The big 5K race is only a few hours away. While I know there is NO WAY on this good green earth that I will win anything, I hope and pray that I don't come in drop out pass out. I just want to finish, even if it's lunch time - do you think there will still be people watching by then.
I now have my official number and my official t-shirt. I am a bit overwhelmed that the race begins at 7a and the first required session for me is at 9a....that's two hours to complete the race, pass out, be revitalized, pass out again, and then shower and get ready for the opening session for the day. Seriously? Who thought up this schedule?
Thank goodness for my friend Sheila, she will make sure that I do not give up on the race tomorrow even when I'm dying. We joked that my husband will most likely run the race and then come back and walk with us - he claims he may just walk, but I know when he gets the fever - the running fever, he will be gone.
Sounds like there is a good group of folks participating so it will be run, win, lose, or pass out!
Will keep you posted on the verdict tomorrow.
Alycia
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Walking over 3 Miles without PROOF!
Last week, I was fortunate enough to attend the Mid West Afterschool Science Academy in Kansas City, MO - it was an excellent STEM conference and we brought back many new ideas. My day started last Monday at 3:30a to catch an early morning flight into Kansas City where we prompted gained an hour with the time change. After a full day of sessions and dinner with colleagues, I honestly didn't think I could tell you my name let alone get a walk in because I was so tired. However, one of my colleagues who is also walking the Go Far 5K and said...'c'mon, let's hit the fitness room'. The NCAA championship game had just started and I thought I could at least watch some of that while I was walking.
I arrived in the gym a little later and all four treadmills were taken. Hmm...what to do? Seeing that I know very little about fitness and what the other machines do, I found my way over to the big screen tv, turned on the game, and pretended to 'stretch'. I think I looked pretty convincing.
Soon, someone vacated a treadmill and I hopped on. The treadmills were pretty swanky and made our treadmill at home seem pretty lame - these had televisions built into them. Course, it took me about 15 minutes to figure out how to work them and I didn't have headphones to actually 'hear' the television, but I figured, who needs to hear a basketball game. The only problem was I couldn't actully get the game on this little television. So I watched Guns 'n Roses bio - with no sound, and then gave up and put the Disney Channel on to some lame children's program that at least kept me occupied.
I started out at a pretty good pace and was feeling pretty good about myself. The little light up track was moving and grooving and I did two laps with little effort. I thought to myself, 'WOW! I must really be improving, barely worked up a sweat'. Course, then I realized that I'd only gone 1/2 a mile! I found I had another track option - over the ridges and dales and across country on a 5K track. This seemed like a better option, but the little runner really didn't move that fast at all.
I got to about the 4K mark and was pretty beat when my colleague had finished up and was heading out. I asked her if I could just quit too an she said, 'heck no, keep it up - we've got less than a week'. So, I kept going. Just shy of the 5K mark, my sock was really working it's way down into my shoe. I kept trying to think how I would hop on one foot on the treadmill while I tugged on my sock to pull it back into the ankle comfort zone. After thinking that hopping may not be my best option, I put my right foot on the side of the treadmill and tried to tug at my sock on the outside of my other foot - interesting position I was in!. It took quite a bit of tugging to find a comfort spot again and all of a sudden the treadmill shut down. I stood there in disbelief looking at the blank dash board and stopped belt. I just didn't know what to do and felt pretty embarrassed as the two guys next to me were in their sprinting phases. So, I pretended I was finished and hopped off - so close and yet no proof.
Later in the week, once back at home, I hit my own treadmill with full force and decided to try for the 5K mark again. Just shy of a 1/2 mile into my walk I turned to answer a question from one of my children, lost my balance, and pulled the cable from the treadmill shutting the whole thing down. After a few grumblings, I plugged it back in and of course, the dash board reset itself. Great!
I worked through my set list with a small jog during one song when I realized I was just over the 2 mile mark. 2 miles added to my reset 1/2 mile and I was pretty close to the 3 mile mark, which lets face it, if you are walking a 5K - once you hit the 3 mile mark, the rest you could really roll through. I made my husband do some quick math as to really how far I needed to walk in this new set, which takes him no time at all, and then decided I was going to go beyond his recommendation and try for a full 3.5 miles.
My husband turned on a little AC DC to get my adrenaline pumping and I was good to go. I was in the last 1/4 mile stretch - I was feeling good - I no longer felt like I was going to hurl. My feet were no longer tingling with numbness. I could feel my legs again. I was smiling from ear to ear - I was singing along to TNT...because yes, I AM dy - no - mite! I called to my husband to come and celebrate with me as I gloriously crossed well into the 5K and beyond range. As he came up to the treadmill, the last light was about to light up indicating the completion of the 1/4 mile mark. I waved my arm in a grand gesture to show him...and...you guessed it....I accidently knocked the cable, pulling the plug from the machine and shutting the whole thing down.
I stood there in disbelief. Denied the celebration again. I looked at my husband, and yes, did a totally girly thing....cried! Not a big cry mind you just a couple of tears - after all, it's just walking!
So, today has been my day off. Tomorrow we are in the last week of training. I am hoping to get a couple of good walks in this week and a little weight lifting. (I have started to combine that with my walking - ssh - don't tell my trainer). Then once in Florida, we'll do a little light walking on the actual route to get the feel of the concrete.
Who knows maybe it's better this way to not celebrate on a treadmill that way we can celebrate on the concrete? Or pass out - not quite sure which at this point.
Keep walking -
Alycia
I arrived in the gym a little later and all four treadmills were taken. Hmm...what to do? Seeing that I know very little about fitness and what the other machines do, I found my way over to the big screen tv, turned on the game, and pretended to 'stretch'. I think I looked pretty convincing.
Soon, someone vacated a treadmill and I hopped on. The treadmills were pretty swanky and made our treadmill at home seem pretty lame - these had televisions built into them. Course, it took me about 15 minutes to figure out how to work them and I didn't have headphones to actually 'hear' the television, but I figured, who needs to hear a basketball game. The only problem was I couldn't actully get the game on this little television. So I watched Guns 'n Roses bio - with no sound, and then gave up and put the Disney Channel on to some lame children's program that at least kept me occupied.
I started out at a pretty good pace and was feeling pretty good about myself. The little light up track was moving and grooving and I did two laps with little effort. I thought to myself, 'WOW! I must really be improving, barely worked up a sweat'. Course, then I realized that I'd only gone 1/2 a mile! I found I had another track option - over the ridges and dales and across country on a 5K track. This seemed like a better option, but the little runner really didn't move that fast at all.
I got to about the 4K mark and was pretty beat when my colleague had finished up and was heading out. I asked her if I could just quit too an she said, 'heck no, keep it up - we've got less than a week'. So, I kept going. Just shy of the 5K mark, my sock was really working it's way down into my shoe. I kept trying to think how I would hop on one foot on the treadmill while I tugged on my sock to pull it back into the ankle comfort zone. After thinking that hopping may not be my best option, I put my right foot on the side of the treadmill and tried to tug at my sock on the outside of my other foot - interesting position I was in!. It took quite a bit of tugging to find a comfort spot again and all of a sudden the treadmill shut down. I stood there in disbelief looking at the blank dash board and stopped belt. I just didn't know what to do and felt pretty embarrassed as the two guys next to me were in their sprinting phases. So, I pretended I was finished and hopped off - so close and yet no proof.
Later in the week, once back at home, I hit my own treadmill with full force and decided to try for the 5K mark again. Just shy of a 1/2 mile into my walk I turned to answer a question from one of my children, lost my balance, and pulled the cable from the treadmill shutting the whole thing down. After a few grumblings, I plugged it back in and of course, the dash board reset itself. Great!
I worked through my set list with a small jog during one song when I realized I was just over the 2 mile mark. 2 miles added to my reset 1/2 mile and I was pretty close to the 3 mile mark, which lets face it, if you are walking a 5K - once you hit the 3 mile mark, the rest you could really roll through. I made my husband do some quick math as to really how far I needed to walk in this new set, which takes him no time at all, and then decided I was going to go beyond his recommendation and try for a full 3.5 miles.
My husband turned on a little AC DC to get my adrenaline pumping and I was good to go. I was in the last 1/4 mile stretch - I was feeling good - I no longer felt like I was going to hurl. My feet were no longer tingling with numbness. I could feel my legs again. I was smiling from ear to ear - I was singing along to TNT...because yes, I AM dy - no - mite! I called to my husband to come and celebrate with me as I gloriously crossed well into the 5K and beyond range. As he came up to the treadmill, the last light was about to light up indicating the completion of the 1/4 mile mark. I waved my arm in a grand gesture to show him...and...you guessed it....I accidently knocked the cable, pulling the plug from the machine and shutting the whole thing down.
I stood there in disbelief. Denied the celebration again. I looked at my husband, and yes, did a totally girly thing....cried! Not a big cry mind you just a couple of tears - after all, it's just walking!
So, today has been my day off. Tomorrow we are in the last week of training. I am hoping to get a couple of good walks in this week and a little weight lifting. (I have started to combine that with my walking - ssh - don't tell my trainer). Then once in Florida, we'll do a little light walking on the actual route to get the feel of the concrete.
Who knows maybe it's better this way to not celebrate on a treadmill that way we can celebrate on the concrete? Or pass out - not quite sure which at this point.
Keep walking -
Alycia
Friday, April 1, 2011
Look Dr. Young....NO HANDS!!!
Many times we want our mom's to notice what we are doing...in this case, while I'm sure my mom would be proud of me, this time I want Dr. Young to take notice. As I've talked about before, several months ago Dr. Paul Young issued the challenge for the National AfterSchool Association (NAA) board members to participate in the 5K Go Far race at the upcoming NAA conference. The race is now, in fact, 17 days away which really means 16 days to prepare. What was I thinking?
This past week has been a busy week at work and I've been recovering the loss of my dearest Buckeyes in the Sweet Sixteen, so exercising or training has been the farthest thing from my mind. Afterall, half of the pump up songs I listen to while walking are basketall pregame songs! I will just say I feel I can still listen to these songs as I root on the Cinderella stories of VCU!
Today is my day off and my husband encouraged me to exercise - knowing that the race is 16 training days away. I digress to say that he is also running the race and is an experienced runner so should be finished in about 10 minutes - I just hope to be finished by the time we have to present later that afternoon. He has been very supportive of my efforts. He doesn't give too much advice. Most importantly he respects my neurotic ways and trys to not look at me or be near me while I'm exercising. When you are out of shape, it's embarrassing. Today, he even brought me a glass of water and put it next to the treadmill. Ah...true love! This morning, I took his advice to heart and loaded up the play list on the computer and waddled onto the treadmill.
Several unexpected things happened today....
1. My warm up speed today....has been my fast speed of the past few weeks WOW - didn't expect that to happen so quickly.
2. My fast speed has increased and moved into the range where the 'fat burn' light comes on. Now, if you are a seasoned treadmill walker/runner you are probably thinking to yourself, big deal that's under 4mph. But to those of us who would rather sit on the couch than get off the couch to exercise, it's a pretty big deal in out book.
3. I stayed on the treadmill for 2 miles (about 24 minutes) varying in walking and jogging modes and various speeds. The first mile was a faster speed and more intense and then I slowed down to a better walking speed. However, still at the higher warm up speed and much of the time with the fat burn light on!
4. After 2 miles of pretty intense walking/jogging for me - while my feet still went numb, I was slightly dizzy when I first stopped, and I wanted to sit down badly - I didn't feel like I was going to die - again improvement.
5. But the most important thing and Dr. Young...take notice....I walked at my higher rate of speed at the beginning and the end of the workout without holding onto the treadmill - Look Dr. Young - NO HANDS!!!!! Again, if you are a seasoned runner, I'm sure you are thinking big deal! But, if you are like me to walk fast(ish) on the treadmill and keep your balance so that you don't have to hold on for dear life - it is a BIG DEAL!!!
Until day 15! Walk like no one's watching! If you haven't signed up for the Go Far race - there is still time, do it today before the price goes up. It's never too late to walk!
Alycia
PS - I added in a couple of tunes to my workout that you might like to add to yours....Shaggy's "Ooh Boy" and Lit's "My Own Worst Enemy" (because as a baker and candy maker, I am my own worst enemy!) Still taking requests before the final Go Far 5K set list is put together.
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