Walking Tall - Day 43 of 90

Walking this morning was just for the miles - an easy pace and a little longer than yesterday. Yesterday I went out for speed and almost did my race pace from a couple of weeks ago. Today, on the other hand I just wanted to go for a walk, and I did. I wore a wind jacket with long sleeves because yesterday my hands were cold -but wearing sleeves makes me warm so it seemed to be an in-between-temperature.

I took a shadow picture accidentally and thought it was funny, so I will include it here for your amusement.

I had been taking some photos of the morning flowers, and I will add one below just so you can see one of them as well. The thing about photos is that they don't completely capture the beauty of something; the sun on the petals, or the dew on the grass - certainly not while walking and snapping pictures with a phone.

But just to show you what I was going for - here is the photo I took before my shadow.

Me and my shadow - 47 to go.

Last week - Days 32 - 41 of 90

If you had been following these posts you might have wondered if I was still walking, and the answer is yes.

Last week was fair week where I live and that meant daily hikes back and forth from the car to the booth 3 or 4 times per day. Guess how much walking that turns out to be? 2 - 6 miles per day! Top that off with lugging water and bins with stuff, and let me tell you it was a worthy week's work.

Now, on the other hand, yesterday...I didn't actually go out for my walk. I took a break from my 1/2 hour (at least) of workouts every day, and that means that I will just keep going an additional day to come up to my 90 days of training.

One of the things I know is that you don't give up if you miss one day or eat one extra something or what ever it is that means you have missed part of your plan - what matters really is that you keep going in the same direction.

Another thing I noticed this week (and especially yesterday) is that mornings are really best for me. It isn't that I'm a morning person - I am not, what it really is, is that I get it done, and I don't talk myself out of it. If this plan of walking every day is to take hold and become a habit I just have to do it every morning. Period.

So, I'll be out there tomorrow. 49 to go.

Race Day - Day 31 of 90

I have to tell you, that when I said 98% of the entrants would be able to beat my speed - I thought it was hyperbole. Imagine my surprise when the race started and there was NO ONE behind me! That was uncomfortable. The ONLY other walker was a lady at least 10 years my senior...and she was ahead of me.

The last time I entered this 5k, there were lots of walkers, and plenty of people who finished after me...well 13 or so (I looked it up), but I didn't feel as if the ambulance and pace car were egging me on - last time. Today, let's just say my vanity wouldn't let me finish last. I had already said I never finished last; it almost turned out that now was my chance. But my pride couldn't have taken that, not happily anyway.

I picked up my speed and jogged a few times to get in front of some folks - the first being the woman I couldn't catch up with initially. After a while there were others who couldn't keep up their pace and slowed down. In the end, I finished. Period. That is what I set out to do, and I had fun, the day was glorious, great temp, nice sunshine. And I did what I wanted to do, which was get to the finish line with a faster time.

Last time I entered this race I had been in training for a half marathon and actually did finish sooner than I did today, but my little Nike ipod doesn't know that; my Nike ipod was proud of me, and it has all the professional experience, so I'll take that as a good sign. AND I didn't finish last. 59 to go.

Tomorrow a 5k - day 30 of 90

I went out for a 5k this morning in preparation for tomorrow's official race. I purposefully walked at a moderate pace because tomorrow I really want to go for my fastest recorded time.

Anyone who has paid the slightest attention to my posts that mention my speed, realize along with me that this is more a joke than anything else. It is an attempt to best myself-which will be spectacularly easy for 98% of everyone else who entered. That may be a slight exaggeration as 5k's can sometime get slow pokes -like me-so I won't be the only walker. Not that I was the only walker in the longer races either. I have never come in last, but I will absolutely never come in first...unless I am the only one entered.

And actually that is really what I am talking about - besting my own time. That is what every runner attempts to do. Even those elite runners who DO come in first, they are still trying to best their own best time. And tomorrow, that will be me. 60 to go.

Just plain busy - Day 29 of 90

I had a busy day today, and have to admit I may be changing my mind - again. Not that that is a surprise or even that there is anything wrong with it. Remember I said I hadn't spent any time on the elliptical machine - or rather that I hadn't spent much time on it? This morning I decided I would use it because I can see the advantages of adding a little strength training to my walking.

What I contemplated and found rather humorous is that this is the day BEYOND what I would normally have called the day I've managed to establish a habit - and what I found funny was that today I can begin to see where it is getting to BE a habit. Not that it is, but that it could be. And I don't think about it as much; this idea of whether or not I'll go out for a walk today is already decided - I am going out, because I am going out every day for 90 days. Now in addition to that, I am more mindful of those other "shoulds"; I should eat more fruits or I should exercise and strengthen my muscles.

I have heard it said that we shouldn't "should" ourselves to death, but I wonder today if that is correct. Why is it that I can't suggest to do those things I know would benefit me? St. Paul asks why is it that he does the things he oughtn't to do and doesn't do the things he ought to (Romans 7:15-20) - and how am I to improve either my mind, or my health if I don't pay attention to those "shoulds?" I know full well, that left to my own devices I'd not do any of those things I ought, rather I would choose the easy way. So, I submit this for my own consideration: why do I do those things I oughtn't and why don't I do those things I ought?

How much better I feel physically and spiritually if I have done those things that are beneficial and uplifting. (And of course the occasional bon-bon thrown in.) 61 to go

Two more days and counting - Days 27 & 28 of 90

The day before yesterday was a bit frustrating because my pedometer didn't record my steps. I got home - before going out for the walk and the little counter gave me a swirling circle...which it does just before erasing all the day's data. I KNOW I still walked and it still counts in the grand scheme of things as well as my overall commitment to walk 10,000 steps per day, but not having it COUNT makes me ...sad, mad, well frustrated. I had gone to the trouble of adding extra walking to my day during the course of my normal activities - and I recommend that to everyone trying to get a little more exercise. Park further away from the front door - whether of work or at the store; take a walk instead of the car when the trip is less than 5 minutes drive; this can account for a lot more 'natural' exercise and you don't even have to pay for the fuel in the car. For instance yesterday I walked to the Library and dropped off a couple of books.

I went out at the end of the day yesterday (as I indicated in my last post), and today we went out first thing in the morning together. It turns out that we did under the 5k I had hoped, but we did get back in time to have coffee and breakfast together before we each had to go about our day. One thing I had better do, sooner rather than later, is find out when packet pick-up is Saturday. Don't want to be late for our 'big' race.
62 to go.

Still out there - Days 25 & 26 of 90

I bet you thought I forgot - or wasn't walking. You'd be wrong if you did. I have been out there each day. Sunday we both went out for a short walk before heading off to church. We were hardly awake - and I've written about what I call sleep walking before - that's when I get out and begin my walk before I'm awake enough to think "what the HECK am I doing awake at this hour." It wasn't quite that early but we were both very glad to come home and have breakfast.

Yesterday I was determined to go out after work. I have not been doing that because I have found there are too many opportunities to wimp out - or just for one reason or another miss out. BUT, I KNOW there are going to be times when I can not get a walk in before heading out to my day so yesterday I planned on going at the end of the day. I did go too. Which is a good sign. It ended up being a cooler evening than the day promised and I enjoyed the lower levels of both heat and humidity. I wore a white top and my reflective sneakers but no lights or other special gear to make me show up to passing motorists. I finished the walk at what amounted to dusk - so before I was in any great danger of being invisible.

Today, it is earlier and guess what...I'm going out NOW. So, good bye. 64 to go.

It was beautiful out there today - Days 23 & 24 of 90

It was indeed very beautiful out there today, but you will just have to take my word for it, as I had no pocket for a camera (or phone) and so there is no photographic evidence of that fact. The funny thing was, that according to my first look at the predicted weather it should have been thunder-storming the entire time - but one look a the weather satellite and I saw no cloud-cover so I went anyway.

Now, I will readily admit it was very humid; I don't know the official levels but I can say that they had to be pretty high both because you could see the moisture in the air and it was hard to breath, as well as the fact that it rose to the level of precipitating out - meaning it was sprinkling or what the weather man (person) might call 100% humidity. An interesting comment I overheard when two joggers ran past; one of them was explaining to the other that his "theory is it's all about humidity." Of course they weren't around long enough for me to tell you what that theory was, or what humidity was all about, but there you have it.

The path is flat and relatively soft under foot, the Mohawk along side is beautiful in a wild unkempt sort of way even though there were some passes that I didn't think looked navigable due to the over grown vegetation.

There were turtle egg shells in bunches along the path although I saw no little turtles emerging, it was obvious they had been, and probably will continue for a short while as they hatch and make their individual ways back into the water.

There were also lots of people in just about every conceivable shape, size, & age traveling in all manner of conveyance - or on foot. Little ones on their bikes, or bigger onsies and twosies of cyclists passing with a call of "on your left" - the universal heads up meant to discourage collisions with unwary pedestrians ahead on the path. (Slower traffic stays to the right-at least in the US, and I have often wondered what is the protocol in countries where slower traffic stays on the left.) There were three young girls traveling by motorized scooter - to the scorn of one cyclist who asked me as he passed if one could get 'any more lazy than a motorized scooter.' I hollered to him as he was heading away that they at least had to "keep their balance." I soon discovered their parents walking at a brisk pace behind them and my guess is that if you wished to get a good walk in with three small children, you might relish the scooters that afforded you the opportunity to get enough time out there to be considered exercise.

Yesterday we went out for a 3 mile walk in preparation for next weeks 5k. I am really hoping to chop off a couple of minutes of my time. I'll just have to wait and see. (It was good having new sneakers all around and no sore feet!)

66 to go.

The walk was fine, and all I found was one slim dime - Day 22 of 90

That's what I said this morning, when asked how the walk was - fine. Then I thought to myself...and all I found was one thin dime. Funny that, though I had been thinking I hadn't seen anything yesterday (accept maybe now that I think about it there was a penny somewhere) and I figured as my pace increases I see less-or it could be that having been out everyday over the same ground there is less loose change floating around...

BUT, the thing is I am not actually out there to rake in the big bucks. (Good thing, that, since I'm not.) I AM out there just to BE out there; to get out every day, day by day and get some exercise. And that is actually what I am doing. Day by Day, I am going for a walk. I will never be a runner or win any first place honors (unless I happen to be the only one in my "class"), but I am doing it for my heart and my lungs and my bones and my overall health. That I AM doing. 68 to go.

Keeping on - Days 19-21 of 90

A couple of days ago I went out in the morning and thought of the book by Lawrence Block - A Walk Among the Tombstones. Not that I was actually walking among the tombstones, but I went as far as the little cemetery and saw the stones standing there; some shiny, some worn to the point of obscurity with the dew on the grass and the rain still being shaken from the trees' leaves from an earlier rain. It was pretty and peaceful. (His book isn't pretty or peaceful by the way-but the title was what made me think about the scene in front of me.)

The next day (yesterday) I didn't feel all that well and so my walk was short and I did some push-ups to mix it up. (Not while walking mind you but after the day was done.)

Today, I don't feel a whole lot better but went out anyway because that's the thing about a goal like this - it is for 90 days straight. I once read about a runner who had run everyday for something like years; rain or shine (don't know if they lived in a snow region) but I was impressed with that. The gist of this article was that they found the constancy of running every day kept them from getting sick - or becoming too sick to do anything - since they had to go out for their run - and then having accomplished that they obviously weren't THAT sick - and so in the end they didn't get sick. Fresh air and exercise I'm sure have something to do with that as well - but it could be as much a case of mind over matter.

Anyway, I am going along and we will see how my mind makes it through the duration.
69 to go.

100 Runs, My Nike and me - Day 18 of 90

This morning I went out early in order to head out to Northborough MA for a picnic after church. I ran 1 mile in the middle and upped my overall time to just under 14 minutes per mile. If had that pace for the 5 k in two weeks I'd be thrilled. However, even early this morning it was already warm so I am not sure how it'll be in two weeks.

Yes, I know July has the hottest average temperature in this region, but there are still plenty of hot days, and although I haven't looked it up, it may be the the hottest single day temps are recorded in August - it seems that way at least.

Yesterday I found 31 cents on the ground; one dime by itself and then 21 cents all together somewhere else. Today I found a lone dollar bill sitting on the side of a parking lot; I guess the person who left it was all out of change.

I got home and am having a cup of coffee in order to wake up-but I really think I'm going to ice it down as I am already too warm. 72 to go

Snakes in the woods - Day 17 of 90

Denton Wildlife Sanctuary: Indian Pipes

I tried to take a hike in the Denton Wildlife Preserve, but didn’t find enough of it to walk more than 2 minutes out along the path before I lost sight of any such thing as a clearly marked path and turned around to head back to the car. That is when I noticed a snake hurrying away to hide in the underbrush. Last week I paid close attention to where I put my feet so as not to stand on any snakes, but this morning I was more interested in finding a path, and so wasn’t ready when the snake showed up where I had walked only a minute or two before. Back to paying attention.

River Rd

On my next stop I walked along a river road and the nice thing was it was almost entirely deserted so while there wasn’t a shoulder to walk along, there was no need and I could just stroll right down the middle of the lane. I stopped to take a photo of some flowers in someone’s side yard where they had posted a sign that said Wildlife Habitat – which is a really nice way of saying; we leave the wildflowers for the birds. As I began walking again, I saw in front of me a snake that wasn’t as quick as the earlier one, as it was literally belly-up, and flatter than the pancakes we had this morning for breakfast. He was in fact, dead. But I didn’t step on him.

Today’s air quality index was supposed to head up into the uncomfortable zone by 11:00 am in this entire region, so I was happy to be done before it became oppressive outside. I plan on doing some reading and drinking cool seltzer and relaxing the rest of the day. 73 to go

Aside for the day - how to make habits stick

Aside for the day: Here is a link to an article on how to make habits stick. I thought it would be in keeping with my 90 plan - since I used to work at something for 28 days...and not make a permanent change - hence the 90 day experiment.

This article says that making a plan is the first step. Check.

The second step is anticipating challenges - check. (I KNOW there are always challenges where consistency and exercise are concerned in my case.)

The third step is sticking with it - well that's the plan and 90 days is sticking with it for a while. Check.

So, here is the link for those who wish to see it in black and white and while my version is the Reader's Digest version of the article, it isn't much longer in person.

How to Make Good Habits Stick

4K today - Day 16 of 90

It wasn't fast and it wasn't pretty but I got it done. I thought about looking for small change while walking, and yes I found a penny, but the thing I was thinking is you can lose a lot of scenery if you are always staring at the ground. You have to look up and look around to see what is out there.

Today, for instance, as I was walking along, I came upon a little turtle. It was to his advantage that I was watching where I was going as he was small enough that he probably wouldn't have survived a meeting with my feet. He also was heading straight into traffic, I think he was afraid of me, considering I was about 5'3-1/2" taller than he was. (I am 5'3-3/4" tall) When I spotted him he was hurrying as fast as his little legs would carry him straight into the road. So, I picked him up (careful not to let his little toenails find my fingers) and walked him across the road to the side where it was grassy and the water was down below. I hoped that might forestall him dodging traffic until he was big enough to be seen and avoided by drivers.

When we were coming back around, I thought I saw him in the road so we made a detour to go back and check but it wasn't him, it was a little pile of dried grass from some mower. I didn't have my glasses on, and I was concerned about him so the fuzzy blob about the right size made me pause. All's well that ends well.
74 to go.

Stop on a dime - Day 15 of 90

You know the expression to stop on a dime? I was jogging along this morning (keep in mind what I say is jogging is actually no different in speed than my walking-except a tiny bit faster-really tiny), so here I was moving at a clip for me meaning one foot on the ground at a time instead of my usual two-and I spot a penny and have to make a quick stop. So, it wasn't stopping on a dime-but it was like that. Then I got "up to speed" and saw another one-so I stopped short again. It probably looked rather silly to any passers by.

The reason I had chosen to run at that point in my walk is I wished to get off the side of the road as quickly as possible and move to the pavement - and sooner then to the side roads which are much more pleasant. So my faster than usual moving coupled with my stopping for pennies meant moving in slightly different ways than I ordinarily do - and I expect that is good, at least for muscles; we won't mention appearances. Who ever knows when one must stop on a dime-or a quarter or for something even more important? (I don't know what that might end up being but I wouldn't want to miss it when the time comes.)

I was going to say something about that elliptical work I did the other day. I considered doing it again-not because I enjoyed it, but because I noticed it really is a different work out and my arms could feel it. That has always been my biggest draw back: I am lazy. I walk for that reason - not that walking is for lazy people, but that I just don't do other things either well or consistently.

When I broke my foot in 2001 I had been walking pretty regularly but had no upper strength and had great trouble carrying myself around on my arms (i.e.using crutches). Arms are much smaller muscles than are found in legs-and legs are designed for carrying people around. I know in my head that using other muscles is very good for you, but I just don't make the time to do those other muscle things. So, I am now considering using that elliptical again or maybe trying to incorporate it into my 'new habit' of exercising and see if I can condition myself along with my muscles to work out regularly.

As a final note today. I signed up for a 5k in a couple of weeks. Just for fun. 75 to go.

New sneakers - Days 13 & 14 of 90

Yesterday was a shorter day in the workout department, and I spent most of my miles walking around shopping; shopping for supplies, and shopping for sneakers. We came away with a new pair each so next time I want company, I should be good to go.

Today, I went out fairly early certain it would rain today, but so far it's been dry, and I loved my new sneakers. They were light weight and springy and a very bright color. That has nothing to do with how they feel, but it is an added bonus.

I found a penny and a dime on the floor in the house - but I don't think they count toward my penny a day for a year since they were already in my possession so to speak. I'm sure that isn't a walking kind of comment, but I contemplated it when I found them. Now, of course if I find money in the wash...it totally counts! :)

Just to give you an idea of some of the things one sees when not staying in the house-or in a shopping area, I am posting this very interesting tree trunk from the other day. It is one of those things that make you say hey. So, I'll end with that.

76 to go