Transition Zone Sq'd is Winding Down.

120 Walks - 5,000 Photos

Wherever I walk - Greenway Park, Gibbons Park, the Londontown Core, Chelsea Green Park or around McKenzie Lake downtown - I keep track of the numbers.

By the Numbers

I record how far I walk each day, add up the cumulative total for the week, and track my progress through a set of walks. For example on March 23 I walked 4 miles, brought my week's total to 23.5 mi., and completed walk #112 out of 120 in a set called TZ2, i.e., Transition Zone Squared.

Ain't that exciting!! I mean, there's actually a lovely, shimmering blue lake downtown!

In another ten days or so I will set new goals for the spring and summer of 2017. Something like, keep on walking, IT'S GOOD FOR YOU, a set of 140 walks (including some cruisen') called the CRUISN ZONE, or something fancy like that.

Stay tuned and keep on walkn.

Walkn east along The Once Mighty Thames

Please link to Smooth Sailing - Photographs

Photos GH

Smooth Sailing - Photographs

A Birdhouse or Not a Birdhouse?

Not a birdhouse.

Q: And when is a birdhouse not a birdhouse?

A: When it doesn't have an entry hole.

There is a round, black sticker on the four metal birdhouses that adorn Harris Park (including the one above), but they are there for entertainment and some artistic value only.

Example: A chickadee may try to land on the edge of the hole (it has no use for a perch, it is so acrobatic), discover there is no hole after a startling bump, and have a hearty laugh.

"Ha ha. I thought there was a hole but it was only a sticker. What fun. I'll go try the other ones."

 Metal birdhouse is seen at right side of above photo

 Work continues on "Paint The Town Gray" quality senior living accommodation

 Just imagine Freedom 75 "Sunny Days" Reconnaissance III tower.

Bottomless rice pudding, exclusive tunnel access to London Knights' games

I think the metal houses look okay, but six - eight real birdhouses scattered around Harris Park might actually prove to have a higher entertainment and artistic value in the long run.

(Hey, I know somebody who could handle that assignment.)

Please link to Smooth Sailing into Spring 2.

Smooth Sailing into Spring 2.

This Could Be My Breakout Year.

Smooth stride. Strength on hills. Dependable stamina. Decent speed. Positive sense of well-being. Spare time.

Necessary attributes for The GREAT Canadian Comeback are lined up like ducks in a row after 16 months of steady walkn, shuffln (and some joggn).

Stand back. This boy is goin' out for a run. News at 11.

Photos from along the way:

Please link to Smooth Sailing into Spring.

Photos GH

Smooth Sailing into Spring.

Gibbons Park and Beyond.

I regularly walk from Old South to Gibbons Park, turn around after 2 or 2.5 miles, and walk home the way I came. Same is true if I walk to Greenway Park or a destination downtown. And last week, because of biting, battering winds in the face during the first half of my walk, I returned home at a faster pace after the turn around.

This 'deep thot' entered my head during one such walk:

A wind from the east
blows good for neither
man nor beast.
A wind at your back,
from the west, is best.
Especially if your walkn east,
to say the least.

I also felt inclined to remove my gloves and open coats and sweaters on the return trips, and a few times I thought spring was definitely in the air.

 Steps lead to Richmond St. and another of my "turn arounds"

 WALKN takes me to Gibbons, Terry Fox and downtown London.

 Another turn around is located just west of Wonderland Rd.

Please link to Cutting Back, If I Can!

Photos GH

Cutting Back, If I Can!

This is Not a Setback.

Blue eyes under blue skies.

It doesn't happen often, but I took yesterday off, the first weekday off since I don't know when. (Okay, I could check my journal, but that ain't the point).

I didn't take any days off last week from my WALKN routine, covered 31 miles (higher than usual), and saw my ten-week average rise to 28.95 miles. Hey, an extra day off every few weeks won't hurt a bit if I consider a ten-week average of 26.2 miles (marathon distance) a pretty decent goal.... 

And, I do.

So, if I cover 'only' 25 miles this week, that should be fine. 

Photos from along the way:

Photo by D. Cooper. (I hope he brings me a sample).

Q: How much luck will I have talking myself into reducing my weekly mileage?

A: We shall see what we shall see.

Please link to Big Breakthrough CRUISEN!

Photos GH

Big Breakthrough CRUISEN!

It Doesn't Happen Often.

I must be on the right track.

Everything worked like a well-oiled machine.

Monday, March 6. Initially, just another pretty typical day for me. Coffee and computer time in the morning, a light lunch at noon followed by a change of clothes to get ready for an afternoon walk.

Because the temperature was mild and there was no wind, I dressed in my 'cruisen outfit', i.e., running T-shirts, pants and shoes. After two blocks of brisk walkn I started shuffln/joggn/cruisen.... and just kept on going.

My legs felt good, my breathing was steady, and easy.... and I just kept on going with only 3 or 4 walkn breaks over 4 and a half miles. Everything worked - like a well-oiled machine.

"Where did that come from?" I asked myself when I got home.

Maybe from the 1439 miles I covered in 2016, and the fact I'm ahead of that pace - average-mileage-wise -so far this year.

Oh. This just in. While cruisen on the Terry Fox Pathway I actually passed another runner. And that hasn't happened since 2005 during my fastest half-marathon.

As I jogged by I said, "Earlier start this year, eh (due to the mild weather)?"

He only grunted back. He was panting like an old dog.

I couldn't believe it. I said to myself, There's somebody out here in worse shape than me.

This could be another banner, breakthrough year.

Photos from along the way:

Please link to First Funny Week in March.

Photos GH

First Funny Week in March.

March, March, March.... in Layers

WALKN keeps me warm. But, how many layers today?

I ain't laughin'.

I don't lack for motivation or good shoes or pleasant (often funny) companionship while WALKN around Old Londontown. It's the wonky and confusing weather that stops me cold at the front door. 

"Do I wear Bermuda shorts, long-johns, two layers or three today? Maybe four?"

Give me a typically cold month of December or January anytime. I can easily dress for that. Nuff said.

Photos from along the way:

By the Numbers:

Always wear a funky hat.

I finished last week with 27 miles and took Saturday off.

My goal is to walk one marathon (26.2 miles) per week, so, thumbs up for my first entries related to March.

My ten-week average now stands at 28.50 miles, so it appears I'm not having trouble hitting my weekly target.

52 weeks x 26.2 miles = 1362.4 miles. That's a lot of miles and I'm a bit ahead of schedule.

Conclusion:

Not bad for a geezer!

Geezer in four light-ish layers.

Please link to Flexi-Weather is the Order of the Day.

Photos GH

Flexi-Weather is the Order of the Day.

Be Ready For Anything.

I prefer Walkn over Swimn.

I don't mind walking in snow. It's the "Bermuda shorts one week, long-johns the next" that I don't like.

More Photos From Along The Way:

Morse Codes says: "Don't let warm weather fool you. Stop. Winter is coming."

Please link to CRUISEN into Spring.

Photos GH