Love/Hate Chipotle

I took a couple kids to Chipotle the other day. (They are athletes and had burned a ton of calories that day.) We all ordered our burrito bols and burritos and went back to our house to eat. We got home and all I kept thinking is, this is the smallest Chipotle burrito I have ever seen! All of the burritos seemed smaller than usual.

One of my biggest complaints about Chipotle is that the burritos are too big. They are so large, the calorie count is really more than enough for two meals. You can check the calories on the Chipotle Fan web site: http://www.chipotlefan.com/index.php?id=nutrition_calculator.

So, I find it funny that the first time I get a more reasonably sized burrito -- I was disappointed. After I thought about it a minute, I was happy. Chipotle burritos are a weakness for me. The last time I ordered one, I was able to split it and eat it for two meals. I don't often have that kind of self control, so it was nice having the decision taken out of my hands.

So, again, I feel like a hypocrite. I love Chipotle -- but the burritos are just too much!

8 Miles

It was 27 degrees when I ended up at Sharon Woods for an 8-mile walk this afternoon. I ended up being a little overdressed. Two technical shirts, thermal walking pants, wind resistant jacket, gloves, hat and gaiter. At first I was pretty cold, but after about a mile I was a little too hot. As I went around the 3.8 mile loop, I was chilly in the shade and too hot in the sun.

Parts of the trail were snow covered and others were slick, but the majority was clear. Regardless, I was moving pretty slowly. I think part of the problem is that I didn't get out to do a long distance last weekend.

Despite the snow it was a beautiful day! Oh, and I saw a deer!

Wiped Out ... But Still Did Push Ups

We were at the City Wrestling meet from 5 p.m. to about 10 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m. to about 7 p.m. today. It is amazing how draining it can be to watch other athletes all day. The adrenaline rush as each wrestler from our school was up. The highs and lows as kids we have watched all season won and loss. Whew! I am totally and completely wiped out!

Yet, I did my push ups for the 100 Push Up program about 10:30 tonight. The sets were 4, 5, 4, 4, and as many as possible with a minimum of 5. The first 4 were amazingly easy! And I was thrilled to do 7 in my last set.

I have had problems with self sabotage for many goals. I'm not going to start out the first week of push ups by skipping a day.

Overcoming...

After re-reading my posts about sabotage and skipping walking this past weekend, I decided I needed to be more vigilant. I originally planned to try walking at one of the local parks, but didn't want to drive out there only to find there was too much snow. So, I put on my boots and winter coat and walked in the neighborhood instead.

At a steady pace, it took about an hour to walk the same distance I normally do in 35-40 minutes. I couldn't go very fast, but I did try to stay consistent. Many of the sidewalks were very clear and some had not been shoveled at all even after last week's snow fall. If it wasn't too deep, I walked right through, otherwise I temporarily walked in the street.

My heart rate did not get up very high, but I could definitely feel my legs. This type of walking is quite a bit different from racewalking! 

So, I rode the antique exercise bike yesterday, I ate healthy all day, and I did push ups and walked this evening. I'm working on overcoming the saboteurs.

Push Up Update -- Feeling Stronger Already

This was day 2 of the 100 Push Ups training program and I'm pretty excited! On Monday the second and last sets were 3 and I could barely do it -- especially the last 3.

Today the first set was 3 and they were almost easy! The other sets were 4, 2 and 3 with the final set was as many as possible, but a minimum of 4. I was able to do 6! Today's total was 18 and it was definitely easier than the 12 total of the first day.

My husband is working through a tougher level than I am. His sets were 10, 12, 8, 8 and a min of 12. His last set he did 14!

We both had muscle pain today, but it wasn't too bad. (I was more sore yesterday.) I am even more confident that I'll be able to do 100 at the end of this program.
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Our son has temporarily dropped out of the training program. He has a big wrestling meet this weekend.

Sabotage

Some people just have great self control and self discipline. I've mentioned before that my dad had the most self discipline of anyone I have ever known.

I do not.

Though I am very goal-oriented, I need measurable benchmarks, and I really enjoy success -- but sometimes I sabotage myself. For example, I've wanted to lose 10 lbs. for a couple of years. Sometimes I gain weight, sometimes I lose weight, but I still have not lost that 10 lbs. A few weeks ago I decided I really want to lose that weight and again started tracking what I eat. Tracking calories is supposed to help people to make smart health decisions and to eat better. I gained 2 lbs.

Well, the next week I lost the 2 lbs. and eventually lost an additional pound. I immediately could not control my urge to eat a bacon blue cheeseburger, didn't exercise all weekend and gained it right back. (Yes, I did write it down. The calorie count that day was outrageous!)

I often start very well. I don't like breakfast, so I make myself eat whole wheat toast with peanut butter or a healthy granola bar (Kashi brand). Mid-morning I eat fruit. I've had some really healthy lunches and felt great. But if I let myself get hungry in the afternoon, or after dinner -- everything falls apart. Even with no change in my purse, I find a way to buy a bag of Doritos from the vending machine. Once I get home I think I'll have one cracker with a little cheese while I'm cooking something nice and healthy, and before I know it I'm no longer hungry and half the box of crackers is gone.

I sometimes do it with exercise, too. Saturday I didn't walk because of the snow. Understandable. Sunday, I didn't even attempt to go outside and found out too late that the trail at Sharon Woods was clear and others had a great walk. (I needed 8-10 miles to stay on my training schedule.)

So, I have to wonder -- why do I sabotage my success? What am I afraid of? The next thing I need to figure out is how to stop it.

There are two things I know for sure.

If I make a race into a big event, I am always prepared. I'm confident I will finish the Arizona Distance Classic, though the weather has not been conducive to the type of training that would help me PR. (This one will be for fun.) If I do choose a full marathon for later this year, I will PR.

Second, if my son bets me that I cannot do something -- I won't fail! This goes toward the push up challenge. He bet $20 that I won't be able to do it. I will.

So, if I could get someone to care about how much I weigh other than just me, or if I could make it some type of challenge or big event, I know I'd be successful.

Started the Push Ups!

My family and I started the 100 Push Up training program today. http://hundredpushups.com/week1.html

Last week we did the initial test to see where we should each start, but couldn't start the training for real until today. I did 2, my husband did 20 and our son did 26. (Our son did so many, he gets to start at week 3 in the advanced column!) The training schedule includes 5 sets of push ups 3 days a week. We plan to do ours on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday and I will be doing the modified version or "girl" push ups.

Needless to say, the 49-year-old woman with no upper body strength is starting at the lowest point possible. The schedule called for us to take 60-second breaks between sets. My sets were 2, 3, 2, 2 and then as many as I could, but no fewer than 3.

Boy, that last 3 was hard! It sounds so silly, and I hope I look back at this entry in a few weeks and laugh. (I'm comparing this to the first time I ever walked more than 4 miles and thought it was hard. Now 4 miles is nothing.) I had to try that last push up 4 times, and just could not push back off the ground. I finally did a cheater push up -- I didn't go all the way down to the ground, but at least I could get back up.

Lenny's first week schedule was 10, 12, 7, 7 and as many as he could, but no fewer than 9. The first few sets did not look too difficult and he was able to do 10 for the final set.

Our son's schedule was 14, 18, 14, 14 and no fewer than 20. He did the first few sets really fast! He did get worn out for the final and stopped short of 20. I'm not worried about his ability to work up to 100.

So, my arms are tired, but I'm pretty confident that I can work up to 100. Hey, it wasn't easy to walk 26.2 miles, but I was able to train to do that!

(No photos today. Everyone is in bed already!)
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I plan to start the 200 sit up training program soon. I'm having some issues with lower back pain, so it isn't the best time to start doing sit ups. (Technically, they are crunches, which is less stressful on the back than full sit ups, but I'm having a lot of trouble sleeping because of the pain. I don't need to aggravate it.) Back strengthening exercises maybe?

What to do After Record Snows? Plan for the Year

Columbus had record snows Friday and Saturday. It's beautiful outside and the main roads have all been plowed, but in our neighborhood the snow is still pretty deep. I can only imagine what the bike trails are like.

So, what does a person who needs to walk 8-10 miles this weekend do on a day like this? Well, she sits on the couch, drinking coffee from her US Air Force Marathon mug and tries to figure out which races she will be entering this year.

I am still considering entering a full marathon. A couple of years ago I had decided that if I did do a full marathon again, it would have to be a big event. Unfortunately, our family finances may not allow that. I have a couple of friends doing Portland in October, which sounds wonderful! It is the most walker friendly event ever! However, it is an expensive race ($100 entry fee), and by the time you add airfare and hotels, well, it adds up quickly. I have not totally ruled it out yet.

Other races I've considered have pretty strict pace limits I'm not sure I could maintain for 26.2 miles. Though I'm much faster than I used to be, and I am working on speed, I don't know if I could be faster than 15 min per mile for that long. (Marine Corp requires 14 min per mile. That is definitely out!) I finished my last two half marathons averaging about 14:30 per mile, but a full marathon is a little different.

The Columbus Marathon would be easy to get to, is fairly inexpensive (compared to Chicago at least), but I'm not so sure it is a good race for walkers who go farther than the half marathon distance. The half last year was great!

There are other full marathons within driving distance, but I worry about what it is like for walkers. I don't want to me out in the middle of downtown Cleveland by myself with no people anywhere. (Yeah, I saw it. I won't do Cleveland.)

Detroit is at a good time of year, and it was a very good half marathon. I'm just not sure I would want to do a full there.

I've done the US Air Force Marathon twice. I also entered the half about four times. I have loved this race every time I've done it. It might be cool to do the same marathon for my 50th birthday that I did for my 40th. I know I would finish faster and there are so many more walkers who enter this event, it would not be as lonely as it has in the past.

So, I have a lot to think about and will have to really examine my bank accounts before I make a decision. Regardless, the more I think about it, the more I am sure I will be doing a full marathon in 2010.
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Scheduled events to date:
Arizona Distance Classic, Tucson, March 28
Indy Mini Marathon, Indianapolis, May 8

Possible events:
Portland Marathon, Portland, October 10
U.S Air Force Marathon, Dayton, September 28
Detroit Free Press Marathon, Detroit, October 17
Columbus Marathon (or half), Columbus, October 17
News and Sentinel Half Marathon, Parkersburg, August 21

High School Prophesy?

Today, while cleaning out the basement, my husband located my yearbooks.

I  looked through them and was surprised at some of the things I had completely forgotten about including my senior class's Last Will and Testament. In it I willed my younger sister "my best walking shoes" since I would no longer be available to drive her to school.

Who would have thought? (If her feet were not a bigger size than mine, I would still be happy to leave her my walking shoes.)

Weird Things I do...

As the Buckeye Striders plan the 10-mile race this weekend, we had a lot of discussion about the course.

I wrote instructions that said, "Go clockwise until you reach the 1-mile mark." We've been there a lot, but there was some confusion. The instructions that were sent out said to go clockwise until you reach the 3-mile mark.

So, to be absolutely positive that the marker I think is there is actually there, I went out to Sharon Woods tonight to check about 5:40.

I walked clockwise around the trail, and as expected, at 0.8 miles I encountered the 3-mile marker from the other direction. It started getting a little dark, so I picked up the pace and was thrilled there is a 1-mile marker just where I want it to be! Yea!

I turned around to head back. It's funny how much darker it is at this park when you are in the midst of the pine tree section around dusk! Though the walk was uneventful, and I got the info I needed, I should be just a little more careful about what time of night I start walking in public parks.

The (Maybe) Buckeye Strider Race this Weekend.

The Buckeye Striders is planning its first ever race. The purpose of the race is to give our members an opportunity to do a long-distance race in the winter and to keep up our training. Though we originally planned it to be a half-marathon, we lost track of time for training, and settled for a 10-mile race.

The first scheduled date was last Sunday. It was so cold out, we canceled and re-scheduled for this upcoming Sunday. We have a prediction for heavy snow this weekend, so we may have to postpone again.

We were trying pretty hard to plan a race route that would be as close to 10 miles as possible without having to be USATF certified, or to avoid actually measuring it. Our solution is to use the trails at Sharon Woods. Not only is it a loop course, there is water available, there are shelters for after the race and there are mile markers!

The race will start at 9. Participants should be at Sharon Woods (first parking lot on left) no later than 8:45. We will have a main stop watch, numbers and food after the race. (With any luck, we will also have a fire.) You will need to carry your own water. The race is free.

If you are in Central Ohio and think you might be interested, please send an e-mail to me so we can keep you updated. Be sure to check your e-mail that morning to be sure the race is still on.

I hope we will see you Sunday - weather permitting!
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The picture of the 1 mile marker was taken today about 6 p.m. at Sharon Woods. I just had to check that it was there.

Getting in an Extra Mile

Elaine, Deb and I met today for our mid-week walk. Though we usually do hills, the last couple of weeks, we've done a little distance instead.

Today, we started at the 0.5 mile mark on the road at Griggs Reservoir, and went north toward Lane Road. The mile markers go up to 2 miles, yet the road goes a little farther. (We go to the end.) We then turn around to go to the starting point. After reaching the 0.5-mile mark, I decided I really wanted to head to the 0 mark and back to add another mile. I was thrilled that Elaine decided to go, too.

I'm glad I added the extra mile -- I really needed it. And since it was a balmy 42 degrees outside today, it even felt spring like!

It was a good day for walking!
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Note: I did not feel that I was working especially hard today. We were walking at a brisk pace and there were some slight hills, but nothing strenuous. When I got home and reviewed the results on my HR monitor, it said my peak HR reached 185 BPM! I'm not quite sure how that could happen considering I was working my hardest Saturday, and only reached a peak of 177. Tests also said my max HR is 185. Is that possible? I decided today that I really need to get a book about the best use of HR monitors.

Walked Inside Today

I don't belong to any type of fitness club. So my access to weights, exercise equipment and an indoor track are severely limited.

On days like today, when the temps were in the teens, it was nice to take advantage of the fact that other members of the Buckeye Striders do have access to indoor tracks. Today we were at the Capital University in Bexley.

The track is about an eighth of a mile and the track surface is somewhat soft. It's a really nice switch on a day like today.

The other thing I like is that it is much easier to walk with a variety of different members of the club when we are on a track. People will speed up or slow down to walk a couple of laps with someone. When we are outside on a trail, we all tend to walk with the same people every week -- we naturally break up based on pace.

I tried to walk harder than I usually do, but didn't even attempt to figure out how far I went. I was not planning to walk in the same lane every lap, so I didn't count them. When I was with people who are faster than I am, I'd walk closer to the inside lane. When with people who are a little slower than I am, I took a lane more toward the outside.

As we got close to when we had to leave, I sprinted as hard as I could for the last lap. Though my heart rate was hovering around 144 throughout most of the workout, I was able to get it up to 177 during the sprint. I'm thinking that might be closer to my maximum heart rate.

It was a good morning for walking and I really appreciated that in January we could walk and be warm!
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Photo by Yali Shi.

Fitness Challenge -- 100 Pushups

As I've noted here before, I have NO upper body strength. I've just about given up on doing even one pull up (I can still do only half of one). I've tried to lift light weights and do other exercises, but it's just not enough to keep me going.

I'm hoping that signing up to do the 100 Push Ups Training Program will give me a reason to follow through. (It might work. Signing up for half marathons is the only thing that keeps me walking.) If that doesn't work, my 16-year-old son has bet me $20 that I won't be able to do it -- now that is incentive!

The program on the website http://hundredpushups.com/week1.html is pretty straight forward and seems doable.

So, this weekend, my son and husband and I will do the initial test and we will start the program on Monday. I'll keep you posted on our results!

New Inspiration

Deb, Elaine and I are getting back into our weekly walk routine. I always feel better when I walk with them.

Today we went to Griggs Reservoir and instead of doing hills, we went the opposite direction for a little more than 3 miles in about 43 mins. The temps were in the mid-30s, but it did not take long for us to warm up. I probably did not need to wear two tech shirts under my great new jacket.

I did try to get the others to walk a little faster, but I was only moderately successful. Toward the end Elaine and I decided to sprint and though I had a pretty good lead when we started we finished at just about the same time.

I missed a couple of mile markers, so I don't know for sure how fast we were per mile. My heart rate did average about 136 with a peak of 168.
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The "new inspiration" part of this blog posting is trying to find something fun and exciting to train for this year. I'm thinking I might like to do another full marathon after all. But as those of us who have done a marathon know, the race is the easy part -- it's the training that is hard. It would have to be the right race, at the right time of year and the right price.

I'd also love to hike the Grand Canyon, but I'm not sure it will work this year.

If I don't do a full this year, I might do 6 halves instead. That could really be fun!

I'm also feeling a little more inspired to lose the 10 lbs. I've wanted to lose for the last couple of years. (In the last week, that has increased to 12 lbs.) I also recently learned that losing that small amount of weight could affect my speed. So, if I'm successful, it could help me walk faster.

And this last inspiration is going to sound a little weird. I recently read about a website called 100 pushups. It is a training program to help people build up to doing 100 nonstop pushups. I'm thinking I might try that.

Looks like I may have to write some walking resolutions this year!

Calories consumed 1360. Calories burned 440.(According to heart rate monitor.)

You Have it Within You to Be Amazing

My friend Larry has a great blog called Walking the Talk with LarryWalksFast at http://larrywalksfast.wordpress.com/. Though he claims that writing is hard for him, you'd never know it. His information is good and presented well. You'll love it!

His wife Andrea is also a very talented writer. She recently did a guest blog posting, "You Have It Within You to Be Amazing." After reading that blog post, I am starting to feel inspired to do another marathon this year for my 50th birthday. (You may recall that I previously had decided against doing one.) And I'm feeling inspired to try a few other things I've been putting off. I can't wait to get home and DO something!

If you ever need your own personal cheerleader to encourage you to get out and walk, enter a race, set big goals or even to skip the Wendy's Bacon Blue Cheeseburger you are dying for (am I revealing too much here?) this blog post will help. I'm planning to print it out and keep it where I can read it often.

Thank you Larry and Andrea!
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You can also follow Larry and Andrea on Twitter: @LarryWalksFast and @AndreaApplegate.

I don't do Rain in the Winter

My friend Elaine and I had planned to walk today about 4:30 -- unless it rained. At a little after 4 I went to the office restroom to change into my walking clothes and on my way back to my office I happened to notice the sidewalks were wet. ARGH! It had not rained all day.

Because Elaine had warned me the night before that she would not walk in the rain, I was prepared. Since I had already changed my clothes I decided to walk at the park anyway.

I was driving that direction and it started raining harder and harder. Then I remembered: There is a reason I don't do rain in the winter -- it's cold and miserable!

I ended up driving past the park and heading straight home. Yeah, I'm a wimp.

Locked out of the House -- Sort Of

While out for one of my "cold weather" walks (winter coat and boots) my husband left the house to pick up our son. I arrived home while they were gone and, since I did not take my house keys with me, continued to walk in the neighborhood while I waited. After about 20 min. of waiting, I finally called to see when they would return.

Though they were only about 5 min. away, I was informed the front door was unlocked! I could have entered the house at any time!

The good news is, I walked for 20 min. longer than I had planned. The bad news -- I'm an idiot!

Trails were Thawed!

I met my friends at Sharon Woods park this morning at 7:30 to be sure to get 6 miles in. My car said the temperature was 34 degrees, but after the cold spell we had most of the month, it felt really warm!

Though most of the trail was clear of snow, we were there early enough that there was a very thin layer of ice in spots.

We walked straight out for 1 mile then turned around to the start to meet the rest of the walking club members. There were a ton of us there!

We did 6 miles in about 1:28.
Mile 1 - 14:44
Mile 2 - 15:06 (stood around for about 20 secs waiting for others)
Mile 3 - 14:36
Mile 4 - 14:36
Mile 5 - 14:19
Mile 6 - 14:30

My peak heart rate was 162 and the average was 134. I might not have the correct HR monitor for me. though it tells me the average HR for each mile, I can't tell how long I was in each "zone". I think would be helpful.

Regardless, today I'm happy because my new asics jacket worked great with only one technical shirt under it. I opened the side vents after just a short amount of time. It was a really good morning to walk.

New Jacket is Great!

Yesterday I exchanged the jacket I got for Christmas. Though the Pearl Izumi jacket was VERY cute, fit perfectly and was designed for cold weather, the wind blew right through it. (I took my husband to FrontRunner, tried on jackets and showed him the one I wanted.) The sales clerk assured me it would be wind resistant -- it wasn't.

Anyway, yesterday I returned it and found the exact jacket I wanted! It's made by asics, is a great color I won't get tired of (plum), is wind resistant and water resistant, and there are zippered vents at the shoulders. The sales clerk who waited on me this time said they sell out of this one quickly and the current shipment just came in. Yea! (It's actually a weather-resistant shell that requires layers underneath, but that is my preference.)

I had the opportunity to try out my new jacket when Deb and I did our hill workout tonight. It was sunny, but probably only 30 degrees when we started at about 4:45. After just a couple of minutes we were warmed up, and after a couple hills, we were both very warm and sweating. As the temps dropped, the wet spots on the street at Griggs Reservoir started to freeze and it was tough to tell what was frozen and what was just wet. After we both slipped a couple times, we decided to call it a night. We ended up walking for about 47 min. and got back to our cars just as the sun was beginning to set behind the trees at 5:30.

Because one side of the hill still had snow and ice, we walked to the top of the hill, did a loop around the fountain at the top, and back to where we started. I lost track of the laps, but the uphills felt great! And we both had plenty of energy to go farther. It's a shame the weather did not cooperate.
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Wore two technical shirts under jacket, which was a layer too much. It was great having vents at the shoulder. My MR peaked at 152, which is in the fourth zone. I still have to figure out how to determine how long I walked in each zone. Just saw that it is possible to add on something that will allow me to download info to my computer. I'm going to look into that.

Note: I hate jacket colors that can look too dated. A lot of what I saw at one store was teal and pink. I think after a year, teal will get old and I'm just not a pink person. I loved the red Pearl Izumi jacket and the plum color of the asics jacket is great!

Walking in the Dark ... I Mean in the Light

The best thing about walking at night in the winter is ... it's never really dark! There is so much snow right now it reflects what little light came from porch lights and headlights of cars.

I couldn't find either of my reflective vests and my winter coat is a very dark blue, so I was a little worried walking tonight. Once outside, I could not believe how light it was. I wore one of my headlamps, but it was totally unnecessary.

Though most of the sidewalks were fairly clear, there was one whole block in front of rentals that had not been shoveled. It was OK because it made my workout more intense.

The route that normally takes 25 min. when I racewalk, and took 31 min. last week, took 37 min. tonight. It felt great! 

Finding a Healthy Lunch Salad

I have got to quit going to Panera. Why? Well, as I was preparing to write this post I noticed that for years I have been complaining on this blog about the company's salads. I went to Panera just this week and things have not really changed. Even the reduced fat balsamic vinaigrette dressing has 130 calories.

So I am planning to avoid Panera salads. If I forget, I will not complain here. (Promise.)

Where will I go instead? Noodles and Company.

At Noodles and Company all of the entree-sized salads without meat are under 500 calories. The only salads even remotely close to 500 calories are the Caesar and a peanut salad that is not available in Central Ohio. My favorite is the Med salad with a very tasty creamy tzatziki dressing. It has kalamata olives and feta and is still only 320 calories. The entree size really is entree size.

I keep wondering, how is it that some restaurants can offer delicious, low-calorie salad selections and others find it nearly impossible?
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Obviously, there are tons of places that cannot do salads well. Can't even believe that McDonald's gave it a try. Still, I keep holding out hope for Panera. It's probably why I keep going back and why I keep sending e-mails saying they aren't there yet.

Above and Beyond

When I got home this evening, it had been snowing for quite a while and the white stuff in the driveway was deep. I knew I would not want to walk through that snow to get into my car in the morning, so I dragged out a snow shovel and cleared the driveway around my car and the sidewalk leading to the porch.

I could not believe how light the snow was! It was so easy to shovel, I decided to keep going until I felt tired. Well, I cleared the entire driveway and got partway down the sidewalk when I finally quit. It took less than 30 min.! Who needs a teenaged son!

After dinner I felt so energetic, I decided to go for a walk. It was still snowing and about a third of my neighbors did not shovel their sidewalks, so I wore my typical winter boots and heavy winter coat. I discovered a lot of my neighbors have snow blowers. I bet they were happy about the day's snow.

Though the clear sections were easy to walk on, I kind of enjoyed walking in the snow. It gave my legs a different type of workout. The walking was a little more difficult and I did not get nearly as far as I normally do in 30 min. It didn't feel very cold and there was no wind. And I really like the way snow muffles extraneous noise. It was a good workout both mentally and physically.
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Note: I figured all of you have seen plenty of my photos of snow, so I didn't take any.
Calorie calculators online say I burned 180 calories shoveling snow, and my HR monitor says I burned 207 walking. I may have to make some hot chocolate!

Wow -- Out Walking Again in Frigid Temps!

Today marks my third day out walking in frigid temps. I'm not quite sure how cold it was -- but I believe it was in the 20s. It has been snowing lightly for a few days and some sidewalks were shoveled and others were not, so it just was not a good day to racewalk. Instead, I wore boots and a heavy winter coat.

I was out for only 35 min., but it felt good. I walked at least 2 miles and the workout was a of a medium intensity. I could feel it, but I didn't sweat and I wasn't working super hard. The temps were dropping while I was out and it was a lot colder when I finished than when I started.

It's supposed to be even colder this weekend. I think I'll be ready.
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According to my heart rate monitor, I burned 277 calories in that walk. Hmmm.

Exercise Bikes Suck

Technically, today should have been a rest day since yesterday was my long mileage day. But long mileage was only 4 miles and I really need the exercise and to burn some calories.

Silly me, I thought an easy 30 min. on my antique Schwinn exercise bike would be great.

I dragged the thing out, adjusted the floppy seat, realized it needs batteries to see the speed on the old computer display, then began pedaling. It was NOT easy! Though I remember hating this bike because of the mind numbingness of it, today I remembered it isn't easy, either. I adjusted the difficulty, made it much easier, but it was still hard. After only 10 min., I was beat and had to quit. My legs felt as if they weighed a ton and I could barely climb the stairs to get out of the basement.

I bought the bike (for a good price) from a health club that was updating its equipment about 20 years ago. It does not get a lot of use, but it's nice to know it is there, just in case I forget why I hate it.

[Lovely color scheme in my basement, isn't it? The paneling and carpet came with the house (guess what year it was installed), the area rug was repurposed from upgrades of other rooms.]

A Frigid Walk Today

Because I'm starting to train for the Arizona Distance Classic in March, I needed to get a 4-mile walk in this weekend. Because I walked for only 30 min. yesterday, I decided to go to Antrim Park today.

The moment I got out of the car, I was happy with my decision. Though it was colder than yesterday, the lake was beautiful! The sun was shining, there was more of a breeze than I'd like, there was snow on the ground and tons of footprints! It seems that lots of other people had been there earlier in the day.

I wore two technical shirts, a fleece vest, winter coat (old and ugly), gaiter for my neck, knit hat, big thick suede mittens (very warm), hiking boots and jeans. Unfortunately, I wore only one layer on my legs and probably could have used a pair of long underwear or leggings under the jeans.

After my first loop around the lake I almost quit. To be honest, I was COLD! My face and legs were freezing! Though the rest of me was warm, I had to hold my mittens to my face to protect it from the breeze.

Then I thought about being in Tucson in March and knew I had to get in at least two more laps. I sucked it up and finished. And the longer I walked the warmer my legs felt. (Then again, doesn't the skin start to feel warm after frostbite has taken hold?)

It was a beautiful sunny afternoon and I am thrilled that I was outside to enjoy it!

Monty Python

Even Monty Python knows the importance of walking. 

"Now, here's the meaning of life. Well, it's nothing very special. Uh, try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try and live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations."

Monty Python's The Meaning of Life

Walking When it's Cold

When I got up this morning, the news reported it was 11 degrees with a wind chill of 0. Because it was a beautiful sunny morning, I was hoping to go to Antrim Park. The wind blows a little harder at the park, so I opted to stay in the neighborhood, just in case I needed to add more layers.

I could not wear my new Pearl Izumi jacket with all of the layers I had planned. I wore my old Fleet Feet jacket with two shirts and a fleece vest underneath. I also wore my fleece gator, a knit hat, gloves and just one pair of thick walking pants. It was the perfect number of layers at the start, which probably indicated I was a little overdressed.

A thin layer of snow fell last night hiding the slick spots on the sidewalks. The streets were pretty clear, so I walked most of the way in the streets. I could see that a couple of my neighbors had made the same decision. It was obvious from the tracks that one neighbor even wore "yaktrax" to help prevent slipping. That person definitely left distinctive footprints.

The street was clear enough I even attempted racewalking form! It felt great!

I tried to pick up my pace and was breathing hard, but my heart rate never went above 140. That was my max a couple days ago when wearing hiking shoes and a heavy winter coat. I have got to read the heart rate monitor book so I can figure out what I need to do and what it all means.

So, today felt great. I do not think it was as cold as 11 near our house, though my window thermometer was obviously wrong stating it was 28. No way it was that warm!

I think I have decided to return the Pearl Izumi jacket for not being warm enough. I will probably return it for more of a wind-proof shell I can layer underneath.

The Buckeye Striders are starting our training for the Arizona Distance Classic in March, so I do need to get in 4 miles sometime this weekend. I decided I'd prefer to try to fit it in tomorrow. Maybe it will be warmer. (Ha!)

Last Year's Resolutions -- Success?

Last year I made some public and not-so-public New Year's resolutions. I decided to look them up and see how successful I was. Here are the results:

1) Walk five days a week most weeks of the year. -- Didn't make five as often as I wanted, but did make it four days most weeks.
2) Enter some judged racewalks. -- There were conflicts and the Buckeye Striders did not host the 1-hour racewalk we usually host.
3) Walk faster. -- YES!!! I reached my half marathon PR at Air Force half this year! Woo hoo!
4) Teach some old dogs new tricks. -- They all need to bark less, one needs to be outside more. -- Nope. Though let the little blind dog outside more, she still has issues with being "house broken." Can't get the barking to reduce either.
5) Eat more fruits and vegetables. -- Yes! discovered I really like honeycrisp apples and ate lots of them this year. Also found some delicious oranges early on. We put more veggies in our main dishes and had a lot more salads with dinner.
6) Reduce stress. -- Partially successful. I had a horrible deadline at the beginning of the year and lost weight due to the stress. After that book was finished, life was better.
7) Work less. -- Partially successful. After meeting that really tough deadline, I did work less.
8) Be more decisive. -- I'm not sure. I might have been more decisive -- I might not have.
9) Sleep more. -- Yes, I did sleep more, just not consistently enough.
10) Spend more time with friends. -- I did, but not some friends I specifically had in mind, like Tammy.
11) Manage my time better. (Less time on Twitter?) -- I was moderately successful with this one. And I did spend way too much time on Twitter, though I did try to cut back a little.

After I post this, I guess I better come with up resolutions for 2010!

Walking at Year's End

When I got up this morning there was about an inch of snow on the ground and the thermometer on the front window said it was about 39 degrees. I knew my racewalking shoes just would not work. Not only would I slip, but it looked slushy.

I threw on some hiking shoes, a thick winter coat and went out into the neighborhood.

At first I walked on the sidewalks just because I usually do. But believe it or not, the shoveled sidewalks were a little more treacherous than the ones that had not been shoveled. I tried walking in the street, but when cars went by I got splashed.

So I stayed on the sidewalk, did a route similar to what I normally racewalk and was home 40 min. later. The funny thing is, I walk that same route in about 25 min. when racewalking. Kinda explains why my heartrate didn't go up too much.

Walking in the snow when the temps were that warm was a really nice way to prepare for the new year.

Happy New Year everyone!

Stay Away From Extremes

While searching the internet for some information for my walking club newsletter earlier today, I found a good blog post about extreme dieting at http://www.danfalkenberg.com/. Dan does not post often, but the few posts he makes are informative.

In September Dan commented about extreme dieting. His attitudes are very similar to mine, so I thought I would share some highlights with you.

Stay away from the Extremes in Diet and Exercise
... of all the comments I receive, those that leave comments in support of low-carb eating are the most mean-spirited. I never have understood why the people who leave these comments seem to want to start a fight over why their way of eating is the best way to eat. Then it dawned on me - with all the extreme ideas in fitness, low-carb eating is just one of them. 

My feeling is ... extreme fitness concepts never work. Sure, they may bring quick results, but I've never seen lasting results. Why is that? I think it's because extreme concepts are not easy to live by. It's easy to pump yourself up for a few months of following an extreme dieting and workout plan, but the majority of us will start to fizzle out. That's not necessarily a bad thing. If the body is overtrained, it's defense mechanism is to fizzle out before serious damage results. Same with the other extreme fitness and diet approaches. The mind and body have a hard time staying in an extreme state, and as a result, you start to lose accountability and drive to continue.

My conclusions ... just stay consistent and balanced. Instead of working out until you pass out, try consistently performing moderate-level workouts your body and mind can handle. Instead of trying to eat no carbs, no fat, or no sugar, make smarter choices in what you do eat and try for a balanced approach instead of an extreme approach. Not only is a balanced approach a more natural way of living, it will also lead to a mind and body that is more consistent and accountable, and it will help prevent you from stressing out so much about trying to live on the extreme side of some concept in diet and exercise. I'm sure I'll still get heated comments/feedback from the extreme wellness individuals, but oh well.

Though I know there are tons of health and fitness people who agree with me, sometimes it's just nice for me to share their exact words. [NOTE: The first two ellipses are my edits. The last was part of the original text.]

Using my Heart Rate Monitor

I got a heart rate monitor for my birthday this year, but have not used it enough yet to know what to do with it. I went through the book that came with it and set the maximum heart rate, etc. (Yes, I determined my maximum heart rate through exercise, not by substrating my age from 220.)

Today the sidewalks were pretty clear, so I was able to walk faster than I could yesterday and my heart rate did get up into the 140s. I'll have to do more reading to determine what that means and how to set goals.

I'm sure in no time I will be using it regularly in both training and race situations.

Walking in Snow

Today, I awoke to more snow. It wasn't big, beautiful, heavy flakes like you see in Christmas movies that make you want to run outside and play -- it was tiny flakes that are hard and frozen, and kind of bounce off your water-resistant jacket

My first thought was, "Wow, it's up to 37 degrees! I definitely have no excuse to walk today."

The last time I walked it was 37 degrees and I was WAY overdressed, so today I convinced myself to wear one less layer and it felt perfect! I was slightly cold as I walked outside, but there was no wind -- just lightly pelting snow. After about 10 min I was totally warmed up and felt great.

The walk lasted about 30 min. and I didn't push as hard as I would have liked, but I was a little nervous about the possibility of slipping and falling.

Still I'm thrilled I was out walking. Next time I'll be sure to go out longer and walk harder.

I am Such a Hypocrite!

Last night it was snowing as I went to bed, but it wasn't cold. I was excited and even looked forward to walking this morning.

However, I got stuck on a blog posting I really wanted to finish (different blog) and was up much later than I had wanted to be. Then I started reading the next chapter of Dickens' The Christmas Carol, which I had never read before, and before I knew it, it was way too late to walk with my walking club.

My alarm went off in plenty of time, but I just could not get out of bed. After my friend Deb called to see if I would be there, I got dressed and showed up in time to meet everyone for our club breakfast board meeting.

The temps were in the mid-30s, the snow had melted off the streets and it looked to be a great morning for walking!

So, here I am, an outspoken person who brags about walking year-round, and the first time it snows this winter, I end up sleeping in. Today, I am a hypocrite.

Officially a Slug

Yesterday was beautiful! I was ready to go walking, got distracted and before I knew it, it was after 9! Yes, I do walk year round. Yes, I do walk when it is cold. Yes, I do walk in the dark. Just not within the last two weeks.

To make up for it, today I ate about half of a bag of peanut brittle that was given to me this afternoon. It was delicious, homemade peanut brittle which is the best I've ever had. This print rep has brought me some every year for the past 8 years. Usually I share it so I'm not tempted to eat so much. This year, I was tempted to share.

It was delicious, but I ended up with a sugar headache about 5 p.m. which lasted until about 9. I tried to counteract it by drinking Diet Coke and then water, but you all know that did NOT help.

OK, so tomorrow I'm scheduled to walk with my friends. I think I'll pack up the peanut brittle, give it away, and make sure I get outside with my friends -- regardless of the weather.

Photo from:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/steamboatwillie33/3281449429/

Glad I Did NOT Enter This Race!

Today there was a 4-mile race scheduled for Sharon Woods park here in central Ohio. I entered this winter race before and I had thought about entering this year. However, I heard that rain was predicted. I don't do rain in the winter if it is at all possible.

So, today when I got up and saw the pouring rain, I was thrilled I was warm and cozy in my house. If you entered today's race, I hope you PR'd. Anyone out in this weather definitely deserved it!

Heat Wave -- It was really 22 Degrees

Don't know why I was so worried about the weather this morning. It was only 3 degrees colder than last week, and last week I was fine with two wicking shirts and a jacket.

This week I added a fleece vest under my jacket and I was WAY TOO warm after about 10 minutes! I wasn't the only one over-dressed, but most had it just right.

Regardless, it was a great morning to be walking! The sun was shining, the air was crisp and there were 9 members of the Buckeye Striders.

It was good waking up early for this.

Predicted to be 16 in Morning

I'm a little bit odd that sometimes I look forward to walking in cold weather. When you are bundled up appropriately and there is no wind it can be fun!

So, though the cold, rain and wind prevented me from walking most of this week, I'm looking forward to a brisk morning of walking with friends! At least the temps are predicted to be in double digits.

New Shoes -- New Balance

Finally! I finally bought a new pair of shoes for walking -- New Balance 905s.

Because it's been awhile since I've had a pair of shoes I was really happy with, I took my last five pairs of shoes and told the shoe guy exactly what I liked and disliked about each pair. Now that I don't get sample shoes for reviews like I used to, I didn't even have any ideas for what I'd want.

I had a few pairs I liked, but they didn't really fit the type of walking I do. For example, the Brooks trainers that were light and flexible were too light for halves. The pair of Nikes that had lots of support were way too thick and heavy to even attempt to racewalk. (When my feet were sore, they were GREAT!)

My favorite recent pair was New Balance a few upgrades back. The first upgrade after that gave me blisters like crazy.

Anyway, I was told that this new upgrade -- New Balance 905 -- should have resolved the problems I had with the last pair. They felt great and I'm giving them a try!

Walking When Only 25 Degrees

It was about 25 degrees Saturday morning when the Buckeye Striders met at Sharon Woods park for our weekly walk. When the temperatures are this low, the major discussion is usually: How many layers are you wearing? (We all had some type of hat or ear muffs, gloves and long pants.)

• I wore two long-sleeved wicking shirts, a water-resistant and wind resistant jacket along with a gator. I hate when my neck gets cold. 
• Barbara wore a long-sleeved T-shirt, a sweatshirt and a jacket.
• Deb had on a long underwear shirt, fleece shirt and fleece jacket.
• Not sure how many layers Elaine had on, but she was wearing her "sleeves".
• Nancy had a much thicker jacket and wore just one shirt.

Some of us ended up being too hot, but none of us under-dressed. Surprisingly, I had on the perfect number of layers. Ever since I was a walking coach for a spring half marathon group and ended up so cold I couldn't get warm for days that February, I have over-dressed. I'm happy to report that I did NOT over-dress.

There are a few things you can do to do a better job of preparing for all types of weather. First, keep a training log and be sure to track the temperatures, what you wore and whether it worked. Wear layers. This is especially important when you aren't sure if you are over-dressed -- it's nice to be able to take off a shirt or jacket if you are too hot. Wicking fabrics will help to keep the layer closest to your skin from being too wet and soggy. Also, try not to get too hot and sweaty -- if your shirts are wet, you'll get cold much faster. (The nice thing about having done so many races, I have TONS of wicking shirts than can be layered.)

My point is, with a little bit of planning, it really is not that hard to keep walking all winter long.

Biggest Losers run a Marathon?

I know I rant a little too much about the Biggest Loser. It is a TV show for goodness sake! But I often feel as if the show is irresponsible -- and having these obese (they still are) people train for a marathon in just 60 days, a little over 8 weeks, seems irresponsible to me.

Confession here -- though I do occasionally watch Biggest Loser, I did not last night. Last night I just flipped it on for a few minutes and did not see the actual marathon or the training, but I did read synopses.

For my first full marathon, I trained for about nine months -- I trained for a half marathon the year before and decided at the finish line to do a full marathon the next year. Most marathon training schedules I've seen start at about 12 weeks. Many schedules are even longer, depending on the marathoner's starting fitness level.

Though I entered only two full marathons, I never hit the wall in either race. In fact, if you train appropriately I don't think hitting the wall is a requirement. From the highlights of this show, these people were struggling and looked as if they should not have been out there. It seems as if more than one person hit the wall.

Everyone finished and the first of the four had a great time at around 5:30!

But as I said at the beginning of this post -- this is a TV show. The point is to put people in challenging situations and see how they respond. It really is no different from Survivor, Amazing Race or Real World. If they didn't make it really hard for these people to be successful, there would be no show.
___________

If you are interested in training for your first marathon, send me an e-mail and I will help you find a training program that will work for you!

Feeling Good

I had a couple of blog readers concerned about me because of my lack of blogging. Sorry about that! My mystery virus did really wipe me out. I'm happy to let you know I'm feeling pretty good and if the weather would cooperate, I'd be out walking. I'm just not comfortable walking in cold rain when my immune system still feels a little compromised.

In no time at all I'll be posting about training for the Tucson Distance Classic in March!

Thanksgiving Day Race

My kids joined me yesterday for The Flying Feather, a local Thanksgiving Day 4-mile race. We left the house a little later than I had planned and the traffic getting near the race was horrible! I was a little worried that we wouldn't get to the start in time because the parking lot was 0.75 mile from the start. We made it about 10 min before the start. (I like to get to a race about an hour early.)

It was a little colder than I had hoped at about 35 degrees. (We've had some pretty mild temperatures lately.) As it got closer to starting time, the sky got progressively grayer and it felt as if it got colder. Shortly after the start, the kids decided to run (that was OK) and I walked with my friend Deb and her husband. He is not a regular walker so we were not expecting to set any world records. Because I had been sick for nearly a week and had not walked during that time, I was feeling a little weak and was not ready to walk super hard anyway. (Thank you for setting a reasonable pace, Jeff!)

Before the first mile it started sleeting. It didn't last long and within a couple miles the sun came out and we almost felt too hot. That didn't last long either and the sky got gray again.

We finished in a little over an hour which was fine. The kids had finished about 15 min before us and they came out to meet us we approached the end. We crossed the finish line, grabbed a small bagel and went straight to pick up a bottle of wine.

What I like about this race is that it is very family oriented, the shirts are pretty good (they were better in previous years), and adults get a bottle of wine!

However, because it is so family oriented, it is more casual than other races. The food (bagels and bananas) is set out before the race so a lot of people grab some before and after meaning that by the time I finish there is rarely anything left. But then again, because it is a casual race, I don't really need the food afterward.

It was chillier after I finished and because my kids ran part of the way they had worked up more of a sweat and were getting cold waiting, so we left right away. Though the race does have shuttles to and from the parking lot (nice touch) we decided it would be quicker to walk. I think walking kept us warmer, too.

So, it was a nice race and it was a nice way to start a holiday devoted to eating lots of food!
________

Note: I tried to take pictures, but I need a new battery for my camera. It doesn't seem to hold a charge longer than just a couple of minutes.

Recovering -- I Think

I'm not sure what I am recovering from. According to my doctor I do not have a flu. From the way I feel I know this is not a cold. But whatever it is, it is hard to recover from.

My symptoms are mostly gone with a little bit of a cough lingering. The problem is I'm easily exhausted. I went to the grocery store and nearly needed a nap when I got home.

Anyway, I've barely left the house since last Monday. I have now officially passed the illness along to my husband. We have encouraged our son to spend the night at friends' houses and to stay away as much as possible. With any luck he won't get it, too.

My plan for walking is to see if I can make it around the block tomorrow. If I can, I'll try two times and see how that goes.

I just hope I feel well enough on Thanksgiving to finish the 4-mile race I've entered. But then again, I'm just thankful I'm no longer contagious.

Sick Again

I cannot believe I am sick again! I had a horrible summer cold (that my husband brought home) and now I have a virus that is not the flu.

The problem is I have been taking good care of myself. I exercise and I've been eating better. I wash my hands religiously and I even use hand sanitizer.

The only hole is all of this is I never seem to get enough sleep.

So, I'm not walking and don't feel like writing. I'm sleeping more and with luck I should be over this quickly.

What Do You Do with Race Memorabilia?

If you are like me, you have a drawer full of race numbers, your shirts are in a pile in your closet and you wear just the shirts that fit. You might even give the others away.

Now those numbers, shirts and other memorabilia can be made into a custom-made tote at Mile 22 Bags. (Photo is of the style called The Finish Line Bag.)

Stephanie Fisher, an avid runner, made a bag for herself from Boston Marathon memorabilia. She received such a positive response from other runners she started making bags for others and created Mile 22.

I have to admit, of all of the many ways I've seen people make use of shirts and numbers, etc., this is one of my favorites. There are a couple different styles including a backpack and a wallet. I can't wait to see a sample in person and I'm already planning what I'm going to put in mine!

Good luck Stephanie!

Saturday's Walk Speedier than Usual

This morning when the Buckeye Striders met for our weekly group walk, a bunch of us started at a much quicker pace than usual. The funny thing is, I set the pace. Yes, my regular walking pace is getting quicker -- my speed workouts are working!

We walked straight out on the Olentangy Trail (south) from the Park of Roses for 30 min and then turned around. The cool thing is, we reached the start again after walking only 56 min! I'm pretty sure we went farther than 4 miles, too. I'm so exited that we got faster as we went.

It was a beautiful morning with temps in the 40s and lots of sunshine. On top of that, there were more Striders than usual. It was a very fun morning!

Though it feels strange not being in training for an event, it was nice to be able to meet at our regular walking time and not worry about walking a specific distance. I even felt that meeting at 8 was sleeping in! (I better not tell Deb, she'll try to get me out as early as 7 again!)

Hey everyone -- thanks for a fun morning walk!

Wanchai Ferry Product Review

My family and I had the opportunity to try the new Wanchai Ferry Restaurant Favorites Orange Chicken through the General Mills Pssst program.

When I opened the box and saw the small amount of ingredients, I did not believe that even with adding 1 lb of chicken that there was enough food for five servings. I was pretty skeptical.

I cooked the chicken according to directions with the provided seasoned cornstarch and the sauce while cooking the enclosed rice. I was VERY surprised at the large amount of rice we ended up with. I make rice all of the time and could not believe that such a small package would expand that much! It was definitely enough!

The hot peppers came in separate packaging from the sauce and could be added according to individual tastes. My family likes spicy foods so I added all of the peppers. If I had read the instructions more thoroughly I would have squeezed the bag with the peppers to loosen the seeds and make it even more spicy. As it was, it had good flavor without doing that.

The box said that it contained five servings. Not for my family! I have a 15-year-old son and a husband with a large appetite. Still, it was plenty of food for the three of us. It would be fine for four people with average appetites and possibly five with appropriate side dishes.

The Orange Chicken tasted great! As mentioned earlier, it had a good amount of spice and the sauce was tasty. Though the kit contained white rice, it went well with the dinner and cooked well. My only true complaint is that there was not enough sauce. And if you were to add vegetables, which was a serving suggestion, there definitely would NOT be enough sauce.

According to the website, the package price averages $4.79. Note that I received the package for free.

Because I'm a pretty good cook, I RARELY buy boxed meals that require adding meat. (I have very bad memories of packaged hamburger dishes vaguely resembling stroganoff.) That being said, and based on taste alone, I would buy this. I do find the price just a little high for this type of boxed dinner, but it is much better than others I have tried in the past.

Nutrition Highlights
Servings per box: 5
Serving size: about 1 cup
Calories per serving: 350
Calories from fat: 70
Sodium: 460 mg

Next week we'll try the Chicken Piccata.

Hills Tonight

Thanks to Elaine and Deb for doing hills with me tonight! We did a half-mile warm up and half-mile cool down with four reps on the hills for a 56-min workout.

It felt great! And after I remembered Elaine was tapering for a half-marathon last week I realized she was right not to do hills then. Congrats on your PR in Pittsburgh, Elaine!

Marathon Run in the Slow Lane

Funny how recently The New York Times ran a front-page story about middle-of-the-pack runners' dislike of slow marathoners.

Today on the Times' website is an article (blog posting?) by Tara Parker-Pope about what it is like to be a runner at the back of the pack -- Well: A Marathon Run in the Slow Lane. (I wonder if the idea came from a back issue of WALK! Magazine?)

The article was nice though it didn't have much new information for those of us who walk marathons. [I was a little surprised that her run/walk pace was slower than the full-marathon I walked. Not intended to be rude or mean, just an observation.] Still, it's nice to find articles that are positive about slower marathoners.

I especially liked the fact that Tara found several runners who do support us back-of-the-packers.

But the legendary gold medalist Frank Shorter says the criticisms of slow runners are “snobbery.” “You never hear that from elite runners,” he told me. “Elite runners admire other people’s performance. I find it much better to welcome slow runners to the club than to vote them out.”

Greg Meyer, who in 1983 was the last American man to win the Boston Marathon, says that when he hears such complaints from average marathoners, he replies, “If it wasn’t for the run-walkers, you wouldn’t be finishing in front of anybody.”

I've never had much interest in doing the New York Marathon, but I'm beginning to warm to it. Maybe next year!

3 Miles

Had a nice 3-mile walk this evening -- 1 mile to the library, 1 lap around the park and one mile back home. The temps were mild and it was a beautiful evening.

I had originally planned to walk at Antrim Park, but because it gets dark earlier now, I was afraid I might not finish before it got too dark.

I have never understood the time changes. Why on Earth would time be changed to make it light later in the evening when days are already getting longer? And when it starts getting dark earlier, why would time be changed so it gets dark even earlier?

Whatever the reasons, I hate the time changes (though daylight saving time bothers me less).

Darn! No Hills Today!

My walking buddies were not up for hills today. I tried to talk them into it, but cleaning out gutters and raking leaves made one person a little too tired. Darn!

Instead we did our Plan B walk - 3 miles at a medium pace.

It was a beautiful evening! The temps were in the low 60s, the leaves were beautiful colors, and several crew teams rowed on the river beside us. Despite my disappointment at not getting a tougher workout, it was worth it just to be outside walking today with people I like.

That makes four days of walking this week. I get to take tomorrow off! Woo hoo!

This Week's Workouts

Because I'm not training for a specific event right now, I decided to try to keep walking five days a week to maintain my level of fitness. Like many of you, if I'm not training for an event, I often let my training slide.

Monday I did a 38-min easy walk with the focus entirely on proper racewalking form. It felt great not to worry about speed or distance and just to focus on form. (Push those arms back, Cindi!)

Tuesday was just a consistent pace for 30 minutes, but a little harder than a casual walk.

Today was a speed workout. I have not worked exclusively on speed in a while, so my muscles were not quite ready for it. (Could explain why I couldn't push during the Columbus Half.) I warmed up with a 15-min walk, then did 2-min sprints with 1-min rests in between. I was able to do only five sprints! I wasn't able to get as fast as I wanted, either. Still, it felt good to push. I just know that I am capable of pushing harder.

Tomorrow is supposed to be our usual hill workout, then I get Friday night off. Yea!

Columbus Marathon Start Worse Than Thought

In my review of the Columbus Marathon, I glossed over the confusing starting line. Part of the reason I did that is that I thought most of the problem was our fault. I just assumed my friends and I didn't look around well enough.

We do a lot of races and just assume if you go to the back of the line, eventually you will find the end. The end is where we usually line up.

In this case, we approached the starting line from the back, so just assumed we were in the correct spot. We never checked to see where we should be. We ended up behind the 5K racers along with a huge number of half marathoners.

As it was, when we finally made it around the 5K people, there were tons of runners still behind us and we inadvertently were in the way.

So, despite everything else great about this race, the starting line needs work. Thanks for the input from other half marathoners!

Columbus Marathon (Half) Report -- Finally

The temperatures were in the low 40s as we lined up for the Columbus Marathon (Half) at 7:30 on Sunday October 18. I had on several layers with the plan to shed a few as necessary, along with long pants, gloves and a hat. (Coincidentally, the top layer was an old Columbus Marathon sweatshirt I've had for years and tossed and re-found at other races.)

I started with my friends Deb and Elaine. Elaine is faster than Deb and I, so zoomed ahead. Deb and I stuck together for the entire race.

Due to some starting line confusion, we realized we were not in the right spot -- we were behind the 5K race entrants. We got around them (many other people were also confused) and the people were moving. We crossed the starting line at 7:44 with a plan to do the first two miles in about 14:30 each. We did the first mile in about 14:45 and tried to pick up the pace. The second mile was about 14:20, closer to where we wanted to be.

Despite the confusion at the start, this course was very nice! We walked up Broad Street then through beautiful Bexley and saw the Governor of Ohio right outside the Governor's mansion.

Around mile 5, I warmed up quite a bit and took off and tossed the sweatshirt that I wore OVER my jacket. Unfortunately, I wore the wrong wicking shirt as my bottom layer (not very effective at wicking) and I was sweaty under the jacket.

The course then went around the Franklin Park Conservatory, back down Broad Street, then through Olde Town and German Village -- two more interesting and pretty neighborhoods. Near Franklin Park we reached and passed the 3:30 half marathon pace group. (Yes, we were way too far back at the start!)

From there we went north on High Street, which was pretty much of a wind tunnel for about 2 miles. (High Street usually is.) From High Street we turned left into the Arena District for the last tenth of a mile and it was lined shoulder-to-shoulder with people cheering on the half marathon and full marathon finishers! It was great!

Though the temperatures did get warmer, and it was much warm in the sun, I never got "warmed up" enough to go fast. My legs were cold and stiff the entire race and I just could not pick up the pace. I tried to duplicate my previous race strategy, (slow for 2 miles, faster for 8 miles, then fast as possible for the final 5K) but my legs just would not cooperate. Instead, I listened to my body and went at the pace it was willing to go -- about 14:40. Despite the slower than anticipated pace, it was a good race!

After being handed a great medal and silver blanket, we were surprised to also be handed a great hat. The food area was separated from the exit by a chain link fence which should help guarantee there was enough food for everyone. (I hope there was enough for the full marathon walkers!)

The food available included Krispy Kreme doughnuts, Tim Horton's bagels, chips, bananas, granola bars and more. The only problem was trying to leave the food area. There is an after-race party for family and friends and the food area exits right to the party area. There were so many people lining the exit waiting for us to leave, we couldn't get out! I finally had to ask people to let me out to get people to move out of our way.

Our times per mile:
1 14:45
2 14:25
3 14:26
4 14:34
5 14:27
6 14:27
7 14:50
8 14:37
9 14:21
10 14:45
11 14:41
12 14:44
13 14:40
0.1 1:35
Total 3:09

Cool note: TweetMyTime was 1 minute faster than what our official marathon time was. My watch was about 3 seconds off from our official time! How often does that happen?

Weird note: For some reason, the color in these photos was really off. Not sure why it was way too red and way too bright. I probably need to adjust my camera in some way.

10 Things to Like about the Columbus Marathon (Half)

I recently started creating lists of the positives and negatives of various races I enter. Here are my Columbus Marathon (Half) lists:

10 Things I Liked About the Columbus Marathon
1. Nice scenic neighborhoods!
2. Plenty of water stops.
3. Great volunteers.
4. Obvious where to go -- you could not get lost unless you tried.
5. Hills? There are NO hills on this course.
6. Nice shirt! It's a woman's shirt, it fits, it's wicking and I like the design. Oh, and it is not white.
7. The medal is pretty nice, too. (It's heavier than previous medals, and the Chris in the middle spins.)
8. Lots of bands.
9. Good weather
10. Lots of great food at the end. The Krispy Kreme doughnuts were so good!

Dings
1. Confusing start at back of pack. Maybe a better sound system? It would be a good idea to go to the starting line then head toward the back to be sure you find the pace groups for walkers.
2. The expo was not very interesting.
3. A couple of the bands folded before we got to them. Those of us at the back of the pack need the music more than the elites.
4. Could not get out of fenced area at end of race because of friends and family crowding the exit.
5. Many of the 3-hour finishers were taking enough food for several people, way more than they could possibly eat. I hope there was enough left for the 7-hour finishers.

When compared to other races I've done, the "dings" are pretty insignificant. This was a well-organized, flat, walker-friendly race! I'll definitely do it again.

Tweeting During a Race

I toyed with the idea of Tweeting about the Columbus Marathon Half during the race last Sunday. Because I have a typical cell phone (no keyboard), and I am really slow at texting, I thought it might not be a good thing to do.

I was pleasantly surprised to learn about a new online service called TweetMyTime! Through this service, people who follow me on Twitter were able to see how I did during the race. TweetMyTime automatically sent a message when I hit the starting line, when I got to the 10K point and when I finished. The full marathoners had a total of five updates sent about them. The information included my pace and expected finish time and they came directly from me.

There are other services that send update messages during a race. I think when I was in the Cooper River Bridge Run, text messages could be sent via phone to other cell phones. I think I remember that other services allow friends and family to track participants on computers, too.

But there is something about a service making use of Twitter that appealed to me. The number of notes of congratulations I received from followers was great!

So I liked the service and I would definitely use it for free again. If it ends up being a pay to use service, not sure if I would do it. In the meantime, check it out!

http://tweetmytime.com/

Too Tired to Post

Earlier today I finished the Columbus Marathon Half in 3:11:15. My muscles are tight, and I just could not push today. That was the fastest I could go.

As soon as I got home, we head off to do a corn maze with my brother-in-law and his family, my nephew and his kids and my own family. We spent a good 90 min walking the maze and it was a LOT of fun. After having dinner together and finally arriving home around 7, I am officially way too tired to post a race report.

I'll do my best to post it tomorrow.
________

ADDED MONDAY: I was able to write my post by hand (during slow times in meetings earlier today), but I just have not had time to type it here. Maybe Tuesday.

Healthy Walking

It is exactly 0.64 miles from my house to the grocery store -- well, one of the grocery stores that are within walking distance from my house. I walked that distance tonight because I was dying for a tasty Greek salad for dinner and I needed to buy most of the ingredients.

Lettuce and a cucumber can be pretty light. However, once I got into the produce section and saw the beautiful grapes, the vine-ripened tomatoes, pink grapefruit and pomegranates -- I just kept filling my basket. I even picked up a little brie.

So my walk home was just a little more difficult than anticipated since I was weighted down. And by the time I got home, my arms were starting to hurt.

It was worth it. The salad was great and I made enough to take for lunch tomorrow.

Oh, it didn't hurt that I walked a little over a mile today on the first day of taper week.

Photo courtesy of http://www.freedigitalphotos.net.

Easy 2 Miles

Today was a scheduled day of rest. However, I was feeling a little bit antsy and it was a beautiful day, so I did an easy 2-mile walk to the library. The sun was shining and the temps were mild. (Having an overdue book hanging over my head also inspired me.) Considering it is fall in Ohio, I really need to get out in the sunshine when I have the chance. You never know when you might see the sun again.
______

Earlier today, I decided to bake some of my very healthy banana muffins. I have a great recipe it took me a few years to fine tune. Well, today I could NOT find my recipe. Earlier this summer I copied a bunch of recipes for friends getting married, and somehow I misplaced this particular one. The recipe I did find looked OK, but I was a little concerned because it called for a cup of milk. I don't add any liquids other than oil to my regular concoction. They didn't brown correctly and some were overcooked and dry and others were undercooked. Yuck! The final result ended up being bland.

I learned my lesson. There is a reason it took me a few years to develop the recipe my family really likes. I'll be contacting my friends and sister in law to get a copy of my recipe again.

Really Tight Muscles

The Columbus Marathon (Half) is a week away, so we walked only 6 miles this morning. I'm glad we did such a short distance -- my leg muscles were really tight and it took forever to warm up. (Usually, if I arrive earlier than the others, I spend some time warming up. Today I didn't take advantage of the extra time.)

The group of Buckeye Striders who are usually at the same pace I walk seemed to be way too fast for me this morning. After struggling for about a mile or so to keep up I finally just took it at a slower pace and enjoyed walking with Sharon.

The morning was beautiful, temps were in the 40s and there was no rain. It was a good day for 6 miles with people I like!

Why I Need a Heart Rate Monitor

I'm not much of a gadget person. I like having a chronograph on my watch and I have occasionally worn a pedometer. Otherwise, it's just me and my shoes.

Recently some friends and I were discussing the number of people who have died during marathons the past year or so. The conversation made me think about a couple races where I kept pushing probably much harder than I should have based on conditions.

One was the Indy Mini Marathon a few years back where the temps were so hot, they had caution flags out and finally turned off the clocks and quit timing the event. We found out later that someone had died that day. I was at the 13-mile mark when they turned off the clocks and I was still pushing. I felt great and I wanted to PR. I was ticked.

At the Air Force Marathon (Half) I was pushing as hard as I could for the last 3 miles. I was pushing so hard, I could not have pushed harder if I tried. At one point my lungs started to feel tight, but I was so set on getting my PR I kept pushing through it. On a scale of 1-10 I was walking at an 11.

So, how do you know if you are pushing too hard? Did those people who died feel how I did in both of these races?

Then this morning it dawned on me: I need a heart rate monitor! If I had a heart rate monitor, I would have known in both instances how hard I was pushing and whether I was going too far.

The shopping and comparison process has officially begun. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

What a Difference a Day Makes

Today when I met my friends for our weekly hill workout, it was sunny, the temps were mild and the day was beautiful! So, I not only had the chance to be outside in the sunshine and generate mood-enhancing endorphins, I did it with friends who are really fun and have a positive attitude.

Thanks for walking with me Deb and Elaine! You guys are great!

________

We felt so good after our usual four reps, we did an extra rep. We ended up walking for about 1:06, 15 min longer than usual. It felt good.

Weather Woes Wreck Walking

I'm a hypocrite.

I am one of the first people to brag about walking outside year-round. Bad weather is so much easier to deal with if you are outside in it. And the only way to get acclimated is to be out in the climate. (I know, that one was pretty lame.)

When it's really hot, I'm outside. One of my fastest half marathon finish times was in August. I love walking in snow and cold temps. In fact, my 5K PR was on a day when the temps were in single digits!

So, why do I have such a hard time getting out walking when it is simply dark and dreary? OK, it was also a little wet, but mostly it was dark and dreary!

One of the biggest factors to affect my mental well being is weather. I am one of those people who desperately needs sunshine, daylight and to spend time outside. (Don't even ask about the little gray office with no windows.)

And because I walk so much, I have become somewhat addicted to the endorphins that exercise generates. So, combine a dark, dreary, gray day with no walking -- well you get the picture.

If I'm going to survive Fall, I will definitely have to walk in this weather.

Photo courtesy of www.FreeFoto.com.

Long Slow Distance - Cut a Little Short

Saturday we were scheduled to do 10 miles. Because of commitments later in the day, I walked just 8 miles -- 4 miles straight out and back.

The nice thing about the shorter distance is that it gave me an opportunity to walk with someone I don't normally walk with. I had a great time really getting to know Barb.

The Columbus Marathon (Half) later this month will be my third in 8 weeks. I'm pretty confident walking 2 fewer miles will not have a detrimental affect on my finish time. And, because my knees are still a little swollen, I'm sure it is better if I don't walk overly hard.

Along that line, I walked just 2 easy miles tonight. I went out to the library to return a few books and came back. It was good both mentally and physically. It was sunny today (rare this week) and I really benefited from being out moving in the sun.

I hope this is a sign I'll have a good week!

Jinxed Knees

Wednesday when I got home from my hill workout, my husband asked how my knees are doing, and I confidently said they are great! The next day, when squatting down to reach a low file cabinet drawer, I could feel my right knee cap shift and pain shoot through it. Argh! My husband jinxed me!

The thing is, I have been walking regularly and my legs are strong! I can see the muscle. On top of that, my left knee started swelling in sympathy. This should not have happened.

Long before I was an athlete, my doctor diagnosed me with what he called "girl knees." Basically, a woman's hips are wider than her knees which puts a strain on the joint and can lead to injuries. As long as I keep the muscles around my knees strong, the knee caps align and they don't get sore or swollen. Easy!

Regular fitness walking is not enough. I need to be in the midst of race training with increasing mileage to maintain muscle strength. Short of that, I need to do regular knee-strengthening exercises, which I'm not very good at doing. I'm in the midst of race training, preparing for my third half marathon in 8 weeks. This shouldn't be happening.

So the moral of the story is -- don't let anyone ask about your knees! In the meantime, ice and Iburpofen are my friends.