It's More Than Just a Race

I'll officially be in a race again this year.  More to tell about that in a few moments.

Some run marathons to win.  Some run them to beat their pace record.  Some run them just to say that they did it.  Regardless of their reasons, anyone who completes a marathon deserves kudos for being inspiring.

When watching all of the news about the tragic bombing at the Boston Marathon yesterday, I felt a strong need to get back to a race.  I won't be doing a marathon, as I'm not marathon material.  Well... let me correct that by saying, there's no way I could run a marathon, but perhaps one day I'll walk one.

I walked two half-marathons in 2010 - the first in June near Boston with a couple co-workers, and the second in October in Newport, Rhode Island on my own (see linked blog posts).  Both were incredible experiences that made me feel so great about myself and others participating in the races.  You feel like you're part of something bigger than yourself. 

Training for a half-marathon does wonders for your health.  The consistent walking (or running or jogging) will certainly help you lose weight.  It's good for your cardiovascular system, and your energy and mood definitely is lifted. After my second half-marathon, I started running and participated in a local 5K in Bridgewater.  Regrettably, I didn't listen to my body and ran through some intense shin pain.  After seeing an orthopedic surgeon, I was told I should avoid ever running again.  That's easy for me to cope with as I hate running!  But I love brisk walking with a passion.  I've been inconsistent about walking since then - only walking about 3-4 miles once a month. 

But I've wanted to get back in the game over the last few months.  I just bought new sneakers a couple weeks ago, and the seed was planted for a return to a half-marathon in the fall, but I wasn't fully committed to it - not quite yet. 

I am inspired by those who ran the Boston Marathon.  By the people who supported the runners.  By those first responders to the scene after the bombings.  By the doctors and medical personnel treating all of those impacted.  By the Boston Police in their amazing response.  By counselors who are helping people cope with the trauma.  And by folks who are showing their support by dedicating their miles run and walked on this "Run for Boston" site started by a woman named Becca Obergefell (props to her for starting it).  I just contributed four miles this morning to the site.

Last night, I received all the motivation I needed to commit to a half-marathon.  I mean, what more motivation could you possibly need than the stories of human goodness coming out of the Boston Marathon? 

So I registered for the Maine Half-Marathon in Portland, Maine set for Sunday, October 6, 2013.  I chose this race because it's very walker-friendly and gives me a chance to see the city of Portland for the first time.  It also gives me a couple months to ease into a consistent walking routine, and then nearly three months to fully train for the half. 

Once I register for a race, I am COMMITTED.  So I knew I needed to register for the Maine Half-Marathon last night.  Every time I go for a walk, I'll be thinking about the people of the Boston Marathon.  And I'll be dedicating my walk in the Maine Half-Marathon to all of those inspiring people.

It's more than just a race.  It's a belief in humanity and the inherent goodness of people.

Oh, one more thing.  I love Boston.

Please Help Me Raise Money for the MDA!

Hi gang!

The reason for my blog today is to make a plea to you to help me raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association of southeastern Massachusetts.  The MDA provides support for children with muscular dystrophy and other neurological muscular disorders.  Last week, I received a phone call from Barrett's Alehouse asking me to participate in their Bridgewater Lock-Up to raise money for the MDA.  On June 22nd, I will be arrested and placed "behind bars for Good."  They have set my bail at $1600 - I know it is a stretch to make that, but I'd like to do my best!  I'm told if I don't meet bail, I'll still be released for good behavior... so don't worry TOO much.

Here is my game plan to raise money - now that I am out doing my brisk walks again (and will likely do another half-marathon in the early fall), I ask for you to pledge to donate for every mile that I walk between Saturday, May 21 and Sunday, June 19.  My personal goal is to reach 50 miles over the course of those 30 days.  You'll be helping to support Jerry's Kids, but I also offer you an incentive!

For every 25 cents per mile that you pledge, I will enter you into a drawing for a free meal at your favorite restaurant up to $25 with yours truly!  If you live far away and we won't be able to meet up, then I'll mail you a $25 gift certificate to your favorite restaurant.  If you pledge to donate 50 cents per mile, then I'll enter you twice in the drawing, and so forth.  So how's that sound? :-)  All you need to do is comment on this blog with your pledge, write on my Facebook wall, or send me a Tweet!  You can also me at mtgoodha@gmail.com.

Once June 19 rolls around, I will announce the drawing winner, and I'll let you all know my walking total and request your donation at my MDA Bridgewater Lock-Up personal page.  If you prefer to make an anonymous donation, you can still do so at my personal page noted above, any time you wish!

Feel free to share this post on your blog or in any form that you choose, too!

So are you willing to help me and Jerry's Kids out?  I hope so. :)

(p.s. - in case you're feeling skeptical about my walking total, I use RoadRunnerGPS on my walks and will post those on June 19th [until then, I'm going rogue with it]... so this is scientific! ) 

A Quick Little Update!

I thought I'm a little overdue for an update on all the walking and shin stuff, so here I am spreading the cheer on this Easter Sunday!

I've been in physical therapy for the last three weeks, and it's been great.  They started with flexibility and range of motion with my muscles and joints along my feet, ankles, and legs.  At the first appointment, they told me I was underdeveloped in just about everything which had surprised me a bit as I always thought I took good care of my legs.  But it's amazing how many muscles you don't really use effectively and how bad your posture can be without knowing it.

Last week they re-measured everything and found I improved in just about all aspects; my ankles' range of motion is now normal and even a little better than that.  They're continuing much of the flexibility exercises but now they've added balance and strength training, particular on my core.  I asked them what my core had to do with my shins, and it pretty much has everything to do with them.  By strengthening my core, I'll have more balance, improved posture, and I should find it's easier to speed walk and perhaps even run.

They've also been doing electro-stimulation of the muscles around my shins, and that's a cool experience.  Somehow it reduces the inflammation and in turn lessens the pain.  Inflammation and pain are cyclical with each other, so the goal is to put a stop to that cycle.

The weather today is terrific - sunny and 72 degrees around noon.  Though I'm really sleepy because of a busy night on duty as the RD on campus, I couldn't resist putting my sneakers on and going outside for a walk.  First I did some of the stretching exercises I learned, then I went out and briskly! walked 2.4 miles at a 14:09 min/mile pace.  That's pretty close to what I was doing at my first half marathon last June.  This was the first time I walked over two miles since February, and it was nice to do a true brisk walk.  The fantastic thing is I had no shin pain, with the exception of a little achiness after the 2 mile mark.  That's perfectly okay.

I felt like I was smiling ear-to-ear on my walk the whole time.  I genuinely feel elated at my progress.  I can sense the endorphins flowing today.  With the amount of stress and roller coaster emotions I've encountered in a variety of personal aspects the last few weeks, I think my return to brisk walking will finally put some balance back into my life.  In a figurative and literal sensitive, I'm working on strengthening my core.  Woot!

Clear Skies on the Horizon

I had my first physical therapy appointment today for my shin problems, and I'm ecstatic to say that I finally heard some clear explanations for the pain I've been experiencing and that there is definite hope for a full recovery within the next two months.  Before I go into all that, allow me to sidetrack for a bit first!

Firstly, my legs have been feeling better during the last several days and this time it seems to be sticking.  On Sunday afternoon, the weather was beautiful -- sunny and in the mid 50's.  I decided to go for a 30-minute casual walk along the Great Hill Trails on campus.  Breathing in the fresh air, experiencing the pleasant solitude in the woods, and having no leg pain was a combination that gave me great joy.  The soft ground provides some give for my shins.  I really feel like the trails will be my path to getting back to a routine that I so enjoy.

By the way, this Wednesday, April 6 is "National Start! Walking Day."  Check out the link for more details.  I think it's a great idea that the American Heart Association helps coordinate.  This Wednesday at Bridgewater State at 11:45am and 4:30pm, there will be planned walks for students, faculty, and staff on the Great Hill Trails starting behind the Tinsley Center.  I'm hoping to do the 4:30pm walk, time permitting.  Regardless, I love the timing of this event with what's going on for me personally.  Synchronicity in its prime beauty, I say.

During my physical therapy today, the therapist asked me a lot of great questions, and he thoroughly examined everything with my feet and legs.  For the first time, I felt like an expert was genuinely interested in my well-being, getting me on track, and really knew what he was talking about.  I learned I'm flat-footed but only on my left foot.  Many of the muscles in my legs, ankles, and feet need some flexibility training.  The joints in my ankles and feet were stiff, too.  All of these issues have been contributing to my problem.

So the next steps are five sessions of physical therapy over the next three weeks to stretch and strength muscles for my ankles, calves, hamstrings, and glutes.  I'll be getting some shoe insoles for the arches of my feet.  The therapist showed me exercises I can do at home, too.  They're also planning on doing an ultrasound of my shins -- not as a diagnosis tool, but as a way to "microwave" my shins to break up any bad stuff in there.  Literally, microwave was the term used.  Kinda crazy, huh?

My therapist told me I'm definitely in the final healing period for my shins, and with all of the exercises and advice he'll be giving me, he even told me that running should be in my future again.  Honestly, walking briskly is fine with me but if he can promise me I'll be able to run, that is fantastic news.  Within two months, I should be able to do intense distance walking again.

Though it was raining today, I can see there are most definitely clear skies on the horizon.  I have such a good hopeful feeling with this turn of events.

(Not) Born to Run

An update on my role in the world of jogging and walking is long overdue.  The last five weeks have been difficult for me in terms of exercise.  Now's a good time to finally share what's been happening.

The last time I jogged was on February 7th.  It was a 3 mile jog, and I was proud of myself for finally beating the 12 min/mile pace.  I really felt like I was making progress in transitioning from brisk walking to jogging.  But I was ignoring the sharp pains in my shins.  You're told to "run through the pain" and I did, proudly.  But I've now recognized you shouldn't run through sharp pain.  That's your body telling you, "Hey, I'm not just tired - I'm literally falling apart here, so you had better stop this."  On that last jog, I even sprinted and though the pain intensified (it felt like a knife was cutting along the front of my shins), I stuck with it.

For several days, the pain stuck around, but I started to think maybe jogging just wasn't for me.  So on February 13th, I went for a semi-brisk 3.2 mi walk.  Still ignoring my body's screams, I walked through the sharp pain.  After that walk, I finally listened and decided I would rest until the pain went away.

Except the pain didn't go away.  Week after week, the pain was in fact getting worse.  Simple walking, standing up, sitting down, sleeping - it didn't matter, the pain was there.  So I scheduled an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon.  Maybe this wasn't just your simple case of shin splints.  I was lucky that I only had to wait a week for the appointment, even as a new patient.

During the appointment on March 7th, the doctor did a physical examination of my shins, pushing here and there, asking if anything hurt.  At one point, I nearly yelped in pain and he immediately thought it was stress fractures.  A stress fracture is a small crack in your bone, though not as bad as a full fracture.  It is however an indication you're overdoing it.  So he sent me to have x-rays and a bone scan to confirm that diagnosis. 

The tests were done on March 10th.  The x-rays were straight-forward but I'd never had a bone scan before.  They injected a radioactive fluid into my bloodstream, then I waited three hours for the radioactive fluid to spread throughout my system.  Then they did the actual bone scan.  They strapped me down (literally) and told me I would need to lie completely still for thirty minutes as a machine overhead scanned my body.  It's not like an MRI where you're in a tube; in a bone scan, the machine is simply above you, albeit only a couple inches above you.  Apparently, a bone scan can see where your blood is flowing in greater amounts.  If it is flowing more than usual in a certain place, it likely means your body is in the process of healing itself in that location.  Hence, if you have a stress fracture, the bone scan will show a dark area in that location because the bone is healing.  The bone scan results are then compared with the x-rays.

When I returned to the doctor this morning, I really thought he'd tell me the bone scan confirmed stress fractures.  Instead he said, nope - it's definitely shin splints.  He showed me the x-rays and bone scan.  I find these fascinating, by the way.  The x-rays showed all was well with the bones in my legs.  But he pointed out the bone scan did show the shin splints at least.  There were clear dark areas along the sides of my shins, and he said it was a classic case of shin splints.  Granted, I do have severe shin splints, but now I kind of feel like I'm a wuss!  My pain tolerance must be lower than I thought.  The doctor said rest will cure shin splints, but he was concerned that the five weeks of rest I've had so far hadn't yet relieved the pain.

So, now he's recommending I get an MRI to get a closer look at the shin splint injury and see if there's any other factors at play here.  The MRI has yet to be scheduled, as they're waiting to hear from my insurance company for approval.  But at least the main diagnosis of shin splints is confirmed.

I will continue to rest my legs.  No brisk walking, and certainly no jogging.  The doctor said that perhaps, "jogging is just not your friend."  I'd agree.  All I really want to do is briskly walk - I enjoy walking, and I'm good at it.  Heck, I beat the 3 hour mark in a half marathon just walking, and I'm proud of that!  I'm just ready to get back to exercising.  I miss it all, and I can't wait to have it back in my routine.

The lesson here for me is that Bruce Springsteen's song "Born to Run" doesn't quite fit in my situation.  That's right, Bruce, you've got it wrong.  But you better believe that when I'm in good shape again and briskly walking, my iPod playlist will include that song out of pure spite!  Haha, it's good to have a goal.

I'll keep you all updated on what happens with the rest of my journey to full recovery.

Trying A New Work-Out

In an effort to expand my work-out routine from just jogging/walking, I went to a local sporting goods store today on the search for free weights and a kettlebell.  Admittedly, my original plan went astray.  I was a little overwhelmed by the selection there, and I decided that I'd go for something I'd never imagine myself purchasing.  An "As Seen on TV" work-out called KettleWorx.  It features cardio, core, and resistance routines on DVD using a light weight kettlebell.  They vary in weight from five to 20 pounds.  I thought kettlebells are supposed to be heavy, but these are not... well - so I thought until I actually did a work-out this afternoon.  This is designed to be done three times a week for 20 minutes each, over the course of six weeks.  First cardio, second core, and third resistance.  Then you repeat the next week, and supposedly it gets more intense over time.

I went with the ten pound kettlebell, but now I'm thinking a five pound weight probably would have been better for starting out.  The first routine is cardio (though it felt like strength training, too).  It consists of a warm-up, two sets of a variety of exercises, then a cooldown.  I honestly had to press the pause button after every couple of exercises, because I was either completely out of breath or shaking from muscle fatigue.  Yep, I might have to go back tomorrow and get the five pound weight.  I really enjoyed the cooldown period!  Ultimately, it took me about an hour instead of just 20 minutes and for that I'm a little ashamed although I did do the exercises. 

So on Monday, I'll move on to the "core" work-out.

Also, tomorrow - I plan on going for a brisk walk.  Something that has me slightly worried is that despite taking a very long break since my last jog (and sprint) on Monday, my shins are still bothering me.  Sometimes they ache, and sometimes they give me a little jabbing sharp pain.  I think I probably injured myself overdoing things.  But five days of no cardio (aside from the intense KettleWorx work-out) has been a little disheartening.  So a short two-mile brisk walk tomorrow is on the agenda.

Over and out.

Twelve Minutes

On Monday evening, I got in another three-mile work-out at the indoor track on campus which is really only a two-minute walk from my apartment - super-advantageous for when I'm walking in shorts and it's only 10 degrees outside.  I took pride in the fact that for the second time in a row, I was able to jog for a full mile without stopping or walking.  I jogged a little more throughout the three miles than I did on Saturday.  And this is all paying off because I beat my pace record and broke the 12-minute mark.  11'57"/mile average! 

It appears that during my mile-long jog, it took about 10-11 minutes.  My brisk walking pace is more like 13:30.  So it should figure that if I can gradually increase my stamina, I could jog for a longer period of time and keep on improving my time.  I'm also thinking about buying some weights to do some strength training at home.  Ever since I quit the gym a couple months ago, strength training went 'poof' and we simply can't have that!  Perhaps this weekend, I'll make a trip to a sporting goods store.  My federal tax return should help with that!

As much as I'm happy about my time last night, my shins are killing me.  I know I might have overdone it, and part of the problem might have been when I did a one-lap sprint.  A friend pointed out that I might be tensing up in my legs which could contribute to shin splints.  Reflecting back, I probably did tense up for that lap (plus there was sharp pain in my shins during that sprint).  But the rest of the jog felt pretty darn good - a little bit of shin pain then, but very tolerable.  Another factor is the track's surface might be a bit tough on the shins.  I might need to rest an extra day to give time to heal first.  A shin fracture from repeated stress without rest time would be bad news bears.

If you'd like to see a visual chart showing my work-out on Monday, have at it.  I love the Nike+ipod that I use for my indoor walks where GPS is not possible.  Here it is: http://go.nike.com/63etido

Oh yeah, and in case you're wondering, there was nothing whack on the track this time around. :-)

What's Whack on the Track?

It seems as though every time I go for a walk or jog on the indoor track on campus, I am bound to find someone who is doing something whack on the track.  It didn't happen as much in the spring and summer, but the winter seems to bring the strangeness out of people. 

It's been a week since I last ventured over there, and I had a really, really great workout - more on that in a moment!  But I thought I saw all the strange things until half-way into my jog today.

• A young woman, I think she was perhaps in high school - it'd be a stretch to say she might be a first-year student - came onto the track with a fake stuffed dog on wheels.  She starting "walking" this dog at a very, very slow pace - and of course, in the opposite direction.  As I slowed to a brisk walk, I tried to process it in my brain.  Was she training to walk a service dog? Nuh-uh.  If so, she failed, because one time, the dog fell over on its side and she dragged it like that for half a lap.  I should have asked her what she was doing... but I didn't.  Now unfortunately, I'll have no idea what that was all about.  But that was definitely whack.
• A couple weeks ago, a couple were casually jogging - and holding hands.  It was not enough for them to be enjoying a healthy public activity together - they had to make it romantic, too.  There are three lanes on the track, and they were of course right smack in the middle and taking up half of each of the inside/outside lanes.  As I was sprinting toward them and then asking them to move... nothing.  After maybe three seconds, they heard me and moved for me.  But that was... seriously... whack.
• The other thing I witnessed a few weeks ago was a man going in the opposite direction (why not?) doing ballet kinds of moves.  Perhaps he was a dance major - an aspiring movement artist.  Really the lesson is people need to pay attention to the directional sign and go with the flow of the rest of the crowd.  But I thought that was kind of whack.

That's enough of my sarcastic somewhat mean-spirited observations of people at the track.  I give everyone props who are there to truly get a good work-out and stay in shape.  But it's those outliers who don't really know what they're doing.  Or they just have an imaginative sense of humor and enjoy the strange looks from folks like me. :-)

Now for what was not whack on the track.  This morning, I jogged for the first time since my first 5K on December 5th.  And I was proud of myself today because I accomplished a feat not done since maybe P.E. class in middle school when the teacher forced you to jog like a drill sergeant would.  No, today - I finally jogged a full mile with no breaks and no walking!  And more than half of my 3 mile work-out today was jogging or sprinting.  It was my second best pace compared to the December 5K.  I did a 12'10" mile pace - total 36'27" in 3 miles.  I was a little disappointed I didn't beat my record pace, but I think this was pretty awesome considering the lapse in time since my last jog.

Regardless, I'm happy with today.  I think I could do this more often!

My First 5K!

After walking two half-marathons in June and October this year, I finally participated in my first 5K run/walk today!  I know... usually, one probably starts with a 5K, then a 10K, then works their way up to doing a half-marathon, but I'm always doing things the unconventional way. 

Today's 5K was the Crescent Classic 5K Run/Walk at Bridgewater State University where I work.  It was put on by Gamma Phi Beta, one of our sororities, whose members and alumni include some awesome people, such as my senior RA, my friend Erin at work, and several residents I know. The proceeds from the 5K went to Camp Fire USA, whose goal is to "build caring, confident youth and future leaders."

The difference for me doing a 5K was that I felt pressure from peers (and myself) to run a good part of the race.  I really hate running.  But it totally makes sense that for these shorter races, I should challenge myself more by running.  Three-mile brisk walks are routine for me now, and I'm not going to improve much more on my walking pace (my best walking pace so far was around 13:26 min/mile, I believe).  So I've been training (albeit less than regularly) over the last three weeks or so by jogging and walking in intervals each time I go out.  My shins and ankles are never happy with me whenever I do this.  But enough about the complaining!

Today's 5K was a hilly course on the campus.  I think I probably jogged and walked in equal amounts, which was the best I've done so far.  According to RoadRunnerGPS on my Blackberry (oh yeah, that was a wonderful new cell phone purchase that replaced that Samsung Restore I mentioned in a past blog), I ran 3.33 miles in 40:07 at a 12:03 pace.  That was a pace record for me.  I guess it was a bit more than a 5K at 3.33 miles, but it's better for it to be longer than shorter than the promised distance!

Check out what RoadRunnerGPS does - I love it! 

It was pretty cold outside today - the wind chill was 25 degrees.  I made some winter running/walking gear purchases a few weeks ago, though.  Gloves, a head band, a jacket, and a couple pairs of running tights.  I love the running tights.  Nothing says "I'm a man" more than when you're wearing these bad boys.  That's totally sarcasm, but it is amazing how well they work considering it's such a thin layer of fabric.  They do a great job keeping your body heat in once you get going.

Here are a couple photos (I can't claim credit for them, though; that'd be Maribeth who also works at BSU)!

At the finish line



Yeah, fancy pants! (and fellow friends, co-workers)

I'm sure I'll be participating in more 5Ks in the future.  But I really need to find another half-marathon to put on my schedule.  I'm ready for another long-distance WALK.  :)  And also nothing motivates you more to keep training frequently than a goal on the horizon.

Oh yes, and on a random note, completely unrelated to walking and running - I'm putting myself back onto the dating market again, effective this weekend.  I've been stalled out for far too long in the relationship arena.  It's time to go actively looking again for that special someone!  I'm looking forward to it!

Walking on Sunshine

There are precisely four "major" pieces of news in my life or of family and friends.  Three positives, and one slight downer (but less significant than the rest, so overall it's pretty darn good).  As I sip on a delicious venti soy mocha frappuccino from Starbucks, I'll start with the most obvious thing that is on the forefront of my mind that I've been training for since July!

Walking on Sunshine - Newport, RI Half-Marathon

Since July 21, I have been training for my second half-marathon in Newport, Rhode Island.  As you all know, I'm not a runner.  But I do push some mean brisk speed walking that has gradually improved since May.  I started out in May walking at about a 14:30 min/mile pace, and now I tend to walk at a 13:45 (or faster) min/mile pace.  I've adjusted my walking method by shortening my stride and speeding up my steps.  That's done wonders in reducing injuries.

Today's half marathon (a full marathon and relay race also took place), sponsored by Amica and United Health Care, began at 8:00am on a chilly, breezy, but sunny morning along the water in Newport, RI.  At the start of the race, it was about 48 degrees, though it warmed up to about 58 degrees or so by the end of race.  I wore shorts with a long-sleeve bright orange Saucony shirt and my relatively new Nike shoes.

Saturday afternoon I had picked up my race packet and bib (#2138) and stayed overnight at the Royal Plaza Hotel in Middletown, RI.  I had chicken parmigiana for dinner at the hotel restaurant.  My stomach sadly was bothering me (what's new, though, huh?), and so some Pepto Bismol came in handy that night and on the morning of the half-marathon.  I had my clothes laid out for the morning, and for breakfast I had an oatmeal bar and half of a banana.  I drove the three miles to the Newport Grand casino parking lot which took about 30 minutes due to all the traffic, and I then took one of the shuttle buses which got me to the starting area at 7:45am.  Lines for the porta-potties at the starting area were absurd, but I wasn't about to deny my body's needs, so I actually didn't start the race until 8:10am (along with about 500 other late-starters).

And now we get to the race!  Initially, everyone was darting past me as the other walkers already started, and the late runners were kicking into high-gear right off the bat.  I decided I wasn't going to take things slow, and I immediately started at my usual 13:30-14:00 min/mile pace.  Thankful to get blood rushing through my limbs after standing around for so long in the chilly air, I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I reached the first mile mark.  And the second mile mark.  Before I knew it, I was at mile 5 and feeling terrific.  Around mile 6.5, I reached Ocean Drive for the gorgeous ocean views (this was the stretch that I practiced walking the Sunday a week prior).  I found I was finally passing some slower joggers and walkers now, which strangely motivated me to walk even faster.  Some tiredness kicked in around mile 8, but nothing too bad.  At mile 9, I "ate" a GU gel pack, which boosted my energy levels.  Seeing the mile 10 post was a rewarding signal that I was getting closer to the finish line, and it also coincided with a beautiful walk through the historic mansion district - extravagant multi-million dollar mansions with tall iron gates.  Mile 12 was a blessing - the rest of the course was truly downhill, which was a joy compared to my last half-marathon in June when we were unfairly burdened with a steep uphill final climb.  Some subtle tears starting welling up in my eyes, and for the last 100 yards, I jogged the rest of the way.

Final Time: 2:57:27 at a 13:33 pace!  My goal was to beat the three hour mark, and I was thrilled to have succeeded in meeting that goal.  In fact, it was my third best pace for any of my walks, and I felt great about that!  I had walked my June half-marathon in 3:15:07 at a 14:53 pace, so the combination of a flatter course and an improved walking style definitely made a big impact.  During today's race, everything seemed to work out perfectly for me - I couldn't have asked for better results, honestly.  I don't have any photos of me yet as I did this race on my own, but I'll likely purchase the professional finish line photo of me, though, when it comes out.

I sure do feel sore in my legs and ankles, but thankfully this time around, I appear to have avoided any significant blisters or black toenails.  Well fitting shoes and a good walking style make a difference!

Today, like 2,505 other half-marathoners and 1,006 full marathoners in Newport, I truly felt like I accomplished something.

Provided marathon long-sleeve shirt, race bib, and finisher's medal

Oh, and here's a taste of some of the music new to my playlist that kept me motivated during the race:

"Alive" by Pearl Jam
"Firestarter" by The Prodigy
"King of Anything" by Sara Bareilles
"My Sharona" by The Knack
"Defeat You" by Smashmouth
"Peaches" by Presidents of the United States
"Time Bomb" by Rancid
"Pas de Cheval" by Panic at the Disco
and of course...
"Walking on Sunshine" by Katrina and the Waves

A Congratulations Announcement to My Best Friend

My best friend Marcus, a great guy who I met in college during the very first day of classes my freshman year, is now a father!  He and his wife just had a baby (their first) last night at 10pm, and I am so excited for them!  I can't wait to visit them - and my new "niece" Sunny Marie - hopefully in November!  I really wish I was there in Virginia right now to see them!  Congrats Marcus and Kathy!

A House in the Outer Banks?!

My parents informed me tonight that they've put an offer on a house in Kill Devil Hills of the Outer Banks in North Carolina.  As you might know, my parents, uncle, and I have stayed at different rental condos every year in the Outer Banks since I was much younger.  Recently my parents decided they wanted to scope out houses down there so that we could have a "holiday" place to stay at that we own.  It appears they've made a big step toward doing so!  I looked up everything about the place, and it seems amazing!  I hope the offer is accepted - although regardless my parents said if it doesn't, there are a few other houses they have their eyes set on.  Gone would be the standard September vacations that tend to stress me out since they're always just after we open the residence halls at work.  Fingers crossed, pretty soon we'll be able to go down there any time we choose at our very own place!

And the Sad News... Farewell to Sergeant Pepper

I bought three molly fish in late August - Champ, Wiseguy, and Sergeant Pepper.  Sgt. Pepper was a dalmation molly fish who has probably had about 50 babies since I bought her.  In fact, just a week ago, she gave birth to another batch of fish fry - and they appear to all be black mollies, which surprised me, considering all the other babies have all been dalmations, too.  Well, over the last few days, Sgt. Pepper hadn't been looking too good.  I went to the pet store on Friday afternoon to see if there was anything I could do for her, but there really wasn't.  I think her last pregnancy (her fourth since August, the frequency of which is very common for mollies) was just too much for her.  When I came back from Newport this afternoon, she was no longer alive.  She brought a lot of new life into the world, though!  I know it sounds silly to be sad for a fish, but hey... a life is a life.  Farewell, Sergeant Pepper!


Rest in peace, Sergeant Pepper!

Walking Update!

Forrest Gump once said, "Those must be comfortable shoes.  I bet you could walk all day in shoes like that and not feel a thing."

Well, I don't think I could walk all day in any shoes and not feel a thing.  But I know I was not feeling comfortable in my Brooks size 10 sneakers.  Too often, I have been getting blisters and black toe nails.  I'm sure the sneakers were fine, but they didn't fit right for me.  So, based on a recommendation from a friend from work, I stepped into Marathon Sports in Norwell, MA this afternoon aiming to find a pair of new sneakers!

The guy who helped fit me did a great job.  I'm a strange bird when it comes to sizing for shoes because I've been gifted with a significant shoe size difference among my feet - size 10 for my left foot... size 8.5 for my right foot.  It makes life difficult finding the right pair of shoes.  There are some deals out there for "mixed pair" shoes, but the guy at Marathon Sports told me he could find me the right pair of shoes without that hassle.  After the fitting routine, I ended up with the Nike Air Zoom Structure Triax +11 shoes, in a size 10.5.  I think the slightly larger shoes will help cut down on the issue of black toenails and blisters.

I splurged at the store a bit.  Thanks to the rave review I've heard from my friend Erin, I decided to get the Nike + iPod Sport Kit.  It's like a fancy high-tech pedometer that hooks up to your iPod.  A sensor goes into a specially designed pit in the inside sole of my new Nike sneakers.  Then I connect a small "receiver" into my iPod nano that detects the sensor as I walk.  Now my iPod actually talks to me as I'm walking, telling me how I'm doing in terms of distance, time, and pace.  It's not the annoying GPS voice, but a pleasant motivating voice.  Then at the end of the walk, the results are analyzed and put into a cool chart on my computer.  Pretty awesome!  If you follow me on Facebook, you'll probably start seeing all the crazy data it spits out onto my profile.

Also, if you're a walker (or a runner), don't you hate all the stuff in your pockets bouncing around?  I know I hate it - especially my cell phone!  I purchased an Amphipod Micropack Satellite that clamps onto the waistband of my pants/shorts.  Plenty of space for the phone, keys, and ID.  And the last thing I got was a long-sleeve bright orange "wicking" shirt.  All the shirts I have for walking are short-sleeve.  The weather's getting cooler, so soon I'll need a good long-sleeve shirt designed for all that sweating! (eww)

I walked four miles this afternoon with everything above (except for the long sleeve shirt), tested it all out, and I loved it!  Can you believe I'm now just about three weeks away from my UnitedHealthCare half marathon in Newport, RI on October 17th?  Oh, I can't... so pumped for it!  Check out the course map. Training-wise, this Sunday is my weekly long-distance walk, and it's the longest one - 10.5 miles (hey, that matches my shoe size!).  From Sunday on, the tapering begins - shorter training distances.

Stay tuned.

North Carolina Vacation

Every year in September, my parents, my uncle, and I have a family vacation in the Outer Banks of North Carolina for a week.  I usually get stressed out each year because the vacation comes just a couple weeks after we open the residence halls where I work, but this year I let all that stress go.  It was a wonderful and restful week at the ocean in Duck, NC.  We did some sightseeing of places we haven't been to before, and I got in few pictures, of course!

Firstly, if you're not familiar with the Outer Banks, it has a lot of history.  It's a thin stretch of islands extending north and south over about 200 miles, on the eastern coast of North Carolina.  There were a lot of shipwrecks off the coast there due to the shallow ocean waters.  There are a few major tourist areas like Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills (where the Wright Brothers took the first flight in 1903), but compared to many other ocean communities on the east coast, the Outer Banks are overall a fairly quiet place. 
 

One of the first things we did was drive down to Cape Hatteras.  It's about 1.5 to 2 hours south of Duck, and we had never been that far south before on the Outer Banks.  I was really excited to see and climb the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.  It was originally built in 1803 but was later destroyed due to erosion and the Civil War.  They built another one, which stands there today, in 1870.  It's the tallest lighthouse in North America - 12 stories tall.  The park ranger at the entrance informed us that when the light was run on kerosene, the lighthouse keeper had to carry a couple of 5 gallon containers of kerosene up to the top three to four times a day.  Whew - that sounds like tough work!  I climbed the stairs to the top and felt a bit woozy, so I can only imagine carrying around 100 pounds of weight several times daily to the top.  The view after that climb was gorgeous, especially due to the beautiful sunny 85 degree weather.  The national seashore was visible as far as the eye could see.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

Close-up of Cape Hatteras Lighthouse



Cape Hatteras National Seashore



Woozy me at the top of the lighthouse!



On the same day we had lunch in Wanchese, a small alcohol-free (dry) town due to its religious roots, according to my uncle.  There's a great little restaurant there called Fisherman's Wharf, and I thought the painted mural on the side of the restaurant was cool - "Come and Dine," reads a little banner held up in the air by a couple birds.  You can definitely see the religious impressions in the painting.

Fisherman's Wharf Restaurant

"Come and Dine" mural at Fisherman's Wharf

Late in the week on a Friday, we drove up to Carova Beach, which is the northern most point of the North Carolina coastline.  If you've never heard of it, it has some unique qualities that distinquish it from just about any other town in the whole United States.  Carova Beach doesn't have a single paved road.  It's all sand.  And you won't find any roads that lead to it (Carova Beach, therefore, has no connection to Rome... haha).  You can't get there from Virginia's coastline - there's a "roadblock."  Nope - the only way you can travel to Carova Beach is via twelve miles of ocean beach.  My father has a truck with four wheel drive, so that's how we did it.  It's not the easiest task - you pretty much need to time your drive so that it's as close as possible to low tide - in order to go over the sand when it's wet and flat.  We timed it well driving to Carova Beach, but leaving it was much more difficult as it was closer to high tide.  According to a local real estate agent we met there (Twiddy Real Estate), there are perhaps about 120 year-round residents at Carova.  You won't find any businesses or stores in "town" other than the real estate office.  They have a fire department - that's it in terms of immediate local services.

On the beach near Carova

Ocean View from the truck on the beach

The best part of the trip to Carova Beach in my opinion was the wild horses.  The wild horses, supposedly about 60-80 of them, travel in small groups near Carova Beach and Currituck.  We were lucky to see a few of them hanging out near a couple different houses, but even better when we caught a great glimpse of them on the beach.  There, they seemed to be surrounded by people and vehicles.  A local official seemed to be trying to move people away from the horses to give them some space.  It's illegal for anyone to feed the horses or approach them within 50 feet or so.  We happened to be driving back to Duck along the beach at the time, but I managed to get a few quick photographs of them.  Beautiful creatures!



Wild Horses at Carova Beach



Most of the time while in the Outer Banks, I was reading.  Since my staff chose to go with a Harry Potter theme to the decorations of the Student Apartments where I work, I felt I should read the Harry Potter books.  When I saw one of the RAs' decorations - a key with wings - I was clueless as to its meaning.  Back when all the books were originally coming out, I practically boycotted them due to their popularity and young adult focus.  But now I can certainly see why people love the books.  I'm addicted to them.  I read books 3 (Prisoner of Azkaban) and 4 (Goblet of Fire) in that week-long vacation.  The book series start off so innocent and child-like, but they get darker and more complex as the series progresses.  I'm presently on book 5 now (The Order of the Phoenix).

I also got a few walks in during vacation - two four-mile walks and an eight-mile walk.  Still training for the half marathon!  (more on that in another blog later this week)  On the first four-mile walk, a deer had darted across my path only about ten feet ahead of me (amazing sight, I must say).  On the second four-mile walk, a sneaky little snake had slithered in front of me on the sidewalk.  I think it was a garden snake but I didn't get a close look at it since they frighten the heck out of me.  The eight-mile walk was exceptionally exhausting.  I was glad to do them all though, and the Outer Banks scenery made them all the more enjoyable.

Alright, I'm signing off for the night.  I'll be walking first thing tomorrow morning!

Bring It!

I am so excited that I've registered to walk the UnitedHealthcare Half Marathon in Newport, Rhode Island at 8am on Sunday, October 17, 2010.  I officially began my training on July 21.  This time, I'm able to adhere to the recommended time frame of training (I've read that 12-16 weeks is standard) over the course of 13 weeks.  It's essentially 3 miles twice a week on Wednesdays and Fridays, cross-training twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays, and a gradually increasing long-distance walk once a week on Sundays.  Tuesdays and Saturdays are my rest days.  In a couple weeks, the bi-weekly 3 miles will increase to 4 miles.

Today I was only two seconds shy of breaking my pace record of 13 minutes 39 seconds per mile - SO close!  Thus far, I'm happy to say I've had no pain anywhere in my body - unlike for the last half marathon when sore knees and shin splints were very common during my training.  I've done the necessary stretching before and after every walk, and I've chosen not to jog this time around - at least for now.  So these could all be contributing factors to my pain-free training.  From my last half marathon, the blister I got on the bottom of my foot finally healed after three weeks.  Actually, it's technically still there and occasionally gets a little irritated, but it's generally good.  My two black toenails are still quite black, and I expect I will lose both nails eventually - perhaps in another month or so. 

I think the biggest challenge for my training will be the fact that with my job we'll be in the middle of Resident Assistant staff training mid-to-late August and then we're opening the residence halls in late August/early September (hard to believe we're one month away exactly from the day that our halls open to first-year students).  It's going to be a very busy schedule with long days, and there may be some mornings or late evenings where I won't want to walk.  But I will walk!  It's a good feeling to walk on a regular basis, and I've found my energy level is usually higher on those days that I walk (long-distance walk days the exception; I'm exhausted those days, and that's legitimately going to be a bit of a concern). 

A little more about the half marathon: The UnitedHealthcare Half Marathon is actually part of the Amica Marathon - same day and location.  The marathon was ranked as the 4th best marathon in the country last year.  The half marathon route is almost entirely along the water, which is AWESOME.  :)  Though somewhat hilly, it's nowhere near as steep as my last half marathon in the Blue Hills Reservation.  Plus, Newport is just a beautiful area.  So I'm pumped.

P.S. - I've lost 10 pounds since early May.  That's a good thing.  Now I'd like for my body to stop losing the weight and stay steady.  A semi-sincere apology to those who are upset that I have this dilemma. 

I'll keep you updated on all the training. :)

When's the Next Race?

How is it that I have already become a distance walking addict?

Here I am, two days after a fantastic half marathon.  I'm anxious to get out and do that again!  I'm actually pretty happy today with how I'm physically feeling.  Already, my legs feel better and aren't giving me any grief.  The only thing that's stopping me from doing a 3 mile walk is an unpleasant blister on my foot (eww).  Guaranteed, when that's healed, I'll be out there once more!

I have to remind myself that it was the motivation and encouragement of my co-worker friends that greatly contributed to making that half marathon so enjoyable.  As with anything, having a support system can go a long way.  It was great to share and hear about the training updates and stories.  And they did wonderfully themselves in the 13.1 race - I was very happy for them!  And I admire anyone who can run an entire race.  Me?  I'm much more comfortable walking!  But it's still an accomplishment.  We're already talking about doing another half marathon and some smaller races, expanding the fun to others in our office.  It makes me incredibly thankful.  Shared experiences make life much more satisfying and energizing.

Although less critical to the training and the half marathon, music was also an important motivational piece.  I decided against posting my playlist of 49 songs from start to finish.  That's a lot to type, and some of the music was slower for the beginning of the half marathon, which pretty much was just ear candy for me!

Instead, here are my "Top Ten" songs on my playlist that put an extra spark to my steps!

10. Kelly Clarkson - "Walk Away"
9. Genesis - "Land of Confusion"
8. Coolio - "Sumpin New"
7. Survivor - "Eye of the Tiger"
6. Moxy Fruvous - "Psycho Killer" (don't try to match the insane tempo at the end, though!)
5. Huey Lewis & The News - "Back in Time"
4. The Beatles - "Get Back"
3. Bush - "Machine Head"
2. The Wiseguys - "Start the Commotion"
1. Dropkick Murphys - "I'm Shipping Up To Boston" (LOVE this!!!)

Peace out for now!

First Things First - A (Long) Blog and a Half-Marathon

It seems like everyone is starting their own personal diary blog.  Of course, I already started a blog on my family genealogy.  But there's something to be said about writing about your daily personal life.  I love reading old diaries and letters of my ancestors (and even of other people throughout history).  A spotlight shines on one's personality and soul when in the form of a diary.  So I aim now to do the same, albeit publicly!

The inspiration for this blog came from my recent participation in my first half marathon.  I wanted to write about it, but it didn't fit in my genealogy blog.  Sharing my thoughts on Facebook is limited only to those who use it and know me, so I decided I'd start a personal blog for all to see.  So without further delay, my first topic!

The 13.1 Boston Half Marathon (Benefiting the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation)

Over the last year and a half, I've been gradually developing a healthier lifestyle.  Eating better and going to the gym were my main paths on that journey.  Then around April 2010, three of my co-worker friends, Erin, Amanda, and Courtney, chose to participate in a local half marathon (just 30 minutes north of where I live in Bridgewater).  The inaugural 13.1 Boston Marathon was to take place in Milton/Canton, Mass. in the Blue Hills Reservation on Sunday, June 27, 2010.

Its charity was to benefit the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America.  The charity sparked my attention because I was born with a congenital intestinal defect that required multiple surgeries as a baby (and still affects me physically and at times emotionally to this day).  I feel a certain kinship to those with Crohn's disease and colitis, as many of the troubling symptoms are similar to my own.  I initially debated on simply financially supporting the charity and cheering on my co-workers.  I thought, "No way could I participate in a half marathon, especially with only about nine weeks notice."  After all, the furthest I had ever walked was about 3 miles.  I had never participated in any race before (not even a 5k!).  However, the more I considered the idea, the more it grew on me.  I also had this misconception that you have to run in a half marathon.  You DON'T!  You can walk it, albeit briskly.  So I decided to take on the physically and spiritually rewarding challenge: train to walk 13.1 miles in a half marathon benefiting those with similar issues as myself.

So on May 6, 2010, I put forward the $55 for the registration fee.  That was Step One.  Committing myself to the half marathon was the best way to earnestly start training.  I had about eight weeks to prepare, which was less than what most training programs recommended, but being a young 30 years of age and relatively fit, I knew I could do this.

Pre-training, I tended to walk a 16 minute mile (coincidentally also the minimum time necessary for the half marathon), but my goal was to average a 14 minute mile, mainly to give me some cushion time for any rest/restroom breaks I might need during the race.  The plan, over the eight weeks, was to walk between two to four miles three days a week.  Additionally, one day a week was dedicated as a "long distance" day, where I would gradually work my way up from four miles to a distance closer to the half marathon.

I invested in some good sneakers, the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 10 (here's a review).  I purchased three pairs of Feetures socks which are really supportive, contour the feet, and prevent blisters.  I also bought myself a couple polyester shirts and shorts (Reebok Playdry), and a nice visor hat for protection from the sun.  A Nathan Quickdraw Plus water bottle also was on the purchase list. Yes, I spent just over $200 on all of this, but the long-term investment is worth it, I think!

I also found a great web site called MapMyFitness that helps you map out walking/running routes.  It gives you the total distance and an elevation chart for your route.  This was immensely helpful in preparing for the half marathon, which is extremely hilly (more on that later).

So how did my training go?  For the most part, it went pretty well.  I did experience quite a few issues with shin splints, muscle cramps, and knee pain.  When I look back on this, I think it was a natural part of my walking progression.  However, the knee pain did sideline me from training around week six.  That was unfortunate, since that was when I was supposed to hit my maximum ten miles distance day.  Ultimately, eight miles was my longest distance day.  The week before the half marathon, I practiced six miles on the steepest section of the marathon course, just to familiarize myself with the course (this proved helpful in terms of training but also just relieving some of my anxiety and nervousness).  Then I walked a couple days that week - short and slower 2 mile stints.  I relaxed the two days before the half marathon.

On the day before the race, I picked up my race packet which included an official commemorative shirt, race bib with my first name and number (#1549!), gear check tag which I ended up not needing, and a chip tag (the electronic chip inside was "sensed" at the start and finish line of the course to measure my time).

The night before the race, I didn't do the typical carb-loading dinner, though I did have a big bowl of oatmeal!  I set up everything that night so it would be ready in the morning (pinned the race bib onto one of my Reebok shirts and strapped the chip to my sneakers).  I had a lot of trouble sleeping that night due to my excitement and anxiety.  Thank goodness I slept ten hours the night prior.  I woke up at 3:15am (the race was at 6:13am) and had a small bowl of oatmeal - I was feeling nauseous from my nerves so I kept it small for breakfast.  From there I picked up two of my co-workers Amanda and Erin, and we drove to the site of the half marathon!

Aside from the humidity, the weather couldn't have been better.  Upper 60's, partly cloudy, and no rain!  We got there at 5:30am.  Restroom break in the porta potty.  Met up with some different folks that my co-workers knew.  Before I knew it, it was 6:13am!  I took my place toward the back of the pack since I was walking.  Over 4100 people were registered (over 2600 finished).  A woman beautifully sang "The Star-Spangled Banner," which nearly brought tears to my eyes as it was an emotional and intense moment of anticipation before the race.  And woah, the race began!  Four minutes later, I crossed the starting line.  I set my stopwatch at that point so I'd know how I was doing throughout the race since I was delayed compared to the official clock time.

I walked at a slow 16 minute pace for the first mile and a half to warm up.  Just took in the wonderful feeling of the moment.  I couldn't believe I was finally doing this!  At mile 3.5 and again at mile 5.5, I saw Amanda (she's a fast runner) coming the opposite direction (it was out and back on that section) who cheered me on.  Gave her a high-five the second time around.  The course was beautiful - mostly wooded and in the shade.  Around mile 7.5, I started to feel my energy dipping a bit (after all, eight miles was my longest distance during my training) but I still felt strong.  A few minutes before mile 9.5 when the long 2 mile steep hill began, I consumed a GU gel to provide some needed carbs/energy in preparation for the final haul.  While the steep climb was exhausting, I actually walked my best pace there (about 14 min/mi).  It was a great feeling briskly walking past other walkers who were slowing down at that point.  When I reached the summit of that hill, the worst was over.  I was almost there to the finish line!  At mile 12, I called Amanda and Erin to let them know I was nearly there (they were done way before me since they were both running).  About 100 feet before the finish, I stepped on the gas and sprinted the rest of the way for the sake of pure dramatic imagery.

My official time: 3 hrs 15 mins 7 secs!  I was happy - thrilled that I finished it!  I saw my co-workers and their friends after the race, and I got my medal.  During my drive home, I began to feel the pains from the race.  Ultimately, I had two black toenails, a blister under my right foot, and pains in my calves and knees.  But I consider these ritual marks of battle!  No pain, no gain.

Nearly 36 hours after the half marathon, I'm still in awe over what I accomplished.  I plan on walking a half marathon again - perhaps jogging some of it next time and beating the 3 hour mark.  I've definitely started a new healthy habit: daily walking.  I plan on walking 3-4 miles every other day for as long as I physically can in my life (that hopefully should be another 40 years or so).

And so... that marks the end of my first half marathon - and my first personal blog entry (kind of a novel, huh?).  If you read all of this post, you deserve an award!

Tomorrow... I'll post my iPod playlist from the half marathon!