not fancy

Sure wish I knew how to do all those fancy things the other bloggers do. Things like:

* Hiding a link behind a word
Check out a great post about hot weather training by Leanne..the walker "HERE"

rather than

Check out a great post about hot weather training by Leanne.. the walker at http://www.leannethewalker.com/2010/06/goodness-its-hot.html

(seriously, check it out! I'll be using these tips this weekend)

* tiny url's - so cute and little

* Changing the plain pink outside part of my blog into something with more character

Goodbye 22, Hellooooooooooo 21

Another week of training has passed - whew! This weekend rather than walking in the nice "June gloom" of the So Cal morning, I'll be in the AZ heat. Wish me luck =)

How 'bout some updates on week 22?

Training: 17.5 miles walked + 30 mins cross training

Fundraising: $1,610 total



Training
Already posted about my 5 mile on Saturday, during and after which, I felt great.
For the Sunday 3 mile I woke up my (nearly) 13 year old son and had him come with me.
It's good for him, and gave us some mother/son time =) Later that evening my neighbor invited me on a quick walk before dinner. Early into the 2.5 mile jaunt, my shins started revolting... I hate when that happens :(

Monday I took the suggested rest day, and did my 3 miles this morning. Rough walk.
I don't know why. My shins gave me a little trouble, I wasn't out of breath, but it was rough. I know that I sighed audibly on multiple occasions. The second half was mostly up-hill and I actually felt better at that point. Maybe it was the water I drank, maybe it was knowing I was heading home. I don't know. Blech.

Fundraising
Ain't nuthin' goin' on. Sigh. A few days ago I did sign up for an Insider Pages fundraisier, so we'll see when that gets started. I'm also thinking of starting a
Finding a Cure takes Change challenge (not sure about the name). Basically I'll ask people to save their change for one month and donate the entire jar-full to my 3Day fund.


Looking ahead, this week is going to be challenging. We're doing some travlling. I think I'll move my Friday cross-training to Wednesday, and just suck it up and walk in the AZ heat... along roads that are completely void of shade and changes in elevation. Go me!....?

I did it!

At 7am this morning I took off for my first 5 mile training walk. My neighbor came with me - she signed up for the walk last week =)

The route started at my house and made a big, well, rectangle. It was nice having someone to chat with while walking, and it made the time (and miles) go by super fast! We were feeling good, so we didn't stop at the 3.5 mile pit-stop (Bagels & Brew). I did make sure we stopped to get some nice stretching in.

When I got home, I still had water left in my 22 oz bottle, but was feeling fine. I finished it off, then polished off 20 oz of Pure Fitness by Crystal Light. Since then I've also had 20 oz of water and 20 oz of CL lemonade. Another 20 oz of water is right here calling my name =)

Things I would change for the next 5 mile(+) walk:
*Drink more during the walk.
*Put New-Skin between the balls of my left foot (got a hot spot right at the end)


Yay!

To each his own..

Got up at 6am this morning so I could get my 4 miles in before hubby had to leave for work. Since he was concerned about my being out and about alone that early in the morning, I had mapped out a route that stuck super close to home. It was a double ring/loop thing that I walked 3 times.

During my walk I felt frustrated. Don't know if it was the route or me. It seemed to be taking too long to finish. I ran into two people that I know which slowed me down.

I did have one bright spot in my morning. Keep in mind that my entire walk was done in a residential area... not along a business route. I was about half-way done, when I saw a man. A handsome, well-built man. Carrying a lily white naked mannequin. With a bag over her head. Sweet! Wish I had had the nerve to ask him for a picture =)

Let's go Week 22!

Yes, 22 is upon me. The training schedule for this week includes my first ever 5 mile training walk. Go feet, go! This week will also hold a different type of challenge for me... the kids are done with school Tues/Wednesday. This is going to severely mess with my already established training routine. Blech, change.

As I wave goodbye to week 23, it's time to tie up a few loose ends..

Training total (week) - 13.3 miles
Fundraising total - $1,560 (although we did make some money this weekend, to be distributed as needed closer to the event)

Training On Sunday my family and I went to the city in which hubby and I grew up. My parents still live there, in the same house. For the past year and a half my mom has been working very hard on improving her health. As part of her efforts she walks 5 days a week. On Sunday she participated in her second ever 5K event. When she asked if I would walk with her, of course I said yes!

It was a hot morning, no June gloom on this day =( The 3.1 mile route was flat, totally and completely flat. My mom did an amazing job and wond 3rd place in her age group. We walked the entire time, and I forced her to drink some of my water. Well, no one can really force my mom to do anything, but I kept pestering her about it until she gave in :) We finished the course in 58 minutes and some-odd seconds. She was struggling at the end (there wasn't much shade), but she did great! I was very proud of her (did I mention she's 74 years old?).

As for me, I was surprised at the ease with which I was walking. I paced myself with my mom, but it felt unnaturally slow. I was chatting away the entire time (I told my mom I was using the incessant chatter as method of distracting her from the heat). Our finishing time surprised me - it was slightly less than a 20 minute mile. It seems that the hilly routes I walk really do make a difference in my walk times. Just the day before I had been disheartened at my seemingly slow pace, but I had tackled some pretty good hills. After this easy flat walk, I no longer feel like beating myself up for being a slow-poke :)

Fundraising
I've started writing about this about 3 times already... sigh. I'll go for a short version now... WalMart cheated us by having TWO other charities there on the same day. They were inside the store and we had to sit outside by the exit. People were annoyed by the time they got to us, or had already given their spare change. Once Becky's daughter and my daughter showed up (they're both 8 and wanted to be there helping) they went to the entrance with an extra donation bucket. They were just too darn cute, and did really well! All told, we made $426.90 between 10am and 3pm. Becky and I are thrilled! We'll do another, but really feel as if we would have done better without the other two charities there. Someday this week I'll have to give the manager a call and figure out what that was about.

Whew!

At 7am this morning I took to the streets for my (first!) 4 mile training walk. Along the way I learned a few things:




* Three kinds of people are out at 7am on a Saturday morning...
1) Serious exercisers, ie: cyclists (wearing their team logo/sponsor tighties) and runners
2) the wandering elderly
3) me

* I can drink from a water bottle and walk at the same time

* A "you can do it" really helps when you are looking at your last mile... and it's all up-hill

* It's tough to get proper nutrition before an early morning walk.

* Hydrating the night before really helps (I made it the whole way without having to use the restroom - and I drank all during my walk)

* I'm going to need some company when the walks get longer. Too much time alone inside my head makes me nervous

* My 3 mile/hr pace is too slow and it's tough to remember to make a conscious effort to increase my speed.


After a shower and some breakfast I was off to my canning fundraiser in front of Walmart. I'm happy with how it turned out, but I think it could have been better.
More on that another time, though.

So now I'm home, after many hours outside. I'm pooped! Hydrating is #1 on my list right now. After the walk and the heat I really need it. Plus, tomorrow morning for my 3 miler I am going to be participating in a 5K with my Mom =) I am seriously afraid she is going to leave me in the dust. Wish me luck!

shoe/foot update

Catchy title, eh? I'm not feeling very creative today.

Wednesday I went back to RoadRunner Sports and turned in my wonderfully cushy Asics.
Darn left foot! The lady who helped me didn't offer any suggestions as to why those fantabulous shoes would do such a strange thing to just one of my feet. Oh well. I ended up with Brooks Glycerine. She said she's never had anyone bring them back to exchange them. Ok.

So I walked in my new shoes yesterday. I did still experience a little bit of pain in that left foot. The left is also where I've developed heel pain. The heel pain does not seem to be getting worse - I am stretching and icing it multiple times daily. But I'm wondering if that pain is effecting other parts of my foot? Have I mentioned the heel pain before? Morning heel pain - yup. I finally realized it about a week ago, after it happened about 5 days in a row... duh. The morning pain is all but gone now, but I do feel the pain once in a while during the day. yay. I'm thinking I started treating it early enough for it to not get too bad... hopefully.
Sigh.

Anyone know a pro-bono podiatrist? ;)

Week 23 begins

Peek at week 23
The training schedule calls for three 3 mile walks, and one 4 mile walk, plus 30 minutes of cross training. One of my 3 mile walks will be done on Sunday when I participate in a 5K with my mom :)

Update: week 24
Training - 12.7 miles walked, 30 mins cross training
Fundraising - $1,560 raised to date

On Saturday Becky and I woke up early and traveled to SD for the official Kick-off Walk. It was held at a local New Balance store. The 3.5 mile walk was along the beach, and the weather was overcast... perfect for walking! My guess is that there were about 50 people at the second walk (there was no way we were getting there before 7am for the first walk!). The crowd was a mix of first timers and veterans, survivors and supporters. Our traveling blob attracted the attention of passers by, netting quite a few honks and "wooohooo"s. A new balance staffer presented a little clinic on how to dress for the 3Day. I should have asked my underwear question!

My Sunday walk was not good. I did it, but I didn't feel good doing it. My shins started hurting almost right away. A short way into the walk I realized I was going to wrong way and had to turn around (it was too late to get an accidental 4 miler in. Hubby would have been mad when it got dark and I wasn't home yet.) That stinking left foot pain showed up, but it came and went a few times, rather than just once like it used to do. Got that right lower outer leg pain, too. Haven't had that in a while. Blech. As tempted as I was to just go home, I continued on and made my 3 miles.

At what point does pushing through the little pains turn to pushing on and doing more damage?

X training

Today was the first day of cross training as dictated by the 24 week training schedule. I decided to do a cardio workout using my Wii Personal Trainer 'game'.
Since the workout was supposed to be easy, I choose to not use the weights or the step. (In the two workouts I've done with this previously - months ago- I used the step and it kicked my butt!)

My 8 year old daughter woke up 10 minutes into my workout and she joined me. Cute!

The best part, to me, is that mapmywalk.com (yay!) allows you to track all types of exercise... not just walks/runs. My training log now has a nifty picture of a person lifting weights on the spot for today. Too cool : )

Obsess, much?

Today is the 4th day of the first week of training. According to the 24 week training schedule this means that a 3 mile easy walk is in order. Nice.



I had volunteered to go on my daughter's field trip for this morning partially because it entailed some walking. Our walk to the local grocery store was .82 miles each way... ummmm... approximately ; ) <3 mapmywalks.com <3 My plan was to go on the field trip and just continue walking another 1.5 miles once the kiddies were back at school. I even mapped it out. You're shocked, right? <3 mapmywalks.com <3

Before I continue, I must digress. I will admit that I am not in the best shape ever. ...ahem... But I was shocked at the number of 8 year old kids who were complaining and struggling with the walk to the store. Shocked and saddened. My kids are kept busy, mostly with soccer. Okay, the 1 winter month and 2 summer months when there isn't any soccer it does get tough to keep them from sitting on their butts all day. I'm not saying we are the perfectly fit family, but seriously, struggling to walk less than one mile.... at age 8???? Sigh..

Back to my obsession... All through the morning a little voice inside my head kept reminding me of the extra 1.5 miles that I needed to walk. Must. Get. To. Three. Miles. It's on the schedule. Has to be done.

Well the teacher asked me to stay for a bit. Good reason why, but not going to go into it now. So I stayed. Finally it's just about noon, and I head on out. I'm trying to decide when I'm going to walk, because now it's noon and I'm hungry. And the sun came out. And I'm hungry. You still need another 1.5 miles... Shhhhhhhhhhhh!

Who IS this voice and what did she do with the Relax, you can do it tomorrow voice??

My husband called and asked if I wanted to meet him for lunch. Heck yeah! I drove down to where he was working and he said he would be there in a few minutes. At first I went inside to wait, but I was too antsy. Instead I walked. Yup. Walked around the shopping center. My voice was happy. My legs were happy. So I walked around again. Aaahhhhh this feels good.
I walked for 30 minutes. It ended up equaling, you guessed it, 1.5 miles!

Finally my husband showed up and we went in and ate. The voice was quieted, my tummy was filled and I felt great : )

Ready. set, GO!

Yesterday was the first day of the 24 week training countdown!! You may be wondering how the program begins. What exactly IS the first day kick-off workout? Rest. Yup. Chillaxin'. Sweet, I covered that one, no sweat (hee hee - no pun intended, really!).

Today was the first workout day. I did my 3 miles, and felt good. Well, after I got over the tired, sad, morning blues I felt good. It really was a struggle to get myself started this morning, but there was no way I was going to skip my very first training walk (as opposed to my pre-training walks).

The walk I did this morning is a slight variation of a walk I've done a few times before. There is a small hill that previously made me struggle a bit. This morning I was shocked when I realized was tackling this hill with no problem at all! Wow, it seems I've made some progress! Nice feeling.

No pain today. Wore my old shoes again... dangit. I really really want my new shoes to be awesome! Maybe they are, but apparently not for my left foot. I would like to give them another chance, but maybe I should just give it up... sigh.

Officially

Guess what I found in my INBOX today?? My very first Virtual Trainer email! Yes folks,
my 24 week countdown starts this Monday, June 7th! I am truly feeling official now! I have the entire 24 week training schedule printed out and posted on my refrigerator, but this email really hit home. Thank you SGK : )

In other news, I....

- emailed out my newest newsletter to a ton of people. I'm working on getting it on my facebook, too.

- wore my old shoes for my walk again this morning. No pain. It's not looking good for my beautiful, cushy, comfy new shoes :(

- am looking forward to the official kick off training walk next weekend!

Unrequited love

I love my shoes. My beautiful, cushy new shoes! Ahhhh Asics Cumulus 12's. Like walking on clouds... But I don't think they love me :(

In previous posts I've mentioned the pain I get in my left (larger) foot about 40-45 minutes into my walks. It happens in about 75% of my walks that I can remember... so maybe more if I would actually track it. For the past three walks I've been wearing my old Saucony's to see if I still get the pain. Nope. Sigh. The first two walks weren't at my usual pace (due to kids and dogs), so I wasn't convinced. Today I did the Oso walk again, with all the ups and downs, and uneven turf. No pain.

For the rest of the week I'm going to continue to wear my 'old' shoes. If I don't have the pain, then it will be time to say goodbye to my comfy cushy shoes :(

MAY RECAP
Fundraising:

Total by end of May $1,510

Last week I finished my newest newsletter! Yay! Unfortunately, it is stuck in Word Perfect, and I can't get it to publish as a PDF. I really wanted to email it in May. Hello June :( I am hoping the update will inspire more people to donate. Just have to figure out how to get it out there.

Training

May goal miles 44.00
May total miles 46.68! go me!

Monday, June 7th (just 5 days from now) is the official start of the 24 week training!! I can't believe it will be here so soon! I think I'm ready...