If you read my post a while back about the Friday morning virtual trainer email I get, you will know this is my weekly dread. Sitting at my computer with my morning latte, this just came in:
Countdown: 8 Weeks
Your Training Schedule for This Week:
Monday Rest
Tuesday 4 miles Easy walking
Wednesday 45 minutes Moderate cross-training
Thursday 6 miles Moderate walking
Friday 45 minutes Easy cross-training
Saturday 8 miles Easy walking
Sunday 6 miles Easy walking
Ha! Easy-peesy, as I like to say. On Wednesday we walked 7 miles, tomorrow it's 17 and Sunday is 15. So 8 miles and 6 miles? CAKE-WALK! It's crazy how much progress I have made in this walking thing. I am going to use my new shoes and insoles tomorrow, so I am crossing my fingers on the blister thing. On my list today is to stop at the drug store and get some mole skin so I am ready in case of blisters. It usually takes a few weeks to break my shoes in. But the rest of me will be fine. I am also super excited about the weather forecast of 69. Crossing my fingers that the weather during the 3 day will be exactly that!
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Wednesday Evening Training Walk
The weather forecast for the day was 80 and sunny. Now, anyone who knows Seattleites knows that we are wimps in the sun. Myself included. I was really not looking forward to 80 degree walk, especially since Wednesdays tend to be full of massive hills because they are shorter walks. I lucked out and the weather cooperated! The marine layer stayed on for most of the day, keeping the temperature a perfect 72. Whoo Hoo! I will take it. It was a little humid from the clouds, but hey, you can't have everything. This was also the longest walk to date in my new shoes and insole. I am happy to report that the tops of my feet did not hurt at all! I was even walking at the front of the pack with Jamie, who always far out walks me. Tath even took a picture of us, it was amazing how much faster you can walk when you are not in pain. :-) That said, I do feel some pressure on my toes and I suspect that is just from having new shoes. The true test will be on Saturday when we walk 16 miles.
Terry rarely makes the Wednesday walks, we meet up at 5:15 which is hard to do when you are working. The group always goes to dinner after the walks (do you see why no one loses weight??) and I haven't gone to dinner on Wednesdays yet. I called Terry and he said "sure!" to the dinner meet up. It was Tath's birthday, so a good excuse to gather. OK, maybe I had a margarita too. But I did stick with a salad, does that count??
This weekend we have a 16.5 mile walk on Saturday and a 12 mile walk on Sunday. Terry is golfing Sunday so I will be walking without him. I need to get as many back-to-backs in as possible. They really do make a difference in your training.
Happy Thursday!
Terry rarely makes the Wednesday walks, we meet up at 5:15 which is hard to do when you are working. The group always goes to dinner after the walks (do you see why no one loses weight??) and I haven't gone to dinner on Wednesdays yet. I called Terry and he said "sure!" to the dinner meet up. It was Tath's birthday, so a good excuse to gather. OK, maybe I had a margarita too. But I did stick with a salad, does that count??
This weekend we have a 16.5 mile walk on Saturday and a 12 mile walk on Sunday. Terry is golfing Sunday so I will be walking without him. I need to get as many back-to-backs in as possible. They really do make a difference in your training.
Happy Thursday!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
The Shoe Fiasco
Today is Sunday and my husband is walking. He walked yesterday too. Me? Working, working, working. Yesterday we had clients in from California and today I have an open house and a listing appointment. Next week, I am determined to do the Wednesday night walk and both Saturday and Sunday. For now, me and my guilt are getting ready to work.
Shoes. Last week on our 15 mile training walk, my feet were KILLING me. It is so annoying. It's the tops of my feet. So, each light or pit stop I was adjusting, adjusting, adjusting my laces trying to get the aching to stop. If you remember, when I signed up for the walk, I went down to Super Jock and Jill and got fitted for new shoes. They go through this process of watching you walk, having you walk outside, etc. It feels like a very specialized, professional process. But my feet hurt. So what's up with that?
When Terry signed up for the walk, he went to Road Runner Sports in Seattle, just a block away from Jock and Jill. He came back and told me about their process and it made Jock and Jill's sound amateur. So last Monday, me and my aching feet went to Road Runner. I wore my shoes fitted by Jock and Jill so they could see what I already had. They greet you and ask if it's your first time in and when you say yes, they guide you toward their fitting specialist. First, I stood on an electronic pad that creates thermal imaging of your foot. It shoes where your pressure points are and how much weight you bear on different parts of the foot. Immediately, they could tell that I have a high arch and that I bear more weight on my left heel than my right heel. Next, they have you walk on a treadmill. What I didn't know is that there is a camera at foot level behind you when you walk. After a couple of minutes, I stopped and they showed me the video in slow motion. It indicates how your foot pronates or not when you walk. My foot was pretty straight with my achilles and they said I needed a neutral shoe. One that just holds my foot straight. Next, they have you stand on this pillow-type contraption. They heat a specialized insole and mold it to your foot for a customized insert. Wow. How cool is that?
Then, they send you over to the shoes with your new insert, instruct the shoe person what type of shoe you need (neutral) and then the shopping begins. He brought me several different shoes, which I tried and walked in and finally I decided on the New Balance.
They seemed to hold my foot snuggly and were comfortable. But comfortable is so relative when you are trying on shoes. The real test is a 15 mile walk! I have yet to try the shoes, it's been a crazy week. I plan to do some short 3-4 mile walks each day this week until Wednesday to get my feet used to the insert. If it takes away my upper foot pain, it will be a beautiful thing. But the kicker is, that they also told me the shoe I have been wearing to train in is the wrong type of shoe for my foot. Great! I have 9 weeks to go and I need to break in my new shoes. I am hesitant to buy another pair of shoes until I see if these really work and take away my foot pain. Money, money, money! But for now, I am excited about the possibility of walking without pain.
Wish me luck!
Shoes. Last week on our 15 mile training walk, my feet were KILLING me. It is so annoying. It's the tops of my feet. So, each light or pit stop I was adjusting, adjusting, adjusting my laces trying to get the aching to stop. If you remember, when I signed up for the walk, I went down to Super Jock and Jill and got fitted for new shoes. They go through this process of watching you walk, having you walk outside, etc. It feels like a very specialized, professional process. But my feet hurt. So what's up with that?
When Terry signed up for the walk, he went to Road Runner Sports in Seattle, just a block away from Jock and Jill. He came back and told me about their process and it made Jock and Jill's sound amateur. So last Monday, me and my aching feet went to Road Runner. I wore my shoes fitted by Jock and Jill so they could see what I already had. They greet you and ask if it's your first time in and when you say yes, they guide you toward their fitting specialist. First, I stood on an electronic pad that creates thermal imaging of your foot. It shoes where your pressure points are and how much weight you bear on different parts of the foot. Immediately, they could tell that I have a high arch and that I bear more weight on my left heel than my right heel. Next, they have you walk on a treadmill. What I didn't know is that there is a camera at foot level behind you when you walk. After a couple of minutes, I stopped and they showed me the video in slow motion. It indicates how your foot pronates or not when you walk. My foot was pretty straight with my achilles and they said I needed a neutral shoe. One that just holds my foot straight. Next, they have you stand on this pillow-type contraption. They heat a specialized insole and mold it to your foot for a customized insert. Wow. How cool is that?
Then, they send you over to the shoes with your new insert, instruct the shoe person what type of shoe you need (neutral) and then the shopping begins. He brought me several different shoes, which I tried and walked in and finally I decided on the New Balance.
They seemed to hold my foot snuggly and were comfortable. But comfortable is so relative when you are trying on shoes. The real test is a 15 mile walk! I have yet to try the shoes, it's been a crazy week. I plan to do some short 3-4 mile walks each day this week until Wednesday to get my feet used to the insert. If it takes away my upper foot pain, it will be a beautiful thing. But the kicker is, that they also told me the shoe I have been wearing to train in is the wrong type of shoe for my foot. Great! I have 9 weeks to go and I need to break in my new shoes. I am hesitant to buy another pair of shoes until I see if these really work and take away my foot pain. Money, money, money! But for now, I am excited about the possibility of walking without pain.
Wish me luck!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Getting Jittery Already!
The Boston 3 day walk is this weekend. It starts the nation out with 3 day walks. I am imagining me getting ready to embark on that journey. I still have 10 weeks to go. But if I lived in Boston, I would be walking in 3 days! That has me nervous already.
On Facebook, we receive posts by online ambassadors regarding the 3 day. What to pack, what to wear in your fanny pack, all kinds of tips and tricks to help us be successful. But this post I needed today. I actually had tears in my eyes as I read it. I needed to hear that someone is proud of me for doing this. I needed to hear that today. This person, whom I have never met and who has no idea I exist, pumped me up today. Read her post below and tell me you wouldn't feel pumped up!
On Facebook, we receive posts by online ambassadors regarding the 3 day. What to pack, what to wear in your fanny pack, all kinds of tips and tricks to help us be successful. But this post I needed today. I actually had tears in my eyes as I read it. I needed to hear that someone is proud of me for doing this. I needed to hear that today. This person, whom I have never met and who has no idea I exist, pumped me up today. Read her post below and tell me you wouldn't feel pumped up!
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Chubby Girl Walked 15 Miles!
3 months ago, I was so excited when I walked my first 6 miles, then 7 and on and on. Yesterday's walk was 15 miles and chubby girl made it! There were a lot of pit stops and about 20 people on the training walk. I seem to start out a little slower and then gain strength and speed as time and miles go on. Others, who start out strong and fast, sometimes end up behind me, or as in yesterday, end up in the sweep van. I am learning to trust my pace. A steady 3.0-3.25 mph pace. Tath, our team leader and a group of 4 other younger girls probably walk about 3.5 mph pace. So I am consistently behind them. But there are also people behind me. That's ok! At the 4th pit stop, I was getting antsy to be done. We have a busy weekend and lots of things to get done and the clock was ticking away. It takes a long time to walk 15 miles, plus add 15-20 minutes per pit stop plus a 30 minute lunch break and it really takes a lot of time. So after pit stop 4, a group of about 6 of us started out in front of the pack. We skipped the last pit stop and went for the finish line. I was tired, yes, but I was OK. I knew I could walk another 5 miles, like I will need to do on the 3 day walk. It is empowering! This 52 year old chubby girl non-athelete knows she can do it. That is powerful knowledge!
The 3 day is about so many things: raising money for breast cancer research, challenging one's physical and mental stamina, empowering those who have fought, won the battle or lost someone to breast cancer. It is also about the journey. Each day of this commitment is a new experience. The training, each additional mile, the people you meet who have been touched by this disease. Enjoy the moment. Enjoy the experience. I for one, plan to.
The 3 day is about so many things: raising money for breast cancer research, challenging one's physical and mental stamina, empowering those who have fought, won the battle or lost someone to breast cancer. It is also about the journey. Each day of this commitment is a new experience. The training, each additional mile, the people you meet who have been touched by this disease. Enjoy the moment. Enjoy the experience. I for one, plan to.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Virtual Personal Trainer -- The Weekly Dread
Every Friday morning, as I sit at my computer with my coffee, I get an email from the Susan G. Komen Foundation called "Your weekly virtual trainer". In the beginning (11 weeks ago) these were exciting to receive. Easy to work all of that walking into my week, I looked forward to the motivation I felt every Friday morning. This morning, this is what my email contained:
Countdown: 10 Weeks
Your Training Schedule for This Week:
Monday Rest
Tuesday 4 miles Easy walking
Wednesday 30 minutes Moderate cross-training
Thursday 5 miles Moderate walking
Friday 45 minutes Easy cross-training
Saturday 14 miles Easy walking
Sunday 10 miles Easy walking
So, I am totally great with the schedule through Friday. Even Saturday. But those back-to-back long days are difficult to achieve when life is as busy as it is right now. While I could technically do these walks during the week, walking any further than 6 miles on your own is boring. On the weekend training walks, we just show up and Tath has the whole route planned. It's like boot camp.....show up and before you know it, you are done. No thinking involved. Maybe I am just feeling guilty about the fact that I am not planning to do the group walk on Sunday. We are having company for dinner tonight, walking 15 miles tomorrow, going to a wedding reception tomorrow night, walking Sunday morning (maybe 6 miles while the group is walking 9) and to a concert Sunday afternoon. Never mind that work is BUSY and there is lots to do, never mind that I haven't vacuumed my house since we got home, never mind that our yard is a disaster. Life is BUSY.
There are 10 weeks left until the 3 day. Each weekend is going to be progressively more involved in training. I need to figure out a way to make it all work. I need to not feel so guilty when I miss a day. I did walk 7.25 miles on Wednesday evening. I will be walking 15 miles tomorrow. I will walk at least 6 miles on Sunday.
But then I think of Jess. Jess who just had a double mastectomy. Jess who is working on raising her arm again. Jess, who for the past 6 months has been going through chemo, then surgery, now recovery. Jess, who didn't get to choose what she was going to do instead of chemo. This is why I am walking. It isn't easy. Cancer is waaayyy harder.
So, CJ, Chubby Girl, get out there!
I will report back on Monday :-)
Countdown: 10 Weeks
Your Training Schedule for This Week:
Monday Rest
Tuesday 4 miles Easy walking
Wednesday 30 minutes Moderate cross-training
Thursday 5 miles Moderate walking
Friday 45 minutes Easy cross-training
Saturday 14 miles Easy walking
Sunday 10 miles Easy walking
So, I am totally great with the schedule through Friday. Even Saturday. But those back-to-back long days are difficult to achieve when life is as busy as it is right now. While I could technically do these walks during the week, walking any further than 6 miles on your own is boring. On the weekend training walks, we just show up and Tath has the whole route planned. It's like boot camp.....show up and before you know it, you are done. No thinking involved. Maybe I am just feeling guilty about the fact that I am not planning to do the group walk on Sunday. We are having company for dinner tonight, walking 15 miles tomorrow, going to a wedding reception tomorrow night, walking Sunday morning (maybe 6 miles while the group is walking 9) and to a concert Sunday afternoon. Never mind that work is BUSY and there is lots to do, never mind that I haven't vacuumed my house since we got home, never mind that our yard is a disaster. Life is BUSY.
There are 10 weeks left until the 3 day. Each weekend is going to be progressively more involved in training. I need to figure out a way to make it all work. I need to not feel so guilty when I miss a day. I did walk 7.25 miles on Wednesday evening. I will be walking 15 miles tomorrow. I will walk at least 6 miles on Sunday.
But then I think of Jess. Jess who just had a double mastectomy. Jess who is working on raising her arm again. Jess, who for the past 6 months has been going through chemo, then surgery, now recovery. Jess, who didn't get to choose what she was going to do instead of chemo. This is why I am walking. It isn't easy. Cancer is waaayyy harder.
So, CJ, Chubby Girl, get out there!
I will report back on Monday :-)
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Back from vacation and back to reality!
First of all, vacations are grand! We had a fabulous road trip spending 2 nights in Crescent Bar, 2 nights on Lake Couer d'Alene, 4 nights at McCall and 1 night in Walla Walla. We were ready to be home and back to Bella, who had a great time with Lissa at what we call "Disneyland" (Lissa's house).
We left on Friday the 2nd of July and that evening I got the training email from Tath. It was the next morning that I had a melt down. The group was going to be walking a ton while we were gone. "We have to walk!!" I told Terry. I was freaking out that we would return from vacation and I would be back to walking 5 miles, not 15, at a time. So my wonderful husband did humor me and we walked. 7 miles in Crescent Bar on Saturday! Hey, it was a start!
Off we were to Couer d'Alene and we walked the MASSIVE hill at Arrow Point, where our timeshare was located. There wasn't much of a shoulder on the main highway, we we went in search of trails and found Beauty Bay. The trail wasn't that long, only a mile but it was pretty hilly and that has to count for something, right? We did the loop twice and added it to the hill walk and we were at 4 miles. Oh well, at least we tried!
Here are a couple of shots from the trail. The vistas were gorgeous! The weather was cooler there than in Crescent Bar and you know, when you are hiking, cool weather is not a bad thing!
As we ventured off to McCall, ID, the panic started in again. It was Tuesday and I knew the group had walked over 22 miles over the weekend. Ack! We have to get at least a 10 mile training walk in! So my patient husband agreed and we planned a training walk first thing the next morning. Well, McCall is stunning. Really, really gorgeous. Plus there are lots of bike trails to walk on, keeping us off the main roads for at least part of the way. We donned our trusty fanny packs, loaded with 2 bottles of water and an energy bar and off we went. You discover so much more about a place when you are on foot. We dreamed about having a vacation home as we walked past hundreds of stunning homes. Terry dreamed about owning toys as we passed boats and jet skis and canoes and Hummers and Tahoes. Most of all, we were just so glad to be walking in this gorgeous place. How hard is this to take?
We left on Friday the 2nd of July and that evening I got the training email from Tath. It was the next morning that I had a melt down. The group was going to be walking a ton while we were gone. "We have to walk!!" I told Terry. I was freaking out that we would return from vacation and I would be back to walking 5 miles, not 15, at a time. So my wonderful husband did humor me and we walked. 7 miles in Crescent Bar on Saturday! Hey, it was a start!
Off we were to Couer d'Alene and we walked the MASSIVE hill at Arrow Point, where our timeshare was located. There wasn't much of a shoulder on the main highway, we we went in search of trails and found Beauty Bay. The trail wasn't that long, only a mile but it was pretty hilly and that has to count for something, right? We did the loop twice and added it to the hill walk and we were at 4 miles. Oh well, at least we tried!
Here are a couple of shots from the trail. The vistas were gorgeous! The weather was cooler there than in Crescent Bar and you know, when you are hiking, cool weather is not a bad thing! 
As we ventured off to McCall, ID, the panic started in again. It was Tuesday and I knew the group had walked over 22 miles over the weekend. Ack! We have to get at least a 10 mile training walk in! So my patient husband agreed and we planned a training walk first thing the next morning. Well, McCall is stunning. Really, really gorgeous. Plus there are lots of bike trails to walk on, keeping us off the main roads for at least part of the way. We donned our trusty fanny packs, loaded with 2 bottles of water and an energy bar and off we went. You discover so much more about a place when you are on foot. We dreamed about having a vacation home as we walked past hundreds of stunning homes. Terry dreamed about owning toys as we passed boats and jet skis and canoes and Hummers and Tahoes. Most of all, we were just so glad to be walking in this gorgeous place. How hard is this to take? 
We successfully completed 10 miles, all at one time, while on vacation. Yes! During the week, we completed a 5 mile, 4 mile, 7 mile and 10 mile walks PLUS an hour in the work out room on the eliptical and treadmill. No, I didn't lose weight on vacation. I drank wine, we ate out, and I even had a hand dipped coconut ice cream cone. But I feel good about it!
It's back to reality this week. Boot camp on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, a 6 mile walk tonight, 15 on Satuday and 10 on Sunday, plus work and house and a wedding and a concert and the family for dinner on Friday. That's life. You balance where you can. And you feel good about it.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Off on vacation and determined to get the training walk in!
Every Friday I get an email from the Susan G Komen virtual trainer. As I am packing for vacation, I am also thinking about when we can get our training in! Here is what my trainer says for the week:
Countdown: 12 Weeks
Your Training Schedule for This Week:
Monday Rest
Tuesday 4 miles Easy walking
Wednesday 30 minutes Moderate cross-training
Thursday 5 miles Moderate walking
Friday 45 minutes Easy cross-training
Saturday 12 miles Easy walking
Sunday 7 miles Easy walking
We head to Crescent Bar Washington tonight for the first 2 nights of our vacation. I wonder how excited my husband will be if I wake him to walk 12 miles in the morning. Hmmmm. But the next day, the 4th of July, we are off to Couer D'Alene ID and it will be party city. Or we could wait and get it in while we are in McCall. Decisions, decisions. We are going to be gone the next weekend too, so this planning a long walk is HARD. By the time we return, the weekend training walks will be up to 14 miles. Yowza!
Signing up for the 3 day is so much more of a commitment than most people (including me!) realize. But the training is important. I don't want to be the person injured and unable to finish. I am commited to being a trooper.
Wish me luck and Happy 4th of July America!
Countdown: 12 Weeks
Your Training Schedule for This Week:
Monday Rest
Tuesday 4 miles Easy walking
Wednesday 30 minutes Moderate cross-training
Thursday 5 miles Moderate walking
Friday 45 minutes Easy cross-training
Saturday 12 miles Easy walking
Sunday 7 miles Easy walking
We head to Crescent Bar Washington tonight for the first 2 nights of our vacation. I wonder how excited my husband will be if I wake him to walk 12 miles in the morning. Hmmmm. But the next day, the 4th of July, we are off to Couer D'Alene ID and it will be party city. Or we could wait and get it in while we are in McCall. Decisions, decisions. We are going to be gone the next weekend too, so this planning a long walk is HARD. By the time we return, the weekend training walks will be up to 14 miles. Yowza!
Signing up for the 3 day is so much more of a commitment than most people (including me!) realize. But the training is important. I don't want to be the person injured and unable to finish. I am commited to being a trooper.
Wish me luck and Happy 4th of July America!
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