Monday, May 29, 2006

I'm a Slug

I have not really walked since the Cleveland Marathon. At first it was to rest, take my time recovering, etc. I would walk just to the post office at most.

Now, I have lost my desire to walk. I did walk around the block after dinner tonight, but that was mostly because I haven't really been out of the house all day. In my defense, I am working very hard to get the next issue of the magazine out and I am getting pretty close.

As soon as I get to press, I will start scheduling more walking.

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

What was I Thinking?

I had not planned to write today, but I was thinking about something that didn't make sense to me and felt like putting it in words.

Earlier today I found some information from a web site that estimated the number of calories a person needs in a day. (I can't remember what the web site was.) The site had a calculator that used height, weight and probably some other information to get the results. The recommendation for me was somewhere around 1800 calories. I stopped and looked at it again. Yep, 1800 calories! Over the weekend I had a health screening that said I burned about 1300 calories at rest. The person giving the test even recommended I consume 100 fewer calories a day to lose weight.

A 500 calorie difference seems like a lot! While talking to my daughter about it, she pointed out that the recommendation for an average adult is 2,000 calories a day. I also remember reading that an adult should not consume fewer than 1,200 calories a day.

Since I do not remember what was used to measure the web results there are many reasons why the numbers could different. Maybe the web site took into account my daily activity levels and the other didn't, maybe they are not both "at rest," maybe they are both flawed... who knows.

OK, here's my point. Before I re-found the info from the web site, I just blindly accepted the 1,300 calorie number. Why did I let some guy I don't know, whose back ground I don't know, talk me into believing health information that clearly doesn't make sense?

The embarrassing part is, I know better. The good news is, my daughter had the common sense to see it. I'm glad I have smart kids!

Monday, May 22, 2006

After Effects

I feel pretty good today! In fact, I feel better than I did after the Pig. No sore toes waiting for the nails to turn black, very little stiffness, no problems climbing stairs. I even wore heels today with no problem! I walked to the PO to pick up my mail and it felt great. (Not in heels.) I wish I could have been faster yesterday, but at least I feel good. I'll work on speed starting in a couple of weeks.

While talking about the weekend today, I told this story to a couple of people thinking it was funny, but apparently I'm the only one who saw the humor in it. I'm going to try it out one more time here.

At the Cleveland Expo, one of the exhibitors had a handheld device that measures percentage of body fat using an electrical current. I had the test done. The gentleman read the results and said I had too much body fat. (I knew that.) Then he looked at the card I had filled out with my age, height and weight, and he said, "Oh, for your age you are OK." At first I thought how cool it was that he thought I am younger than I am. Then I realized he was saying that because I'm old, it's OK to be fat. (Chris and Jeeyum, I am NOT fishing for compliments here. I'm just saying what ran through my head as I processed what he said.)Nothing good ever follows the phrase: For your age... Regardless, it's a good news bad news thing, and I think it is funny!

For the record, though I know I am not fat and I am within a normal range for weight, I would like to be more fit and replace some of my body fat with muscle. Also, I do not consider 45 to be old. In fact, within the last few years, I have felt healthier and younger than before I turned 39.

Sunday, May 21, 2006

Interesting Weekend in Cleveland

This weekend Cleveland was bustling! The Cavs played game 6 in the playoffs against Detroit, the Indians were at home, and we were there for the Marathon.

The start of the marathon today was rough. It was rainy, chilly and windy. We were thrilled we were doing just the half. Because it was so wet, there were very few bands and not much crowd support. There were plenty of water stops, though when we got to some of them they seemed surprised to see us.

I was a little surprised that we encountered traffic very early on - I think it was just 2 or so hours into the event. It wasn't until we got close to Jacobs Field that we realized there was another home baseball game during the marathon. The police did the best they could, but they were having a rough time keeping the cars back.

Within a mile or so of the finish, we turned a corner into a stiff headwind that was horrible! Luckily it had stopped raining earlier and had been sunny, so we had dried out.

As we approached the finish, we caught up with the full marathon finishers, which is nice. I was surprised how many people were there to cheer everyone on! Unfortunately, they had run out of half marathon medals. Apparently, a lot of people switched events over the weekend. That was disappointing, though we were given a flyer to tell us it will be mailed within 4 weeks.

Parts of the course were very pretty, though with rain and wind, being next to Lake Erie was tough. After the sun came out, the lake was really beautiful.

My finish time was close to 3:25 (forgot to stop my watch), about the same as Cinci two weeks ago. I didn't recover enough, though I saw plenty of other people from Cinci doing great. I walked with Chris from Georgia which was fun. I didn't even complain about the rain too much. My husband and his coworkers did great until the last couple miles when they were struggling. They finished just about 10 mins after me and Chris.

So, I'm not sure how to rate this event. I wouldn't mind getting comments from those of you who did this event.

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

New Ideas

We are trying to come up with new ideas to grow the magazine and offer added value for our readers. One idea we are throwing around is possibly adding an e-mail newsletter in between issues of the magazine. Four issues a year was great when we were first starting out, but three months between issues is a long time. And now that we are starting to attract more advertisers, there are items we would LOVE to include in the magazine, but we just don't have the room. As we try to figure out the most cost-effective way to do it, I'd like your opinions. If you would like to receive a newsletter in between magazines, please let us know.

We are working with the Chicago Walkers Club to create a membership benefit that includes receiving WALK! Magazine. The Club will collect the money and the addresses, and send them to us as their members renew their membership. It's a great idea that I hope will work for other clubs, too. If you are interested, let us know.

If you have any additional ideas for articles or to increase readership, we'd like to know that, too.

You can e-mail your suggestions to admin@walk-magazine.com.

Saturday, May 13, 2006

Overwhelmed by minutiae

Sometimes I get a caught up in the minutiae of everyday things and become depressed. Granted my everyday minutiae is a little different now that I'm publishing my own magazine, and I'm sure that is why it can be overwhelming.

But every once in a while, because of the magazine, I have the opportunity to meet really interesting people and they help me look beyond the minutiae and realize this is what I really want to do, and I can deal with it.

Earlier today I was a little depressed thinking about everything I have yet to complete for the Summer issue. I'm sure the grey skies and perpetual rain for two days did not help.

Then I went out to WalMart to interview members of the Steps Across American team. It's a group of people who are walking across the United States as part of the Sportline team. Split up in groups of two, four people walk each day. Each team walks 20 miles, one group in the morning the other in the afternoon. Each 20-mile leg, one of the team members carries a pedometer that will track the steps taken across the entire country.

The people I interviewed, Kam and Richard, were very nice and interesting. I came away from meeting them feeling better. I'm more energized, I'm excited about the article I will write, and I'm feeling good about finishing up some of the things I have yet to write!

So, stepping away from the minutiae and talking to people I would have never met otherwise, helped me today. Thanks Kam and Richard! I really enjoyed meeting you.

Thursday, May 11, 2006

Recovery

I feel pretty good despite being in pain on my way home from Cinci. I've done very little walking - just casually to the post office once or twice. I'm thinking I'll probably even be able to keep my toe nails! Woo hoo!

We are really looking forward to being in Cleveland next weekend. It may slow down my production on the Summer issue of WALK!, but I think it will work out OK. And because the course is flat, it should be a little bit easier than Cinci.

We are looking for the most walker friendly marathon to go to in 2007. Let us know if you have any suggestions.

Sunday, May 07, 2006

The Pig Rocks!

I had a great time in Cincinnati! The expo was fantastic but the race was even better! Well organized, plenty of on-course volunteers, lots of goodies at the end - it was great!

I met up with a couple of friends at the start. We tried to maintain a 15-min mile, but it was difficult! I had never entered this event because of the hills. Many said if I could do Parkersburg, I can do Cinci. Others said there is so much entertainment on the course, you will never notice the hills. Well, they all lied - or at the very least exaggerated! I was aware of every single hill. The one we went up in Eden Park seemed to be the toughest. Luckily, after the turn-around, the rest of the course was mostly down hill. Unfortunately, going down hill can sometimes be pretty tough, too.

It was a great weekend and a great event! I'll definitely do it again!

Thursday, May 04, 2006

Pigs are Flying

I'm getting ready for the Flying Pig this weekend. I LOVE expos! I love seeing all the new equipment and the creative booth displays. There's a buzz of excitement in the air. What is especially exciting about a fitness expo is seeing all of the healthy, active people walking around. Most of the people I see have just finished a strenuous training program and are ready for a major event - usually a marathon or half marathon. It takes a commitment to be in shape for these types of events, even if you are "just walking the half". (Sarcasm intended there.)

Most walkers like the idea of a WALK! Magazine, even if they don't subscribe. It's pretty cool when subscribers come up to the booth just to say how much they like the magazine.

I'm especially excited because I'm entering the half marathon this weekend. I've only done the 10K in Cinci before, and I'm really looking forward to this race.

So if you are in Cinci this weekend, stop by my booth on Saturday (Friday I need to leave early), or say Hi during the race. I'll be wearing a WALK! Magazine shirt.

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

New Shoes

I tried on some great shoes today! I loved the New Balance that replaces the former 833. I believe it is #825. Unfortunately, something has changed a little, and my right ankle wobbles in it even though I loved the 833.

Tried several other pairs, a couple like the NB that I wanted so bad, but my ankle was weak. They did not have the Asics I wanted to try, and won't until June. I ended up with a pair of Mizunos that are flexible and keep my ankle straight. I'm happy.

While walking around the parking lot in two different shoes - one bright red the other white with purple trim - I encountered a woman who gave me some advice on how to buy shoes. She was extremely nice, and the advice would be perfect for someone like her who has broken bones in her feet, but unfortunately, was not what I was looking for. I bought the pair she recommended, but for different reasons.

I hope my blister problem will be behind me. I loved the Saucony shoes I was wearing - they were light and flexible and comfy. I'm thinking they just were not right for the number of miles I've been putting on them. I would never recommend wearing brand new shoes in a race, especially as long as a half marathon, but with my blister problem I don't really have a choice. So, against everything I know I should be doing, I'll be wearing new shoes this weekend at the Flying Pig. I'll let you know how it goes.