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Is it weird that the common theme of my workouts over the past month has been….retirement communities? I ran (OKAY, I walked) my first 5K yesterday. It was the annual Town Square 5K — organized every year by Pleasant View Retirement Community, adorable little village with apartments, town homes, cottages, and assisted living.
The 5K left the village, meandered across some beautiful countryside (with some major hills!) and returned to the village center. Of the 100-odd runners, only a handful were actually of retirement age, and the ones that WERE certainly didn’t look it. The guy who placed first in the 60-69 age group looked like he was 45 years old! The proceeds from registrations fees support residents who are unable to continue paying for their care, so it’s a great cause.
SO, I’ve been training by doing 5K (and/or 45 minute) walks a couple of times a week, usually with Bailey. Our preferred spot? Brethren Village Retirement Community, of course!
Right across the main road from our neighborhood, it’s a great change of scenery, with mature trees, beautiful flower beds, and fewer cars. Every time we’re over there, we meet at least one friendly older couple who seem to take in stride the fact that Bailey towers over ALL the other dogs that reside there (the men do call him “Big Fella”, though, without fail). I’m always especially proud of his total indifference to the little yappy dogs that bark their heads off when they see us, while trying to drag their owners – usually 80-pound elderly women – over to see us.
Sometimes the boys walk with us, and they’ve been teasing me – saying that Bailey and I are “under surveillance” – by the small security force (two guys, as far as I can tell) that patrol the community. We almost always see one of the them – out patrolling via bike, and we make a point of being very friendly.
What’s your favorite place to run, walk, or bike?
squirrel circus 
Being out in the country Lola & I have so many great spots to go for adventures but of course w/a plus size dog who loves to pull it’s hard doing leash walks. She’s got strong herding instincts so if I’m not getting yanked, I’m getting a Berner nose up my butt to get a move on. That’s why I love this huge conservation area where she can go off leash & run, sniff & find lots of muck. Have to laugh though about the little yippers – one time a really tough guy came up in Lola’s face & she did a “hello” bark. Not so tough guy pooped himself, right there on the path.
Nice! Way to intimidate, Lola!
Yes, and sometimes because of her size she makes their people poop their pants 🙂
We live in downtown Salem so with us, rather than old people, it’s always some tourist trying to make a statement (witch hats, zombie makeup, endless teenagers who think they are unique in their goth attire but who look like every other teenager that visits Salem).
Interesting point of view. We live in a tourist trap, too! Visitors here don’t dress like the Amish, but they go bananas when they see some — and you’re totally not supposed to take pictures of them!
In paragraph two, I read it as “the 100 year-old runners” and I thought, “Wow….she really IS hanging out with some oldies….”. HA! It doesn’t say “old.” It says “odd.”
If there HAD been a 100-year-old runner, they would probably have passed me, too!