I DID IT

I walked all 60 miles. I have blisters. I was sore. But I did it. It was a great experience, even with all the pain. Will I do it again next year? Ummm, no. I would maybe crew, but not walk. But as much as I said I would never do it again, 2 days after the event, I am not nearly as positive. I can see doing it again in a couple of years, IF I can figure out how to remain blister free for the duration of the event.

The blisters are really what did me in. Tami in the medical tent at lunch on Day 3 was my hero. She lanced my blisters, and then wrapped them so well they felt 10 times better. Unfortunately they still hurt, just not nearly as much. As a sidenote, Tami is a breast cancer survivor, walked last year, and was medical crew this year. We had each other in tears.

The blister on my pinky toe was wrapped by a teammate before we started out the last day. She did a great job, but in hindsight I should have had it lanced when the others were lanced. I just didn't want to mess with it, it hadn't been bothering me enough to worry about it until the others weren't bothering me, then I realized how much it was bothering me.

Oh well, the blisters are fading now, ans as the sign that became my mantra said: Blisters don't need chemo

The walk starts tomorrow

I have to be there at 6 am! And then we will walk 20 miles tomorrow, 22.7 miles on Saturday, and 17.3 on Sunday.

I hope the rain stops before 6 am, that the weather is coolish, and that my feet hold up. That is all I can ask at this point.

I am feeling trained enough, and I am prepared for blisters, etc.

Thanks to all of you who followed me! Sorry the last month has been lacking in posts. Rest assured it was not lacking in walking (there was another 18 mile walk in there, in much warmer temps!)

I'll post again when the walk is over!

Week 20 plan

Monday: Rest

Tuesday: 5 miles

Wednesday: 45 min cross-training

Thursday: 6 miles

Friday: 45 min cross-training

Saturday: 18 miles

Sunday: 15 miles

Since I did my 18/15 this weekend, I'll be doing the 10/8 I was supposed to do this weekend. I am also hoping to actually walk at least one of the weekdays and do some cross-training one of them, also!

Big Weekend

My sisters and I opted to change the 18/15 weekend. We did it this week instead of the scheduled 10/8. The 18/15 is the longest training walk on the schedule.

We walked 20 miles yesterday and 15 today, for a total of 35 miles in 2 days!! I now believe I can actually complete the walking of the 3 day! I am not sore, I am not in pain anywhere, I am a little tired, but not overly so. The only thing that hurts, and it is only a very slight pain, is the soles of my feet. There is hope!

I walked the 20 yesterday in new shoes (New Balance 645), that are exactly like my old walking shoes except a 1/2 size bigger. I got them on Friday on clearance for less than $30! I was very excited. They were fine, I still need some cushy insoles, though. We chose to walk on a multi-purpose trail from Cannon Falls to Red Wing. We stopped for lunch around the mid-point in a little town with basically one place to eat. Thankfully the food was wonderful! Two of my sisters were a bit giddy by then, so there was entertainment, too!

I walked the 15 today in my other new shoes (Brooks Defyance 2). They were even better than my old shoes. The balls of my feet hurt less than they have in my other shoes. We walked a different multi-purpose trail from Shakopee to Chaska and back. We got to stop in Chaska for lunch that way.

Both trails were beautiful, and we could not have asked for better weather. Yesterday was cloudy and the high was maybe 65 degrees. Today was sunny, with a high of around 75. Neither day was humid. Perfect walking weather, which probably was a good thing!

Week 19 plan

Monday: rest

Tuesday: 5 miles

Wednesday: 45 minutes of cross training

Thursday: 6 miles

Friday: 45 minutes of cross training

Saturday: 10 miles

Sunday: 8 miles

My sisters and I are actually planning to do our 18/15 this weekend. Hope for pleasant weather!

Week 18

I have been delinquent.

Actually, I kinda felt the need to take back my summer. So the kidlets and I have been spending some time doing summer things. We hit a few programs I wanted to go to, we had a picnic in the back yard, and we watched fireflies. In short, we have been enjoying summer. I intend to do a bit more of that. Training for this walk feels like it has taken over my life, and I just can't let that be the case. So I am feeling less guilty about not walking during the week, and I am grateful that this weekend I have a recovery weekend with far fewer miles to do.

Last weeks plan was this:

Monday: rest

Tuesday: 5 miles

Wednesday: 45 minutes of cross training

Thursday; 6 miles

Friday: 45 minutes of cross training

Saturday: 17 miles

Sunday: 13 miles

Since I did 17 last Friday and 13 last Saturday, I swapped those for last weekends 8/6. I also just didn't walk or cross train at all. And I am OK with that.

I did go and buy new shoes last weekend. But I am not sure I am keeping them. I went to one of the partner stores for the 3-day, and I have to say I was utterly unimpressed. He brought me 3 pairs of shoes, and I think he honestly thought that was sufficient. I am not assertive enough to have said no, bring me more, so I ended up with one of those 3, and I am just not sure they are OK. And I bought some arch support insoles that I think I have to take back. The arch support is good, but they are hard and hurt the balls of my feet. That is where I have the most pain to begin with, so I think I need something that is going to accomodate that better. In all a HUGELY disappointing trip. SIGH.

Thursday and Friday training

I went to make jam on Thursday, but still got almost 3 miles of walking in.

Friday I walked 17 miles. In spite of my desire to keep this weekend a recovery weekend, I got sucked in and I walked 17 miles. Thankfully we walked on a bike path that was a railway, so it was flat. No hills. And there was lots of shade. It was mostly overcast anyway, but it was still nice to have the trees for the moments when it was sunny. Did I mention it was flat? And humid. It was really humid. But I have no blisters, and I used no moleskin. YAY! I still need different shoes. The soles on mine are getting a bit worn.

Week 17 plan

Monday: rest (greatly appreciated!)

Tuesday: 5 miles (um, I rested)

Wednesday: 45 minutes cross-training (does house cleaning count?)

Thursday: 6 miles (I'll get less than 5, but that is sufficient for my feet)

Friday: 45 minutes of cross-training

Saturday: 8 miles

Sunday: 6 miles

It is a "recovery" week on the schedule. Most of my team is switching this weekend with next weekend (and walking 17 for Saturday and 13 for Sunday). I haven't committed to that yet. I am feeling the need for a recovery week! So I am not sure which I will do...

The week that was

I haven't been updating like I should be, sorry about that. All the walking has kept me busy, as has life in general! So here is the recap of week 16:

I skipped both Tuesday and Wednesday, to let the blisters heal a bit.

Saturday I skipped the shoe clinic (there was just not time in the day!), helped my sister move, and then walked part of the Minneapolis chain of lakes. It was a pleasant walk, but it was 15 miles! No amount of pretty scenery can make 15 miles painless. I ended up with a hot spot on the bottom of my left foot. I put moleskin on it when we had about 2 miles left to go, but that only sort of helped.

Sunday I did 11 miles. Kiddo walked 2 of them with me. It was so fun to have him along! He talked a blue streak, so it went by fast. I think I'll try taking him on a few more walks with me!
I walked 5 more after I dropped him off at the park (with Kutey and DH). Then I walked 4 more in the evening with 2 of my sisters. It was good to break it up. The blisters on my heels were much better, though still covered in moleskin. The one on the bottom of my foot required a cut out of moleskin covered with another piece in order to reduce the friction.

So there you have it, I walked a marathon in two days. Yes, I know, 15+11 is only 26 and a marathon is 26.2. We went over both days, so I figure it was more than a marathon...

Week 16 plan

Here is this week's training plan:

Monday: rest

Tuesday: 4 miles (due to the blisters, I will more than likely rest this day, too. That and it is supposed to be 90+ degrees!)

Wednesday: 30 minutes of cross-training

Thursday: 5 miles (we'll see how the blisters are!)

Friday: 45 minutes of cross-training

Saturday: 15 miles

Sunday: 11 miles

I am hoping to go to a shoe fit clinic on Saturday, and my sister is moving that day, so 15 miles might be a bit of a stretch--especially if the middle of the day is 90+ degrees!

Sunday Training

I did all ten miles. 10 PAINFUL miles. The blister from yesterday has turned into more than one blister, on both feet.
Actual blisters. On my feet. Heels, to be precise. The outside of the heel on both feet. I can't figure out just what happened. My shoes have been SO good up to this point! The only thing I can think of is it was warmer, and more humid, so maybe my feet were more sweaty?

I walked to a nearby park/recreation area where they have hiking/horseback riding/mountain biking trails. Well, sort of. The hiking trails seem to have been deemed low maintenance. they have not been mowed recently, so the grass and weeds were very long. And there was no breeze, so the bugs were TERRIBLE. And I hadn't realized how hilly the paths were. I was anxious to get out of there, but there is only one way out--to finish the loop. So I did, and then I left and went back to my city streets and sidewalks. I love to hike, I have done my share, but these paths were not appropriate for hiking!

Saturday Training--Update

Um....I have a blister. A BIG blister. On my heel. I had managed to get to this point in my training without much in the way of pain or injury--OR BLISTER! Sigh. I might have to drain it in order to walk again tomorrow.

Saturday Training

I was up and out the door by 7:30 am. I finished walking before lunch! YAY! I did all 14 miles, I never got out the ipod, and after a brief rest at home, I feel like I could walk some more! That is encouraging.

Week 15 training

I feel like all I will be doing for the next bazillion weekends is walking, walking, walking!

Monday: rest

Tuesday: 4 miles

Wednesday: 30 minutes of cross-training

Thursday: 5 miles

Friday: 45 minutes of cross-training

Saturday: 14 miles

Sunday: 10 miles

Sunday Training

I walked 9+ miles around the same lake as Saturday (only 3 laps this time) with my sister. Honestly, I don't know that I would have done all 3 laps if she hadn't been there. I was tired. My legs were tired. But we did it. Made it all the way around 3 times. I tried some Spenco insoles in my shoes, that lasted one lap. The arches weren't high enough (and these were the high arch ones!) I am a bit sore, but I am not sure if it is from the walking or from clearing the sod and weeds out of my garden! I finished that project on Saturday night, so it could easily be either!

Saturday Training

I just came back from walking 13+ miles. It took me about 3.5 hours, so I was a bit slower than normal, but not too bad. My feet were really hurting by the end of the walk. I was watching for the markings on the pavement much more than I had been the previous laps (I did 4 laps around a local lake--3.34 miles per lap). Now, of course, I am thinking "and I have to walk 9 miles tomorrow, too? NO WAY!" Hopefully my feet will have recovered slightly by then. This is the worst they have been on a walk. I'll be looking into new shoes, me thinks :(. It should be noted, also, that I walked all by myself. Contrary to popular belief, I will walk long distances without my sister prodding me.

Friday Training

I cross-trained by prepping my garden (yes, it is getting late to plant a garden, I know). This may not seem like much work, but consider that I haven't had a garden in at least 6 years and that in that time the garden has gone largely untended. It really was cross-training, trust me. And I did it for 2 hours. It gave me a new appreciation for the pioneers who "broke sod" to farm. They did much bigger expanses than I did (and yes, they used horses, but still!). It isn't easy!

Thursday Training

I actually walked! I only got in 4.25 miles before it got dark, but some is better than none!

Week 14 plan

Monday: rest

Tuesday: 4 miles

Wednesday: 30 minutes of cross-training

Thursday: 5 miles

Friday: 45 minutes of cross-training

Saturday: 13 miles

Sunday: 9 miles

Week 13 summary

One word: Lazy.

I did a little walking and biking with the kids on Wednesday. And I walked just under 5 miles on Sunday.

Otherwise, lazy.

Week 13 Plan

Monday: rest

Tuesday: 4 miles

Wednesday: 30 minutes of cross training

Thursday: 5 miles

Friday: 45 minutes of cross training

Saturday: 12 miles

Sunday: 7 miles (Kiddo's birthday party is this day, so we'll see what I actually get in!)

Sunday Training

I did my 5 miles. I wasn't sure I wanted to, and I really wasn't sure the weather would hold! The dark clouds rolled in just as I started my walk and threatened rain. Since I was doing a neighborhood walk, I figured out all of my abort points (friends houses where I could dive in and use a phone to call hubby!) The route I took had outs at 1, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, and 4.5 miles. I also decided that as long as there was no thunder or lightning, I would keep walking. Fortunately, there was not thunder or lightning. There also was very little rain. It started to sprinkle about a third of a mile from home. My legs were tired from yesterday, and that didn't get better. My tush hurts from all the hills, and that didn't get better. I did walk the hilliest of my neighborhood walks, to try to get a little more endurance for hills. I hope the path for the 3-day isn't too hilly, but since I don't know what the route is yet, I figure it is better to be prepared, right?

Saturday Training

My older sister and I decided to take our walk on location yesterday. We needed 11 miles, which is less than fun on a "neighborhood walk." So we hit a local state park. And we did a little over 11 miles (closer, really, to 12). The terrain was MUCH more challenging. We had a ton of hills to ascend and descend. You can't walk as fast when you are climbing a hill! It has also been so dry around here (really, really, REALLY dry) that the grass was crunchy and there were lots of prickles to get in our shoes and socks. We stopped many times to remove the prickles and rocks that found their way into annoying spots in our shoes. It was incredibly windy, too. And dusty. I had a line on my legs where my pants stopped. But the scenery was pretty, and we walked the whole distance we needed. We also determined we will not head back to that particular park to train again! My legs are feeling the hills today!

Training Summary

I rested on Monday. I rested on Tuesday. I walked 5 miles on Wednesday. I biked on Thursday. The training is beginning to get more and more time consuming, and I don't like that. Especially on the weekends.

week 12 plan

On time!

Monday: Rest

Tuesday: 30 minutes of cross training (I am flipping the standard Tuesday walking/Wednesday cross training so I can walk with my sister on Wednesday).

Wednesday: 3 miles

Thursday: 5 miles

Friday: 45 minutes of cross training

Saturday: 11 miles (we have a busy day on Saturday--it will be interesting to try to fit in 3 hours of walking!)

Sunday: 5 miles

Sunday Training

I did a little over 6.5 miles. I thought I was going to be under, so I tacked on a little bit and ended up over. Oh well. My foot did not hurt at all! So now I am not sure what the deal is. the warmer temps are making me realize just how much my feet are going to swell. I think I'll need to buy shoes half a size bigger. Sigh.

Friday and Saturday training

I weeded as my cross training on Friday (and oy, my bum!). I count it. My sister shoveled and counted it, so I figure why not! I did pick up a pair of 3 pound weights so I can do a little more appropriate cross training in the coming weeks.

On Saturday we opened our garage sale for one more day, and pulled in another $100+. We still have oodles of stuff, but for a sale in the country outside a smaller city, we did OK. After the sale, we walked 10 miles! Unfortunately, I had some issue going with my foot the entire time. It made the walk rather unpleasant. I also ended up icing my knee last night, just because it felt wonky. It didn't really hurt, but it didn't feel right, either. My foot feels better today, which is good, since i have another 6 miles ahead of me....

Thursday training

I did my 5 miles! The weather today was very, VERY different than yesterday. 20 degrees cooler and no wind. A beautiful evening for a walk.

Wednesday Training

It is 92 degrees and the wind is gusting up to 40+ mph. I refuse to turn on the AC because the temps tomorrow and the rest of the weeks will be in the low 70's. But I also can't imagine going outside and doing anything productive. Sigh.

Week 11 plan

Late, as usual! It has been such a hectic couple of weeks!

Monday: rest

Tuesday: 3 miles (I can already tell you I weeded instead of walking!)

Wednesday: 30 minutes of cross training (I hope to actually walk a couple of miles, but it is supposed to be REALLY windy and hot)

Thursday: 5 miles

Friday: 30 minutes of cross training

Saturday: 10 miles

Sunday: 6 miles

The mileage is the same as last week, but the cross training time was bumped up.

In other news, I hit the thrift shop today and I think I have a bag that will work for my gear! YAY! It can only weigh 35 pounds loaded and since it may get damaged/lost, I didn't want to chance something I really liked. I bought 2 different bags, one for $2.35, the other for $3.15. Not bad, and they are in decent shape. One is a little bigger than the other. If nothing else, they will work well for the kids for vacations!

Week 10 summary

Week ten had highlights and low lights, and mostly I can't remember! The beginning of the week was busy, I managed to get very little training in. I spent Wednesday and Thursday getting ready for the garage sale, Friday and Saturday were the sale, so little in the way of following the plan.

Here is what I did:

Friday: cross-trained. We did stairs in between customers, and I did 3 sets of triceps dips on the bench while waiting. I should do them more often!

Saturday: I walked 6 miles with MY WHOLE TEAM! YAY! We walked inside, because the wind on Saturday was terrible and the temp was low.

Sunday: I walked 10 miles with my sister. 10 miles. 10. in 3 hours (or a little less).

The garage sale went OK. We weren't as busy as we had hoped, and we still had a TON of stuff left when the sale was done. Still we made a good amount of money, but I feel like it could have been better. We might open again for next Saturday. And I might try to find another location and pull some of the things I think SHOULD have sold. We'll see!

week 10 plan

Late, again. Sorry!

Monday: rest

Tuesday: 3 miles

Wednesday: 15 minutes of cross-training

Thursday: 5 miles

Friday: 30 minutes of cross-training

Saturday: 10 miles

Sunday: 6 miles

We have fundraiser coming up. Friday and Saturday we are having a family garage sale. We have been blessed with friends who have donated many items and we all cleared out some of our stuff, as well. We'll also be selling jewelry and a few baked goods. Hope the weather is beautiful and that a ton of people show up and buy lots!

Sunday Training

I didn't get the 6 miles I was supposed to. More like 4. But it was Mother's Day, and I wanted to spend it with my kids, not out walking about, so we did a nature walk. It was a beautiful walk! I took a picture, I'll post it soon!

Training total: 120 miles

Saturday Training

I spent the day at my Dad's getting ready for the next garage sale (next weekend, coming up quickly!). So I walked with 2 of my sisters, thank goodness, since it was an 8 mile walk. We ended up doing almost 9, since apparently the stinking at estimating is genetic. My hips were starting to hurt a little by the end, but I rolled them wan they were much better. And I had none of the blister issues the other two were having, so I was happy!

Total training mileage: 116 miles+

Wednesday and Thursday

I cross-trained on Wednesday (shocking, I know!) I went out and pulled weeds. Now, that may not sound like cross-training, but my bum will argue that point with you. And my arms will back it up. There were some decently resistant weeds!

Thursday got away from me. My cousin came out and we worked on some jewelry repair and creation, so I ran out of time to run the couple of errands I needed to run. That meant they had to be done after dinner, which left walking out. It is one of the trickier things to fit in. If it was a half hour, it wouldn't be so hard, but 5 miles takes close to 90 minutes when all is said and done, and that is harder to squeeze in!

Mileage update

I just went back and added up my mileage. Since I started this blog (which was not when I started training) I have walked nearly 106.95 miles. I'm just gonna say 107. That is in about 2 months. Not bad! It should have been more, if I had done all the walks at the lengths they should have been, but I'll take what I have.

107 miles in and counting.....

Tuesday Training

I managed to get 2 miles in. My shins didn't hurt at all, so maybe the resting last week was a good thing! I walked from my house to a meeting I had regarding an upcoming fundraiser--Craft for a Cause. It is basically a one day crafting retreat. It;ll bring in a little bit of money, I hope! I got a ride home, since it was after 10 by then.

Week 8

Week 8 didn't go so well. I did the 2 miles Wednesday, and I did 2 miles on Saturday. That was it. I had a cold on Sunday (that thankfully seems to be short-lived), but I had no desire to walk. And the rest of the week I was just lazy or busy! Sigh. I best get back on track....

Week 9 plan

A little late....

Monday--Rest (I did that, no problem)

Tuesday--3 miles

Wednesday--15 minutes cross-training (I can't seem to get that in...)

Thursday--5 miles

Friday--30 minutes cross-training (if I can't get in 15 minutes, I doubt I'll get in 30!)

Saturday--8 miles

Sunday--6 miles

The first 10 mile walk appears on the schedule next week.....

Wednesday Training

I rested on both Monday and Tuesday. Then I walked 2 miles on Wednesday. There was a garage sale I wanted to go to, and Hubby had the car. It is a hazard of a one car lifestyle...you can't always do what you want to when you want to. But I loaded Kutey into the stroller, and Kiddo and I walked to the garage sale a mile away. Then we walked back (with a bag of clothes for Kutey). Kiddo can walk that far without trouble, though I sometimes have to distract him a bit. We play I spy, we count fire hydrants and houses between them, we listen to birds and try to find them, etc. As long as he doesn't focus on the fact that all we are doing is walking, he is fine. Take after me a bit, huh.

Week 8 plan

Monday: rest

Tuesday: 3 miles

Wednesday: 15 minutes of cross training (you'd think I could get that in!)

Thursday: 5 miles (the long walk this week)

Friday: 30 minutes of cross training

Saturday: 4 miles

Sunday: 3 miles

This is apparently a "recovery" week, whatever that means, so the weekend walks are short. Though really, I never thought I would be calling 4 miles "short."

Sunday Training

I did the suggested 6 miles. I walked on an indoor track (with 2 of my 3 sisters). We kept a good pace (right around 4 mph). It was rainy and COLD outside, hence the walking inside, on a nice track, in climate controlled conditions. No shin pain, no knee pain, a little hip discomfort, but it went away. I had a little soreness behind my knee, but I am not sure what that was from!

Saturday Training

I did the suggested 7 miles with one of my sisters. We did a variety of terrain and paths--hills, flats, sidewalk, grass, gravel path, etc. My shins didn't hurt (I think I was walking a bit slower than normal), but my feet were tired by the end. My knee stayed happy the whole time, though, too, which was good news!

Fundraising report

The garage sale is over. The jewelry sold only sort of. But I did still manage to bring in $132! With the $90 I brought in from pre-selling items, I am up to $222! Not terrible. And I have 3 more garage sales lined up to sell jewelry at, so hopefully I can pull in at least a little more from it. I have TONS of it left, I just have to find the right venue......

Thursday training

I got the suggested 5 miles in, though I broke it up quite a bit!

I walked:
to the garage sale at my friends house: 1 mile
home from the garage sale the long way: 2 miles
to the garage sale again (I worked the open shift and the close shift): 1 mile
home from the garage sale: 1 mile

Between the two walks to the garage sale, the temperature went up at least 30 degrees (I kid you not!) It went from cool and blustery to hot and blustery. It was in the low 80s in the afternoon. I got a taste for what we are in for in August...

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

Wow! The days fly by!

Monday was a welcome day of rest.

Tuesday I managed to get 1 mile in. I walked to the home of a friend where my MOMS club is having a garage sale. I got a ride home, since it was dark by then, and I had acquired a bunch of items by then....

Wednesday I did nothing in the training vein. I worked at the garage sale and managed to get some semblance of school done with the kids, but that is it.

The jewelery I made is not selling as well as I had hoped, still, I will make something on it. I might equal what I made by selling stuff before the sale! I'll give a total once i have one, but don't expect big numbers....

Week 7 training

Monday: Rest day

Tuesday: 3 miles

Wednesday: cross-training

Thursday: 5 miles

Friday: cross-training

Saturday: 7 miles (EEK! for some reason that number freaks me out!)

Sunday: 6 miles

I also have a major fundraiser this week. My MOMS club is having a garage sale and I am selling jewelry at it. I hope it sells well!

Sunday training

It is in the low 40's and raining. But I walked a little over 5 miles. And was done by about 11 am. It'll warm up a bit, but not much, so it wasn't worth waiting for that. And it is supposed to rain off and on most of the day, so no point in trying to avoid that. I put on the lovely rain gear I have (it is old, but still repels the water, so it will do), and I headed out in the neighborhood, doing the regular 5 mile loop. Now that I have walked the neighborhood enough, I know when I have hit 1 mile, 2 miles, 3 miles, 4 miles etc., when I am no my set route. I also diverge from it much less than I used to.

I still struggle through the first 2 miles. Part of it is I am walking fast, I know that. But my shins hurt so much those first 2 miles! I stop and stretch them regularly (while trying to not arouse any suspicion as I often resort to using mailbox posts as my stabilizer. I'm not stealing your mail, honest! The grass is just too wet for me to step onto it and drag my toe in it, or I would be using the stop sign!) I guess it is good that it only lasts for 2 miles, but I would prefer it if I didn't have the pain at all! More shin strengthening? I guess that is what I will have to try.

Saturday's training

I seem to be uninspired to do the cross-training days. I'll get there, I hope, but Friday I did nothing.

Today, though, I hit the suggested 6 miles. The first two miles are still a chore. And I sped through the last half mile (literally, I am sure I looked ridiculous, but I was walking really fast, so I didn't care. I was bored and wanted it DONE!). I have to figure out this shin thing! It makes me not want to walk, even though I know that after 2 miles it will get better.

Thursday's training

I did it. I walked 5.2 miles.

And here are some aggravations of the walk:

1. If you are walking a dog and using a retractable leash, it is only courteous to shorten the leash from the full 20 feet when approaching another person. I nearly tripped over a rat terrier because its owners refused to rein it in. I happily move off the sidewalk for children and families, but dogs that can be reined in? Nope.

2. If you have an in ground pool, and you are draining the spring thaw water out of it, it really shouldn't go into the storm sewer. Put it on your lawn. Especially since we have had very little rain this spring! Besides, I am pretty sure there is a city ordinance that this violates.

3. Don't fertilize the sidewalk. It isn't going to grow. Those little fertilizer pebbles just get stuck in every one's shoes and tracked into their houses. I don't like the chemicals on the floor where my children play. Thanks, but no thanks.

4. Don't water the concrete. It isn't that hard to adjust your sprinklers so that they are watering grass, not sidewalk. And it is much nicer to walk without having to dodge the water.

Maybe I am just crabby today. It is my Mom's birthday. She would have been 61.

A case of the lazies

I have the lazies. I haven't been training this week. I should be, but I'm not. I'll try again tomorrow.

Week 6 plan

Monday: Day of rest

Tuesday: 3 miles

Wednesday: Cross-training (Pilates?)

Thursday: 5 miles

Friday: Cross-training (biking? If we get the family bikes ready!)

Saturday: 6 miles

Sunday: 5 miles

The weather looks to be decent most of the week, and I have very little on my calendar (though I could have said the same thing last week...)

Saturday's training

It was supposed to be 6 miles, but I did about 5.5 miles. I might go out and try to pick up the extra half mile, we'll see how the rest of the day unfolds. I thought the path around the lake I was walking was 2 miles, but it was shy of 2 miles, so I didn't quite get the distance I needed.

The change of scenery was quite nice, however. I got to see lots of birds and geese. I dodged goose droppings along the whole of the path, though, which was a bit less than fun. Still, it was nice to be off the neighborhood streets for a walk.

I still battle my shins for the first 1 to 2 miles. I get relief when I stop and stretch, and after 2 miles they are fine. Lately my right knee has been causing me a bit of trouble. It has been a bother since I was in middle school and got hit with a soccer ball. In recent years, however, it has been much better. I rarely notice it hurting. And it really doesn't hurt, per se. I think it moves too much sideways. I don't know how to fix that. Is it my shoes? My arch supports? Do I need a brace? Guess I'll be doing a bit of research...

Friday's training

We went to the zoo, because we had company from out of town, and I am certain that I walked the 4 miles I was supposed to walk on Thursday. The place was PACKED. We parked in the boonies and walked in, did every trail in the place, and I ended up doing part of one of the longer ones more than once, because I told my party to go on ahead, but they didn't, so i walked quickly to catch up, didn't find them, and ended up doubling back. Sigh. I just figured it was all part of my training :).

I have also been making some more jewelry to sell. Once you get going, it really isn't terribly difficult. The hardest part now is that I have a mess of beads, but very little organization to them. I just hope the stuff sells!

Thursday Training

Due to company from out of town (YAY!) Thursday's training got put off. I did nothing! Sigh...hopefully I'll get back on track soon. This week is just a bit of a mess.

Wednesday training

I took Monday AND Tuesday off (I shouldn't have, but life being what it is, I did). Today I walked almost 4 miles, but not continuously. We walked to a friend's house, then stopped at the park on our way home. While the kids played, I did laps around the play space--10 of them, at .15 mi a piece. Then we took the longer way home. One way to avoid shin pain, I guess.

I didn't walk yesterday because I was preparing for a jewelry making party. Some women from my MOMS club got together and made jewelry to sell on our upcoming garage sale to raise money for the 3-day! I am so blessed to know these generous women. Some very nice pieces were made. Now I just hope it all sells!

Week 5 plan

Monday: Rest! (Whew! 12 miles the last two days, my legs WANT to rest!)

Tuesday: 3 miles (I may have to trade this one with Wednesday as I have a fundraising event that night)

Wednesday: Easy cross-training (probably pilates)

Thursday: 4 miles

Friday: Cross-training (pilates)

Saturday: 6 miles (good. I've done that!)

Sunday: 4 miles

Sunday training

Four miles? well, you see, I *thought* it was about 2.5 miles to the library. I figured I would walk there and back and it would be a little over 4, but that would be fine. Hmmm. It is ~3 miles to the library. And the last mile there is up hill the whole way. And the wind was blowing directly at me. And I was carrying a backpack full of books to return that had to weigh at least 20 pounds (I had a lot of books checked out). Yep. I do think I officially nuts. So I walked there and back.

My shins were HORRIBLE for the first mile and a half, I stretched them 3 times in the course of about a quarter mile, they hurt so much. I almost called home to have someone come and get me, they were that bad. But then they got better. My knee was a little off, but not bad. I need to get better arch supports for my shoes, though. I think the ones I have are going to give me a blister if I am not careful.

I am thoroughly enjoying having my ipod for these walks all by myself, though. It makes them go by a bit quicker. Oh, and this one took about an hour and a half...just a little over. A little less than 6 miles in 90 minutes is a pretty good pace. I won't be able to keep that pace for 20 miles!

Saturday training

Today was supposed to be a 5 mile walk. Since that is what I did in week 2, one would think I might be able to do it again, and keep if close to the 5 miles. After all, I have already walked a 5-mile route by my house once, just follow the same route. Nope. In general, once I have walked it, I forget it. So I ended up walking 6.3 miles. Yep. I still stink at estimating!

The upside is it took me about an hour and a half, my shins only hurt for the first mile or so, AND I finally got a charger for my ipod, so I had music for the very first time on my walk! While I can't use it on the actual event, I can train with it. Never underestimate the power of good music. It seemed to take a lot less time to walk, and I kept a better pace, and just as the walk became drudgery, a new song would come on and spur me along a bit farther.

The bummer is my knee started to hurt a bit as I hit the last stretch of my walk (over five miles, probably close to 5.5). I think I am rolling my foot poorly. I tried to focus on stabilizing my knee planting my foot more appropriately. I'll have to figure that out before it gets worse...

Friday training

I did a very slow easy walk with the kids. I am counting it :) I actually did walk backwards for a piece of it, which uses very different muscles, so that has to count for something, right?

Thursday training

I finally got a walk in. It wasn't the 4 miles I was supposed to do, it was only 3, but better 3 than nothing, right? I felt like I was walking in someone else's heavy shoes that were too big. It was weird. I have never felt that uncoordinated walking! And my shins hurt. Sigh. Best to remember that the next time I don't feel like doing anything!

Monday and Tuesday

The weather has been foul. I haven't been feeling super, so nothing happened. I didn't walk. I didn't cross-train. I have done nothing. I am sure I will get out of the slump once the weather improves, but right now? Training is no fun what-so-ever.

Week 4 plan

Monday: Rest (Good, because the weather will not be good for outdoor walking).

Tuesday: Cross-training (This is supposed to be a 3 mile day, but due to other commitments, I will swap Tuesday and Wednesday)

Wednesday: 3 miles

Thursday: 4 miles

Friday: Cross-training (Pilates for me)

Saturday: 5 miles

Sunday: 4 miles

The schedule ramps up fairly slowly, adding a mile to one walk or another for a few more weeks.

Sunday Training

I walked 3 miles (Yes, I walked almost exactly what the day's plan called for, can you believe it?). I just did a neighborhood walk. It took less than an hour (gotta like that!). No shin pain, no hip pain. And I am even beginning to sort of enjoying walking alone. Probably helped that I walked with my sisters yesterday, so today was a return to walking alone. There is something to be said for going when I want to go and walking at the pace I want to walk, which is oddly faster than I expected. Now, if the weather would just start to cooperate!

Saturday Training

I walked over 5.5 miles with all of my sisters. It was a good walk, the weather was decent, a bit chilly, but definitely not horrible. And the paths were all dry. My shins didn't hurt (YAY!) and my hips didn't hurt. In all a decent walk. Oh, and I found out we supposedly can't have ipods on the 3-day. ARGH!

Friday's training

Pilates. From a video. And some Wii batting practice and tennis.

I am supposed to walk 5 miles today (Saturday). It is cold, again, though the sun is out. I will probably wait until afternoon, to see if it warms up a little. It is only in the 20's right now....

Thursday training

It got cold! And it was windy. I contemplated walking outside, but since I doubt the windchill will be 20 degrees in August, I decided that was one type of weather I didn't need to train in. Instead, I went to my sister's house, she has a treadmill. That was the plan anyway, but since we both needed to do 4 miles, which takes more than an hour each, she took me to her athletic club as a guest. YAY! So we walked on treadmills side-by-side for 4 miles. And I managed to finish mine in just over an hour! I can walk faster on a treadmill, I think. That and I am getting faster overall.

I don't actually enjoy walking on the treadmill. My shins don't hurt as much, but it irritates my hips more. Good thing I don't have space for one anyway!

Wednesday Training

I didn't do pilates. I did do a little strength building (I walked on my heels again, too. It is getting easier!). And I worked out with the Wii. I did batting practice, I boxed, I bowled, and I played tennis. I think the batting practice will give me some sore arms tomorrow!

Tuesday Training

It rained all day. I dreaded walking all day. I don't like to get wet. But about 7 o'clock tonight I put on my rain suit--yes, I have a rain suit. I know, I said I lacked proper rain gear. I have a rain suit, but it isn't very breathable, so it get warm quite quickly. Still, it keeps me dry. So I put on the rain suit and my walking shoes. Then realized I didn't want to ruin my shoes by soaking them to the core. SO I dug out some ancient shoes that I have kept on the outside chance I ever have to mow the lawn. I put them on and I headed out. My hood lacks a bill so I had large drops falling into my eyes for a while, but then...IT STOPPED RAINING!!! And I even saw glimmers of sunshine! I walked 3.5 miles (because I stink at estimating and I didn't follow the original route because it stopped raining and I didn't feel the need to stay quite as close to home). I need to get waterproof shoes, though, because those ancient shoes should be put back where they came from...they really aren't good for walking anymore...

Rest day

Also known as the laziest day ever. It was rainy, windy, gray, all day. I have had no motivation, and I am dreading tomorrow, since the forecast is for rain, again. I don't want to go to the mall and walk (there have been some not so great things happening around there lately, I guess). I did find some online pilates instructional videos, so that should help, eventually. I think i am going to have to invest in some really good waterproof shoes. I have to be able to walk in all this weather or I will never be ready!

Week 3 training plan

Monday: rest (which is good, because it is supposed to rain. While I know I should train in ALL kinds of weather, I don't think rain at this point would do good things for my motivation! And I lack good rain equipment.)

Tuesday: 3 miles

Wednesday: Cross-training (I'll be doing some strength and pilates exercises)

Thursday: 4 miles

Friday: Cross-training (Probably. If we go to the zoo, I'll be walking!)

Saturday: 5 miles (huh, that is what I did for week 2!)

Sunday: 3 miles

Sunday's Training

I am terrible at estimating while I am out walking. But if I map a path before I go, it seems too daunting. So I sort of ball park it, and go from there. Well, I tend to under estimate how far I have gone. So today's 3 mile walk was actually about 4.25 miles. I do think it is better to be a little under than a little over, which is probably why I am so bad at estimating!

Saturday Training

Once I get myself out the door, it really isn't so bad. I walked just over 5 miles, in just under an hour and a half. Not bad. I stopped twice in the first two miles to stretch. I find that if I stretch my shins I get some relief for the next little bit. By half way through the walk my shins feel fine (or maybe they are just numb), but if I stretch them often, it makes that first bit much more manageable.

Walking alone

I am getting tired of walking alone. And I have only done it for a week. And these are the short walk days! How am I ever going to cope with the longer walks? UGH. I am finding it very hard to motivate myself to go out, even with the sun shining and temperatures near 60. HELP!

Friday's Training

I did just a bit of cross training today. Not much. I walked on my heels in an attempt to strengthen my shins. Who knew that would be as hard and painful as it was! YOWZA! Guess I need to do a lot more of that. I also did some stretching. I need to really figure out what cross training will be, and I haven't done that yet. As it gets warmer, I suppose biking would work. Pilates? Yoga? Ideas?

Thursday's Training

Training today was non existent. I can't even count a walk with the kids, because we didn't go for a walk. Guess I'll call this my day of rest and cross-train tomorrow.

I did look up stretches and exercises to do to work my shins, since they seem to be the most painful thing right now. I found this website on racewalking. While I am not race walking, I figure a lot of it still applies. They have quite a few stretches with photos to tell you what to do. Of course, one should always check with a professional! :) But I will probably be trying out a few of them.

Wednesday training

While I had planned to walk the normal Wednesday 5 miles, my walking partner had to cancel on me this evening, so I let the lazies get me. I walked almost 2.5 miles. Not enough, but better than I was going to do. I almost didn't go at all. See how much I need cheerleaders? On the up side, the sidewalks, paths, and roads are much drier than they were. It is not nearly as treacherous as it was.

Tuesday Training

It was supposed to be a cross-training day, but unless I count climbing on playground equipment or cooking for the better part of the day as cross-training (and maybe I should!), I didn't get it in. St. Patrick's Day took over the house. I did walk 1.5 miles with the kids and we played at the park. Certainly pushing them on the swings was good for arm strength, no?

Monday training

I managed to get in about 4 miles today. Early this afternoon I took the kids out on our "daily walk." They managed to walk 1.5 miles with me, but the pace was considerably slower than what I normally walk. The 3-year-old was setting our pace. The fact that she actually walked nearly 1.5 miles is actually quite impressive to me!

Later, just before dinner, I went out and did about 3 miles in 45 minutes. That is actually faster than I usually walk! I think the fact that dinner was going to be ready by the time I got home helped motivate me. That and the beautiful weather. There are still some massive puddles I have to navigate around, but they are becoming fewer and farther between.

My shins are still bothering me a bit when I walk. They are worse the first half of the walk. By the second half they have gotten to a tolerable point.

Mileage this week: 4
Mileage since start of training: ??? (I'll figure it out and get back to you!)

This weeks training plan

Monday: 3 miles--the weather is supposed to be FABULOUS!

Tuesday: Easy cross-training/strength building

Wednesday: 5 miles (I have a walking partner most Wednesday evenings, and we regularly do 5 miles, so I'll stick with that)

Thursday: easy cross-training/strength building

Friday: Rest

Saturday: 4 miles

Sunday : 3 miles

Sunny Sunday Walking

Training goal for today: 3 miles
Actual: 4+ miles

The weather has definitely perked up. The wind is still strong, so there are moments of chilliness, but overall, walking outside today was quite pleasant, weather-wise. It is still a bit treacherous, however. The puddles from the melting snow are very deep; to bypass them means to walk on the icy edge of the side walk, in the muddy grass, or move to the street. No matter which choice is made, the walking slows. Still, I managed to get just over 4 miles in. I walked from my house to Target, just over two miles away. A sure way to curb impulse buying is to know that you have two miles to walk back home! I needed a charger for my ipod, as I cannot find mine. They were out. I bought nothing and turned around and came home.

Come train with me!

Virtually!

Each week, I'll post the training plan for the week here on the blog (probably on Monday, but maybe as early as Sunday). I'll post how I am doing. You can choose to do the same training schedule I am doing, but I certainly don't expect it. Honestly, if I wasn't gonna be walking 60 miles at the end of August, I wouldn't be doing this either! Join in where you feel you can. If you want to commit to training at 1/3 the rate I am, great! Just knowing that there is someone out there who is going to do something because I am doing it will help motivate me to actually put on the shoes and do it.

You can also just be part of my cheering squad. Check in here to see how it is going, motivate me, inspire me, commiserate with me, help me keep going. While right now the training isn't hard, I can see a point where walking the miles required may not be so appealing. I'll need all the prodding I can get!

That's it. You can be virtually training with me, walking where ever you are and letting me know it, or you can cheer me on from where you are. Either way, your energy will keep me moving toward the goal!

The Breast Cancer 3 Day

I have committed to walking 60 miles in 3 days with the Breast Cancer 3 day.

In May of 2004, I learned my mother had breast cancer. A little over 4 years later, I watched as she lay dying of this wretched disease. I walk so that maybe, just maybe, we can make it so that in the not so distant future no woman will have to go through what she went through. I walk because she cannot. I walk because I alone cannot cure breast cancer, but together WE can cure breast cancer. We can make the world a place where little girls grow up learning that breast cancer is something women used to die from, but not something that will kill them. We can relegate breast cancer to a place in the history books.