We Came...We Walked...We Kicked Some...Well...We Finished!

I can't believe that it is the beginning of May and the big Go Far 5K walk/run that I was training for has come and gone and I haven't had time to blog about it.  Life has been a bit of a blur, but that happens sometimes especially this time of year.

Race morning came pretty darn early, but I managed to have breakfast for some sustainability for the old body.  My husband and I arrived down in the holding area with about 150 other folks.  I was excited to see that they were at all levels of fitness and ability.

The GoFar folks lead us through some warm up activities which at some points were harder than the actual walk.  Balancing on one bent leg with the other leg crossed over in the air, and hands in a prayer fold - WHAT?!  Are you kidding me?  I impressed myself that I could actually do it and not only did I not fall over, the leader pointed to me and said 'nice job'!  Do you hear that?  "NICE JOB!!!"  For all I know she sensed my inadequateness for the whole fitness thing and was just trying to boost my ego, I don't know, and I don't care.

We posed for a few pictures as the NAA board and then the rest began.  My friend Sheila and I quickly settled into a nice rhythm.  Several folks had warned me that training on a treadmill is very different than training on pavement - well, they would be right - as most fitness people are.  However, once we got into a good stride we were doing okay. 

The route was essentially three times around the Gaylord Palms with a water station posted at the half way lap mark.  We were off and moving.  Of course, we were passed by many a runner, bah - we we're okay with that as long as there were still people behind us.

When we had the water station in site, we said, 'let's jog to make it look good' - so we did.  Grabbed our water and tried to nonchalantly toss it like all of the other runners did.  Not the most graceful thing I've ever done in my life, but I had another two laps to perfect that.

Once well past the water station and around the corner, back to walking.  We were moving and doing okay.  Next up was the finish line (remember three laps, so you actually pass the turn off for the finish line twice before actually crossing it.  Again, 'let's jog to look good' - so we did and past the finish line we went.

Somewhere during the third lap, my husband joined us.  He had already crossed the finish line, received his medal and grabbed a banana.  He is the best husband in the world - or at least in my world, which is really all that matters.  He walked the final lap with us giving words of encouragement and pointing out how many people were still behind us!

However, when we turned around we were surprised that many of the people who had been behind us were not behind us anymore and we had not seen them pass us....hmm....curious.  My husband pointed out that there were a few folks who created their own race path by cutting across the parking lot.  Just like a bunch of kids!

We passed the water station.  Tossed the cups now with ease.  Sheila tossed one over her head for good measure.  I was afraid for a photo op at the end with board members and I couldn't have wet hair now could I?  We approached the finish line and crossed it successfully beaming with pride! They put the medals over our heads and quite honestly, I felt like an Olympian. 

I had two goals that day.  One to finish and two to not come in dead last.  Once the race results were posted we found out that we didn't come in dead last. Sheila actually came in about 20 seconds before me which seemed stranged as we crossed at the same time.  I have accused her of pushing me and I just didn't realize it at the time. She claims that she didn't.  And considering we were pretty close to being last there were no cameras nor any board members left to actually photograph the line crossing.  We also found out that there were about 16 other people that came in AFTER us - so goal two accomplished.

The silliest part about the whole race is that my husband dropped our room card at some point and we couldn't get back into our room.  Nor could we prove to the front desk that we were who we said we were because we didn't have any identification on us - duh!  Luckily a very nice security guard met us at our room, let us in, and waited patiently until we could produce some identification. 

One race down....what's next?

Time:

Win...Lose....or Pass Out

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

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

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.

That Crazy Weight Loss Wagon Train

How many times have you fallen off of the wagon? I have tried to stop counting because it seems that everytime I start a new weight loss plan, I fall off of the wagon within about a week or so. This time was no different, however, for the first time in my middle aged life and umpteen attempts at weightloss and fitness, I managed to get back on the wagon in record time.

Since the last time I posted, I worked hard to do my Lenten Challenge of a simple walk in place with Leslie Sansone and continued to do the 5K plan that my sister had laid out for me. Then...life happened. I presented at a conference early one morning that moved into errands and then a dinner with my husband's office folks. Only to lead into a Saturday all day conference to come home and clean- you get the idea - go go go and whenever I stopped from being on the go - I seem to fall asleep.

Normally at this point once I have fallen off of the perverbial wagon I hang up my cowboy hat and say 'sayonara' for about 6 months. However, this time regardless of being off of the wagon for 6 days, I picked up my hat, dusted it off, and put it back on, and I am proud to say walked a little over a mile on the fast track and getting ready to do my simple 1 mile.

So....if you are like me and tend to fall off of the wagon...pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start again. What do you have to lose?

If you are new to the 5K challenge that is happening at this year's NAA Convention, it is NEVER too late to get started - all you have to do is walk three or four times a week a little bit at a time. You don't need fancy equipment just a good pair of shoes. Truth be told, I walk in bare feet when it's the walking mile in place (SSHH).

15-20 minutes is a good time frame and I find it goes faster when you can play some upbeat music. Here is the current walking set list for this week - don't judge me!

Cowboy - KidRock

Radio edited version. Hey, I said, don't judge me! It's a goofy song,

but has a nice beat and you can walk to it, especially when you are

just warming up. I like the whistling part - don't play it around the kids!

Apache -Sugar Hill Gang

a) the Sugar Hill Gang takes me back to junior high days and they are just

fun, b) it is the season of March Madness and this would be a basketball

warm up song (Let's Go BUCKEYES), and c) you just picture Will Smith dancing to it

from his Fresh Prince Days.

I Want You Back - Jackson 5

It is a very boppy type of song, you feel very light on your feet AND

you can sing along to it which makes the time go fast. If you are

so not into exercise like me, I recommend upbeat songs that take your

mind off of what your feet are doing. PLUS - it's always good to keep

a pace that you can still talk with someone - singing is the same thing.

I'm Your Man - George Michael

I enjoy George Michael - again, don't judge me, whatever gets you moving!

I used to walk to Freedom, but it's a 6 min song and you REALLY have to

like a song for 6 minutes when you are walking to it.

Miami - Will Smith

Welcome to Miami - I'm getting ready for NAA in Orlando. Orlando...

Miami....both Florida locations. Besides, it has a good walking beat - try it.

And for my cool down...

Black and White - Michael Jackson

I do enjoy the King of Pop - you either do or you don't - and this is one of his

shorter songs. Besides, it's a fun song that has a slower pace and I find I can

slow down my whole walk to move to the beat.

So there you have it - it's not rocket science - it's just music. Find 4 or 5 songs that you enjoy. Turn them up really loud and move your feet - walk in place in the house, walk around your house, walk up and down your driveway, walk through the living room, or walk on a treadmill or track - it really doesn't matter. Just move your body!

Until next time....walk on!

Alycia

On the 5K Training Track - What the Heck Am I DOING!?

It's been a while, dear blog, and more pounds have crept on, and so the time has come to do something.

Last spring, I was elected to the National Afterschool Association board of directors (yea me!) - and I absolutely love it. At our fall board meeting, we discussed the 2011 NAA Annual Convention (http://www.naaweb.org/) and it was mentioned that this year we will be offering a 5K run/walk event through the GoFar (http://www.gofarclub.org/) for conference participants. Our CEO issued a challenge for all board members to participate in said 5K. Most of us looked at each other with the 'surely he's joking', but he wasn't. So, that was the beginning of October 2010.

My sister in law, who is in graduate school for something to do with fitness - no one really understands, but it sounds good - offered to create a plan for me to train for the 5K. I should also mention that the GoFar people have an extensive plan on their website, but being the couch potato of the garden slug variety that I am, I was afraid to even look at it.

I put it off until the first of the year, and then thought, 'gee, it's the first of the year, the conference is in April, guess I better do something about that whole 5K thing'. Nah, let's wait a few more months, besides, I need to lose the holiday poundage first.

So, now here we are about 5 weeks before the convention and suddenly preparing for this whole 5K thing has reached a sense of urgency or complete failure - course, even participating could result in complete failure - they may have to carry me off on a stretcher, but at least I can say, 'I tried'. (I tried and failed, but I tried - good for the headstone!).

I emailed my sister and said, 'okay, I'm ready' and she wrote a 5 week plan for me that on the one hand I questioned if she was trying to kill me and on the other hand it looked pretty weak. Resting every other day? Resting for two days in a row? Walking for only 15 minutes? What? How will this possibly prepare me to move my body 3.5 (ish) miles. Course, again, she's known me for most of her life and I've always been the couch potato of the garden slug variety.

Meanwhile, I received a photograph of myself at an event and I kept looking at it wondering who that 'fat' person was - oh, wait, that's me! Realizing that not only do I need to train for this grueling 5K, I also need to do something about this tushy that you can see both coming and going! So....I added in my own personal Lenten 40 Day Challenge.

Now of course, any reputable fitness person would tell couch potatoes such as myself to not try to do too much at one time or you will get frustrated and stop - which is true and has happened time and time again (check out the date for the last blog post!). However, this time, I've added in the Lenten guilt and the prospects of having my picture taken at NAA 2011 and that seems to be pushing me forward.

Here I am Day 6 of my sister's training for the 5K program. I've done one day of a long distance mile - took me 18 minutes - not bad I thought. I did a 15 minute fairly fast pace on another day and I was so close to finishing the mile so I had to finish it - it would have bugged me if the little dots on the treadmill panel had not completed a circuit. And today...after two days of rest...another 15 minute walk which I expanded and completed a mile in 17 minutes. Yes, there is a part of me that wants to hurl, but I did it.

Let me also say, that I hate to sweat. You don't understand, I really hate to sweat. The only time it might be slightly okay is if I'm at a rock concert of some big hair band from the 80's who have cleaned their act up and our touring again to pay the bills - and then just maybe I don't mind to dance so much I sweat, but really...not so much even then. However, today I am really sweating - as a did a little power run to finish the mile to get it under the 17 minute mark. (Who is this couch potato?) I must confess, that today there is something oddly therapeutic about the whole sweating thing. Hmmmm....I'm afraid I may be crossing to a dark side for couch potatoes.

So, what's the 40 Day Lenten Challenge you may ask....well, I'll tell you - and if you didn't ask, I'll tell you regardless. Have you heard of Leslie Sansone? She does this walking in place fitness program. The mile version is pretty tame (although challenging when you are REALLY out of shape), but I have made a vow to do that each and every day for the season of Lent. (after Lent, we'll regroup and find something more tangible). I figured it's 40 days - some people fast for 40 days and it doesn't kill them, how can walking a mile and some days 2 miles kill me. My sister was inclined to agree with me, so here I am. Course, then again, it might be her training to just 'tell them what they want to hear'.

I have walked my LS mile for 5 days now and today will be the 6th day - after I stop sweating of course!

We'll talk about nutrition another day - but two words - Weight Watchers (online - guess that's three words).

If you are planning to come to the 2011 NAA Convention it is NEVER too late to start training for the 5K. Trying is the first step, whether or not we finish the race is the next, and how long it takes us or how pretty we look at the end is just garnishing! And if you are not coming to the convention, join me in getting fit. Getting fit together is half the fun.

From the garden
The Slug!

PS - this slug has made the scale go down by 4 pounds already and it's not been a full week yet of training. Official weigh in day is Wednesday!