3.29

Not the fastest 3.29 miles. I feel like I'm in a rut. I did it in 45 minutes, or 13.68 minutes/mile.

I will admit that I felt fine going out and my race walking style was quite smooth. Just like it's supposed to be. But the speed isn't there and it's frustrating. But, hey! It's all about cardio...right?


BP 133/57 Pulse 68

A little bit better

Another successful day in the park. I decided to see if I could get in a fast two miles and I set out with that as a goal. No, it wasn’t the fastest; not in that fierce wind, but it was faster than yesterday. I ended up with a 13.06 minute/mile average for the two miles. I still have the cough and the persistent pain in my right knee and my left heel. (That's my excuse and sticking with it!) Though they seem to go away while I’m actually exercising and only return after I’ve been sitting for awhile.

BP is 130/61 Pulse is 58

Not Yet

I’m back from a good walk, a fast walk. Since the sun was out and the temperatures weren’t too bad, I tried for a better time than yesterday. But first… I should tell you that I’m not to be trusted. Before I even left the house, I was making excuses; ‘Well, I walked pretty fast yesterday, maybe fast enough that I could stay home today and get some stuff done around here.’ No. Stop that! And get in the car right now! I did.

The first mile went by at a 13.5 minute/mile pace and I finished up at the 2 mile marker with a 27.5 time for the first half. I decided to see if I could get my body moving on the way back and did some 100 yard jogs every now and then. I ended up with a 24.5 minute time for the second half. That’s 12.25 minute/miles and it felt pretty good. 4.68 miles total

At the finish line I was greeted by the famed sportscaster, Otto G. Grimley who was eager to interview me.

Otto: Welcome, sports fans to the 382^nd running of the S.W. Dunn 6 point Something K Invitational Race. Here with us is S.W. himself. How are you feeling Steve?

S.W.: Oh. Wow…Hi, Otto. Well, (hack, hack,) I guess I’m OK. Now. Like, how’d I do?

Otto: Well, Steve, according to our official timers, it looks like an average of 13.25 minute/miles for the 4.68 miles. That’s far off your best time of 11.13 recorded during the 123^rd running of this classic race. What was giving you a problem today, Steve?

S.W.: Oh, man! It was like, well it was…ya know? It was like I had this real bad pain in my right knee and then (hack, hack) like I have this bad cough. Ya know? And you knew about my left heel, right?

Otto: Well, it certainly looked like you were struggling out there today, Steve. Tell us, will you be ready for the 383^rd running of this fabulous race, which is scheduled for this coming Thursday?

S.W.: Man. I don’t know…(hack, hack) I was like really suffering today. But, ya know, I’ll be like giving it my best shot on Thursday. Say…is that a camera?

Otto: Yes, that’s our television cameras.

S.W.: Cool! Hi honey! (waves)

BP 124/64 Pulse57

I'm not putting the weight in here till it drops below 210

Progress?

A busy day. I did get a good walk in and so I’m healthier… or I feel that way even if I’m not. My last walk was on Saturday and I did a 3 mile course with just under 13 minute/miles; I’m going to call it an average of 12.9999 minutes per mile. Then I was off on Sunday, a day of rest.

Today was a little slower. I didn’t get over 4.2 mph in my 38.5 minute walk. I’m estimating a distance of 2.76 miles for the day. Yes, 13.95 minute miles. Must have been the cold!

After the walk… no good news in the weight department. I’m stuck. Yes, my stomach is firmer, but the weight is still there.

BP was 124/71 Pulse 69

Vry Shrt

Just two miles. But, I did them in 27 minutes total...

Not record shattering times, but it was a nice way to warm up on a chilly fall day.

BP is 128/66 Pulse is 66

A Good One

OK, 5 miles and I was using my 'old' shoes. I didn't realize it until I got out of the car at One Mile. 'What? Where are my almost new and very technical looking New Balance shoes and what are these ugly things doing on my feet?' I survived and came up with a 13.8 minute/mile average for the distance. I really need to look at my feet before I leave the house!

BP 128/68 and Pulse 67

Crowded

How was I to know? I ended up being just a little bit late to get to the parking lot at One Mile this morning and found every space filled. Yesterday, and 30 minutes earlier... I had the parking area to myself. Since my morning routine was no longer 'routine', I decided to go for a different route. And I must admit that my first thought was to go for a quick 30 minutes, get the heart rate up and call it good. (I am not to be trusted when it comes to committing myself to exercise) But, I overcame my baser instincts and went out for 44 minutes. I don't know the mileage, as I took a new route and my GPS unit couldn't acquire a satellite.

BP 117/68 Pulse 57

Simple

A simple thing. 4 miles at 14.07 minutes per mile. Just far enough and fast enough to give you some good cardio exercise, but not so fast that you might injure yourself... when you're not feeling all that good (cough!) My first thought was to stroll and not racewalk at all, but it wasn't long before I had picked up the pace and was 'strolling' at about 4.2 mph. After a mile or so, I thought I might as well go a little faster and I ended up with a 4.4 mph average.

BP is 119/65 Pulse is 69

Do the 1st ten, last!

No, I wasn't feeling all that good; coughing! But I still did OK, getting in 3.29 miles in 44 minutes. The first ten minutes were the worst, as usual, but once I was warmed up I forgot about the aches and pains and concentrated on the 'good feelings' that my pace was generating. And that pace was 13.37 minute/miles...

BP 111/60 Pulse 72

2.58X2

= 5.16 and that's the number of miles I walked today. Up the road from One Mile to Manzanita Avenue and then back again. I did the first mile slow enough, 14.13 minute/mile. The time for the first half was even more relaxed; 14.34 minute/miles. So I decided to give it a little kick on the way back, getting up to 13.56 minute/miles average for the second half.

The best part of the day was when I was putting on my shirt before I left the house. I looked in the mirror and noted that my stomach was noticeably flatter. The weight is still the same, but it's not hanging completely over my belt...if I wore one. Progress is always appreciated!


BP 117/66 Pulse 73

Two Miles vs 30 Miles

As planned, I walked the two miles this morning with an eye on keeping my pace in the 12 minute range. And I did the first mile in 12:43; not bad. Coming back, I tried to keep up the pace and finished in 12:39...yes, it was downhill.

BP is 119/69 with a pulse of 60. I can see some progress! Weight is 216. Needs work.

Some stray thoughts from the walk: 1. I guess I will have to plan on walking for health for the rest of my life. My bad habit of eating means that I need to exercise every day. As soon as I relax and take a break from the walking, I gain weight and the blood pressure goes up. 2. Since I have planned on a marathon for next year, I need to prepare myself mentally as well as physically for the distance. What I've done in the past was to work my way up to 21 miles over a period of 4 months. The thought is that if you can do 21 miles, the excitement of race day will make the remaining 5.2 miles easy for you. And it works. But I thought I might start doing some 30 milers around June, in preparation for the marathon date in late September. In the 3 months I could do 4 or 5 of the 30 mile walks. If you can do 30, 26.2 is a snap! 30 miles is about a 7 hour walk.

History

Yes, I did get in a practice yesterday. And once again I did it without a regular timing device, just the clock in the car...

I started off from One Mile just as a 'fast' walker went by and so I followed, hoping to overtake them. I did, but it certainly was the wrong way to start the walk. An early sprint is NOT the way to get warmed up. I settled into a comfortable pace after that and tried to recover from that quick burst. I was having some pain in my left heel and that didn't leave until I was at the halfway point. Then it was easy to make my way back and I did it in 45 minutes. That's one minute slower than the day before, but still a good time. (13.68 minute/miles)

Today will be a short and fast walk...2 miles and aiming for 12.5 minute/miles. Sunday is an off day and that allows your body to rebuild after the 2 miles of 'tearing down' on Saturday.

Whole Foods

Presents New Times

My sister and brother in law are doing this one on Sunday. The 5K walk. I wish I was there with them! The last time I was in the Phoenix area (January 2007) I was racewalking the P.F. Chang 1/2 marathon and it was COLD. Something like 23 degrees at race time. I bet they have better weather for this one. My niece is doing the 10K run...Go Erin!

Obsessions

I better post yesterday's results here before we head down to the big city. No walking today.

It turned out quite well. The same 3.29 miles as yesterday but in 3 minutes less time. I had the usual 1/2 mile of painful motion and then it all straightens out for me and becomes enjoyable. It took almost 1.5 miles before I broke a sweat and that's good. The right leg was behaving itself and all was well.

Final; 13.3 minute miles and I think it was because I had forgotten to turn my GPS unit on and had to leave it in the truck. I spend too much time obsessing over my pace when I have it on.

Hanging In...

I'm still going after the goal. A 37 minute 5K. I suffered a slight setback and missed a couple of days of practice when my right leg gave me a problem. I haven't identified the muscles that are causing the pain, I just know that they are behind the knee joint and don't take well to side pressure of any kind.

This morning was pretty typical for me. 3.29 miles in 47 minutes. Or a little over 14 minute miles. Certainly not my best attempt. But after about 2 miles I began to feel a little stress in the right leg and slowed down to accomodate it.

120/58 and a pulse of 71