the solo walks, blisters and two lessons

Lesson #1

After two very long weeks my foot seemed ready to cooperate with my training and I headed out for 12 miles (19k).  That was last weekend.  I felt really good for the most part and got an early start so I would be out of the heat of the day as quickly as possible.  What I find interesting about these walks is how I can feel on top of the world, and not even a full second later feel the intense need to sit down and never get up again.  That is how I was from about 8.5 miles and on.  It was brutal.  I looked at my sportband every few seconds seeing how far I had gone (the weekend endurance athlete equivalent to the nagging child in the back seat saying "are we there yet?).   At 9.3 I was only feet away from my car.  I stretched for a moment in the grass, debating whether or not I had it in me to complete the 12 miles or not.  I hit "end" on my Nike Sportband, got in the car and cranked up the AC.

Then I called dad to have him help talk me off the ledge.

Dad was realistic.  He reminded me that I will know when I need to stop and just to listen to my body.  He reminded me that I hadn't walked in 2 weeks.  He reminded me that it was over 100 degrees outside.

I decided to sit in the car longer, enjoy an apple and the air conditioning a little while before I decided to head back out or go home.  This was when I got my second wind and understood this weekend's lesson.
It is okay to rest.

I know that may seem like a silly lesson - but I don't like to stop once I start.  If I stop - I stop.  So if I felt the urge for a break, I would allow myself 15-30 seconds of stretching then start again (sometimes less than that - I want to keep moving forward).   Enjoying that wonderfully delicious fuji apple in the car (and it was an absolutely intoxicating fuji apple) gave me just what I needed to head out again.  And I did.  I only made it to 11.3 but like dad said you know when you need to stop.

By the way, I headed out the next day for 7 easy miles and it felt really good to hit those back to back.  I was surprised, but these distances are getting easier to get through.

Lesson #2 


Yesterday I headed out for 13 miles.  I wanted to get an early start and bought a flashlight the night before and then overslept.  I didn't start until 6.  I knew it was going to be a hot day.

I laced up my new shoes and headed out.  The air was still.  Usually there is more wind by the lake and I really hoped it would pick up.  It never did.  There were fewer people out than usual and more gnats.  There is one section about 1/2 mile long that is filled with gnats.  They fly in your face, ears, all over your clothes.  I learned the first week to keep my mouth closed during this portion of the walk.  You get the idea.  I shudder now thinking about it.

This walk I was determined to let myself rest whenever I wanted.  If I wanted to sit on a bench for 30 minutes so be it.  When I hit 6.5 I turned around and headed back the other direction.  I was afraid that if I passed my car at 9.5 that I would be tempted to stop because my feet were really beginning to hurt.  I might as well create the situation where I must complete the walk.

Still glad I did it this way, but mad that I didn't get that earlier start because the last 5 miles are in full sun and right on the water.  It was exceptionally uncomfortable.  Finally I pushed myself to a covered picnic area about 1/2 mile from the end of my route and hung out there for some time eating figs and talking with a runner named Patrick.

But I have left out something.    I was also having a hard time concentrating, was somewhat faint and had the overwhelming urge to lick my arms.  LOL   I'm a salty sweater - - and this week's lesson for me:  "I must take salt."  Now this is really counter to my natural way of thinking.  I have to avoid salt because it triggers my Menieres Disease symptoms.  I don't touch the stuff if I can help it.  But I came home and poured a little salt into some water and drank it up.  So now I know.

You may have noticed earlier that I mentioned wearing new shoes out on the 13 mile trek.  I don't know if that was the best decision or not and I still am not sure.  My other shoes were too small and were extremely painful to wear on longer walks.  These were not broken in however, and now I am suffering.
Blisters on the balls of my feet and around the entire heel on one foot.  Alas.

I did not make it out for my 9 miles today as a result and am now hobbling around with layers of band aids, moleskin and athletic tape.  It could be worse.

To help bring an end to breast cancer, please consider donating to my walk.

If you would like to help me purchase the items I need to finish training and for the walk weekend itself, please visit this link.

It's true. I've used Google for almost every step of this journey.

Rest. Ice. Elevate,

After two hours at a doctor's office (and only about 10 minutes total with said staff and doctor) those words are what is scrawled along the bottom of the paper they hand me as I check out.

Rest.  Ice.  Elevate.

I'm glad it isn't a fracture.  Well - we don't think it is.  The radiologist will read it and get back with me next week.  I don't want it to be a fracture, but the dull ache is one that I recognize from previous similar injuries.  Of course, this whole training ballgame is different.  I can't depend fully on what I have known before.

So rest.  Of course I am interpreting "rest" as don't walk 16 miles this weekend (as planned).  I joined the gym again this morning.  I'll be there - on a bike and/or elliptical for the same amount of time I would have been walking.  If you think I'm slowing down one bit then you don't know me very well. 

;-)

Injury (question mark)

Sometime during the night, during one of the dozen times I was awake, staring at the ceiling in a certain degree of pain and wondering if my foot has a stress fracture or not I decided not to walk this morning. 

I am not at all convinced that the discomfort I am feeling is anything more than muscles and tendons fighting the abuse I have put them through.  Still, I have decided to ice it today and tomorrow and hopefully that will set me up for success for my Tuesday walk.

For the curious:  I have already walked over 30 miles since the symptoms began.  There is no swelling.  There is some limited movement but that is all.  Oh - and it hurts. 

That isn't pain, it's pride.

I walked my first 10 mile day in this training so far.

All week I have been trying not to psyche myself out about it.  I knew I would be alone and it would have been the longest I had walked yet.  In addition my right foot is not playing along as well as I would like.  But I knew that if I kept thinking about the negative, kept wondering if I could do it, that I would not do it.

I knew I could do it.  But the mind is either your friend or your enemy and I needed it to be my friend.  So I focused on the truth.  I could do this.  I would do this.  And I will do it again.

One of my friends/co-worker joined me for the last 4 miles.  That was a real boost and came at the right time.  I was happy to have the company and someone to enjoy the beautiful weather with.  I think I would have been just as successful without her, but it would not been nearly as enjoyable.

I've been so proud of myself all day I find myself smiling from time to time.  Accomplishment feels good.

I repeat the same workout this coming week.  Sunday 6, Tuesday 3, Thursday 5, Saturday 10.

Thanks for coming along.

Counting back from 1000

My foot began hurting a few days ago.  I don't think it is any serious injury - just a result of a whole lot of walkin'.  It's uncomfortable enough just getting around the house and work, but heading out to intentionally walk, aka train, on it isn't much of  a picnic.

This morning at mile 3 I started counting back from 1000.  999...998...997.   And on I went for some time, enjoying the scenery and the walk, my mind distracted from my foot.

658..657...656...On to mile 4.  Almost done.  410..409...... 657..656...

At first I don't notice.  In fact I don't notice that I jumped up 200 numbers until I hit 410 again.

Oh well - - I ended mile 5 somewhere in the 200s.  It was a good walk.  I finished.  That's good enough.  I limped a bit the rest of the day but I guess I need to be showing those I work with how hard I'm working at this walking thing. 

I joke.

Saturday I walked 8 miles.  I was so thankful to have a training partner during that walk because I could feel myself mentally crumbling toward the end.  My toes were killing me and it seemed like we were walking down hill a whole lot.  Sunday I got up and walked 6.  I really didn't feel up to it but I knew I would hate myself if I didn't do it.  I did it.  I'm glad I did it.

Muscles are achy but not anything I can't deal with.   This week I walk 3 miles on Tuesday, 5 miles Thursday, 10 miles Saturday and 6 miles on Sunday.  My 10 mile day will be a new mental challenge for me but one I am looking forward to conquering.

I'm still fundraising.  My goal is $5000 and I have reached $1700.  I would love for you to consider making a donation.  The money goes straight to the Susan G. Komen foundation.  Virtually every milestone made regarding breast cancer has come as a result of the Komen foundation.  Think of the first person that comes to your mind who has lost their battle with breast cancer and what you would give to have them back with their family.  Or think of the one person closest to you and what you would give to keep them healthy.  Your donation will help bring an end to breast cancer.  How awesome is that?