Detailing My Morning Walking Route: Just in Case

It was 27° with a sporadic and brisk wind as I did my morning walk today. My Monday-thru-Friday circuit takes me an hour and fifty minutes to complete and does me a world of physical and psychological good. I try to do this walk five days a week, but sometimes circumstances lower that to three completions.?

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If you know me well at all then you’re aware I collect quotes – love ‘em! One of my favorites comes from the never-to-be-equaled baseball pitcher, Mr. Leroy Robert “Satchel” Paige, and goes like this: “How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you was?” I’ve offered the quote in dialogue hundreds of times, and it’s framed & credited on my office wall as well.??

I think it’s good to strive for, and exhibit behavior, attitude, health, etc. that matches who you are and not necessarily what’s expected of a person – usually lowered expectations – when the amount of time you’ve been on Earth makes you go gray. Integrating “How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you was?” into your personal life-philosophy frees you to be your best, at least it does IMHO. When I walk hard I’m no longer grounded by the nearest mirror, and my friends, “The Endorphins,” pay me a visit and invite me to be whatever age I wish. . . .?

But at some point in each day I have to deal with the fact that my birth certificate says I’m 66, and for good or no that brings me back to ground.?

I was thinking as I walked this morning that no one knows my route. That’s probably not a good thing. I am one of God’s creatures and, like all the rest, less than invincible and quite subject to stuff happening: getting struck by a meteorite, run over by a wayward bus, waylaid by bandits, attacked by Bigfoot (goes without saying) or wolverines (hey, it IS cold weather).?

Seriously, though, my late father had experienced multiple strokes by my age; my mother had at least one TIA and two knee replacements before she was as old as me; I have a little brother who has already had a knee replacement. Stuff gives out; parts wear out; use it or lose it applies, big-time.?

I’m in good shape and I want to stay that way, so I think detailing my Monday-to-Friday route is a smart preventive measure. Documenting it here on LinkedIn is as good a place as any, plus I want to see what it looks like in print anyway.

(All this in Overland Park, KS)

• Out my back door at 5:00 a.m.?
• Walk through the backyard (we live on a double-lot with no rear fencing) down to Grandview Ave. then left.?
• Take Grandview Ave to Elmhurst Dr. and go right.
• Elmhurst Dr. to England St. and go left.
• Turn right off England St. and access 87th St.
• Take 87th west to Farley St.
• Turn right on Farley St. (north) and go down to 85th St.
• Turn left on 85th St. (Family Tree Nursery is on that corner).
• Go west on 85th down to Maple Hills Park.?
• Enter Maple Hills Park and do two complete laps.
• Exit (through the grass) Maple Hills Park and take the Switzer Rd. sidewalk (headed north) clear down to Lenexa Dr.?
• Turn completely around at Lenexa Dr. and head back to Maple Hills Park.
• Enter Maple Hills Park from the Switzer Rd. sidewalk (cut through the grass).
• Do one complete lap around Maple Hills Park (stop and pet the long-haired yellow trail cat if he/she shows up) then exit (through the grass) the park for the Switzer Rd. sidewalk again.?
• Take a 2nd trip down the Switzer Rd. sidewalk clear down to Lenexa Dr. (smile if the owls who frequent this location are hooting).?
• Turn completely around at the Switzer Rd. stop sign for Lenexa Dr. and head back towards Maple Hills Park.?
• Enter Maple Hills Park (cut across the grass, again, and stop to pet the trial cat if he/she is still there) and do one complete lap around the park.?
• Exit the park using the sidewalk parallel to 85th St. and head east towards Family Tree Nursery.??
• Turn left at the nursery (north) and proceed down Farley st.
• Take Farley St. to where it turns left and becomes 83rd St.
• Take 83rd St. to Mastin Dr. and turn left (north).?
• Take Mastin Dr. until the rear (west side) of Comanche Elementary School’s rear circle turnaround drive is in sight.
• Take the rear access (paved trail) to Sapling Grove Park and turn right onto the paved trail that runs through the park and eventually heads east.?
• Exit Sapling Grove Park and go left uphill on Grant St. (south).
• Turn left off Grant St. onto sidewalk parallel to 87th St. (heading east; right at K & K Flyfishers) and begin cool-down phase of walk).
• Take 87th St. to England St. and turn left.
• Quick right turn off England St. onto? Elmhurst Dr. follows.
• Go left off Elmhurst Dr. on Grandview Ave. and take that to my rear driveway cut-out and to the back door of my house.?

Total time is all has gone well: one hour and fifty minutes. (And yes, I know there’s probably an app to keep track of the when & where of all this, but that’s just a step too Orwellian for me.)?

Again, I thought it wise to get this in print somewhere in the event that I “fail to show” after I should have returned from a morning walk. “An ounce of prevention,” they say.?

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On the weekends I try to head more to nature for my walks. Lately I’ve been partial to the Gary Haller Trail heading south from the access point near the archery range at Shawnee Mission Lake. I take that trail on past Mill Creek Park and on down to Craig Crossing where I do some laps around the marsh or head south on the trail, depending on time and foot/bike traffic. Then, obviously, return the opposite way.

All of the above is in Lenexa, KS. That circuit runs a full two hours. If you are out that way and recognize me – and are heading the same way – feel free to join me and chat as we walk..

I’ll leave it here. I’ve gone on longer than intended. Smiles, praise, and respect to those with similar interests!??

–George