Short day today - Day 12 of 90

Remember it is very good not to do the same type of exercise every day; one should alternate muscle groups, and resistance or aerobic. After two days of long hikes/walks I decided to go for an alternate today-and yet still keep faith with myself and my commitment to do this for 90 days straight.

I did decide to try the elliptical for 1/2 hour this morning and boy was it a boring task. However, I did make the 30 minutes and it was a different work out. Not much different but using my arms for some of the work and only going for 1/2 hour instead of an hour or more was a relaxed day. Tomorrow maybe I'll run a short distance.

Nothing to talk about having seen today, and I didn't find any pennies (I found 5 cents Sunday). I did consider hanging a painting in front of me to admire as I work out-but my guess is, the machine is still on its way to the yard sale. When the time comes I'll let you all know, in case you wish to have one for your very own at a moderate price. (Translate: cheap, because once it leaves the house for a yard sale it should not come back!)

78 to go.

Just a short walk for ice cream - Day 11 of 90

My legs were tired from yesterday's hike and I probably need to get new hiking boots if I am going to make a habit of that type of walking. They have always given my feet blisters if I wear them too long-and apparently yesterday was too long.

So, today I thought I would take a short walk over for an ice cream cone-can't have any guilt if you walk to get it; after all it is a few miles round trip. My dear husband came with me and by the time we got back his feet were sore; mine were just tired-and more my legs still from yesterday than my feet actually.

The side of the road is not nearly as nice as a quiet hike on a pine-needle covered trail. It's noisier and hotter. I thought we could walk back the slightly longer way that is not on the main highway, but rather on the side roads. I don't think going from 4 miles to 6 miles is really considered a "slight" increase, and so it certainly was a walk one could feel good about, if one weren't so tired that is.

Never the less, I have managed another day. 79 to go.

Hiking in the woods - Day 10 of 90

It takes a lot more effort to walk 6 miles on trails than it does on pavement. And it takes a lot longer too. Next time I think I'll plan for a longer walk, and bring a stick and more bug spray. I like a hat, they are ever so useful, they keep the sun off your face, they keep the rain out of your eyes, they keep your hair from falling in your vision and they are good at swatting flies or hailing passers by - if you wish to. I wore a little Mickey Mouse ball cap and it was almost all those things (I didn't have to hail anyone, and in fact only actually saw two people on the trail, although I did hear some others at various points).

There was a lot of climbing up and going down, and going over streams. I certainly got my heart rate elevated, and used some muscles not necessarily called for on flat surface streets. I was tired out and glad I wore hiking boots when once I stumbled and thought how good it was I hadn't sprained my ankle with .4 miles to go before I got back out and on the paved roads of civilization.

I found it invigorating and engaging. I didn't have the mental energy left over to compose prose for a post, but just know that I did indeed work it out today, and before the rain came.

80 to go.

What is this, a test? - Day 9 of 90

Oh, I know it isn't always about me, and I understand the rain comes or not as the weather changes in the northeast, and my brother told me years ago, that I wasn't in charge of the weather (probably when I was complaining); so yes, I do know the rain isn't here as a test to my willpower.

But, on the other hand it is always a test. We always have to make choices, and today I REALLY didn't want to go out in the rain again. Yes, I also know that yesterday I said no excuses, and it wouldn't (didn't) kill me but still I just didn't feel like getting wet. I contemplated using the elliptical machine but couldn't picture myself for an hour on a machine-even listening to music-so out I went. After all it wasn't dangerous, there was no thunder or lightning. I haven't used the machine many more than a dozen times in as many years, so it had probably be in the yard sale so someone else can get more use out of it (and the space freed up in the basement).

Yesterday when I went walking I found 13 cents. I thought about the adage “Find a penny, pick it up, and all the day you’ll have good luck”. I don’t believe that luck is a real thing. One can have good days and better days and some days that aren’t so pleasant, but Luck? I just don’t see it. Certainly there are blessings and times when we don’t see the blessing in evidence, but all in all I don’t subscribe to luck. I wondered though if being observant and paying attention to the small details like 3 little pennies along a sidewalk or a dime in the road; all of which were not there yesterday when I went by-if that attention can make its own luck? Can watching the world go by at the speed of the automobile bring with it a lost ability to see ones surroundings? If I pick up a penny a day, after a year, I’ll have enough for a cup of coffee or a card for a friend. Those sound nice.

81 to go.

I didn't know enough to stay in when it's raining - Day 8 of 90

It wasn't raining when I got up. I spent some time reading the news and my feet were sore, and I was tired...and

I could have guessed it would happen sooner or later. Into every life a little rain must fall, so to every walking plan. The difference is, I’m alive. Obviously. The reason I bring this up is that rain is one of those first order excuses-‘oh, it’s raining I don’t think I’ll go out today’.

In my Smartwool socks my feet felt fine. Check. My Champion tech Capri’s, my leg’s feel fine. Check. So my blaze orange wind breaker isn’t water proof; I was actually wearing my skin, and it is essentially waterproof. My 26.2 and still smiling hat kept the rain out of my eyes. Check and Check. I mean really, when I get back from a walk in the summer I’m usually warm and sweaty and I go take a shower, so I ask you; what’s the difference? (Other than a little smell you might ask?)

It didn’t kill me. No more excuses. Check. 82 to go

Up and out - Day 7 of 90

I thought about joining my friends this evening for a walk. I know they usually  go out for about 4 miles on Wednesday evenings-but the reason I chose not to, is the reason I don't get there very often, and that is: things happen. When you are going along through the day and get distracted; before you know it you've missed your chance or you're too tired, or it's raining, or ... I decided a walk in the present is worth two in the future? Not exactly, but I know myself and any excuse can easily become more than a delay it can be postponed or as we say in our house: OBE. Overcome By Events.

Today I expect to be at my desk more than usual and not as active, so I intentionally put in 4 miles first thing and now whatever I do beyond that during the course of the day should more than make up the additional amount of my daily goal. (Which is 10,000 steps or approximately 5 miles.) This goal is more or less arbitrary since I am the one who has set this 90 day goal and the minimum amount I wish to accomplish daily. But it is not entirely arbitrary because I do know that 10,000 steps is a recommended amount of activity for health and weight loss if you are going for that. 83 to go.

Walking after the rain - Day 6 of 90

In the middle of the night the storm came through and I wondered if I'd have to walk in the rain today, but as it turned out once it was time to get up the weather had spent itself and it was a nice morning. The sun was out and even though it was quite humid, the temperature was manageable in the early morning.

The interesting thing I noticed while walking past the woods, was that it was still raining there. The water at the top of the canopy hadn't yet fallen all the way down, so as I passed by and the wind whispered, I could hear the drops splattering leaf by leaf on their way to the ground. It made me think of all those times spent in a cabin in the woods when it takes a while to decide if it is still raining - for real or if it has stopped and this is just residual moisture. The people in those houses tucked in the verge, would be wondering just that. These things I think as I walk, it passes the time and keeps my mind from focusing on the flies buzzing my head. What is it about them anyway? Do I look like a cow, or smell like a goat? No, I don't. So go bother some furry animal and leave me alone-or better yet go get eaten by a frog and do some real good!

I measured the distance this morning and figure I can take another route another day that will be new to me, and somewhat longer than my usual path. As near as I can figure it'll take an extra 15 minutes; so not too bad. I will leave time for that one day soon. No pictures today. 84 to go.

Morning walk - Day 5 of 90

I went out for a short 3.5 mile walk this morning and planned on getting the remainder of my 10,000 steps 'naturally' during the course of my day. Today, that worked, and I have still managed to stay out of the rain. Tomorrow I think I might run a mile in a 2 or 3 mile route; I'll let you know how that goes.

The only thing today that I saw that made me pause was something...well I don't know what it was. It could have been the world's biggest slug, or a 4" snail without a shell or something as yet unidentified. I saw two other things later on in my walk about the same size and color that turned out to be grass seed heads-so maybe that was what I saw. I had initially planned to go back on the return trip and look more closely, but after seeing the seed heads, and actually being a bit ambivalent about finding out definitively if it was indeed the world's largest slug...I skipped it. So, now we will never know. I can live with that.

Tomorrow is another day. 85 to go.

Fiddling Around - Day 4 of 90

I took that walk around the block this morning, although not entirely around the block. I started from my house and went one way around the block and then before I got to the other end where I would have to walk along a busy route without much shoulder (actually none) I turned around and walked back.

I saw Monarda again today, but this time it was Monarda Didyma commonly called Bee Balm because the bees love the bright red flowers and the nectar. It makes a bold statement in the garden-especially a shady garden. The Monarda from yesterday is one you see along sunny roadsides. But both smell WONDERFUL and are in the mint family (if you get close you will note the square stem-always a hint).

Anyway, back to walking-yes I stopped to take photos today, although not as many. I listened to a LOT of birds waking up and a few dogs barking good morning.There were also two cat birds trying to trick me into thinking there was a kitten lost in the woods-but the one up in the tree was a bit more obvious than the one somewhere in the underbrush. I didn't go searching though-I knew who they were.

Still not fast as walks go, but I managed my 5 miles this morning before breakfast-it has been easy to keep at it in cooler weather without rain-tomorrow is supposed to rain-so it may be shorter-however, I have made a promise to myself to do this EVERY day for the duration, so that is what I will do. I find that when I 'plan' an every other day or some other pattern, it is too easy to miss one day saying to myself I'll do it the next day...and soon instead of 5 days during the week I've only done two or three. Hence the plan to do it EVERY day. No excuses. 86 to go.

Well, tomorrow is another day, but before I go, I wanted to mention one more thing I noted on my walk and that was an entire side yard filled with thyme. I have loved the idea of thyme instead of lawn for years. I love the smell of it underfoot, I particularly love the purple carpet in the lawns. There is a lot to recommend thyme as a lawn. It is drought resistant, it is low growing-so needs less mowing, it flowers and looks beautiful, and when it is mowed it smells heavenly! SO, I must find out if there is a way to get seeds or something. That sounds so much easier than getting plugs and planting little bits and pieces around the yard and waiting for it to take hold. Here is a photo of the thyme, and let me know if you agree, it is lovely, isn't it?

Took a walk in the woods - Day 3 of 90

Today, I went for a walk in the woods. I decided not to go for the walk around the block-somehow the day was too nice and I did not feel inclined to walk on the side of the road. Instead, I went for a walk around a lake and up a TALL hill. Not a mountain, no, but there is a definite reason I prefer flat ground. Flat is easier. Flat doesn't make me tired before I get to the top. Obviously that is a very good reason not to stay always on flat ground, that is if you are trying to get your lungs and your legs in better shape, which I am.


Around I went from where I parked at the bottom of a hill (a little one this time), and then down the road (meaning off the beaten path road-with marginal traffic) then around the lake (OK, it is only 35 acres-but it's bigger than a pond-or at least it's a BIG pond).

I was pleased not to have my speedometer on, and only have my pedometer on because the 4+ miles took around an hour and a half. I did stop to take a lot of pictures-and then there was that hill. I had made it back around to my car but hadn't yet walked 5 miles, so I decided to continue on up to the top of the property. I had to stop going up-maybe not HAD to but DID! and then I rested for a few minutes and enjoyed the view, and after a while I headed back down and over to the car.

I saw Monarda-which always reminds me a the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland, and I listened to some frog-song in the middle, and all in all I just plain enjoyed myself. Plus the added bonus of feeling pleased to have accomplished another day of my 90. 87 to go.

Walking in the morning - Day 2 of 90

Yesterday I woke up extraordinarily early for me (3:58 a.m.-but who's counting?) and the birds were up, the sun wasn't quite up-but never the less I was awake. Shortly after trying to fall back asleep, with my head telling me (you know that voice) you should get up and get ready to go for a walk, well, I did.

I programmed in a 5k (translate: about 3 miles) and ran my "fastest 1k" in the middle. It was a 6.5 min 1k -or approximately 11 minute miles. Considering that my quickest walking mile was 13:30, and the last time I ran a mile (I've done it twice in recent memory) I ran the fastest mile at 12:26.

All that to say speed is not my thing-even when running. What is my thing is really seeing my surroundings. Today, for instance I watched a 1" caterpillar crawl across the sidewalk. He didn't get very far as I watched-but I saw him and didn't squish him. I heard plenty of birds-and didn't hear any motorcycles. The sun was newly up and the sky was a light blue with clouds covering much of the area around me.



Since I had been up so early, I had already done some reading and some posting, and even though I was paying attention to the moment, I still found myself wondering where tomorrow I would walk, and how far I should go. I think what I'll do this morning is walk around the block-that works out to about 4 miles and Saturday shouldn't be too busy. I must wear bug spray though-those pesky little flying things are a darn nuisance.

July 19 - first walk of 90

Yesterday I went for a walk. Not news, as I have gone on other walks, even some recently. The difference is that it is my intention to begin a habit of daily walking. If it takes not 28 days but rather it takes approximately 90 days to do more than begin a habitual transformation; rather it takes that long to actually form a transformation of habits, then yesterday I began and today I will continue.

Stephen and I went out to try to find a bike path along the canal in Fort Edward. Good sport that he is...we didn't find what I was looking for. Sure the Bike Route 9 is there-but it is just a walk along the side of the road. So, we parked and walked in to Fort Miller Rd. and River Rd. A bonus was stopping at the Lock (6) to watch a sailboat traverse the lock, and visit a bit with the Lock-master and some other travelers.

The road is quiet-read almost deserted and travels a stone's throw from the river or the canal depending; shade, frogs, birds and flowers were all there for our enjoyment. So, while it wasn't a path I had hoped for, it was a walk well spent. 89 to go.