Well, I have not posted in a while. Yes, I did finish the marathon. I was able to do it within the goal I had set for myself. It was great to participate in the Team In Training Marathon on behalf of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Since I have participated, more individuals have come to Dan and myself and are letting us know they have leukemia or they have been recently diagnosed with leukemia. This disease is hitting more and more individuals every day.
After the marathon, my sister, Annette, joined me in Phoenix for a few days of fun. Monday after the marathon she picked me up from the hotel and had to take me to urgent care, because I ended up getting an ear infection in one ear and fluid on the other. After our trip to urgent care, we went to the arboretum and did some hiking on the paths and then up the high path into the mountain. We took many photos and had a great time. On Tuesday, we drove up to Sedona, through Cooperstown and Jerome. Once we arrived in Sedona, we took a Pink Jeep tour. The jeep drove up into the mountains, over large boulders, and off trails. It was great. We were able to experience something new. Annette and I have never taken a trip together before and we found we actually had a good time. We may even think of doing it again.
I took a break from walking for a few weeks, but I have now started up again. I enjoy walking and Dan and I use to walk all the time before I came out of remission and started going through treatments. The walking is great to release stress and just get some time outside.
I started walking before Dan, Don (my brother) and I traveled to Albuquerque. I thought I would be able to walk there, but I only was able to get on the treadmill one night. We did walk through Old Town and then took a tram ride up Sandia Mountain. The three of us had a great time, touring a small area of Albuquerque.
I just returned from Phoenix from a work trip. In Phoenix, once again, this time I stayed at the Hilton Tapatio. It is a resort set in/on a mountain. The few days I was there, I was able to get out and walk. The first day, I walked up the road that led to a restaurant on top of the mountain. The concierge said this hill gave even the best athletes a battle. Well, he was right. On Sunday, I friend from California joined me. We decided not to walk all the way up to the restaurant, but if you get to the bottom of the hill that leads to the restaurant, you have done the worst. On Monday and Tuesday, another individual from UW Whitewater decided to join me. We walked the entire hill on Monday. On Tuesday, we did not finish the last part up to the restaurant. We decide to walk one more trip around the hotel area where the roads were not as steep. The view from the top of the mountain was beautiful. Walking up just for the view was worth it. While we took in the view, we could catch our breath before starting the journey down.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Saturday, December 15
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.
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.
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.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Saturday, November 24
It is Saturday after Thanksgiving. It is a 14 mile day. Definitely a good walk to work off the Thanksgiving meal. Today, Lori, Jen and Mary joined Beth (1/2 marathon) and myself. Khris was out of town for the holiday. We started out together, then Jen and I picked up the pace since I had to walk 14 miles and Beth only 8 miles. Everyone, but me was only looking at walking the 8 miles, because Jen and Lori had to flyer the Christmas parade in Grafton.
Jen walked with me to the Shorewood sign on Lake Drive on the East side of Milwaukee. Then she told me I was on my own. Jen did mention when she got back to her vehicle she would drive by to see how I was doing. I had to walk further north to make up the 2 miles we cut off by not walking the point by the McKinley Marina. Now, I am on my own and not sure where I was going. I finally saw the sign for Big Bay Park and looking to see which way I had to go, but then to my surprise, Jen and Lori were walking across the street to let me know where I needed to go. This is definitely what having mentors is all about. They were able to direct in the right direction and then again I was on my own. I was able to finish the 14 miles in about 3 hours and 10 minutes.
After walking, I went home to start Christmas cookie baking. I invited Abby, from church, to help with baking. Erin was there with Mackenzie wrapping Christmas gifts. Another long, but fruitful day.
Jen walked with me to the Shorewood sign on Lake Drive on the East side of Milwaukee. Then she told me I was on my own. Jen did mention when she got back to her vehicle she would drive by to see how I was doing. I had to walk further north to make up the 2 miles we cut off by not walking the point by the McKinley Marina. Now, I am on my own and not sure where I was going. I finally saw the sign for Big Bay Park and looking to see which way I had to go, but then to my surprise, Jen and Lori were walking across the street to let me know where I needed to go. This is definitely what having mentors is all about. They were able to direct in the right direction and then again I was on my own. I was able to finish the 14 miles in about 3 hours and 10 minutes.
After walking, I went home to start Christmas cookie baking. I invited Abby, from church, to help with baking. Erin was there with Mackenzie wrapping Christmas gifts. Another long, but fruitful day.
Tuesday, November 20
The three of us training for the PF Chang marathon who have been meeting for team walks decided to get together for a 5 mile walk. Sheila, an alumni, was able to join us. The four of us headed out after getting a few pictures before we started. We went about 5.2 miles and then headed home to start preparations for Thanksgiving. Again, it is always great to be able to walk and take the time to get to know another individual. We decided that we would continue to try to get together at least once each week for a team walk. As I mentioned earlier, we took some pictures, but I cannot get them transferred off the camera. We will have to take new pictures to post them on the site. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
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