Sunday, December 31, 2006

New Year's Resolutions

If your New Year's Resolutions include improving your health, walking more, maybe training for a walking event... then WALK! Magazine can help you keep those resolutions!

We are choosing which events we will go to in 2007, and will have training programs posted on our web site soon. We would LOVE to have a large group of people in WALK! Magazine T-shirts show up at one or two of those events. We are in the process of developing a package that includes a training log, T-shirt, training schedule and motivation! The most important part of training is the motivation!

In the meantime, everyone should be walking 3-5 days a week to start building up base mileage.

I will let you know when we are ready!

New Blog Look

So, what do you think about the new look to this blog? Blogger/Google, who host this blog site, have offered new options for revising and updating a blog. The old one was very difficult to change and I couldn't figure out how to post pictures. I'm excited that I can now post magazine covers. Maybe you'll even see a few race photos.

Let me know what you think!

Thursday, December 28, 2006

Fifth Straight Day!

For the fifth straight day I was able to get out to walk. It was just a 25-minute tour of the neighborhood lights, but it felt good!

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Taking My Own Advice

I'm making more of an effort to get in a walk every day. To make it a little more festive, the family went to the Columbus Zoo tonight to see the holiday lights. It's been a number of years since we've been to see the holiday lights and it was really fun! The zoo has really made an effort to expand the decorations and the lights were fantastic! And because Christmas is over, the crowd was quite a bit smaller than last week's masses. (I don't do well in crowds.)

We walked around mesmerized for about 2 hours. I have no idea how far we walked since I forgot to wear a pedometer, but I can definitely feel it in my legs. Though I just started my everyday walking program on Sunday, I'm already feeling a difference.

What a great way to exercise and maintain a festive mood at the same time!

Tuesday, December 26, 2006

BMV

I walked to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to get new tags for my car today. (Yes, I just celebrated a birthday.) Looking at the others in line, I assumed I was the only person that day to walk to the BMV. I wonder, am I the ONLY person who walks to the BMV?

People in the U.S. will drive anywhere and everywhere. I've had neighbors ask if my car was out of commission because I walked to the library or the Post Office. But I see others who walk to those types of places, so I'm not alone. But walking to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles seems odd. If I had not had the proper paperwork, it's not like I could have gone out to the parking lot to get it out of my glove compartment.

Luckily, I don't mind people thinking I'm unusual because I walk. Let's all make a resolution! Let's resolve that in 2007 we will let our neighbors think we are a little odd because we walk.

Christmas Eve Calm

Our family has had a very hectic and stressful month. It was extremely difficult to get the regular shopping and holiday preparations completed.

Christmas Eve Day I had free time. I don't know how it happened, but it was really nice. I went down to the walking trail that loops around a little lake, and it was beautiful! The water was smooth as glass and the temps were very mild. As the sun moved down the sky, the oranges and reds reflected off the water beautifully.

What surprised me was there were quite a few people there. Joggers, walkers and fishermen, all enjoying the peace. And they were all friendly.

I even sat on a bench to watch the ducks for a few minutes before heading home.

Two laps and a little over 2 miles is exactly what the doctor ordered!

I hope all of you have a few moments to enjoy some peace and quiet during these hectic days!

Thursday, December 14, 2006

Getting Back to Normal - Kinda

Life is starting to get back to normal! The day was beautiful, and I really didn't have anywhere to be for a change, so I went out for a short walk. Today felt just like a spring day and was great for lifting my spirits.

This is a little off topic, but I don't feel that the days have been nearly as short as I have in previous winters. I have not been affected by the early evenings like I usually am. By this late in December, I'm usually going nuts from a lack of daylight. We have not had any snow yet, so that probably makes a big difference.

Let's hope I can start walking more regularly again and not just sneak in stair climbing and quick trips to the post office.

Sunday, December 03, 2006

Waiting Rooms

Today I had a couple of hours to kill and instead of sitting in the waiting room I decided to go for a walk. Unfortunately, it was a little too chilly for the way I was dressed to go outside. Being resourceful, I went to the parking garage and climbed the enclosed stairs to the 6th floor a few times. Walking stairs is different from actual walking, so it did not take long for me to exhaust my legs.

Because not many people walk "up" stairs when elevators are available, I did get some strange looks from the few people I saw who were willing to walk down. I could tell from the condition of the steps that the stairs above the third floor were not used much at all. They looked brand new! Regardless, it felt great to be out and moving and really tiring my legs. Not only did it help to release some stress, it inspired me to eat a great healthy lunch.

When you spend a lot of time in a car, as I have done over the past couple of weeks, and don't have time to exercise, you have to be resourceful.

Saturday, December 02, 2006

Nominations

I am overwhelmed by the number of nominations we received for our first Walker Friendly City and Walker Friendly Event contests! Though the gifts and souvenirs were a surprise, I think what surprised me more was the letters I received from Chambers of Commerce and other city groups. I even received a letter from a department of leisure & cultural services. I had no idea cities had leisure & cultural services departments.

We are in the process of sorting and organizing the nominations. And we will make the announcement in early 2007!

Thank you to everyone who sent in a nomination!