Hello from the Republic of Texas. It is above freezing down here, yet some people are wearing coats??
After that real awakening workout on Monday, I had a pretty easy day on Tuesday. It was a flying day, but I didn't leave the house until 09:00. Therefore, there was plenty of time to do my new full walking workout. The 2.32 distance is already seeming normal.
This morning, I was scheduled to do the 4.66MPH run for 6 1/2 minutes. The hotel has a nice little workout room complete with fancy treadmills. However, the fancy treadmills didn't have much flexibility. So...this ended up being a 7 minute run at 5MPH. It was tough, but not as tough as Monday.
I think that initial off period of 31+ years from running carried more shock value than body punishment. I was prepared for the run this time and I handled it well this morning.
All of this seems much more real. Feels good!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
quick 2 day update
Hello from the Republic of Texas. It is above freezing down here, yet some people are wearing coats??
After that real awakening workout on Monday, I had a pretty easy day on Tuesday. It was a flying day, but I didn't leave the house until 09:00. Therefore, there was plenty of time to do my new full walking workout. The 2.32 distance is already seeming normal.
This morning, I was scheduled to do the 4.66MPH run for 6 1/2 minutes. The hotel has a nice little workout room complete with fancy treadmills. However, the fancy treadmills didn't have much flexibility. So...this ended up being a 7 minute run at 5MPH. It was tough, but not as tough as Monday.
I think that initial off period of 31+ years from running carried more shock value than body punishment. I was prepared for the run this time and I handled it well this morning.
All of this seems much more real. Feels good!
After that real awakening workout on Monday, I had a pretty easy day on Tuesday. It was a flying day, but I didn't leave the house until 09:00. Therefore, there was plenty of time to do my new full walking workout. The 2.32 distance is already seeming normal.
This morning, I was scheduled to do the 4.66MPH run for 6 1/2 minutes. The hotel has a nice little workout room complete with fancy treadmills. However, the fancy treadmills didn't have much flexibility. So...this ended up being a 7 minute run at 5MPH. It was tough, but not as tough as Monday.
I think that initial off period of 31+ years from running carried more shock value than body punishment. I was prepared for the run this time and I handled it well this morning.
All of this seems much more real. Feels good!
Monday, February 7, 2011
How far is this?
Wow!
First day at anything beyond walking and I have a V-E-R-Y clear idea of how far away I am from this 5K goal. Today was supposed to be a "speed-day" where I would jog my first mile since 1979. Again, I say Wow!
The idea here was simple. For the next two week segment of the journey I would walk 2.32miles at 3.55MPH one day and then job 1.00mile at 4.66MPH the next. Distance-speed-distance, etc.
Yesterday, while a bit of a push was a very doable 2.32miles.
Today was another matter all together.
As soon as I started at the 4.66MPH pace I wanted to stop. While there was no actual thought of any real danger, a type of panic did set in. I was, I guess, expecting some sort of very fast walking. What I found was that 4.66MPH is actually a jogging speed.
Since I haven't jogged more than 10-15 steps since my soon-to-be 19 year old son was 5 or 6, I had some real trouble right away. Honestly, my first reaction was to just push the stop button.
Thankfully, the very real notion that this is journey and that I can command my own path on this journey just jumped in and calmed me down.
I didn't do the whole mile, but I did stick with it for a 1/2 mile. Time to recalibrate and start a new chart. As I write this, I'm not upset at myself or the outcome. I am surprised that I ever ran a full mile. The really surprising thing is that my 1/2 this morning took a little longer than my full mile back in '79.
I guess 30+ years between laps will do that to you :-)
I am ready to adjust the chart for the speed days and to do my 2.32 in the morning.
Lesson learned. Full steam ahead.
First day at anything beyond walking and I have a V-E-R-Y clear idea of how far away I am from this 5K goal. Today was supposed to be a "speed-day" where I would jog my first mile since 1979. Again, I say Wow!
The idea here was simple. For the next two week segment of the journey I would walk 2.32miles at 3.55MPH one day and then job 1.00mile at 4.66MPH the next. Distance-speed-distance, etc.
Yesterday, while a bit of a push was a very doable 2.32miles.
Today was another matter all together.
As soon as I started at the 4.66MPH pace I wanted to stop. While there was no actual thought of any real danger, a type of panic did set in. I was, I guess, expecting some sort of very fast walking. What I found was that 4.66MPH is actually a jogging speed.
Since I haven't jogged more than 10-15 steps since my soon-to-be 19 year old son was 5 or 6, I had some real trouble right away. Honestly, my first reaction was to just push the stop button.
Thankfully, the very real notion that this is journey and that I can command my own path on this journey just jumped in and calmed me down.
I didn't do the whole mile, but I did stick with it for a 1/2 mile. Time to recalibrate and start a new chart. As I write this, I'm not upset at myself or the outcome. I am surprised that I ever ran a full mile. The really surprising thing is that my 1/2 this morning took a little longer than my full mile back in '79.
I guess 30+ years between laps will do that to you :-)
I am ready to adjust the chart for the speed days and to do my 2.32 in the morning.
Lesson learned. Full steam ahead.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
A new section of the journey
Sunday 2/6/011. While it is not as important world-wide as the Super Bowl, today is also the first day of section two of my journey. The first two weeks went pretty well. A little slip here and there (including one on the ice near my sister's house), but I stuck with it and I feel good about it.
My body is responding to the workouts. I lost 5 pounds during those two weeks and the aches and pains of the section one training diminished over the two-week period.
Section two calls for alternate training. Today is a distance day. The walk will still be at 3.5MPH, but the distance will increase to 2.3 miles. Tomorrow is a speed day. The walk will be 1.0 mile, but the speed will increase to 4.66MPH.
Off I go!
My body is responding to the workouts. I lost 5 pounds during those two weeks and the aches and pains of the section one training diminished over the two-week period.
Section two calls for alternate training. Today is a distance day. The walk will still be at 3.5MPH, but the distance will increase to 2.3 miles. Tomorrow is a speed day. The walk will be 1.0 mile, but the speed will increase to 4.66MPH.
Off I go!
Friday, February 4, 2011
2 tough days
First major bump in the journey.
We had an insane amount of snow on Tues/Wed and I had to fly on Thursday morning. The original plan to leave the house at 06:00 would have allowed me to walk on the treadmill.
Not knowing what road conditions and airport setup I would face, I left at 5:15 instead. Those extra 45 minutes are precious and I just didn't think I should get up early enough to walk.
In a wonderfully odd sort of way there was a fair amount of walking (although not at training speeds) at the airport in Milwaukee and through the airport in DC. Not a workout, but hardly a sedentary day.
I spent Thursday night at my sister and brother-in-law's house in Gambrills, MD. The plan, which impacted what clothes I brought with me, was to walk on their treadmill. Alas, the machine defeated me since I couldn't get it started and there wasn't anybody around to help.
So, I'm headed out now for a brisk outside walk in the neighborhood. Couldn't get the treadmill working, so out I go without the proper clothes. On balance, it is almost 50 degrees warmer here than at home yesterday. No way I'm get to miss two straight days.
We had an insane amount of snow on Tues/Wed and I had to fly on Thursday morning. The original plan to leave the house at 06:00 would have allowed me to walk on the treadmill.
Not knowing what road conditions and airport setup I would face, I left at 5:15 instead. Those extra 45 minutes are precious and I just didn't think I should get up early enough to walk.
In a wonderfully odd sort of way there was a fair amount of walking (although not at training speeds) at the airport in Milwaukee and through the airport in DC. Not a workout, but hardly a sedentary day.
I spent Thursday night at my sister and brother-in-law's house in Gambrills, MD. The plan, which impacted what clothes I brought with me, was to walk on their treadmill. Alas, the machine defeated me since I couldn't get it started and there wasn't anybody around to help.
So, I'm headed out now for a brisk outside walk in the neighborhood. Couldn't get the treadmill working, so out I go without the proper clothes. On balance, it is almost 50 degrees warmer here than at home yesterday. No way I'm get to miss two straight days.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
A day for the ages
Yes, yes, I did my walk today, but that is not the interesting part. It was very nice to walk today as this was the first day that I didn't really notice the pace or the reaction from body. Get on the treadmill, push a few buttons, glance a few times at the timer, finish walk, get off.
The amazing part about today was the weather. Since this is not a weather blog, I'm not going to type much. However, the weather here is so amazing that I simply can't not mention it. Since mid-morning yesterday, we have had about 15-18" of snow. I say about because the wind (30-50MPH) has made it impossible to measure the snow depth. There are spots in the back acreage that have drifts four feet high. There is also a six or seven foot patch on the sidewalk that is absolutely clear. The awesome power of nature never fails to amaze me.
Back to the walk. I'm now midway through week two of the journey. Next week, I plan to increase the distance and maintain the 3.5MPH pace.
Stay tuned.
The amazing part about today was the weather. Since this is not a weather blog, I'm not going to type much. However, the weather here is so amazing that I simply can't not mention it. Since mid-morning yesterday, we have had about 15-18" of snow. I say about because the wind (30-50MPH) has made it impossible to measure the snow depth. There are spots in the back acreage that have drifts four feet high. There is also a six or seven foot patch on the sidewalk that is absolutely clear. The awesome power of nature never fails to amaze me.
Back to the walk. I'm now midway through week two of the journey. Next week, I plan to increase the distance and maintain the 3.5MPH pace.
Stay tuned.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Another day forward
Pretty straight forward day today.
Got up, did the mileage (still on plan at 1.55) walking.
Nowhere near as tough as yesterday. The day-off punishment of Monday morning is gone. Today was smooth.
Weight is 228.4
I've started to do some math around A) getting up to walking the 3.11 miles at 3.5MPH B) Increasing the walking speed for 3.11miles C) factoring in a walking/running split for 3.11 miles D) actually running the full 3.11 miles.
Wow, just typing ABOUT the math is making my head hurt. Good thing I'm not walking on my head!
More of the planning grid when it is completed.
Got up, did the mileage (still on plan at 1.55) walking.
Nowhere near as tough as yesterday. The day-off punishment of Monday morning is gone. Today was smooth.
Weight is 228.4
I've started to do some math around A) getting up to walking the 3.11 miles at 3.5MPH B) Increasing the walking speed for 3.11miles C) factoring in a walking/running split for 3.11 miles D) actually running the full 3.11 miles.
Wow, just typing ABOUT the math is making my head hurt. Good thing I'm not walking on my head!
More of the planning grid when it is completed.
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