First Five Miles

I did a short, quick five miles this morning. A test to see how the toe would do. It did okay, I'm glad I didn't push for a longer walk. It felt good, though, to get out there! The boob crew is planning a mini reunion tomorrow morning with a five miler...but I'm a fair weather walker! It's not training season, so if it rains harder than a sprinkle, I'm skipping and just walking with "Leslie"!

The First Step

I signed up to train with the West Coast Road Runners for the San Diego Rock N Roll Marathon next June!

Did I really just do that?!

I'll sign up for the marathon itself on the 13th...there's a discount for signing up on the 13th of each month...if I remember correctly, it's in celebration of the 13th anniversary of the marathon (or something like that!).

Wow, I've wanted to walk a marathon for at least a year...so now it's time to start making that desire a reality.

I wonder how early I'll be getting up on Saturdays now?!

"The Toe"

I've gotten my first toe nail blister and really, the first black & blue toenail (hitting a rock with my toe while hiking last year doesn't count!). The offended toe is my "piggy" toe on my right foot. It has a funky callous that sometimes bothers me so I wasn't worried when it started bothering me towards the end of day 2. Hah, that wasn't a fun surprise to find when I started peeling off my socks and bandaids after Day 2! The blister wraps around from under my toe to all around the top of my nail bed, pushing the whole nail forward. It definitely threw off my gait on Day 3 for the ten miles that I walked on it and I ended up with pretty sore hamstring and calf muscles on my left leg (probably from overcompensating). It also looks like I've got a bruise under my big toe on the right foot, probably from all the pressure of trying to not put any weight on the baby toe as I walked.

My doc diagnosed it as an "infected ulcer" so he instructed me to keep the toe from touching it's neighboring toe (so the infection wouldn't spread). Which has meant that I have kept a gauze pad stuffed between the two toes, thus requiring me to wear flip flops to work. Not something my boss was thrilled about in our business casual attire office. It has taken about a week but the baby toe is finally sporting a nice purple shade.

I really want to start walking again but for now, am working out with non-shoe activities. It'd been a while since I'd done my Yoga Booty Ballet DVD--it was fun but I miss my walking shoes! If you are brave, check out the pics below!

My toe on Saturday night--Day 2 of the 3 Day


The Toe a week later

Thoughts on Three Day #2

Kim J., who walked with Laura and I last year, made it to Souplantation the night before the 3 day. It was great to re-connect with her, as I hadn't actually seen her since last year's 3 day! She is planning to walk the 3 day again in 2010 and asked that I share with her, once 2009's 3 day was over, what my insights were on doing walk it again.

Honestly, I think it was better the second time!

The first walk was absolutely fantastic but it wasn't in anyway anti-climatic to do it again. In some ways, it was easier as I knew what to expect...it was nice to simply know the route for one! But while the "high" of the second walk wasn't quite as high as the first, it just went deeper. It was so meaningful to experience 2009 with the Boob Crew. I loved sharing all of the training and then the actual walk with them. Coming across the finish line and then cheering each other on was one of the highlights of the entire experience.

Not all of the same things that made 2009 so special didn't happen in the same way. I didn't see all of my favorite cheerleaders as often. The cops weren't quite as fun as they were last year. And the constant lines at the portapots on Day 1 were beyond frustrating. But there were so many more cheerleaders out there, it was INCREDIBLE! Their energy was so contagious and they were so much fun. Their signs, their costumes, their dogs, their coffee and snacks...and I have to mention, their beer and tequila shots. There didn't seem to be as many 3 day walkers out there on the course, but they all seem to have shown up on the sidelines.

In all honesty, I can't wait to do it again, again! 2010 here I come!

Team Jil Carb Loads at Souplantation!

The night before the 3 day, Team Jil got together one more time...to carb load at Souplantation. It was great to finally see Kim! I brought some posterboard and pens so that people could make signs. Got to love what Wendy and Steve came up with!

Yay, it's Kim live!


The gang hanging out at SP


"Put Your Boobs to Work!"

Last Walk to Pat & Oscars

We got together the Tuesday before the 3 day to thank Bekki for all that she does for us. It's like a second job with all of the efforts she goes through but not one she gets paid for! Not only does she know how to train us for the walk, she spoils us with snacks and drinks and awesome cheerleading along the way. Three cheers for the amazing Boob Camp Bekki! We love you, Bek!

The infamous Bekki!


Tim just trained with us for the exercise...hence the nickname, "Walker Stalker"


With my gf Melissa...oh she cracks me up!


The boob crew! See you guys at the 3 day!

Early Thanksgiving...Planting Ideas

I was invited to an early Thanksgiving with a good high school friend's family. It was so much fun to hang out and I also got to see Shayna's pictures from her 50 miler at Oil Creek in PA. That got us talking about endurance events. I've been wanting to walk a marathon for the challenge of working on my MPH. Shayna's running group has a twelve hour event coming up in December...a chance to walk 26.2 miles without the pressure of a time limit like there will be at an event like the Rock N Roll Marathon that is coming up next June. (The San Diego RNR has a seven hour time limit.) I'm definitely going to check out the Big Cat Challenge!

With my ultra chick gf Shayna!