6 plus 4

Last week I was in San Antonio for Chad's wedding. Ever the work-out-enabler, Amanda went with me on my scheduled 6 mile walk. Few things--6 miles is MUCH more fun with a friend. Even the minutes we didn't talk seemed to fly by, just having a friend near by. Second, 6 miles is MUCH easier on flat ground.

We made two pit-stops. (Let me add "pit stops" to the list of things that made the walk better). One at McDonald's for the bathroom and a second at a peach stand.

I had to do 4 the next day (Sunday), but that I had to do alone. I made the 2 mile jaunt to a coffee shop, went in and had coffee and skimmed the paper before making the return walk. Muy facil.

Makes me want to find some more flat ground around here.

I was clocked today!

Today was an "easy" 3 mile walk. I've found I really enjoy the 3 mile walks because they really are getting easy. I've been doing the same route, so it's familiar. And, well, when you've moved up to 5 (I do 6 this week), 3 seems easy.

I walked up my main street to see 2 cops pointing thier radar guns at cars as they passed. Of course everyone was moving super slow. I smiled and said hi to one of them. I saw the other, but didn't see what he was doing.

Made my way up the hill--once I get up that hill, all is good, I've decided. I got into my zone, and think I walked a bit slower than normal. I've realized it's stamina, not speed. I'm not training for a race, I'm training for a 60-mile walk.

On my return route, the officers were still there. One was to the side of the road, issuing a ticket. The other was clocking cars as they drove past. I watched as he followed the cars with his radar. I thought he was pointing his radar gun on cars behind me. He held up three fingers.

"Is that what I'm going? Three?"
"Yeah... You were going faster uphill than down"
(I admit, I had slowed considerably going down hill)
"I'm on mile three."
"Well, you're doing better than I am."
I just can't not let people know what it is I'm doing.
"I'm training for the Susan G. Komen 3 Day. ... It's 60 miles."
"Is that down town?"
"No, there's several around the nation. This one is in Dallas in October."
"After the hill country, that will seem like a breeze."
"Yeah, this is a hard neighborhood. .... Thanks... Have a good day."

New Cross-training

Wednesday is supposed to be a cross-training day. The first few weeks, Wednesday is a "rest" day. Me? Rest? Never!

Today I did Body Flow, which is a combination of Tai Chi, Yoga, Pilates and a few other exercises as such.

It's very low-key, low impact, not much of a sweat is broken.

I've done the class a few times before. Not a whole lot.

But.
Man...

I. Am. Sore.

I know that's good. And it's good to get different exercises, but seriously... I'm sore!

The stretching did feel really good, though, I will say.

Movin' on up

Countdown: 22 Weeks
Your Training Schedule for This Week:
Monday	Rest
Tuesday	3 miles	Easy walking
Wednesday	Rest
Thursday	4 miles	Moderate walking
Friday	30 minutes	Easy crosstraining
Saturday	5 miles	Easy walking
Sunday	3 miles	Easy walking

So there's the training schedule for this week coming up. I guess each week moves up and up in the mileage. I suppose I'll have to move to a new place--not move-move, but move my walking--so I can do some of these other walks, especially in a flatter area. (Those hills were killer on Saturday).

I've got 3 miles again today, and then I'm sure I'll appreciate the rest day tomorrow.

Tough day

Today I did my first increase. I walked 4 miles. It was tough. It wasn't the length that was touogh--it was the hills. I didn't realize how many hills or how big they were would be on this walk. It was still in my neighborhood, but it's a hilly neighborhood.

Walked for a bit over an hour. I can feel my muscles twitching now and I'm sweating a lot, but it was a good walk. A tough walk, but a good one.

I think I may have to find a different route for my "4 mile easy walk," becuase although it was 4 miles, it was not easy!

Week 23 Training

For those of you trying to keep up with me...

Here's my training for week 23 (we're counting backwards)

Countdown: 23 Weeks
Your Training Schedule for This Week:
Monday	Rest
Tuesday	3 miles	Easy walking
Wednesday	Rest
Thursday	3 miles	Moderate walking
Friday	30 minutes	Easy crosstraining
Saturday	4 miles	Easy walking
Sunday	3 miles	Easy walking

I am so glad that tomorrow is a rest day! I've never followed a "plan" like this before--I just exercise when I can, when I feel like it, when and what I'm up to. And I'm a little glad tomorrow's a rest. And really, I haven't even done all that much yet!

Looks like a few more 3-milers, with a 4-miler on Saturday.

12 Miles

I've walked 12 miles this week. The week of The Walk I walk 65.

Somedays it was a little harder to get out and going. So far I've done the "out and back" walks, meaning I walk half my miles and turn around. I like that. If I can make it to my turn around point, I have to make it back, right?!

For some reason today was a hard day to get motivated--sort of. I think I wanted a lazy Sunday, but am also far from flat out not doing a walk. I also realized today why they say it's is important to have and to know where "rest stops" are along the way. I have my camelbak with water, pockets of snacks...but no bathroom breaks along the way. At least not this route, so far. Yes, I realize the importance of that now.

Been good so far.

I'll keep ya posted!