In seven weeks, I am walking 26 miles over two days. I started walking in February, logging 10 – 15 miles a week. I need to kick it into high gear now. I’m going to update this page over the next seven weeks. It’s my running log of training. The one on my fridge isn’t cutting it: it’s covered in construction dust since The Beginning of a Fireplace. Part of me wants an audience for this page. Then another part of me wants it to sit quietly racking up mileage. I hope the daunting title keeps me in line with training.
So, here goes…
Training for the Avon Walk Boston May 19th & 20th. I'm In It to End It.
Monday, April 2, 2012 -- 1 hour pilates; 4-mile walk on treadmill at 3 mph: 80 minutes. Inspiration: my pilates instructor who kept me company on the treadmill next to mine.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012 -- 6-mile walk on the Charles Esplanade in Boston: 105 minutes. Inspiration: A friend's mom was recently diagnosed with breast cancer; she had surgery today. My friend and I both have 6-year-old boys, so I set my goal for 6 miles... and did it.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012 -- 1 hour pilates. Inspiration: It felt good afterwards -- but I nearly got sucked into the day without going to the class. Like so many other things, once I get there, I never regret going. Why is getting "there" so hard?
Saturday, April 7, 2012 -- 90-minute walk in Iowa, probably about 4 miles, but my $2.99 app said 18.5 miles. I'm in 2g territory not 4g. It felt like 18 miles. Wind from every direction. Piles of horse poop to dodge. Dropped my camera and broke the lens. Inspiration (before the walk): walking on gravel roads.
Sunday, April 8, 2012 -- (Still in Iowa) 4+ hours working with Mom & Dad outside trimming 10-foot high bushes, transplanting flowers, and cultivating a 20-acre field. This morning, Monday the 9th, I decided yesterday could most definitely count as cross-training, particularly the trimming and digging: my upper body had a great workout. As for cultivating the cornfield, I convinced Dad to let me do it. The cultivating was much easier than the convincing. Inspiration: a pick-up truck, electric hedge trimmers, long-handled trimmers, and a big International tractor.
Monday, April 9, 2012 -- (Still in Iowa) 60-minute walk. Inspiration: A visit with my friend Ada at the half-way mark.
Friday, April 13, 2012 -- 8-mile walk around Lake Q, 2 hours and 45 minutes. Inspiration: to see if I could make it to 8 miles. I did. Definitely need to add more conditioning walks during the week -- and take ibuprofen before walking.
Spring Break Week -- Short walks on the beach, family bike ride, and the four of us playing baseball outside... Friday, the 20th, did a quick 3.3 miles around Lake Q. I tried to pick up the pace: Instead of a 20-minute mile, I did the walk in 52 minutes.
Monday, April 23, 2012 -- 1-hour pilates
Tuesday, April 24, 2012 -- 3.3 mile walk around Lake Q, 53 minutes Inspiration: new cushioned walking socks -- at end of walk: 1st blister
Wednesday, April 25, 2012 -- 1-hour pilates
Friday, April 27, 2012 -- 3.3 mile walk around Lake Q, 53 minutes, followed by 20-minute cool down walk. Inspiration: Advil, new shoes & new n0n-cushioned socks: no blisters. I bought two new pairs of shoes and will alternate wearing them on training walks between now and May 19th... The walk is in three weeks!
Early May update: I'm walking 3 - 5 times a week & 4 - 6 miles at a time. I did another longer walk a week ago: 8 miles. Pilates is hit and miss. I've used that time to walk this week.