Had a good 14 yesterday...

Well, it may have been closer to 13.

I did the first 4 outside in Central Park. I have no idea what the pace was, but it was an easy one. It was warm and humid though, so I decided to take advantage of the free 4 day pass to Equinox and do the other miles indoors. I sure got my mileage out of that pass. I used it 4/4 days.

The walking felt good. I created a plan incorporating negative splits and stuck to it.
3.3 mph 3 miles
3.4 mph 3 miles
3.5 mph 3 miles

+ warm up and cool down Over half mile maybe more. It went very well, and I felt good. I ended up averaging about 3.3 with the bathroom breaks, 3.4 without.

I did 1.5 incline for most of it, but I went up to 4.5 or 5 for .06 miles each mile. I knew it wasn't much, but I figured at least getting an incline into every mile was something.

The last mile I was attempting to increase speed, but the treadmill decided I was done and needed to cool down (It had been an hour since my last potty break, so every 30 seconds it would go to 0 incline and 3mph, and I would have to reset it). With a quarter mile left, I ended and started a new session. I figure the whole thing only cost me 5-10 seconds, but it was disorienting.

I am in a good frame of mind and feeling optimistic.

Friday's workout was "jarring." Quite literally. I only had planned to do 2.5 miles (all I had time for), but somewhere in - about 2 miles the treadmill stopped - I was at 4.0 at that point, quite a speed for me. I was lucky not to fall or anything, but my body felt really whacky. I don't know what happened, but it just stopped and got an error message. My body was still feeling very tight yesterday, so I was worried about walking. I did it though. I tried to get on another treadmill after that, but I couldn't get my mind around it, so I just cooled down, stretched and called it a day. I wasn't worried since I had a long walk the next day and usually take it super easy the days before and after my long ones.

One other thing to note, I did those 13 miles this weekend while getting the worst blister I have ever had.

Oh well, that is what they call our medals. I will play around with my insoles because it seems like it was hitting funny.

One other thing to note, I did those 13 miles this weekend while getting the worst blister I have ever had.


Oh well, that is what they call our medals. I will play around with my insoles because it seems like it was hitting funny.

topics to come...tnt/Disney - to do it or not to do it....

12.5 in 4:10

Well, I know that race pace will be faster or at least I hope it will since it was in March. I did 13.1 in 3:55, but it wasn't NEARLY as hot or humid. I am truly praying for some less humid weather.

I was very pleased with my walk though because, if you have been keeping up, I have been averaging okay walking times, but then I add in all these breaks. On Sunday, I didn't have any breaks. It was straight through, well, I mean I did use the facilities in Mickie D's and I did stop to buy water and Gatorade, but I didn't stop or stop the clock at all.

I did, however, manage to twist my knee ever so slightly and it was killing by Sunday night. Lots of ice seemed to do the trick. I was fine by Monday. Of course I haven't done a walk since then, but I trust I will be fine tomorrow night, the next TNT walk.

Boy, do I love TNT! They are so awesome and supportive. I have already gotten an email from the walking coach, the campaign coordinator and the assistant walking coach! I love me some TNT!

3 quick ones today to prep for tomorrow...

Tomorrow is my first day with TNT. I feel like a kid starting a new school year. Hopefully, I can handle it with the same grace that Emily did. She prepped - got a good night's sleep, laid out her clothes, packed what she needed and got up on time. She thought about what would be good and what would be hard and accepted it. She got up on time and her entry into 4th grade was excellent.

So, lessons learned - lay out clothes - DO NOT FORGET SNEAKERS :-)
Pack whatever I will need
Go to bed early
Get up on time
and Trust it will all work out

The part I am having a hard time with is thinking about what will be good and what will be hard. I am feeling shy and hoping to meet someone. I will admit that my mentor not believing 19 min/mile is my pace has hung over me. It is...Time and Time again, I end up there or slower. So, I think that is my biggest fear - they will say, "You are too slow and cannot be helped." Should I admit that I checked and the PF Chang marathon that same weekend has a more friendly time limit? 4 hours for a half. I have done that before. I did 3:57 or something. And I am in much better shape now.

OK, I will stop making myself nuts and trust it.

Today was a quick 3 miles, but I truly can't stand walking anywhere except the park now. All those people and cars just plain ole annoy me. I think they add a lot of stress and time to the day. And it was HUMID again. I hate that.

Longest walk yet (about 18 miles)

Sunday Morning (Pre-walk)
I was supposed to leave this morning at the crack of dawn, but when I awakened and it was pitch black out, I rolled back over and decided that was a stupid idea. I should walk in the sunlight, right?! lol.

So, now at about 8:20, I am (still) procrastinating leaving for this big walk. Again the question "why?" pops into my mind...The simple answer: I am scared. Last week's heat episode has really left me doubting myself. I am scared. Scared I won't fuel right, scared my feet or legs will give out, scared I will collapse. I am just plain scared. 6-7 hours is a friggin' long time to walk.

So, off I go...

Monday Afternoon (Day after the "big walk")
As Dora the Explorer would say, "We did it, we did it, we did it yeah!" I managed to do 19.48 overall miles. That includes the jaunts to the ladies room, the strolls to the car to fill up my water/Gatorade and to get snacks. The "timed" walking portion was 18.48 miles. I took some long breaks, but here is the gist:

Half loop/warm-up: 1.73 miles: 32.5 minutes = 18.79 min/mile = 3.19 MPH
Full Loop #1: 3.35 miles: 62.25 minutes = 18.58 min/mile = 3.23 MPH
Full Loop #2: 3.35 miles: 61.5 minutes = 18.36 min/mile = 3.27 MPH (still thought negative splits were possible)
Full Loop #3: 3.35 miles: 62.8 minutes = 18.75 min/mile = 3.2 MPH
Full Loop #4: 3.35 miles: 66 minutes = 19.07 min/mile = 3.07 MPH
Full Loop #5: 3.35 miles: 77 minutes = 22.99 min/mile = 2.6 MPH (OUCH)
TOTAL WALKING TIME: 18.48 miles: 362.05 minutes: 19.59 min/mile = 3.06 MPH
TOTAL TIME (including breaks and all): 19.48 miles: 428.5 minutes: 22 min/mile: 2.73 MPH

I was feeling really good until the last loop. That one was hard. I was hungry, tired and wanted to call it a day. I am a but miffed because I spent as long yesterday including my breaks (which would, obviously, be counted during the marathon) as I had originally hoped to spend doing the entire thing (aka marathon), yet, I still had 6.8 miles to go (which is over 2 hours at the pace I was keeping). Speed and endurance are tricky things to work on. I thought by not pushing my speed too much in the beginning yesterday I was golden and would maintain a 3 MPH rate throughout, but no such luck. The good news is, I did maintain that for the first 15+ miles which is a huge improvement.

All in all, it was a great walk, a great day and I must say, I know now how much the heat impacts me. Yesterday was a lovely day to be walking and the climate was right. It wasn't too humid, the high must've been in the low 80s. It was all good. I feel good today. My feet were aching last night and hurt mildly this morning, but they seem to be okay. Next long walk, I will try taking something like aleve during the walk and see if that helps. The footsies were killing for the last lap. Luckily, I called a friend and chatted for about 15 minutes which had me not concentrating on the pain too much - I was going to say forget about the pain, but I didn't. I just placed it to the back of my mind for a few minutes.

Walking in Prospect Park, which is where I do the majority of my long walks, is fascinating. There are people who you feel like buddies with because you see them several times. There are people who must be training for ironman events or something because I see them 4-8 times and I am walking - they are running or riding bikes. That is some serious mileage. It is such a friendly and diverse place.

As I walk throughout the day, it changes. In the morning, it is peaceful with the sounds of nature and the rhythm of the other athletes approaching. As the day goes on, there are kids on their bikes and the challenges of youngsters about who can get up the hill faster or who can go "no handed" for longer. And, if I look over at the fields, they start to fill up with people sunbathing, tossing firsbees, having picnics and playing a variety of sports: soccer, touch football, baseball and, if you can believe it, cricket. Who knew there was cricket right here in Brooklyn?

As the day goes on the bbqs start, which always seems a little cruel to me. Here I am having walked for umpteen hours, famished and I can smell the lighter fluid followed by the burgers and chicken cooking away. There is one family/group who seems to be there every weekend with a mob of people and their food smells divine. One of these weekends, I am just going to have to crash.

Then, as the day creeps on, the drum circle starts. I always get a kick out of that. The beat carries me to the end of my loop and starts the next. Usually, the people in that area are gregarious, funny and have some encouraging comments. They are all races, sizes and ages just chilling to the beat of the drums.

The one downside I have noticed is that as the day goes on and the park gets more crowded, the manners decrease. In the morning, everyone is watching out for everyone. You would never have a car or a pedestrian cut a jogger or biker off nor would you see an athlete get annoyed as a ball is accidentally sent into the path. In the afternoon, I am dodging people and cars crossing the streets. The bikers and roller bladers are in the walkers/runners lanes. People are seemingly bothered by any intrusion, even someone encouraging them. Here is an example. The Team for Kids Singlets are BRIGHT GREEN and hard to miss. There was a young 20 something girl wearing one. I passed her 4 times. The 1st time, I called out, "GO Team for kids." She looked up and around baffled. Mind you, I was wearing the white version of the shirt, she still never spotted me. The other 3 times, she was so busy watching where she was going, we never even made eye contact. I feel certain that would never happen in the morning. In the morning, everyone has a smile for the other athletes out there. Maybe it is the heat, maybe it is the crowd, I don't know, but if you want to find the nicest crew, go early in the morning.

Wow, I hate to sound cocky, but I am in awe of myself. Just 7 months ago, when I attempted to do a quick mile I was dying afterwards and now I did almost 20 miles and have had a totally normal day today! That is amazing. I even went swimming and raced with Emily.

And no, I am still not losing weight. I am within a pound of where I was in January when all this insanity started. I put that in often since it is the #1 question I am asked.

Ciao, until the next update.

Wow, it is hot!!!

Yesterday was my biggest challenge yet.

We started out a few minutes before 8 and it was actually relatively cool which was a shock since the report had been hot and humid. We went over the Manhattan bridge and were doing a great pace up until about mile 5. I think we were still under 18 minute miles at that point.

Then, I guess the heat hit in. I could feel that I wasn't myself. I debated over having Gu Gels, more water, or what. But, I was not feeling the way I normally do in a walk. I wasn't worried about it. I just thought it was because I was walking so fast and walking with someone. So, at about 7 miles, I had a Gu. And at about 7.5 miles I decided to have some more water and a banana. I hadn't tried a banana before. Then at about 10 miles I decided to have gatorade (tried a new flavor - Rain/Berry, so good!). I drank it pretty fast because I was totally thirsty, hot and achy at that point. Well within a mile I felt nausea, crampy and like I needed to quit. I really just wanted to curl up in bed and say forget all this. This is the first time since committing to the marathon that I have contemplated ending a walk early or quitting the entire endeavor. There were 2 things that kept me going. The first was knowing how many people are behind me in accomplishing this. The second was KC. She was just pushing on. Her blood sugar was dropping, so she handled that, and she was just pushing through.

I also felt bad about our time, even though going in KC knew I was much slower than she is. I was slowing us way down. We finally caught site of the Brooklyn Bridge and I bought a bottle of water that KC and I just poured over our heads. It was bloody hot. I have never noticed all the benches on the bridge before but each one seemed to be calling my name. I also started thinking, "If I collapse, will KC figure out that I have a cell in my bag and call Mom or anyone?"

Finally, we made it over the bridge and there was the Park, Cadman Plaza. I told KC I had to sit and she could go on ahead. She didn't. She patiently stretched and waited while I convinced myself I could make it to Mom's, probably a half mile away. At his point, KC confessed that before we met up she had ALREADY done 2.5 miles. So, she would end up with 17.5 or so!! Well, I made it a quarter mile and decided to sit again by the Farmer's Market (14 miles) and wait for Mom and Emily to show up there. Emily and I creeped to mom's (4.5 blocks away) in probably 15 + minutes. My feet were killing, I was soaked, it was nuts.

The rest of the day got better. I took a long jacuzzi bath, Mom fed me, I napped and then I was ravenous, so Emily and I went to a local haunt, Teresa's. I had all good intentions to eat well, and uh, the hunger took over. I had Chicken noodle soup, potato pierogis, and ,dare I admit, a vanilla shake! It hit the spot. I think for recovery you are supposed to have as much protein as possible, well I blew that. But after sleeping more than 10 hours last night, I feel almost back to myself.

Time wise. I need to confirm with KC, but I think including the 5 minutes in cadman park our 15 miles took 4 hours 40 minutes or 20 minutes per mile or 3mph. That sounds way too fast to me, I will have to check into that. If it is fast, it is faster than I did 2 weeks ago and just a hair slower than last week. So, I will take it and know that I am truly progressing!

I was supposed to do 6 miles today, but I am backing out because of the humidity and fear.