Paces

I have completed a backwards course of 2.93 miles in just 41 minutes. Backwards because I started at Cedar Grove and then walked east and back around to my starting point. It always helps to have a different perspective, especially when you walk in this park as often as I do. And tomorrow I will try the same starting point and go the opposite way.

I wish I could say that it was all fun and games, but it wasn’t. I started off feeling like I was dragging all 17 pounds of my extra weight as I walked; draped around my neck and dragging on the ground. Gross! But on the bright side, I could also visualize the calories being dragged off as well. Calories? They look like little bb’s of fat and they leave a greasy spot on the pavement.

After about a mile of that kind of mental torture, I got myself up to 4.3 mph and continued in that manner for the duration.

BP is 131/66 with a pulse of 75 and a weight of 217. And I'm about 4 minutes off of my pace...

Coffee Anyone?

I better take my early AM blood pressure readings and then prepare to get myself on the road. A short walk this morning. Okay, BP is 132/71 with a pulse of 66. And I was thinking yesterday; without my tape recorder… that part of the reason for the sore feet was my increased weight. Duh! But, wouldn’t that also mean that I was getting a better workout by having to haul so much lard around the park? Yes! Weight training! And if I lose weight, won’t I be cheating myself out of an opportunity to gain additional strength by hauling it around? Sounds like a no-win situation. Maybe I should walk while eating and keep things just as they were. Just kidding.

(Later) After returning from a satisfactory 3.3 mile walk in 46.5 minutes (14.1 minute/miles) and having a medium sized latte at Bellachino’s Coffee shop, my blood pressure readings are 126/76 with a pulse of 73.

Now I think I have found my new favorite coffee shop; Bellachino’s. Nice atmosphere with plenty of magazines and newspapers. They want you to be comfortable. The menu looks pretty good as well, with gardenburgers available. I will try parking the truck down by Cedar Grove and then after my walk, it’s a simple drive up 8^th Street to the coffee shop.

The coffee shop that has proven to be the most disappointing is Higher Grounds. We went in for a cup a few weeks ago, just before Kyle’s game, and when I asked if there were any newspapers available to buy, I was told, “Yes. Across the parking lot and over at the liquor store. They have a machine.” Amazing!

YouTube for Walkers

The Race Walking Challenge...

And how to do it

Stop laughing. It's an Olympic sport... and what are you doing right now? Sitting in front of your computer. Get up and take a walk.

I'm ready...

I’ve had my breakfast of hot whole grain cereal, the kind that gets into the spaces between your teeth. Must brush! I think Dad used to call it ‘Nature’s broom,” And he ate a bowl of that ‘mush’ every day. Then I’m off to walk in the park. Day two of my rehab effort. But first, my blood pressure before I go…139/81 with a pulse of 65.

(Later) It was a good effort. I had some initial pain to overcome; lactic acid! Even so, the first mile went by at a faster pace than I wanted, a mile in 13.8 minutes, so I slowed it down and did the second mile with a 14.28 average for two miles. And as I reached the Manzanita end of the park trail I spotted a brand new bridge over the creek. I was going to make a simple turn around and head back, but the bridge beckoned and I crossed over before settling into a POFW pace instead of the racewalking stride. And then I passed my marker for the 5K distance and I had done that in 43 minutes, just 4 minutes off my race pace. OK, back to racewalking. I continued on and went back across the creek at Cedar Grove and then finished up back at the truck in 1 hour and 15 minutes. That’s an average of 14.42 minutes per mile.

Afterwards, at home again… BP is 131/64 Pulse is 79 and weight is 215.6, a drop of 2.4 pounds in 2 days.

And he's off!

A beautiful day in the park! I can tell you that I was pleasantly surprised to be able to fall right back into the racewalking gait. All very smooth. I guess muscle memory saves me once again. I didn’t want to overextend myself this morning and become injured, so had to fight an urge to go faster; which I could have. OK, maybe just a little bit faster. The competitive spirit is still there and I wanted to prove to myself that I still had the ability to racewalk against all comers. Not.

I was pleasantly warmed up after the first mile, which I did in 14.4 minutes. My original plan to walk a slow 6 miler went by the wayside and I decided to do 4 miles at a good pace. The results are… BP=131/72 Pulse=74 after doing 4 miles in 56.5 minutes at an average pace of 14.125 minutes per mile. If I were doing a 5K race, my usual; I would have done it in a little over 42 minutes. My last outing, back in May, I was averaging 12.26 minutes per mile and I did the 4 miler in a shade over 49 minutes. So I’m 7 minutes off my pace; I’m good with that!

Pre Day One

It starts again. The long term goal is a longer life and a healthier one. Short term; it's a 5K race now and then for the next year. Maybe half a dozen? A little further out; September of next year will be my 6th marathon and it will be in Portland. If you have never done a marathon, walking or running, Portland is the place to be for your first one.

Bonus: With the completion of the 6th marathon, I will have 6 little 'running man' figures tattooed on my left calf. It's for me.

A reminder

OK, it's over. The Portland Marathon went off without me this year and I'm ashamed. I wasn't there, but I will be back! I would rather not do it by myself, but I have in the past and I can do it again. Anyone want to do it with me? It's just 11+ months of training and then a spectacular finish...you'll love it!