Time Change Blues

I hate to get up early. The Fall time change is always easier on me than the Spring change for that reason. Unfortunately, I also hate having it get dark so early in the evening.

Today was absolutely beautiful, but because of errands I could not get out to walk while it was light out. I needed to make a quick trip to the store later and decided to walk so I could get a few steps in.

I wore a jacket and shoes that reflect well and I carried a flashlight. The flashlight was more so cars would see me than for me to see anything in particular. Everything was fine on my way to the store - cars seemed aware of my presence and the walk was uneventful.

On the way back, nothing big happened, but in the dark everything takes on more importance. For example, the cars at the big intersection I cross were not using their turn signals. Not normally a big deal when you can see the drivers and can tell if they can see you. It creeps me out when they just suddenly turn in my direction with no notice. I have to hope all of my reflective gear and the flashlight keep me safe!

Regardless, this time of year I have to figure out how to keep walking. I guess I'll just have to stick to the local neighborhood streets or "walk" my errands earlier in the day.

Product Reviewer Needed

I have received a sample of FitDeck Exercise Playing Cards to review for a future issue of WALK! Magazine. The deck includes a variety of exercises on cards that you would carry with you while walking. At preselected points on the walk you would stop and perform an exercise. This reminds me of the exercise equipment that used to line many walking paths in the 80s.

This is not something I would normally use because when I walk, I just walk. Unfortunately, most of my walking buddies feel the same way.

So, anyone who is interested in trying out this product, let me know and I will send it to you. To be fair to the manufacturer, I would prefer it if only someone who has an interest in this type of product offer to review it.

Send an e-mail to me at admin@walk-magazine.com

Thanks!

Does "Moonwalking" Count?

It's Halloween weekend and as usual I went to a Friday-night party. This year my husband and I went against tradition and did separate costumes. It was entirely my fault - I found something perfect for me, and we couldn't think of anything to go with it.

OK, I went to the party as Michael Jackson. I'm not sure what decade I represented, but the wig was pretty long, I wore dark aviator sunglasses and my skin tone was just about perfect as is. Very few people who know me guessed I was behind the glasses. Those who saw my husband were told I didn't feel like going to the party. (It did feel weird avoiding him most of the night.) The good news is, I technically won the costume contest! The bad news is, the DJ made a mistake and I actually received third place. All of the judges told me after the fact that they had voted for me. The funny thing is, they were more ticked about it than I was.

So, now my question: Does "Moonwalking" count for training miles?

A bonus for those who read this blog is a picture of me as Michael. Check it out here: http://www.walk-magazine.com/halloween.html

A First Step

OK, I finally had all of my aches and pains checked out by my doctor. In addition, as soon as I get back home from a short business trip, I'll be seeing a massage therapist and possibly a chiropractor. Between the anti-inflammatories and massages, I should be feeling great in no time!

Walker Friendly Event Nominations

Would you like to see WALK! Magazine come to an event in your area? If you know of an event that treats walkers great, send an e-mail with the subject line "Nomination Event" to Walk! Magazine at admin@walk-magazine.com.

Qualifying events include marathons, half marathons, charity races, walker-only events or any distance event that attracts over 1,500 participants.

People nominating events will be eligible to win entry to a local event (up to $60), a WALK! Magazine T-hirt, or a subscription to WALK!

Hurry! Nominations must be received by December 1, 2006.

Silence is Golden

Lately, because I am so busy, I have very few opportunities to sit back and relax. I am working on the next issue of WALK!, writing news releases, attending expos, completing subscription orders, filing paperwork, etc. In addition, I try to get in some walking, I go to my son's football games and I'm driving car pool to various kid activities. Reading is one of my favorite ways to relax, and I never have time anymore.

I have become the Queen of multi-tasking by listening to books on tape wherever I go. They are great for keeping me alert while driving a long distance, or after dropping off a carload of kids, while working on layouts and especially while walking.

Just the other day I noticed I am never surrounded by silence! My brain never has the chance to just think what it wants to think, to wander, to unwind. I was totally unaware this was a problem until the other day when I was alone with my thoughts for the first time in I don't know how long, and I came up with a terrific idea for the magazine. After writing down some basic thoughts and running the idea by several people, I realized it had been a long time since I was alone with my thoughts.

Granted, when you are busy you do need to multi-task to some degree. Listening to the news while entering subscription orders, listening to a book while driving, putting in a load of laundry before heading out for a walk. But there comes a time when the brain just cannot handle anymore. It needs a break. I will make sure I have at least a little bit of silence in my life everyday. I think my brain will appreciate it.

Printer Error

Due to printer error, the Fall issue of WALK! Magazine mailed 10 days late. They are in the mail and you should be receiving your issue soon.

Resigning as Walking Director

I started a posting earlier this week to let people know I had resigned as Walking Director of the Columbus Marathon, but weather and Internet connection problems prevented it from posting.

Here's the scoop. In September I resigned as Walking Director of the Columbus Marathon. It was within a week of finding out that all of the strides we had made in making the Columbus Marathon walker friendly were removed without consultation. I don't know why everything was cut back because I was never given a reason. In fact, I didn't even know until September. But what upset me the most was that they made changes to the Walking Division and never once discussed it with the two Walking Directors - me and Phil Heit. I'm even a member of the Running Community Advisory Committee, which is supposed to provide the marathon board with input from marathoners. I have been to only one meeting this year, so maybe I'm no longer a member and don't know it.

Anyway, the delay in notification had a lot to do with not knowing what to say. I didn't really want to trash the race, and I was pretty ticked to put it mildly. Also, they very nicely asked me to reconsider, and I was thinking about it. I decided to wait to see what they will do for next year. I don't want walkers to think I condone the changes that were made.

Also, I had a booth at the Expo and I didn't feel comfortable bad mouthing an organization that was doing business with me. From the number of walkers I saw, I'm confident they had a LOT more walkers than last year, and I'm sure it was because of the half-marathon option.

Because of injury (yes, it is still my IT band and I swear I will get to a doctor soon) I did not enter the half marathon as I had planned. I have been pushing for a half marathon for a long time, and wanted to support that. It was very weird sleeping in today. I have not done that on Marathon day in a long time!

I know I'm starting to ramble, but it has been a long weekend and I'm tired.

If you entered the Columbus Marathon, let us know what you thought of the event. And if you don't like something, it would be a good idea to let the marathon staff know. (Of course, if you liked the event, you should tell them that, too.)

Gift Giving Guide

The Winter issue will have our first ever Gift Giving Guide! We are very excited and have had some great suggestions so far. We have formed a committee to help with the selection process and will have a great collection of gifts for walkers.

If you have any suggestions for the Guide, send the info to me at admin@yahoo.com.

Taking it Slow

I've been resting my IT band and my knees for over a week. Racewalking (or attempting to racewalk in my case) aggravates the situation. Using the "Stick" to massage the area helps relieve the pain.

I really WANT to walk and today was one of those beautiful fall days that make it impossible to sit inside. So I went out to the bike path around the little lake to do a couple of laps. Because I had intended to avoid racewalking, I wore blue jeans. Not only is it impossible to go fast in jeans, it looks silly when you try.

Well, after two very easy miles, the IT band was beginning to feel sensitive. No pain, but it is sensitive to the touch. I stretched, I'll take some Ibuprofen before bed, and I'll even use the Stick. I'm irritated because it is irritated. I guess I'll have to break down and see my doctor. (Man I hate that!)

I'm sure it is from not training correctly. When you just do the long miles and not the weekday miles - well, you get injured.

Maybe, if I do it right, I can still do a half marathon or two before the end of the year.

1-Hour Racewalk

The one-hour racewalk hosted by the Buckeye Striders this past weekend was a great event! There were only about 11 participants but there were plenty of judges and lap counters - in fact many of us had planned on walking and didn't for various reasons. (My IT band is still bothering me.) Several others had intended to enter, but were already committed to the local 20-mile race held the same weekend. Matt Boyles and Susan Randall of the MVTC were the winners.

It was really exciting watching the walkers of all ages compete. Many of them were relatively new to racewalking, others have been racewalking for years.

Congratulations to Matt and Susan and to the Buckeye Striders for another successful event!

New Albany Walking Classic

The New Albany Walking Classic was held today. And as promised it was a great event! How Phil can even control the weather, I'll never know.

There were somewhere around 1,600 walkers at this year's 10K. The first male, Matt Boyles from Yellow Springs, OH, finished in about 50 min. (That is about an 8-min. mile.) It was almost 5 min. before the next walkers crossed the finish line.

The first woman finished under 60 min., though I did not get her name. (Sorry about that.)It was great seeing lots of friends like Bob from Texas, all of the people from WV and og course the Buckeye Striders. Thanks so much for stopping by to say hello!

Congrats to Larry Smith who barely beat out his nemesis, Rob Crouse. It was close to the finish and exciting to watch you guys compete!

Congrats and thanks, Phil! It was a lot of fun and I appreciate your letting us be involved!

Having a Ball

I have wanted an exercise ball for a long time. I'm not sure what made me think I would actually use it - I have an exercise bike in the basement that gets dusted off once or twice a year and I have a "step" and videos that haven't been used in years.

Still, I bought a big silver rubber ball. I did try some exercises with it when I first bought it, but that lasted about a week. Everyone got tired of moving it out of the way as it sat in the middle the family room. Ever since, it has been sitting in the corner of my office silently nagging me about not being used.

This week I replaced my office chair with the ball. That was one of the initial purposes when I bought it, why wasn't I doing it? At first I felt kind of silly, but I decided I really like it. It's fun to roll around and bounce while I type.

I've used it for just a couple of hours at a time. And just those couple of hours have made my abs sore. I can feel myself sitting straighter and holding by back and stomach muscles tighter. I think it will make a difference in my ab strength. Not sure I would want to do this for 8 hours a day, but for a couple of hours here and there, it's great!

Plus, I am finally using a piece of exercise equipment other than my walking shoes.

No Walking Division in Columbus Marathon

I have volunteered as Walking Director of the Columbus Marathon for 4 years. During that time we added an early start for walkers, made sure water stops would be open the entire time they were supposed to be open, added 7-hour and 8-hour pacers, guaranteed there would be goodies at the finish line for the slower athletes, gave out awards for walkers, and finally guaranteed walkers were treated with respect.

Unfortunately, a lot of that has come to an end. I was recently informed that, though there will be what is called a "Walking Division", the only benefit to walkers is they can start an hour early.

Now, I'm confident water stops will be open the full 8 hours and walkers will be treated with respect. But there will be no awards and whether you walk or run really doesn't matter. Sign up however you like and do whatever you want.

Even though I am a member of the Running Community Advisory Council for the marathon and one of the Walking Directors of the marathon, no one asked my opinion. You would think I would have input on issues affecting walkers. At least, I did in the past.

In the overall scheme of things, being treated with respect and having water stops open are the most important, and I'm glad I was part of making that happen.

Still, when the number of marathoners who walk is increasing across the country, this is a major step backward.

Beautiful Fall Evening

Today was one of those beautiful Fall evenings that make it easy to get in the training miles. The temps were mild, the sky was clear, the sun was low and turning orange. The water on the little lake was as smooth as glass and the trees, sky and sun were reflected perfectly. Every once in a while a lone duck would break up the reflection.

I had two problems. One, my iliotibial band was sore causing my left leg to feel sore and stiff. I was EXTREMELY slow! After two miles I felt better and was able to pick up my pace a little.

Second, after only two of four laps around the lake, the battery in my MP3 player died. ARGH!

So, I walked slowly in silence for two laps. It was still a perfect evening for walking and I feel great! Well, I ALMOST feel great. My left leg is still stiff and sore and my knees are swelling. But my mood is great! After a little ice and rolling my legs with The Stick, I should feel better in no time.

Talking About Training

It never fails, if I talk about my plans for training, the plans fall through. I had hoped to get three days of walking in earlier this week and was unsuccessful. At the very least, I thought helping my daughter move into her dorm room on the 4th floor with no elevators would make up for some of the mileage. Luckily for us, the school had arranged lots of upper class students to help with move in. I ended up making only 4 trips up the 4 flights!

At least I was able to get my long slow distance miles in today. Because I had not walked enough this week, the miles were VERY slow, too. I felt like such a slug! I tried not to plod too much, but my legs felt very tight making it difficult to keep my left leg straight. Time to get out "The Stick" and roll out my iliotibial band.

I also gave the wool socks a second chance. I don't want to spill the beans too early because the sock article will appear next year sometime, but let's just say I'm not a fan.

Everyone has an occasional week where they just cannot get their miles in. Unfortunately, it happens way too often for me. I hope this is the last.

Dark Park

As a rule, I try to avoid walking in parks in the dark. But tonight, after running errands and having a visitor in the early evening, it was 7:50, and I still had not left. I planned to do 4 miles tonight.

Knowing it would get dark before I was done, and not wanting to try to do that many miles in my neighborhood, I decided to head up a fairly busy road to the park at the library, do one lap while it was still light, then head home.

It worked out perfectly! I got to the park just as dusk was starting to fall. I planned my lap to do the section with the most trees while it was still light out. I finished the lap just as it was starting to feel dark in the park. I was amazed at the number of people I saw. It felt very safe.

Then I walked back along a well lit, busy, road and was in my neighborhood. Though I really needed to do 4 miles, I feel good that I was able to squeeze in a little over 3 that late in the evening. Tomorrow I'll try to make it up by doing 5 miles.

Argh!

How many years have I worked on computers?
Over 23.

When did I first learn that you need to save your work?
Oh, about 23 years ago.

When did I learn that you need to backup files?
Oh, about 23 years ago.

Have I ever lost parts of a project because I hadn't saved it?
Unfortunately, LOTS of times!

When was the last time the power flickered and I lost all of my work because I had not saved it?
Earlier today!

Argh!

7 miles

Today was the Columbus Half Marathon. (Not to be confused with the half marathon option during the Columbus Marathon in October.) Though not trained for it, I went anyway. I told the race director I would help promote it, which I did, and he gave me the chance to speak at the beginning and lead the walkers. About 5 this morning it was raining so hard, it woke me. I thought, I'm not going and rolled over. Of course, I had called the RD the night before and said I would be there, so I had to go. Luckily it had stopped raining by the time I had to get out of bed.

Before the race, I said something inane about the weather (sounds like a CEO I know), wished everyone a good race and went to the back of the 30-50 walkers. Most of the walkers there had heard about WALK! Magazine, so it is probably just as good that I didn't see anywhere to set out magazines and flyers. If I had been thinking, I would have left them at the running store where people registered and got their goody bags.

This weekend was supposed to be a 7-mile day. So I walked out 3.5 miles with the walkers, then turned around and went back. I assumed (wrongly) that the course was a straight there and back. It wasn't. Once it entered the bike trail, it went out and back, then back out to a different park entrance. I ended up walking along a busy street by myself to get back to the high school.

Regardless, it was fun. I met two really nice women who I talked to for the first 3.5 miles and I hung around to see some of my walking buddies finish. A bunch of them were between 2.5 and 3 hours!

I feel pretty good. I think I might still do the Air Force half Sept. 16, and use it as a long training day. I'm not sure I can do the New Albany 10K on the 17th. I'll have a booth, and I don't think I can do both.

In the meantime I'll keep training for the other Columbus Half.

Lists

Foods I cannot live without:
1) Trader Joe's "A Fig Walked into a Bar" breakfast bars.
2) Chips and salsa - any salsa.
3) Cheese.
4) Peanut butter. (Especially on mornings before a long training walk.)
5) Good dark chocolate.
6) Coffee.
7) Hot dogs - but only during baseball season.
8) Any pasta.
9) Diet Coke with lots of ice.
10) Corona with lime.

Foods I would not miss if I never had them again (I don't hate them I'm just lukewarm):
1) Cottage cheese.
2) Applesauce.
3) Jello.
4) Apples.
5) Saltine crackers.
6) Ginger ale.
7) Sushi.
8) Any food establishment's combo platter of deep-fried appetizers.
9) White bread.
10) Breakfast cereals.

Foods I would eat non-stop if they were healthy:
1) Potato chips with dip.
2) French fries.
3) Good trail mix.
4) Cheeseburgers.
5) Good dark chocolate.
6) All cheese.
7) Schmidt's Bahama Mama's.
8) French fries. (I really like French fries!)
9) Corona with lime. (La cervesa mas fina!)
10) Fried fish sandwiches.