Tuesday, July 24, 2007

My Mistake - Appleton Update

In my letter from the editor in the Summer issue of WALK! Magazine, I implied that walkers who enter the "competitive" division of the Appleton 13.1 Miles PowerWalk must racewalk. (Actually, that is what I thought.)

This is wrong! I just found out today that competitive walkers are NOT required to racewalk either. Basically, the judges are there to make sure everyone walks, not to watch for proper racewalking form.

I hope this misunderstanding has not kept any of you from entering the race!

Don't forget, the race is September 23.

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Another 8 Miles

I got my 8 miles in today! Though it was supposed to be a "not so easy 8", I started out slow. The first mile was 17 minutes! I have not used the lap feature on my watch yet, so I'm not sure how fast the last few miles were, but I did 4 in 63 minutes and I tried to go progressively faster.

The weather was perfect. It was sunny, but not hot. There was a pretty consistent breeze, so I never got over-heated. Unlike last week, I was totally aware of the hills. I think it is because I was trying to walk harder.

I feel as if I could do the 10-mile race in Flint next week! My training is going great!

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Disappearing Racewalking Division

It's not often that I hear about a race from more than one reader. Two told me they entered the Napa to Sonoma Wine Country Half Marathon, registered as racewalkers, then found out the day of the race there was no racewalking division.

I sent an e-mail to ask about it. Here's what the race director said:
The racewalk was only a registration category and was to let people know we welcomed racewalkers to our event (my mother is a nationally ranked racewalker). NOCRAP used to be involved and we are no longer allowed to present awards since it is a point to point course and we cannot afford to judge it. We've been told by participants and officials that awarding racewalkers when there is no mechanism to prevent run/walkers, is not fair and should stop. So, we stopped posting on the website that we'd be awarding any racewalk categories. However, we can provide a separate category for times and post that. I apologize for the confusion.


I appreciate his getting back to me so quickly.

Sunday, July 15, 2007

See Cindi in Appleton

Saturday, September 22 at 1:15 p.m. I'll be speaking at the Appleton Expo. It looks like the preliminary title will be something like "Why Walk?" I'll discuss the benefits of walking and goal setting, weightloss, overall fitness and maintaining motivation.

Come see me!

8 is Great!

I got 8 miles in today and it was great! I was a little nervous because once I get beyond 5 or 7 miles during training, I worry about how I will feel.

I went to one of my favorite parks that has an almost 4-mile loop. It has great trees, hills (hard to find in Columbus), varied scenery and deer. It also has drinking fountains, one 2-miles into the loop, and bathrooms.

Because it was hot I decided to take it easy for a couple of miles until I knew whether the heat would bother me. After about 2 miles I decided to just take it easy today. I enjoyed seeing how much everything had grown since my last trip there. There was plenty of shade and I even saw one deer. In fact, the walk was so enjoyable, I didn't even notice the second time I hit the hills.

I finished feeling fantastic!

Dave's Crim 10-mile training schedule has us do two 10-mile days. I know by the time I get to Flint for the Crim, I will be more than ready. I'm confident it will help my half marathon training, too!

Thursday, July 12, 2007

4 Miles today

My Crim race training program called for 4 miles "acceleration" today. That means, I had to start out at a reasonable pace and each successive mile to go faster and finally finsh very fast.

During my first mile I kept going too fast. I had to work at keeping myself at a reasonable pace. The last mile was pretty tough! I walked as hard as I could and still maintain it for a full mile. When I got close to home I sprinted. Well, what passes for a sprint for me.

What a great workout! I had forgotten how invigorating it can be to walk to change the pace. I finished feeling great - tired, but great!

Saturday, July 07, 2007

Racewalking? Maybe

I've had racewalking lessons, but I never really felt like I "got" it. I seriously need more lessons, but haven't had time. I wish I could have been to the Bonnie Stein clinic when she was in Columbus last month. I always attempt to racewalk, but I'm really not very good at it.

Anyway, today during my 6-mile walk, I wasn't really thinking about walking. Suddenly, I felt as if my stride was so smooth I was floating. I've been told you will feel it when you are really racewalking, and I think today I might have been doing it somewhat correctly!

I'll have to keep trying.

Thursday, July 05, 2007

Just Plain Tired

I just did NOT feel like walking today. It was hot, humid and I was still tired from our neighbors setting off fireworks until the wee hours this morning. I guess they didn't have to work today.

I decided to just go out and walk casually for 3 miles. I did that for about 40 min. and started feeling a little better as time went on. At that point I also stopped to watch an auto accident at the end of our street. It attracted several firetrucks and ambulances, and looked as if it involved 4 cars. I couldn't tell how many people were hurt.

That short break was just enough of a rest that I felt great! I picked up my speed and even added a couple of cul de sacs I Originally planned I would skip.

I feel bad about the accident, and wouldn't normally stop to gawk, but I needed to regroup. And I left feeling more energetic.

Discovery

I just discovered that the house with the invisible fence and the charging dog also has the invisible sprinklers that soaked me recently. If I see the dog, there is no water - if I see the sidewalks are wet, no dog!

Wednesday, July 04, 2007

Columbus Monthly Article


Earlier this year I was interviewed by Columbus Monthly magazine for an article about walking. Well, the article finally came out in the July issue! I'm pretty happy with how I came across. I'm quoted significantly, which was nice --especially since I sounded OK. The magazine did a good job of running photos of most of the people interviewed, and my photo was flattering. I'm a little hyper critical because I was on a medication that caused weight gain back then, and have lost more than 10 lbs since the photo was taken. Regardless, it's a nice photo. (My hairdresser will be happy my hair looks great!)

This is funny. I skimmed the article yesterday evening and was all excited. Then several hours later, when showing it to a friend, I noticed the subhead above the portion about me said "Unfit Thin Person." Now, I have always described my "before walking" life that way, but it hit me as humorous seeing it as the subhead about me!

I'm hoping that the publicity helps to generate some interest in WALK! Magazine by Columbus area walkers.

Thanks to Phil Heit for suggesting I be included in the story! Congratulations to everyone in the story, especially Larry Smith, who reads this blog!

Monday, July 02, 2007

Magazine Update

OK, I know this is an old excuse, but the printer did not mail the Summer issue of WALK! Magazine on Friday as I was told. In fact, it didn't mail today either.

With this printer it's SSDD.

3 Miles

Today was an easy 3 miles in my training schedule. It definitely helped with the stiffness I had left over from Saturday's walk.

What is funny is that it was chilly enough that I wore leggings and a long-sleeved shirt! In July! I never would have expected it. Granted, I had to walk after 9 p.m., but I still can't believe it was this chilly. I start my speed workouts tomorrow.

Sunday, July 01, 2007

Stiff

I'm a little bit stiff and sore today. It usually happens when I'm training for an event, but this time it seems a little more uncomfortable than usual. In fact, yesterday it was bad enough that I took Ibuprofen to sit through the baseball game and had to take even more today. Slow casual walking in the grocery store helped.