Thursday, August 28, 2008

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Adding to the Mix

Going to try to add a little upperbody strength to the mix... 100 Push-ups! Check out the link, simple, but hard at the same time. Kinda like life...

We'll see how that goes, but it can't be bad, right?!?!? Anyone have any spare motivation for me?

Monday, June 9, 2008

Hey stranger

Wow, last post St. Patty's Day - I swear I didn't tie one on for that long! Instead on being in a drunken stupor for three months I have been in a severe lack of motivation stupor. Work was insanely busy and I use dthat as a convienent excuse to not hit the treadmill or to be out on the streets walking. But I still feel like I have enough time to get prepped and ready for the walk in January.

But this past Saturday, I got my butt out of bed at o'dark-thirty for the Susan G. Komen National Race for the Cure. The walk was a 5K, 3.1 miles, but I drove down and had to schlep around the city a bit to meet up with my group from work, so in total 6.1 miles walked. Go me! Slow pace during the actual walk (20 minute miles), but then even more of a MAJOR slowdown on the remaining 3 miles. But I walked it and that is a good start after how long I have been away. 6.1 Hopefully that link works and shows my walk.

I really, really hope this is the motivation to get me moving again. Hope to meet up with K. in the next week or so for a post-work walk, maybe along the C&O.

Monday, March 17, 2008

Great Find!

What a great website find, uses google maps for you to map your walk distances - no pedometer needed!

WalkJogRun

Friday, March 14, 2008

Great Morning!

2.0 - 42:23

My first 2 mile walk this year! Yea! It was slow as f*ck, but I still walked it. I had a good cooldown for the last quarter mile and stretched well afterwards so hopefully I won't be too sore and can do another 2 on Sunday.

I'm planning on walking this 5K next weekend, Run for Life . Needless to say, there will be no running. I'm hoping that I won't be at the back of the back, but I'll do it. I was told there would be walkers and strollers, so hopefully I'll still be with a crowd. Moving is moving and hanging out with good friends is what I am looking forward to the most!

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Morning Energy

1.0 - 20.44

Making sure to get my walk in the mornings this week. I am watching a friend's kids at night this week so no time to get a walk in then. Plus when I actually do get my lazy butt out of bed and walk in the morning I have so much more energy for the day!

Again, walking to the Biggest Loser - inspiring! Voted off contestants make a comeback this week - yea!

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

.5 - 11:12

Sunday, March 9, 2008

Wahoo!

.5 - 9:45
.5 - 10:13

Hit the treadmill again this afternoon. Trying to stick to the schedule, or at least start hitting the suggested times and distances so I don't get soooo far behind. I wrote them out as two separate times and distances so I can see that I was under 10:00 for my 1/2 mile. That is where I should have been the majority of last week. I think I did that at 3.2 mph, but I'll have to double check on that.

I will say that at the end of that I was starting to feel it in my shins, I'll have to keep an eye on that and do some research into how to avoid shin splits.

Saturday Afternoon Hangover

1.0 - 21:53

Well, not quite everyday yet, but I did get up this morning at do a mile, and hope to get another one in later today.

The reason I didn't get a walk in yesterday was because we hit up the
Shenadoah Brewing Company at 10:15am and promptly started drinking - wahoo! They had a lot of good beers on tap and bottled, but I'm definitly not as young as I used to be, that much beer before noon, led to a VERY unproductive Saturday. Was a blast brewing beer though and meeting some new folks. We brewed a Extra Special Bitter, a Czech Pilsner, a Honey Heifeweisen and a Pale Ale. Most of them take 8 weeks, one took 12 I think to be ready to drink.

I also ran into a good friend of an old roommate of mine, small, small world. I love when things like that happen.

Friday, March 7, 2008

2 in a Row!

1.5 - 33:54

Wahoo! Got up again this morning and hit the treadmill, got a great 1 1/2 miles in and I feel great! And most importantly - 2 days in a row again!

It's not much of a training schedule if you don't stick to it. I'm still not sticking to it exactly but hopefully I am back to walking EVERY day again. I need to get back on the training schedule, trying to get back on it - it is planned out through the race next January, I need to start sticking to it! I think the thing that I'm not doing is any kind of speed, I'm still rarely past 3.0MPH. And it even takes me 10 minutes of warm-up to get up even up to that speed, so I need to work that out.

It's all good.

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Thursday

1.0 - 22:56

Nice to get a walk in before dinner. Almost succumbed to the oh no I have to cook dinner, but I threw some carne asada in the oven, put Gadgetboy in charge of sides and hit the treadmill. Felt really good to get a walk in. I'm hoping that this will be the kick to get me back in a regular schedule, February was a hard month for me.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

1.0 - 27:41

Wow, am I slow! Truly I'm not concerned about it now, just happy to be moving but compared to my Training Schedule, I am way off! Hopefully I can get back on it this week.

Didn't get home until almost 8 tonight, ate dinner, then chilled out for a couple of hours before getting my walk in. We'll see what that does to my sleeping pattern, hopefully not too energized to sleep...

Peace!

Monday, March 3, 2008

.6 - 16:24

Okay, trying to get back on track! Although the 1/2 marathon training schedule I have planned, I was supposed to do 1/2 mile in 10 minutes and I didn't hit that, I moved and since I'm still 10 months out, I'm good with that.

Still working on getting into a daily habit, trying to figure out how to make life work with walking my schedule.

Keep on walkin'!

Saturday, March 1, 2008

So much for everyday!

.5 - 14:04

Clearly been a while since I either walked or posted. First still was working like crazy, but then this week we ended up not having gas in our house for three days...no heat, no stove, no hot water. Makes it hard to get a workout in and work up a good sweat knowing there was no shower in sight. Could I have just taken an ice cold shower? Yes, but I instead chose just not to walk. I hope I get to the point at some point where I feel off if I don't work out, where I'd take the ice cold shower regardless.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Falling into a bad habit...

1.2 - 29:00

I've been falling into a bad habit. Having a hard time walking. Mainly due to the schedule I've been working (late again this week!), but hoping I can get back on it after my project goes out on Friday. I was doing well, but now am into a every other day habit. Hopefully next week will be better.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

1.0 - 24:45

Short and sweet, trying to get back in the groove. Even though I had the day off yesterday, I could NOT get motivated to walk - grrr!

Sunday, February 17, 2008

1.3 - 30:47

Thursday, February 14, 2008

1.0 - 16:15

Back at it this morning. Monday and Tuesday night I worked until 11PM and I have quickly realized that I can't work that late and then still get out of bed early to walk. Means it is going to be real hard to do when I'm in trial then, which is the start of the training calendar for the full marathon. Trial days start at 6AM and usually go to about1AM - not a lot of sleep going on! Hopefully won't have to work as crazy late the next couple of days so I can get back on schedule.

So even though I missed 2 days walking I am still on my time for walking this week, was supposed to walk 80 minutes, have walked 82 minutes. I'll take that!

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Walk the Vote!

1.0 - 23:12

Missed walking entirely yesterday. Couldn't get up in the morning so I figured I'd just walk when I got home, but then ended up with a nasty project at work that kept me there until 10:45pm. No way I was walking that late, I'd never get to sleep! So back on plan this morning, had a good walk and planning on walking Friday morning to make up for it. Going to try to be better about getting up in the morning, it does make my whole day feel better.

Another crazy day planned - have to hit the voting booth on my way in, make sure I actually leave my desk today to get my allergy shot (forgot about it yesterday!) and then back on the crazy project. Probably another late night tonight.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Survivor Walk!

1.4 - 33:30

My favorite show is back on the air - Survivor!!! Made my walk just fly by. I'm loving the news Fans vs. Favorites. Gadgetboy saved the day because I had forgotten to set the Tivo for the new season - that was quickly fixed!!

It is also just getting so much easier to do my walks. My back isn't tightening up as much, I'm not as winded on the higher speeds, and I am just feeling so much better about everything. This is doing wonders not just for my physical being but also my mental being!

Saturday, February 9, 2008

Yea!

1.3 - 30:30

Have a big day planned, painting our master path but wanted to get my walk in before we started that because I'm sure I'll way to tired after doing that to want to walk.

My morning walks all have about 5 minutes of real slow warm-up time at like 1.0 to 1.5mph. I do do a small warm-up before hitting the treadmill, some stretches, moving around (the America's Walking warm-up)

But I still feel that I need that slow walking to get me moving. I think at some point I'm going to need to just start counting that 5 minutes in my total because a) makes me look so slow! and b) having a hard time figuring out my pace. But that is later, right now I'm just glad to be moving everyday, glad to be improving everyday, glad to be getting healthier everyday!

Friday, February 8, 2008

Googley Goodness



That is the link to my Google calendar for the Weight Watchers 1/2 Marathon Training schedule - have fun! (This is the same one on the bottom of this page).

Little Inspiration

A little inspiration today via CNN

Quick Hitter

.6 - 16min

Almost stayed in bed this morning, and it is a scheduled day off, but I still wanted to get a little walking in. I have another week or two at a slow pace, to get "used to walking" and then I need to get moving faster. Right now I am just happy to be moving and motivating to walk, but soon I need to pick up the pace.

One thing I really like about the Weight Watchers 1/2 Marathon plan is that it gives both the mileage to be walked and the time it should be walked in. The America's Walking just gives the time to walk, although I'm sure somewhere on their site a pace was mentioned. But for me, having it all mapped out on a day-to-day schedule is what I need.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Updated Calendar

I just went thru Google Calendar and added all of the Weight Watchers 1/2 Marathon Walking Schedule to my calendar. The WW training schedule is in purple. I'll send some links to you directly so you can manage and track your walks if you wish, just leave me a message. I still need to add my walking the full marathon training in past February, and fix the discrepacies (the "m" on the WW one is for miles, on the full marathon in red it stands for minutes). Things like that will bug me.

Late Walk

1.3 - 30:30

Worked late and but still managed to get a walk in tonight. I need to figure out the best way to make the timing work out. I got home at 7:30pm, ate at 8:00pm, started my walk at 9:00pm. I'm not as productive in the morning, but I hate walking this late. I think it will be easier when I'm not working so late, and when it stay light out after work. Or if I get my butt outta bed!

I found a 48-week half-marathon challenge.training schedule on the Weight Watchers website yesterday. It looks like a great plan if I decide to do the 1/2 marathon. Here is the link to it

http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?art_id=38261&tabnum=1&sc=3039&subnav=More+Ways+to+Be+Active

I am going to add that walking schedule to my Google calendar as well.

Walking still was sore from the fall down the stairs, still feeling lots of aches and pains. Hopefully I'll walk thru that.

Ugh!

Just could not get out of bed this morning, no matter how hard I thought about it, thought about walking I just couldn't do it. Very annoyed with myself about it - grrr! And now it looks like i might be working late which is going to make walking at night even hadrer tonight. Looks like today might be my off day instead of my scheduled Friday - we'll see!

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Calendar

Added my Google calendar to the bottom of the page. The numbers in red are my expected/scheduled walk times, the numbers in green are my mileage and actual walk times. I have only put in my schedule for February so far but hopefully this weekend I'll update the rest of the year with my scheduled walks.

Wow - I did it!

Wow! Wow! Wow! I did it, I signed up for the marathon. Well, actually I signed up for the 1/2 marathon. The WDW 1/2 marathon was at 65% full so I bit the bullet and signed up for it even though, as I mentioned, my goal is to walk the marathon. If I end up being not ready for the full next year, I want to still do the 1/2 and would hate to miss out! I hope I have until June or so to sign up for the full, by then I'll have a better idea where I'm at.

Good Fortune

2 Fortune Cookies from last night's dinner:

Set the right example, it will inspire others.

Success is a journey, not a destination.

And who knew a single fortune cookie was 2 points?!?!?!?! Yep, trying to count those WW points again - wish me luck!

Psyched

1.1 - 25:00

Still sore this morning from my fall from grace yesterday, but hit the treadmill again. I think that by telling folks about the walk, keeping this journal, discussing it so much with S., K. and Gadgetboy has made me so accountable and that is whyI am getting up and walking. I do feel a lot better, have a lot much energy, so that is also why I am walking. But the being accountable is what is getting me out of bed in the morning.

Meet up with K. last night to talk about the marathon, walking schedules and hotel plans. We're hoping to get together once a month to do a long walk either along the C&O or Rock Creek Parkway. Turns out she is planning on just doing the 1/2 marathon, not the full. I am still planning on doing the full, but we'll see how it pans out, how the training goes. 26 miles of 16 minute miles sounds crazy!

Got a call from D. last night and she sounds like she is up for the trip as well. Think she is planning on running the 1/2 marathon and spending a week in Disney.

Gadgetboy and I are still trying to decide how long and which hotel we're going to stay at in Disney. He loves Disney and feels that the only way to do it is to do it full out. Since we'll be spending a week in Sedona two weeks before the marathon, I'm leaning towards a more budgeted trip, and doing the full on trip at some other point with just us, or with friends.

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Ouch!

.5 - 20:00

Why so slow you ask? I FELL DOWN THE STAIRS!!!! OUCH! I woke up, grabbed my work-out gear and started down the stairs so I wouldn't wake up Gadgetboy, took one step and down she goes! Boy do big girls pick up speed! We have a bunch of stuff at the bottom of the stairs, including some stained glass sheets, and I was really worried that I would slide into that. Luckily I stopped before hitting the bottom, but now my bottom is sore as can be!! Ouch! I can already feel a HUGE bruise starting. I almost didn't walk at all, but I figured I was up and should move a bit. I only walked at 1.5mph but at least I moved!

Monday, February 4, 2008

.5 - 10:00

Worked late, short and sweet. At least it is something!

Sunday, February 3, 2008

754 Miles

754 Miles from our house to Disney World.

I've been toying with the idea of seeing if I can walk that many miles before the Marathon in July. Walk the distance to the marathon basically. It works out to roughly 2.3 miles per day until the end of the year (I didn't count the 10 days in January 2009). That sounds doable to me since I'll definitely have days where I will be walking more than that, I just wonder how my early walking in February of just about a mile a day will effect that. Thinking about making a rough flexible goal and I'll work toward it but to not be disappointed in myself if I cannot do it.

So far from starting this on January 14 I have walked 9.0 miles. Not much compared to people in shape, but huge progress for me!

1.0 - 26.11

Again a morning I didn't want to get up and do this, but I did it! I have been watching NBC's The Biggest Loser as I have been walking on the treadmill. Talk about inspiration! I so love listening to Jillian and Bob talk, good inspiration. It is hard to quit wlking when you are watching a show like that. I have a friend doing Jillian's Weight Loss/Biggest Loser plan and she has been kicking butt on it. Says it is cheaper than Weight Watchers which I am still paying for. Yep, still paying for it and not going to meetings nor counting my points - throwing money in the trash. I need to make a big decision on that some time real soon. Been trying to eat better but it is hard when the house is filled with lots of temptations and junk food I love.

A constant struggle but I'm getting better at it everyday.

Saturday, February 2, 2008

Great walk!

1.4 miles - 30:30

Last 5 minutes were a cooldown walk per Gadgetboy's suggestion. I need to look at it as just walking not affecting my pace time, because lord knows I'm nowhere near setting or walking for pace yet. I feel good about it, glad to do it in the middle of a Saturday, when I'd rather be doing a million other things. Working on making the walking a priority in my day to day life.

Friday, February 1, 2008

1.1 - 24.46

My starts are definitely better in the evenings, after I have been walking around all day, than in my morning walks when my mind and body are still half asleep. The first 2 minutes on the treadmill I'm only walking at 1MPH, even after a little stretching warmup. Think it is just because I am not awake yet. That is something I'll definitely need to work on, ya know since marathons don't start at 11am.

After doing 25 minutes this morning I am caught up on my walking for the week. The first set of walks I am scheduled to do from the PBS Walking for Health program only has days of 10 to 15 minutes, with the long days early on only being 25 minutes. It is small baby steps, but I am basically needing to get my muscles started working from scratch. They haven't been moving in any form of exercise in quite a while. So while it does seem that I can do a lot more right now, I'm not going to push it.

Walking for Health

Thursday, January 31, 2008

At It Again

1.1 - 26.20

I still hit the snooze button for half-an-hour, but I got up and walked this morning. Don't think I would have gotten up at I gone to Kilroy's last night. I made up one day I missed and if I walk 25 minutes tomorrow (my scheduled off day) I'll be back on schedule.

Walking 25 minutes was starting to get a bit boring even while listening to the radio, so no way I'll be able to do 2 hours on the treadmill, that will have to be done outside. Luckily I won't hit any 2 hour walks until the weather is better.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Rained on my Parade

Or more like rained on my lazy butt! Trip to California was fun, but it rained almost the entire time - good thing we rented a convertible, eh? Needless to say the rain gave me no motivation to get out and walk. And we've been back for 2 days and I still haven't walked - grr! I lost my motivation and I have been feeling like crap. See I am allergic to down pillows and Gadgetboy's parents had a couple on their guestroom bed. Sweetly Gadgetboy went thru and tried to separate out the down pillows from the non-down from the 20 pillows on the bed - but he missed one! So I work up on Sunday AM having a hard time breathing, and even ended up using my inhaler Sunday night.

So since I have been home my head has been foggy and feels like it weighs 100 pounds. So tonight I normally go out with a couple of girlfriends for a couple of beers after a Stained Glass class I am taking. But the bar we go to is CRAZY smoky (we ain't in Cali anymore!), so in order to be able to get back on track and walking again (oh yeah and breathe), I am bailing on girl time to go home and hopefully walk. I am already 4 times behind on the training calendar I made for myself. Well, kinda, it started on the 27th, so all of the walking I did the previous week hadn't been counted yet. And this first week all consists of only walking 10 or 15 minutes a day, so I feel I can make that up by extending my walks to half an hour and walking on my scheduled off day - Friday. So hopefully come Saturday I will be back on track!

Friday, January 25, 2008

1st full mile!

1 mile - 22:26

I know, sad, sad, sad but I see it as an accomplishment. Like I Said - baby steps!! But clearly I'll be working toward that 16 minute mile. And working to not just one 16 mile mile, but 26.2 of them!

Sleeveface!

Best Flickr pool ever! There are some real gems here.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/sleeveface/pool/

At home

Working from home today so I slept in to make up for the time it takes me to drive into work so I missed my morning walk before starting work. My plan is to walk over what would be my lunch hour. I really enjoy working from home, I feel I have so many less distractions, am able to focus more. And instead of stopping for 5 minutes to talk to someone while pouring a cup of coffee, I throw a load of laundry in. I feel like I can get stuff done while being more productive all together. Now just have to make sure I walk!

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Thursday AM

3/4 mile in 16.53

That pace won't get me to the finish line in time, but it's a good start. From what I have been reading I'll need to have a 16 minute mile to avoid being swept.

Trying to decide if it is worth packing my walking stuff for our trip to CA this weekend. Yes, I Want to walk, but will it happen?!? And the fact that Gadgetboy's parent live in the development built into the side of a mountain. I have only been doing flats so far so that might kick my butt. And no sports bra yet. Making excuses? Probably.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Wednesday AM

.5 - 13:00

Well I got up, although a little later than I had hoped. Going to be hard to get into a morning routine. It helps that Gadgetboy has to leave earlier than I do for work, but I still need to get out from under the covers, lol. So today was half-mile in 13:00, clearly I am very slow in the morning! But I did it, I got my ass outta bed! Score one for me!

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Quick half mile before dinner

.5 miles in 11:03

Got home, changed real quick, threw some fish in the over to cook, and hit the treadmill for a quick half-mile. Would have never imagined it. Laundry to do tonight before heading to California for the week, but still hoping to get my other half-mile in tonight.

The Plan!

Thanks to PBS's website and the information from the show America's Walking I have my year walking schedule planned out. I started with their 18 weeks to walking a marathon plan and worked backwards from there. I then added to 2 walk throughs of their Walking Weight Loss plan and then finally I plan on starting with their Walking for Health Plan. yes, that is all listed backwards but that is how I planned it. I started with the Marathon date (January 11, 2009) and subtracted backwards.

Wow, seems like a lot of work, but I hope I can still to the schedule. I hope at least to get in all the time in the week, even if it doesn't fall on the planned days. I know there will be weekends away in there plus work travel, but here's hoping I can do it!

Here are the links to the above referenced items:
America's Walking -
http://www.pbs.org/americaswalking/index.html

18 Week Marathon Walking Plan -
http://www.pbs.org/americaswalking/health/health18week.html

Walking for Weight Loss -
http://www.pbs.org/americaswalking/health/scorewalk3.html

Walking for Health -
http://www.pbs.org/americaswalking/health/scorewalk2.html

Monday, January 21, 2008

.5 - 13:50

Sunday, January 20, 2008

.5 - 13:30

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Neverland

I have never been to Disneyworld, truthfully, it never held any interest for me. But my husband loves Disneyworld and has wanted to go for vacation there since we met. Well, I think this will be the thing to get me there.

Here is what we'll be running
http://disneyworldsports.disney.go.com/dwws/en_US/marathon/events/detail?name=MarathonRaceDetailPage

It will be January 11, 2009 - hopefully I'll be able to get my act together by then! Another great site I have found is
http://www.disneyrunning.com/

I'll be posting more walking and marathon links as I find them!

Baby Steps...

.5 - 12:30

Well, Day 1 is done. Wow, I knew I was starting from ground zero, but tonight just reaffirmed it for me. Before dinner I decided I'd start off easy with a mile on the treadmill. Well, sadly, I couldn't even manage that. My back totally tightened up on me by .5 and I had to stop. It took me 12:30 to do my 1/2 mile - discouraging.

What I am really proud of is though, is that after having dinner, play some WOW (World of Warcraft - yes, I'm a geek), I got back on the treadmill and finished my remaining 1/2 mile. In better time too, 10:30. My back tightened up again at the end, so I have the feeling I'll be doing my walking in 1/2 mile stretches til my back strengthens. If anyone has some back exercises they can recommend - chime in!

Baby steps, but we'll get there!

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Roadblocks

I get home from Women's Weekend all excited and geared up to start walking and hit a major roadblock - I can't breathe!! I have to take 3 days off my allergy meds in order to be evaluated by a new allergy doctor. Very scary to think of how poorly I'll be beathing by the time I get to my appointment. Can't wait to start taking allergy shots again though, and also hopefully some new meds to get me on track.

I have class on Wednesday night but hopefully after that I will be getting my butt in gear about this walking! Tick tock...

Monday, January 14, 2008

This is my Marathin! This is my journal, my thoughts, my tracker, my recorder of vicotory and my record of challenges (don't want to say defeats!). A bunch of girlfriend's got together this past weekend for an annual women's weekend. On Sunday when starting to say our goodbyes we started talking about trips, getting in shape - something that led us to decide to walk the Disneyworld Marathon in January 2009. Yeah, that is the kind of women we are, not deciding on dinner somewhere but to do a marathon!

I have the feeling some will drop some will be added, but it will work out. I am going to start my training tomorrow. We have a treadmill that has been collecting dust for the last year, except for the occassional use by Gadgetboy.

I decided to call this journal, this blog, my Marathin because that is what I feel this whole thing will be for me. It started out as a typo whenever I would type marathon my crazy fingers would type marathin instead. And that just stuck in my head. I am walking to get healthy , to get thin. I need to do this for me, to get my life back, to get moving again, to give me purpose to show I can do it! My clothes don't fit anymore, I am out of breath walking upstairs. I need to do this, I need the goal of the marathon, I need the help of good friends.