I had a rude awakening today after a week of being a lazy bones about walking. In fairness, I wasn't being totally lazy as Spen was away from Monday-Wednesday, I had my first tutorial Thursday and then Spen was working 12 hr days for the rest of the week. Any way you slice it tho, I didn't walk.
A week off is a long time and I found it a challenge to motivate especially as my garmin is *definitely* broken. It'll be taking a trip to the Garmin Mothership to see if it can be repaired and I really hope it can. Its such a mental barrier for me to have no idea as to exactly how far I've gone. Map My Run is great and all, but the control freak in me LOVED knowing exactly how many steps I had trained and was looking forward to the day when I would get to total them up and go 'damn, that's a lot of steps!'
Nevermind, I did the standard 4 mile loop today (the first of the 20 to make up from last week.) Should have been 5 but the girls kicked off when they saw me leaving and it took a bit to calm them down. I was racing the clock to get back in time so that Spen could get to work.
It'll be 10 miles tomorrow to continue the catching up, hurrah.
4 miles - 48.27.39
Monday, March 30, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Playing Catch Up
The training schedule had an 8 mile walk set for today but I had to make up a walk from earlier in the week so thought I'd combine them and do 13. I was skeptical about my Garmin performing as it should so I asked Spen to reset the foot pod and after much reassurance it was fixed (and an impromptu rearrange of H's bedroom furniture), I set off.
I checked on the foot pod about a mile in and found that according to my watch I had only done .4 miles. ARGH! I was really ticked off, the day was gorgeous and I was set to do the miles but had no idea of my route without the distance approximations from my pedometer. I phoned up Spen to see if he could see a decent turning point on WalkJogRun but he wasn't familiar with the software.
I found myself in a bit of a conundrum wondering if I should just do a familiar 8 mile route or try to estimate how long 13 miles would take. I told myself that, at worst, the distance could be covered in 4 mph taking 3 hours and 15 minutes. As that was the case, I thought it best to just head out for 1 hour and 36.30 minutes and loop back on myself.
The walk itself was great, the sun was overhead and everyone on the path seemed to be training for the London Marathon or the MoonWalk. It was really a great atmosphere. The beaches were covered in groups and families sharing ice creams and fish and chips and the pub fronts were full of people toasting the warmth with a cool drink. It was a cheerful scene on the way out, but I was pining for those pints, chips and flakes on my return trip.
My walk took me all the way to the end of Folkestone Harbour and back again. The Harbour area has definitely changed since my last visit and I was really impressed. In fact, I thought about calling Spen to see if he wanted to bring the girls down and have lunch but knew he would say no as I would be copping out on the mileage. Its a good thing that I carried on tho as I ran into a fellow MoonWalker, Diane, and her sister on the return trip and stopped for a quick catch up. Diane told me that she saw Sam not much further ahead and it spurred me on to try and catch her- many thanks for the much needed motivation!! I never did see Sam but I did the return trip just over a minute faster than the trip out.
After I got in and did some stretching, I checked my distance on WalkJogRun and was shocked to find that it wasn't 13 miles at all, but instead 15!!! No wonder I felt nauseous and wobbly when I stopped. In fact, I wobbled back from the trail head like a drunkard, relatively weak on my feet.
I feel great now, conquering over half of the distance with a consistent pace and in a decent time.
Thank goodness tomorrow is a day off!
15 miles - 27,204 steps - 3.13.51
I checked on the foot pod about a mile in and found that according to my watch I had only done .4 miles. ARGH! I was really ticked off, the day was gorgeous and I was set to do the miles but had no idea of my route without the distance approximations from my pedometer. I phoned up Spen to see if he could see a decent turning point on WalkJogRun but he wasn't familiar with the software.
I found myself in a bit of a conundrum wondering if I should just do a familiar 8 mile route or try to estimate how long 13 miles would take. I told myself that, at worst, the distance could be covered in 4 mph taking 3 hours and 15 minutes. As that was the case, I thought it best to just head out for 1 hour and 36.30 minutes and loop back on myself.
The walk itself was great, the sun was overhead and everyone on the path seemed to be training for the London Marathon or the MoonWalk. It was really a great atmosphere. The beaches were covered in groups and families sharing ice creams and fish and chips and the pub fronts were full of people toasting the warmth with a cool drink. It was a cheerful scene on the way out, but I was pining for those pints, chips and flakes on my return trip.
My walk took me all the way to the end of Folkestone Harbour and back again. The Harbour area has definitely changed since my last visit and I was really impressed. In fact, I thought about calling Spen to see if he wanted to bring the girls down and have lunch but knew he would say no as I would be copping out on the mileage. Its a good thing that I carried on tho as I ran into a fellow MoonWalker, Diane, and her sister on the return trip and stopped for a quick catch up. Diane told me that she saw Sam not much further ahead and it spurred me on to try and catch her- many thanks for the much needed motivation!! I never did see Sam but I did the return trip just over a minute faster than the trip out.
After I got in and did some stretching, I checked my distance on WalkJogRun and was shocked to find that it wasn't 13 miles at all, but instead 15!!! No wonder I felt nauseous and wobbly when I stopped. In fact, I wobbled back from the trail head like a drunkard, relatively weak on my feet.
I feel great now, conquering over half of the distance with a consistent pace and in a decent time.
Thank goodness tomorrow is a day off!
15 miles - 27,204 steps - 3.13.51
Thursday, March 19, 2009
28 or 82? Sometimes I wonder
Let's see. . . I'm power walking. If I think about it too much I feel like I am becoming my high school gym teacher- Mrs. Cable. This is not good, she's a woman who made us all learn to country line dance to Achy Breaky Heart and do step aerobics and I am channeling her! I often think that this can be excused as I tell myself I am trialing my knee on the distance to see if I'd be capable of doing the London Marathon for my 30th.
I listen to Radio 4 (talk radio) while I'm out. I get bummed out if I miss the last few minutes of the Archers (I still don't know if the farm is the source of the pollution). Yep, power walking and Radio 4.
Today I took the final step from young woman to retiree. I put on my bum bag (fanny pack)!!! Now, I know its necessary but it really is the last straw isn't it. That said, MTV tells me that fanny packs are on trend- according to Randy Jackson's America's Best Dance Crew anyway.
The walk was fine, if horrendously cold. I nearly turned home for gloves. My coat was surely missed as I continue in my attempt to desensitise to the chilly temperatures.
My pedometer can suck it. Its died, I think. Will have to check it out as I did reset the watch before I went out. Definitely will have to be checked on before my 13 miler on Saturday!
5 and a bit miles - 9400 ish steps - 1.05.25
6 miles - 10450 steps - 1.14.35 (Sunday)
I listen to Radio 4 (talk radio) while I'm out. I get bummed out if I miss the last few minutes of the Archers (I still don't know if the farm is the source of the pollution). Yep, power walking and Radio 4.
Today I took the final step from young woman to retiree. I put on my bum bag (fanny pack)!!! Now, I know its necessary but it really is the last straw isn't it. That said, MTV tells me that fanny packs are on trend- according to Randy Jackson's America's Best Dance Crew anyway.
The walk was fine, if horrendously cold. I nearly turned home for gloves. My coat was surely missed as I continue in my attempt to desensitise to the chilly temperatures.
My pedometer can suck it. Its died, I think. Will have to check it out as I did reset the watch before I went out. Definitely will have to be checked on before my 13 miler on Saturday!
5 and a bit miles - 9400 ish steps - 1.05.25
6 miles - 10450 steps - 1.14.35 (Sunday)
Saturday, March 14, 2009
its cold!
It had better warm up soon or there's no way I'll be able to make it around London without a fleece on! I was so chilly today that I had to come back and put my ear band on. Its been much more BRR! than BRA lately.
Anyhow, I meant to leave the house at 4pm but ran into my next door neighbor- 45 min later she was still talking! Thank goodness her partner came home as I was meant to be racing Spen today while he took the girls to the post office to send H's birthday party invites out. I met him on the road as he was driving home. I hadn't even made it to the head of the trail!
Quick 4 miler today to make up for the one I missed last night. Thoughts:
Spring is here, and its not cute anymore. So many swarms of gnats and mosquitoes, I feel like I held my breath at least half of the time. No wonder so many of the early settlers of the marsh died of malaria!
Another smushed frog today. They should be more careful. What is squishing them all, there are no cars on the path??
Sometimes I think that people should sponsor Spen as he's doing so much with the girls to afford me time to train. He's pretty amazing, really.
4 miles - 6812 steps - 48.07.13
Anyhow, I meant to leave the house at 4pm but ran into my next door neighbor- 45 min later she was still talking! Thank goodness her partner came home as I was meant to be racing Spen today while he took the girls to the post office to send H's birthday party invites out. I met him on the road as he was driving home. I hadn't even made it to the head of the trail!
Quick 4 miler today to make up for the one I missed last night. Thoughts:
Spring is here, and its not cute anymore. So many swarms of gnats and mosquitoes, I feel like I held my breath at least half of the time. No wonder so many of the early settlers of the marsh died of malaria!
Another smushed frog today. They should be more careful. What is squishing them all, there are no cars on the path??
Sometimes I think that people should sponsor Spen as he's doing so much with the girls to afford me time to train. He's pretty amazing, really.
4 miles - 6812 steps - 48.07.13
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
THANK YOU!
I wanted to write a separate post to thank those of you that have been so generous in sponsoring me!!! I am truly overwhelmed that I have reached over 50% of my goal just two days after shamelessly begging you all to donate to the cause.
THANK YOU!
THANK YOU!
hmmm, another 4
Another day, another 4 miler. I really really need to get a secondary 4 mile route as its a bit blah to do the same one over and again.
Some thoughts. . .
I need to stop wearing so many layers when I head out. Its really cold out now, I know, but it may well be nearly as cold in the middle of the night during May. I sure as heck won't be wearing a winter coat then so I may as well to get use to feeling chilly now.
I wonder how the other Ashford-area MoonWalkers are getting on. I should sort out another coffee catch up to see how we're all doing on. Maybe suggest a 'craft night' where we could meet up and decorate our bras together.
Speaking of bra decorating. . . I'm stumped. I wish they would tell us if there will be a theme or not, last year was 'Bollywood meets Rock & Roll'. I've heard rumors that this year's will be 'Strictly MoonWalk.' If there won't be an event theme, I'm thinking of a baseball ('stealing 2nd') design in tribute of my nation's fav pastime or going as a fairy as its super pink and I think H would love helping me pick out bits and pieces. Any thoughts. . . please offer a suggestion or two!!!
I got home to an empty house, very strange. I wonder where Spen and the kiddos are???
4.05 miles - 7172 steps - 50.21.84
Some thoughts. . .
I need to stop wearing so many layers when I head out. Its really cold out now, I know, but it may well be nearly as cold in the middle of the night during May. I sure as heck won't be wearing a winter coat then so I may as well to get use to feeling chilly now.
I wonder how the other Ashford-area MoonWalkers are getting on. I should sort out another coffee catch up to see how we're all doing on. Maybe suggest a 'craft night' where we could meet up and decorate our bras together.
Speaking of bra decorating. . . I'm stumped. I wish they would tell us if there will be a theme or not, last year was 'Bollywood meets Rock & Roll'. I've heard rumors that this year's will be 'Strictly MoonWalk.' If there won't be an event theme, I'm thinking of a baseball ('stealing 2nd') design in tribute of my nation's fav pastime or going as a fairy as its super pink and I think H would love helping me pick out bits and pieces. Any thoughts. . . please offer a suggestion or two!!!
I got home to an empty house, very strange. I wonder where Spen and the kiddos are???
4.05 miles - 7172 steps - 50.21.84
Sunday, March 08, 2009
double digit day
Took down another 10 miles along the canal and down to Sandgate this afternoon. It was strange to notice that it took me til mile three to properly get in the swing of things (again) but I suppose my knee is still playing up a bit despite using my brace. Never mind, I just took it slow and tried to convince myself that it was just about getting a few more miles under my belt as I didn't have to rush every time I went out.
It was SO windy!!!
The thought of carrying on down the bike path onto the sea wall wasn't inspiring so I followed along the golf course instead. It was really lovely with the sun shining, babbling stream and green green grass and was underwhelming when I climbed the stairs at the end of the path and found myself at the back of a gas station. Another mile along the road and I turned for home.
At mile 6, I was thirsty.
At mile 7, I began to fantasize about relaxing in the garden with a beer.
At mile 8, I thought we should all go out for a bike ride once the kids woke from their nap.
At mile 9, I had a drastic rethink and just wanted to eat!
It was slow today, but the miles are racking up. I have started leaving the clock running while I wait to cross the road in the hopes that the times will be more realistic to what the pace will be on the night. Must stretch again tonight before bed. Its sad to admit, but I am s-o-r-e!
10.12 miles - 18,204 steps - 2.15.03
It was SO windy!!!
The thought of carrying on down the bike path onto the sea wall wasn't inspiring so I followed along the golf course instead. It was really lovely with the sun shining, babbling stream and green green grass and was underwhelming when I climbed the stairs at the end of the path and found myself at the back of a gas station. Another mile along the road and I turned for home.
At mile 6, I was thirsty.
At mile 7, I began to fantasize about relaxing in the garden with a beer.
At mile 8, I thought we should all go out for a bike ride once the kids woke from their nap.
At mile 9, I had a drastic rethink and just wanted to eat!
It was slow today, but the miles are racking up. I have started leaving the clock running while I wait to cross the road in the hopes that the times will be more realistic to what the pace will be on the night. Must stretch again tonight before bed. Its sad to admit, but I am s-o-r-e!
10.12 miles - 18,204 steps - 2.15.03
Saturday, March 07, 2009
worse than guantanamo?
Another 4 down. Someone told me there are nearly 250 to go before the big show. Yowza!
I was hoping yesterday's walk would be a bit more gentle than usual as my knee was still really painful when I extended it. 'Dr.' Spen thinks I strained my tendons and has had me on a strict regime of heat and elevation. His advice had done some good as I was able to get my shoes on and out the door after hobbling around the place for a day and a half.
I plodded along the first mile of the canal walk before turning off to cross the canal bridge near to the girls' most local playground for a bit of variety and followed a path on the other side of the water. Any variation helps until I can find another local 4 miler and I didn't mind trading the mud-puddly mire for a very straight paved path! This side took me passed a lot of warehouses that had graffiti on them, very strange for Hythe- the strangest proclaimed "Worse than Guantanamo." I wondered if the writer was referring to living in Hythe as it must feel like a prison for those in their early teen years from time to time. After the graffiti buildings I found myself following along the mini-railway's course into town. No trains today but I bet they would feel very mighty passing by only a few feet away!! I was overtaken by a 'real' marathoner before crossing the main bridge and taking the usual trail home.
My speed improved and I hit my stride around the 3 mile marker as my knee finally relaxed. I felt like I could have tackled another three or four miles but had to get home as Spen's Mum and Dad were down for the weekend and didn't want to miss out on seeing them with the kiddos, they are really sweet together especially as H thinks that they walk on water!
I noticed an older woman with a quarter of a mile to go who talked at me til I felt compelled to stop and hear her out while she slated another dog walker on the path. Apparently the 'other lady' was making her dog neurotic because she would make her sit or lie down every time someone passed her on the path. She was a hoot (especially as the 'other lady' she was complaining about has often told me off on for parking on the road outside of our own house!) Any how, I still finished in a decent time but failed to notice that I was just shy of the four miles. Must make up the .01 next time, ha!
3.99 miles - 6948 steps - 49.50.57
I was hoping yesterday's walk would be a bit more gentle than usual as my knee was still really painful when I extended it. 'Dr.' Spen thinks I strained my tendons and has had me on a strict regime of heat and elevation. His advice had done some good as I was able to get my shoes on and out the door after hobbling around the place for a day and a half.
I plodded along the first mile of the canal walk before turning off to cross the canal bridge near to the girls' most local playground for a bit of variety and followed a path on the other side of the water. Any variation helps until I can find another local 4 miler and I didn't mind trading the mud-puddly mire for a very straight paved path! This side took me passed a lot of warehouses that had graffiti on them, very strange for Hythe- the strangest proclaimed "Worse than Guantanamo." I wondered if the writer was referring to living in Hythe as it must feel like a prison for those in their early teen years from time to time. After the graffiti buildings I found myself following along the mini-railway's course into town. No trains today but I bet they would feel very mighty passing by only a few feet away!! I was overtaken by a 'real' marathoner before crossing the main bridge and taking the usual trail home.
My speed improved and I hit my stride around the 3 mile marker as my knee finally relaxed. I felt like I could have tackled another three or four miles but had to get home as Spen's Mum and Dad were down for the weekend and didn't want to miss out on seeing them with the kiddos, they are really sweet together especially as H thinks that they walk on water!
I noticed an older woman with a quarter of a mile to go who talked at me til I felt compelled to stop and hear her out while she slated another dog walker on the path. Apparently the 'other lady' was making her dog neurotic because she would make her sit or lie down every time someone passed her on the path. She was a hoot (especially as the 'other lady' she was complaining about has often told me off on for parking on the road outside of our own house!) Any how, I still finished in a decent time but failed to notice that I was just shy of the four miles. Must make up the .01 next time, ha!
3.99 miles - 6948 steps - 49.50.57
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
4 more miles
Did another 4-miler today, nothing terribly exciting to report on this venture. I repeated the canal loop with the intention of keeping to 5mph. Things went well with pace bouncing between 4.8 and 5.3 mph!! No downers aside from seeing a poor flattened frog on my path (eww!) and getting a rotten cramp behind my knee that I managed to stride through.
Turns out. . . that 'cramp' doesn't seem to be fading so the knee is elevated and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I haven't strained it.
4 miles - 6942 steps - 47.42.58
Turns out. . . that 'cramp' doesn't seem to be fading so the knee is elevated and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I haven't strained it.
4 miles - 6942 steps - 47.42.58
Monday, March 02, 2009
getting sick?
Not quite sure what the problem was today, but my legs just wouldn't go.
I waited til Spen got home so we could run an errand for my interview tomorrow, swap kid-duty, and have him drop me off near Folkestone so I could have different scenery on my walk. That part went so smoothly, the girls were cheerful in the car, Spen was cheerful after work and my errand took less than 5 minutes. Should have been a tip off that the walk would be a mess!
I was dropped off on the far edge of Sandgate and wandered to the sea wall. Oh the wind!!! I braved it for about two miles but took the easy way out and turned for the shelter of town. I felt like I was going at my best speed but my watch kept telling me I was nearly .5 mph slower than normal. Then came the waves of nausea. . . and the need for a bathroom break! No amount of singing Sweet Caroline to myself could keep me distracted from trying to find the nearest public toilets. No wonder I was going so slowly. The pace picked up after, possibly my attempt to recoup the time loss as the watch kept running, that but the nausea kept me from doing my usual. I thought I managed to keep from catching the girls' bug but it seems to be coming on. Ugg. On the positive, I did the walk anyway. (I didn't have much choice tho, it was the only way to get home!)
5.25 miles - 9228 steps - 1.07.02
I waited til Spen got home so we could run an errand for my interview tomorrow, swap kid-duty, and have him drop me off near Folkestone so I could have different scenery on my walk. That part went so smoothly, the girls were cheerful in the car, Spen was cheerful after work and my errand took less than 5 minutes. Should have been a tip off that the walk would be a mess!
I was dropped off on the far edge of Sandgate and wandered to the sea wall. Oh the wind!!! I braved it for about two miles but took the easy way out and turned for the shelter of town. I felt like I was going at my best speed but my watch kept telling me I was nearly .5 mph slower than normal. Then came the waves of nausea. . . and the need for a bathroom break! No amount of singing Sweet Caroline to myself could keep me distracted from trying to find the nearest public toilets. No wonder I was going so slowly. The pace picked up after, possibly my attempt to recoup the time loss as the watch kept running, that but the nausea kept me from doing my usual. I thought I managed to keep from catching the girls' bug but it seems to be coming on. Ugg. On the positive, I did the walk anyway. (I didn't have much choice tho, it was the only way to get home!)
5.25 miles - 9228 steps - 1.07.02
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