January Blues

January was a difficult month and I just had to resolve that my new year needed a "do over." So I declared February 1 the second start of 2010! It's going well, though my eating habits have NOT improved. For inspiration to get back in shape, I joined "Being Fit" gym in Mira Mesa. I just need more cardio in my life! While working out at home is usually something I enjoy, I just feel too worn out after work to...workout. I figure as long as I can make it to the gym immediately after work, I have a better chance of getting my work out done. Now if I could just resist those Little Debbie Swiss rolls!

All Red in the Face

Despite my nerves, the new training crew seems like it will be great. We did a three mile timed walk/run for the runners sake, so they'd see what pace group they fall in. Each pace group is named for a city that a well-known marathon is run in. I'm in the LA group, 14 minute and up pace. I can usually do a 16:15 if I put thought into it but I ended up with a 16:45 average. That includes my warm up mile (after sitting on the cold asphalt for an hour for orientation), so I can live with it for now!

The morning didn't really go as I thought it would be. I thought we'd do the walk/run BEFORE orientation and for some reason, I thought that the walkers were just doing a mile. So I didn't go completely prepared for the morning. Meaning, I went sans my ball cap, sunglasses and sunscreen. Ugh, on that last mile, I could feel the morning sun beating down on my face. I took so many rounds of an antibiotic that causes sun sensitivity, before my sinus surgery that the meds affected my skin's tolerance to the sun. I can burn even at 10:00 AM on a January morning, so I was a bit worried at how RED my face was when I got back to my car. I think I lucked out, my skin tone seems back to normal, but I really need to be more careful! It goes to show that going overprepared for what you think you are up for in a new situation isn't a bad idea.

I'm curious to see how things go with this group, but over all, my first impression is very good! I also will get a chance to see my Boob crew friends tomorrow...I don't think another group will be able to take their place!

Back in Training...Again

It's time to get blogging again! It's been nice to take some time off and just chill but the RNR marathon training group meets tomorrow for the first time and RNR training officially begins! I am actually a little nervous. Like the new school year is starting and I'm the new kid in town. I realize that most people won't know each other either, but I'm afraid they will kind of laugh at my desire to walk it...not run it.

In all honesty, half-marathoners, marathoners and ultra'ers (that's a made up word for people who do ultra marathons) have always treated me with respect. It's that whole, 'you get up and do it again and then do it all again a third time' deal that gets them. So why the apprehension?

Maybe it's my own nerves. When I first signed up for the 3 day, I never doubted my ability to be able to train up to a 3 day. There's a certain power that comes with a 12 hour limit (about the time that the sun shines during the day in November...the 3 day pretty much goes from sun up to sun down). But now I've got this seven hour deadline hanging over me. I mean, if I don't end up being able to do it, so be it. I guess it's just back to that "acceptance" I hope to find with with other people who are training for it, too.

Well, if some of them are as nervous as I am, I guess it will all work out. But training season means early to bed, early to rise. So it's time I turn in. Yikes! Wish me well for my 1st training walk tomorrow!

Boob Crew Mini-Reunion!

About eight to ten of us got together to walk and then eat at Denny's on Sunday morning...an easy, flat five miles...we needed our breath to be able to talk and catch up on the past two weeks. Considering we've spent three to four days together a week for five months, two weeks is a long time to go without walking and talking face to face with one another! Some of the crew skipped the five miles and just walked straight into Denny's for breakfast and few more joined us after the walk. In spandex or jeans, it was just so good to see faces and catch up on each other's lives.

The toe is doing okay, at least it looked better after the walk than it did after Saturday's walk! I was most relieved that the rain did not hit until many hours after the walk! Hey, it's not training season! I'm not walking in the rain just for the fun of it!

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