Today is the day. It is the test, can we make the long haul. It is 18-20 miles. We have decided to meet at the Petit Center, since it is snowing again. 18 miles is 63 laps around the ice rink. At least in the Petit Center, there are other things going on. There is speed skating, hockey game, and figure skating going on.
Karen, Beth, Lori, Khris and myself have all met to start our walking together. There is no way we will all stay together for the entire walk since we walk at different paces. Khris is not feeling well, so she is taking it easy. Karen is coming in and out to have the opportunity to walk with each of us for a lap or two. Karen brought a clicker with her and Dan gave me a counter that he used for baseball umpiring to keep track of laps. My counter only went up to 19, so I had to reset and keep track of where I was.
Lori (she is one of our mentors) left early, she was not feeling well either and her training for Anchorage, Alaska does not officially start until February, so she needs to be healthy. Beth finished her 11 miles, Khris, with not feeling well, only did 11 miles. Karen left when Beth did, so I was the last to leave and to complete the 18 miles. I wish I had my MP3 player with me right now. But, it still sent quickly with watching figure skating lessons and hockey training.
It is definitely more difficult to walk this many miles in an oval. It is harder on the legs, hips and muscles. Definitely more stretching has to be done during the walk and after the walk. Next weekend, it is 16 miles.
Even though, many times I finish on my own, I would not give up this training. I do enjoy the walking and having a few purposes for the training. With this marathon, I will be making a difference in someone's life.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Week of Sunday, December 9 - Saturday, December 15
I am still on R&R. I have to start walking soon, my muscles are getting sore from not walking. It is now Wednesday and I decide to get on the treadmill. It is a slow process and I do not do many miles, but it is a start. On Thursday, I get on the treadmill once again, I walk more miles but at a slower pace, that is OK, I am walking and training again. Friday, I have off of work, I decided to check out the roads. I drive the route I used to walk, it is pretty clear. If I head out a little later, most of the traffic is gone. The sun is shining and it helps in walking since it is still cold. I am dressed in two layers on my legs, 4 layers on my upper half, with 3 layers on my arms. I put on a hat and have a covering for my face if I need it. I grab the MP3 player and I am on my way. I decide I am going to attempt 5 miles today. I start walking and all of a sudden I realize I am further into my walk than expected and it feels really good to be outside again. The 5 miles went by in no time and I felt like I had accomplished a milestone once again. I hope I am ready for Saturday, December 15, 18 - 20 miles.
Week of December 2 - 8
Now it has gotten too dangerous to walk outside with the snow and ice. The roads are not clear enough to stay out of the way of traffic. I have stated earlier I do not like my treadmill, but this week, the treadmill is becoming my worst best friend. We have been spending time together trying to pass the miles while starring at 4 walls. The TV does not always help, the MP3 player helps, but walking on the treadmill just gets old, not going anywhere. One night, Dan was sitting in the family room watching TV and talking to me, that helped the time to go by quicker.
Then, it hit me, I caught the cold bug. I was to meet with Karen on Friday, December 7 to walk 16 miles, because Saturday was already booked. Karen contacted me to let me know she could not walk because of still not being fully recovered. I mentioned I was down with a cold, and she recommended that I do not walk the 16 miles, my body had to recover from the cold, or I would not be able to walk the full marathon. She was not worried about me missing the mileage, since I have been training all along. So, rest it is.
Then, it hit me, I caught the cold bug. I was to meet with Karen on Friday, December 7 to walk 16 miles, because Saturday was already booked. Karen contacted me to let me know she could not walk because of still not being fully recovered. I mentioned I was down with a cold, and she recommended that I do not walk the 16 miles, my body had to recover from the cold, or I would not be able to walk the full marathon. She was not worried about me missing the mileage, since I have been training all along. So, rest it is.
Saturday, December 1
Today, I met with some of the others from the team. The full marathon individuals had to walk 14 miles. This is the longest that we have done so far. Before we started, we decided to get a photo of the 3 of us, Khris (full marathon), Karen (coach) and myself. Karen walked with us for most of the miles, but because she was ill earlier, she did not walk the full 14 miles with Khris and myself.
Once Karen left, Khris and I were on our own. This was definitely a chilly day and we also wanted to finish the walk because we were due to get snow. Khris and I finished before the snow started. We met up at the end with two runners and as we were talking and stretching it started to snow. I left quickly because I had to head up to Mequon where Erin was playing in an alumni basketball game (I was already late) and I was picking up Mackenzie to take her to a Christmas party and to see Santa. I now have Mackenzie and it is snowing harder, I was taking it easy, there were already a few spinouts and an accident. I am down on the south side of Milwaukee, where the freeway splits to go south towards the airport and west. I was about one mile from the exit where I needed to get off, when a car slows down to get behind a semi-truck. I decided to move over ( was only going 25 mph, as it was), as I moved over, my car fish tailed out of control and I went off the road. Mackenzie slept through the whole incident, but it was scary. The thoughts that went through my mind is that I have new tires and I do not want the car to flip, I was on a grassy slope. Neither of us were hurt, I was more shaken up, Mackenzie had no idea what was happening.
After 3 hours of Dan and his mom waiting with me on the side of the road (in Dan's van), and a police officer waiting behind us to make sure the tow truck he called showed up, I was finally pulled off the grassy slope. When I started to drive the car to the nearest exit, the car would not get any traction. The car continued to slide when traveling 5-10 mph. We finally made it to the destination and then home.
I found out later that the tires that were put on my car are not tires for snow. I called the dealership that put the tires on my car, after about a week, they decided to check out the tires and confirmed what I have been telling them that the tires were bad. Now I am waiting for new tires.
Once Karen left, Khris and I were on our own. This was definitely a chilly day and we also wanted to finish the walk because we were due to get snow. Khris and I finished before the snow started. We met up at the end with two runners and as we were talking and stretching it started to snow. I left quickly because I had to head up to Mequon where Erin was playing in an alumni basketball game (I was already late) and I was picking up Mackenzie to take her to a Christmas party and to see Santa. I now have Mackenzie and it is snowing harder, I was taking it easy, there were already a few spinouts and an accident. I am down on the south side of Milwaukee, where the freeway splits to go south towards the airport and west. I was about one mile from the exit where I needed to get off, when a car slows down to get behind a semi-truck. I decided to move over ( was only going 25 mph, as it was), as I moved over, my car fish tailed out of control and I went off the road. Mackenzie slept through the whole incident, but it was scary. The thoughts that went through my mind is that I have new tires and I do not want the car to flip, I was on a grassy slope. Neither of us were hurt, I was more shaken up, Mackenzie had no idea what was happening.
After 3 hours of Dan and his mom waiting with me on the side of the road (in Dan's van), and a police officer waiting behind us to make sure the tow truck he called showed up, I was finally pulled off the grassy slope. When I started to drive the car to the nearest exit, the car would not get any traction. The car continued to slide when traveling 5-10 mph. We finally made it to the destination and then home.
I found out later that the tires that were put on my car are not tires for snow. I called the dealership that put the tires on my car, after about a week, they decided to check out the tires and confirmed what I have been telling them that the tires were bad. Now I am waiting for new tires.
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