The young whippersnappers at WordPress have come up with a brainstorm. They’re all going to run or walk 5 kilometers on April 10. Not all in the same place, but wherever they happen to be, all around the world. They’ve invited all the WordPress bloggers to do the same.
Miss Sadie, the Cowboy and I are in training. We do not wish to disgrace ourselves. We have had a slothful winter, and we are . . . voluptuous. We are determined to become svelte.
Thus the First Annual Torch Lake Views 5k with Miss Sadie and the Cowboy. There are many good routes to choose from. We could walk from here to Chris and Sonny’s and back again. We could walk to Barnes Park and back again. We could walk to beautiful downtown Eastport and back again. I’m giving it some thought. I’ll let you know. I’ll draw you a map. I wonder if there’s time to order t-shirts. And treats. There must be excellent treats. We have to keep our strength up.
You can come too. In fact, it wouldn’t be nearly as much fun without you. Stay tuned—map forthcoming. Save the date: April 10.
Torch Lake Views 
Sybil
March 29, 2011
OK. 5 km eh ? I better start training right away. 😉
Gerry
March 30, 2011
I’m guessing you can probably do that before breakfast. We can do it, but then we are tired. Time to change that.
kiwidutch
March 30, 2011
Good on you Gerry!
I signed up Himself in my place and told him about it afterwards LOL.
Of course I knew it wouldn’t be a problem, First he laughed, said ” no Problem” and then his only question was “Can I also run more than 5 km?”
At least he doesn’t have to train in deep snow like you do!
Bravo for taking on the challenge, I will be watching for your training progress and results (photographic or otherwise) on the big day.
Gerry
March 30, 2011
I know, I know, 5k is nothing at all for the runners who fly past as we make our rounds. It is nothing at all for Miss Sadie and the Cowboy. But days when I walk that far are marked down as good days. I need to have more good days.
Giiid
March 30, 2011
Thank you for the information, Gerry, this it is a fun idea. I´ll find a route here, that leads to treats of some kind, now that I unfortunately can´t join your walking-party.
Gerry
March 30, 2011
I figure we can walk together virtually. I am counting on you for treats.
Dawn
March 30, 2011
Excellent challenge! I’ve been thinking about starting to train again. A 5K by April 10? Well…I could probably do that…
Gerry
March 30, 2011
I’m thinking that you’re another one of the people who can do 5k before breakfast. I . . . must have breakfast first.
P.j. grath
March 30, 2011
Being challenged by the metric scale, I must look up the distance in miles before committing. Miss Sadie doesn’t look like she’ll have any trouble, though. One can certainly see that.
Gerry
March 30, 2011
Ah. I should have put that in. It’s only 3.1 miles. Even I can walk that. Miss Sadie can run 5k out and back while I’m putting my YakTrax on.
Fee
March 30, 2011
Thanks to the wonders of Google earth, I now know my walk to work is 3.3k, thankfully all of it downhill. So, I’ll think of you and the Duo on the Monday and Tuesday following that day as I stroll along my route (I should add, I walk this after a hearty breakfast and get the bus home because the route back is all uphill, and steep hills at that!). I think the Duo should at the very least have decorated bandanas for the day.
Gerry
March 30, 2011
The decorated bandanas are a great idea! Thank you. I am curious whether you walk the 3.3k in those high-heeled boots? Wuff! Anyway, I think we can put you down for doing the 5k over two days. That’ll work. (Unless you plan to forego the return bus one day? No, thought not. I wouldn’t.)
Fee
March 30, 2011
I used to do it in high heels, then I realised how often the little metal bit at the base of the stilletto wore out, so now I wear my trainers (sneakers, I suppose) and carry the heels in a bag. Those little metal bits are £7 a pair to replace! As for the journey home, one of the hills on my route should carry a health warning, but the bus manages it with considerably less effort!
Scott Thomas Photography
March 30, 2011
Walking I can do. I have just the place for it and have started my training even if it’s still sub-zero windchill out there.
Gerry
March 30, 2011
There you go. I figure if we just keep walking I won’t blow out my knees. I figure if I run I’ll get distracted and trip and it won’t be pretty.
Anna
March 30, 2011
My, your are adventurous. I haven’t thought about walking anything of a k (3 or 5) whatsoever. Yeah, I know about blowing out the knees. All the best with this in training and when you do the walk. 🙂
Gerry
March 30, 2011
Anna, you can do this. You can do it in little bites. Just do a half mile a day from the 4th through the 10th. You have to do that with Moppet anyway, right? But you are also excused on account of plenty else on your plate just now.
Heather
March 30, 2011
Sign me up! I need an excuse to get back out there. Hopefully the roads will be less squishy by then.
Gerry
March 30, 2011
We will walk on non-squishy routes. Watch this space!
Robin
March 30, 2011
I signed up too. I’m looking forward to it as I, too, have grown voluptuous over the winter months.
Gerry
March 31, 2011
It’s good to have company in these undertakings.
La Mirada Bob
March 30, 2011
OK, you have me convinced. Six times around the block will do it, and I can use the Nike+ running gadget to record that momentous occasion. I will not take Amore with me so I won’t have any interruptions.
Gerry
March 31, 2011
Don’t forget to take pictures. 🙂
Karma
March 31, 2011
Are we supposed to tell the WordPress Whippersnappers that we plan to do this or just surprise ’em with a tag when we post? I hope the weather is nice on the 10th!
Gerry
April 1, 2011
Here is the link to the Whippersnappers: http://en.blog.wordpress.com/2011/03/29/automattic%e2%80%99s-worldwide-wp-5k/
The way I read it, all you need to do is put the WWWP5k tag on the post(s) in question. And you can do the 5k anytime April 4-10. (Um, let me know if I’ve overlooked anything, OK?)