I wasn't too sore on Sunday but I was still a little more fatigued than usual. Did not go to Church, did not XT, did not accomplish much. I am going to try the cold water shower or tub after the next LSD on Saturday. I am confused about this Cannonball 10 K. I must have missed something somewhere...are we suppose to register for this? I need to go on MS track club site and see the when where and what of it.

Went to Baptist Colonnades today and did the heart screening thing for $25. They did blood work, blood pressure, pulse, EKG, and a health survey. The results will be back in a week after the blood work and EKG are reviewed and interpreted. Pretty good deal for $25. My husband is in town and he walked with me for 50 min. at Strawberry Patch late this aft. I walked my legs off and still could not get faster than a 16 min. mile and that was only one mile out of 3...the other 2 miles were at 17 min. I am going on that website about speed walking and see if I can learn SOMETHING to help my walking speed. I am thinking of doing intervals of running 1 min. and walking 2 min. at the marathon so I need to be faster with my walking. I may change my mind and be doing 5:5 by the time Oct. gets here, who knows. I hope everyone had a good Monday!

Sugar plums dancing in...NOT!

First time wogging at the REZ and I like the route...easy to follow, not like Clinton. I was wireless today...no ipod, no cardiac sensor, no watch and also no partner as Kristy is in GA. Didn't mean to be so wireless but I am not a morning person and wasn't all that conscious when I left the house. I found the 7 miles to be fun and not too bad. HOWEVER, oh my gosh, I have been wiped out ALL afternoon. I am sure it is because I did not keep up with my training this week and I am paying the price. I need to listen to the podcast from the Sat. meeting I missed about getting in cold water. I got in a tub of warm water and it felt wonderful but I am so-o-o sore right now...can't imagine how slow I will be moving tomorrow...that is if I can move!

While I was wogging I was visualizing myself packing carrots, celery, radishes, apples, orange slices, a turkey sandwich and the like into a cooler and taking with me everyday in the car as I drive around on the job. (I don't mean all that in one day!) Running intervals prompted those thoughts because it is not easy to move this poundage forward in a running stride, albeit a slow one. Especially on short legs...you know I have to make twice as many steps as you long-legged lucky ducks. Tomorrow, although I don't want to drive over there, I am going to Fitness Lady and pump some iron...gotta get more muscle so the calories will burn better, the legs will move easier, etc. It is early but I just may finish up my day the way I have spent the afternoon...vegging out. I feel sorry for those of you with children because there is no chilling out with kids around. But then you have more energy than me...hopefully!

Okayyy!!!! I'll take Friday off!

Whoa-a-a...did not realize it was so important to take Friday off if you were behind in the training. I didn't know Mark read these...have not had a comment from him in a couple of months. Let's just say, I'll take Friday off!
I wogged for 55 min. in the park this aft. For the first 2 miles, I ran for one minute, then walked for two. That was very comfortable as far as breathing and musculoskeletal-wise, but after the 2nd mile the ole body started saying I am beat, could you pulease walk longer, so I did. Saw Jana gliding along in the park. I am loving this wonderful weather. Hope it doesn't rain on Saturday.

BTB----Back to blogging

Let's see now, I need to review...took Fri. off, did the six mile wog on Saturday, which I found to be pleasant, not grueling. Did nothing on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Tonight I did the elliptical. My region manager has been in town and I have had a lot of extra things to do that had me burning the midnight oil. Tomorrow I will do 50 min. and Friday I will do a 30 min. wog. I hope I don't find the 7 miles too difficult...I really don't think I will but ignorance may be bliss. I do not like to be this far off of training but I am not letting it get me down because I know I will get back on track now that things are getting back to normal with my schedule. I have yet another computer project to complete tonight so better get going.

A wee bit tired

I stayed up until 2 a.m. getting stuff done for this weekend and got up at 6:30 a.m. I had an 8 o'clock appt. so I did not have time to walk before work. However, I did 53 min. walking in the park after work. I did not even try to run...knew my body would protest with so little sleep. The walking was pretty easy although not fast. I did not worry about speed today. I walked 2 miles at 17 min. and the last mile at 19 min. because I talked with my mom on the phone...have to multi-task sometimes! She said, "I don't like talking to you when you are out of breath...I don't think that is good for you". How funny because I don't feel out of breath...she would REALLY worry if she could talk to me when I run! LOL(: Although quite tired and still having a lot of things to do when I got home, I walked today because of the "6 miles" we will do on Saturday. Just can't skip the training with the increasing mileage...have to prepare myself as best I can to stay up with the "wonderful group". Good night all.

Clouds are lifting

A huge thanks to all of you who "picked me up" yesterday! I will reread your comments many times because they help so much. There is great value in this blogging thang. Today I spent 25 min. on the elliptical before work. Tomorrow is a busy, busy day so I will have to do my 50 min. in the a.m. We are having a house-full of company this weekend, but I still plan to make the Saturday morning wog at the rez. Thanks again to all my support groupies...I feel MUCH better.

Gargantuan

Oh, my upbeat self feels beat down. I got up this morning, went to the park and walked 1 mile in 16 min. and I was feeling pretty good, did the next mile in 14 min. with about 5 min. of running at somewhat intervals since I don't have an interval watch, then decided to walk the last mile since I was feeling pretty tired and that mile was a mere 17 min. I did a total of 50 min. and I really felt like I was pushing myself. How in the world am I going to do 26.2 miles? I am having big doubts today...I feel scared of failure. I am having a lot of stress from all corners of my life lately...maybe that explains my negativity. I should be glad that I have no injuries and I am. I think the thing that gets me most frustrated is the running. When I was 20 years younger and 40 lbs. lighter, I could run. I ran a 10K---all the way in 57 min.--not a record breaker but at 40 I felt good that I could do a 9.3 mile. Now, running takes my wind away, big time. I wish I could read some blogs from the previous marathoners to see if they were struggling at this point as I feel I am. I am also frustrated that I have not lost the pounds or inches. Maybe there has been a loss in centimeters or millimeters, but not inches. I am exercising more in the past 3 months than I have in 20 years. I thought this weight would just fall off. When it didn't with the walking, I thought, okay when I start running it will. Well, maybe it would, but I can't seem to run long AT ALL. I hate that. I realize I am doing this marathon for more than weight loss, but losing the weight would make the running a little easier. I was hoping that I would be stronger and could run longer in the early a.m. but I was not. Doing the time in the morning has the huge advantage of getting it done before something else takes over my time after work. Anyway, I hope ventilating my frustration and fears here will help me through this down time. Right now I am wondering what I was thinking to sign up for AND TELL EVERYBODY that I was going to undertake this gargantuan goal! Woe is me.

9 and 0

Played my ninth tennis match of the spring season and won the ninth time! Fun, fun. I play doubles and I have had different partners for those matches. I truly believe this exercising I have been doing has made me more, er-r-r, fit? It's hard to believe I am saying that about me, but something is happening. Anyway, the tennis was my XT, which was for yesterday, and yesterday's walk was for Saturday, and Saturday was for....let's just say I have a slightly different schedule this week. But I am doing SOMETHING everyday. With that 6 miles coming up Saturday, I have to stay the course, as Mark says. Hope everyone else is doing well with your training. Hope those injuries are healing nicely!

First Five Mile Walk/Run

Okay, I did five miles this afternoon at the park. The first 2 miles I walked at 18 min., the next 2 miles I walked at 17 min. and the last mile I did in 14 min. because I ran some. I ran for one minute then walked awhile then ran for 3 min. straight as I was finishing up. My legs got better and better as the mileage increased. My wind was just fine walking, but was a little short with that 3 min. run, but I pushed through it. The disturbing event today was that I had to have a pit stop twice at the restroom in the park. I have never had any frequency problems and could go all day at work without going at all. Maybe that "little bit" of running I did this week has started to affect my bladder suspension...after all I am old enough to have those bladder problems but so far, I have never had problems when I coughed, sneezed, etc. I know, I know, TMI !!!!!!!!! I am hoping this is a temporary thing because I timed myself in the restroom and one stop was 4 min. and the next was 3 min. and that was with NO LINE. I can't do this in Chicago. I've already thought about maybe layering several extra thick Depends...just kidding! All in all, I feel I did very well with the 5 miles. It seemed much easier than the 5K yesterday. What is up with that?

Time to get serious...more serious

Did the 5K walk in downtown Jackson and I wasn't pleased with anything about it except finishing. I was pushing myself more that usual (because it was a race and I certainly did not want to be last) and I was winded, my legs hurt and last but not least, I was so slow. I forgot to look at the clock but according to Kristy who finished ahead of me, we think my time was around 52 minutes. Why, in the park I usually walk 17 min. miles and I am not in a race! Maybe the hill slowed me down. I need to train EVERYDAY and need to do weight training for my XT. That will help my leg muscles get stronger and also, hopefully, turn up this metabolism and I can drop a few pounds. I understand that losing weight has a direct relationship with improving your time with walking or running. It is like Mark said, with the increasing distance we cannot be slackers and be successful. Tomorrow I am getting up early and will do my 5 miles before Church. I know I say the "getting up early thing alot and don't do it", but those days have to cease and desist. Because if I put off my wogging to after work, it sometimes loses its priority amongst a multitude of things.

Now, post-race was fun at the Mexican restaurant! We had a good-sized group and I got to put more faces to names/blogs. Mark and Robin were there which was a nice surprise! Mark imparted some more pearls for marathoning. I learned about the Ipod Nano from Ann. Got to have one of those! Mark also said to really push yourself as far as speed on the short days and that will eventually improve your distance speed. He said on the LSD days to go slow and easy.
It was exciting that Jana won 3rd place in her age group for the walkers. She was really hoofing it out there! Congratulations, Jana! Well, just being with everyone is such a morale booster for me. I get excited again and have a renewed enthusiasm. I am actually looking forward to walking the 5 miles tomorrow!

A new chapter/decade!

First of all, thanks for all your comments on my last post...some good info and encouraging remarks. I had a great birthday yesterday. Took the day off and went to the park and walked/ran for 51 minutes. The running kinda wiped me out for a bit, but I enjoyed it. This morning I feel fine, not too sore.

Although my husband had to be out of town on my birthday, my sons and Kristy stepped up to the plate and made me feel very special. I normally don't need a big deal on my birthdays, but I guess this one is one of those milestones in life. In lieu of the traditional birthday card, my younger son, Steven, wrote me a 3 paragraph letter telling me how he feels about me and why...oh my gosh, that was a tear jerker in such a GOOD way. I will cherish that letter forever. Kristy, you chose well, my dear.

Well, my husband just hee-hawed on the phone yesterday when I told him what I had decided to do differently in my life now that I was in a new decade. I am one of those people who always keeps the clock or watch 15 min. ahead of the real time. I use that to try to keep myself on time...makes no real sense but one of the quirky games I play with myself. My husband has given me untold grief about this for years but I have stuck to my guns. WELL, I have decided to start living in REAL TIME...my watch and clocks are no longer 15 min. ahead. My husband laughed heartily and then asked what possessed me to change? My response, "I am tired of having to calculate all the time"! Wogging a marathon is the BIG CHANGE for me in this decade. I have had a few little doubts lately about this 26.2 mile thing but now feel confident again that I can do this. Kristy said last night, that if someone dropped us off 26.2 miles from our house, and we had no way to get there but on our own 2 feet that we would GET THERE. That certainly gives it a new perspective for me. I am so happy to be alive and well. Thank you God.

Last day as a nifty fifty!

Well tomorrow is my birthday and I will hit the big 60. Can it really be me that is turning that kind of number over? I have known me for a long time, but THAT LONG?!!! I am happy that I feel much younger. I am blessed in many ways. Thank you God.

I walked and yes, RAN this morning on the Strawberry Patch Park trail. I experienced that old compartment syndrome pain in both of my lower legs today when I walked and when I ran. The muscles on the outside of my shin bone get so hard and so painful that I can hardly flex my foot. I have not walked or run for almost a week now, (except for the tennis) and I am paying for it. I had gotten to the point that I did not have that compartment syndrome pain. (I diagnosed this by going to the website, injuredrunner.com) The pain is an incentive to stick with the program and get back to where I was. I will start doing the recommended stretches 2-3 times a day. Surgical release is a last resort fix and I do not want to have any surgery!

I need to get an interval watch because I found it hard to watch my cell phone time while trying to do walking for 2 min. and running for 1 min. I went over to Fleet Feet but am undecided if I am going to get the Garmin which is the Cadillac of running watches or if I will just get one that is simple and mainly does the time and intervals. I hate to spend 200+ dollars if I never use many of the features, and knowing me, (as LONG as I have), I probably should go with the simple interval watch. I also purchased a running bra while I was there. I exercised for 34 min. this morning. I did not walk yesterday because I played tennis after work for a couple of hours and did not have the time to walk. I may just walk tomorrow instead of XT so I can get back to my pain-free walking again. I am feeling anxious about doing the 5 mile thing on Saturday. I am not sure why, but probably because I have missed so many days of walking. I know I can do it though. When I think of 26.2 miles, well, I don't really want to think of that right now. One day at a time, one day at a time.

Thursday

Got my water goal met yesterday and today. Did 35 min. on the treadmill at the hotel yesterday. Was in meeting all day today and then drove home from Birmingham. Too tired to walk or talk when I got home. So, today will be my Friday and tomorrow I will walk. Traveling to Pensacola after work tomorrow and will return on Sunday. Sorry to miss our "special Saturday group meet".

Tuesday night

Got my water goal met today. I was not able to walk today because I played tennis for 2 hours tonight after work. I just don't get up in the mornings early enough to walk. Maybe I should make that a goal for just one week so I will do it. Anyhow, I am almost afraid to say this because tennis season is not over, BUT I have not lost a single match since February and we all know what I started doing in February...exercising regularly! I am faster, have more stamina, why, if I keep this up, I just may win my age category in the Chicago Marathon! Okay, exercise endorphins do strange things to our minds, but I was only kidding about winning the marathon...as if I have to explain that! Ha-Ha. Tomorrow I have to drive to Birmingham for a one-day meeting and will return Thursday night. This is not turning out to be such a good week for my training but I will do the treadmill at the hotel. Be sure to check the message board in the members only section for info on the 5K run and get-together afterwards.

Monday, Monday

Drank more than 64 oz. of water today. In the past when I stick with drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day, I lose weight. There is some physiology about the liver not storing as much glycogen, hence, fat when there is a free flow of fluid through there...not a very scientific explanation but it works for me. I do need to look that up again. Anyway, I had a tennis match after work so I did not get my walk in but I sure did get some good exercise. We played 2 young "ponytail" girlies who ran our butts off. HOWEVER, we beat them in a 2-set match although that 2nd set was a grueling tiebreaker...let's just say we won by the hair of our chinny-chin-chin. I am sad that I won't be at our last Saturday meeting...I would love to be in on that team-building thing. I will be visiting my mom in Pensacola for Easter but I will walk my 4 miles somewhere! Hope everyone has a great non-injury week!

Goal: Drink at least 64 oz. of water each day this week.

I am so-o glad it did not rain Saturday so we could get our 4-mile walk in. It was easier than that first mile we did, so I know we are making big progress. I need to go by Fleet Feet and get a running bra so I will be ready at that 10-week mark. Hearing from the MM alumni was very inspirational. It is also good to know who to "go to" for more tips and advice on how to make it through in Chicago. The password for the day was DETERMINATION. And that is exactly what it will take to do this marathon. I have 3 people I will be doing this for: my oldest son, who has a chronic illness, my stepfather who has Alzheimer's and used to be an active, tough Marine, and my nephew who is 36 yrs. old and who recently had a mild heart attack and had 3 stents placed in his arteries. When I feel lazy or discouraged, I will think of how much they would love to be able to have the physical stamina to run a few miles, much less a marathon. I am blessed with good health, a strong mind, (sometimes) and this wonderful group of people to help see me through this humongous goal of the Chicago Marathon. Yes, I have that determination!