct, something like six days of rain in a row, mostly in the a.m.!!
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Today I think we will have rain. It’s only about 64°F and blowing and is cloudy. I have been eating and cycling over ten kilometers (7 miles) so I will stay indoors for the rest of the day. I have hot in my apartment, but I live in a corner so I have open the windows in two sides, the door out to my garden, the toilet and the kitchen windows. I wont open the bedroom window, then it sure will be a hurricane inside here!😁😁😁
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We had gusty weather too today and around 60 when I left on my walk – similar weather for a change! Those winds brought all the cottonwood flying around – do you have cottonwood trees over in Sweden John? These are a pain and it looked like it was snowing for a time, with the white flying around.
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No not cottonwood trees, but there are another tree or bushes who make the ground full with “cotton” in some places, but it’s in the nature.
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Good work indeed linda!
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Thanks Michael – I had so counted on the entire weekend of 5Ks so had to make the best of this one. It was an enjoyable experience … now looking to find another one since the Summer is young (hard to tell with our weather … it is quite chilly this morning but no rain thankfully).
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Definitely seems to be a lot wetter this year doesn’t it
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This Spring has been horrible and now we are getting the 90s back the end of the week. We have had few nice and balmy days like you have in Spring – it has either rained, been chilly or horribly hot.
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It’s been insanely pleasant here it rain for the first time in weeks yesterday which is most unusual
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I hope our weather follows suit quickly – we are having more rain tonight, maybe tomorrow as well, before our next heat wave.
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We finally got rain! It was so dry for the longest time! Thank goodness! 🙂
My arthritic knee couldn’t do those kinds of walks anymore!
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Tom – Glad you finally got rain in your neck of the woods. I see no rain for the five days according to the weatherman … hope he is right, but rain messed up my 5K Saturday and the one for a week ago Sunday as well. This 5K walk was fun though, but I kept eyeing the sky. How about a wrap on your knee? Those one-time only, heat-penetrating wraps. My mom used those sometimes, and they helped a little til the warmth wore off.
Along with her other orthopedic issues, sciatica was a real problem and the portable heat wraps at least conform better to the hip/thigh region. They had awards for the runners for their time and there were three women in their 70s with great times … something to aspire for if you are a runner. I’ve never done any running – it is extremely hard on your joints/bones … your body takes a pounding every time your foot strikes the pavement/grass, etc.
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Must’ve been a fun-though-muggy experience! I’m tired just from reading about it. 😀 Hope your weather’s better now. I’m a week behind in reading posts and must catch up! My bf is visiting me from Sudbury, but is busy on his own computer now so am taking the op to read/reply/like etc. on posts. 🙂
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Hi Ellie – it was a little buggy and muggy and it rained at the tail end. I am fitful with this rain .. I walked today but much later as storms were predicted this morning, so I didn’t leave right away. I enjoyed the 5K but missed two other ones (one which was $37.50 and it rained and not rescheduled and the other was free with just buying a tee-shirt), so I was bummed out about it. Most of the races are in the beginning of the Summer before the kids are out of school and people start going away for Summer vacation, etc. I thought your boyfriend was not arriving until September but that might be when he is here permanently.
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John’s here for a 9-day visit. (To stay in Sept.). Big party tonight, friend’s retirement after 22 years same place, plus his 65th birthday! Xox
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Have fun – those are both big doin’s. Safe travels back to Sudbury too.
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Party fun! Thanks from John!
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We won’t see you for days!
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Correct! 😂😂😂
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That is awesome! Congratulations on the medal!
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Thanks Diane! I was supposed to walk this past Saturday in a 5K for a walk to cure arthritis sponsored by the Arthritis Foundation but it poured raining and stormed so I did not go. Third 5K this year that I missed due to bad weather. Hopefully next Summer I fare better.
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It’s been a really rainy season for you!
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I hope it is over soon – we have rain/storms and severe weather on Wednesday – I’d like to fast forward to Thursday a.m.
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