1143.3 Miles

(5.1 outdoors since Monday)

We have reached the Northern edge of eastern South Undeep.

 I'll admit that I've not been listening to the book lately. As soon as I get a few things done enough for me to skim through it, I will certainly catch up on more details of the journey.

In the meantime, I'll catch up on the journey of the road. This week I didn't get as many miles as I was supposed to. Part of that was my own fault for not following the maps a little better. I'd planned to attend a 5 mile hike yesterday but didn't turn when I was supposed to which had me drive quite a bit out of my way. Sadly, by the time I realized this, the group was already beginning the hike and I was more than 20 minutes away.

Still, I have to say that I'm really happy with how the run on Friday went. April and I went to Carrier Park (lots of runners, walkers, bikers, and roller-skaters go there, too). I knew that I needed to reach at least 3 miles that day (I have a goal to run 5k in less than 37 minutes by the first weekend in November) and that's not far from now. Well, April kept encouraging me to keep running (slow pace). And, as much as I really wanted to walk, I actually ran most of it. April says 99%, but I think it was onlu 90%. But that "only: that you see there? Don't let it fool you, I worked really hard to keep going. And I feel so proud of myself for finishing.

1138.2 Miles

(5.2 road, total since Monday)

Gollum has been spotted by Sam and Frodo and we have been on the river many hours each day.

Exercise has a strange consequence for me and perhaps it is the same for many others. Before I start, I can think of every argument not to do anything. While I am exercising I can think of every reason to stop. But after the exercise, I can think of all the reasons I am glad I finished.

I'm a little tired tonight so the images aren't edited to remove the ads at the bottoms or anything like that. I'll work on that for the next entry.

1133 Miles

This is a catching up since the last post.

(9.6 bike)
(11.1 walking/running: total since September 2)

I'm so pleased to be running and walking on a regular basis! Not only am I getting more miles in, I'm also gaining more strength. I was sick for a little bit so there was more time spent coughing than moving, but that's behind me now. I've been using the Nike application for my phone to help me keep track of my miles and I know that there have been a couple times when I forgot to turn the darn thing on, so I won't be counting those.

On September 27th I was in my second Asheville 5k (third total) and my time was 41:48 (last year was 44:11). I am really looking forward to seeing what the next 5k will be. Here is one of the pictures that Brianna was able to get just before I crossed the finish line -

Today was a bike ride (at The Fire, mostly keeping about 17mph, but there were several HIIT minutes in there) and tomorrow morning will be another run. I'm hoping to update this a lot more frequently from here on.

1098.4 Miles

(12.4 outdoors, spread over a few walks/runs)
(11.2 bike)

The river is curving eastward and there are wolds on both shores. The sky remains overcast and moods are unsettled.

I'm still here! I bet you thought I'd given this up. After a very long time of going through lots of stuff, we are now settled in Asheville! And I feel even more determined to continue this journey. April (her studio's Facebook page is here) has already shown me some amazing places and I have discovered already that I like to run outdoors. Of course, since it's been so long since I've actually run (or much of anything else), I feel almost as if I'm starting over again. My "running" consists mostly of a fast-paced walk with bursts of sprinting. I don't know the time of those sprints, but I know that they will get longer and longer.

I've been keeping my phone with me and using the Nike+ application to help me with my miles. Here is what I've done so far this month. Keep in mind that we didn't even get to North Carolina until the 11th and that was very late at night. Since then I've been on several walks and a few running walks. I've even had a kettlebell workout!

I was extremely sore last week and I know that the pain will subside once I get more into the routine of being active again. I need to get my yoga back into the routine, too. I know that will help with the soreness.

I didn't get a picture of the bike miles since I misplaced my charger for the camera. I'm happy to report that I have unpacked a couple more boxes and found it.

1071.1 Miles

(2.4 treadmill)

Today I ran in my new shoes. I'd been saving up for them since my birthday and they are now happily on my feet. I wanted a second pair so that they could air out for longer in between wearing. Now I can wash them once a week and things will be great.

Today's run was a little slower since my calves are still a little sore. I feel almost as if I'm starting over, even though that's not the case. Still, I know that I'll get right back into the swing of things very quickly.

1068.7 Miles

Well, it's time for my journey to continue. After a nail in the foot, a sunburn that prevented me from wearing a sport bra, and a cold that caused me to sleep an entire day and still have the sniffles for a few days more, I am traveling again.

Today was slow, but I was able to jog for most of my time on the treadmill. I didn't keep track of the running vs. walking parts, but I focused on the music and the power in my own muscles. They didn't like being woken up this way and complained a bit, but I ignored the whining. Don't get me wrong, there have been a lot of days of strength-training this past few weeks, but that uses my muscles in a very different manner.

1056.1 Miles

(2.4 treadmill)

I sometimes wonder how long it will take for it to sink into my head that working out makes me feel better. I've had a stressful week and didn't work out as many times as I'd have liked. I'm happy that today's workload was light enough that I had no excuse whatsoever.

1053.7 Miles

(2.1 treadmill)

Today seemed like a normal day and when I got on the treadmill I was hopeful. I didn't run 10 minutes, but I did run for 7 before I had to walk a minute. I'm okay with that. Especially when I think about how far I've grown. I know that I still have a long way to go before I will feel happy with my level of health, but I know it will happen. Why? Because I'm not giving up.

The strength-training is beginning to show again. There has been a period of time when it seemed as if there was no outward change at all, but I am noticing differences when I look in the mirror. That makes me pretty happy.

1051.6 Miles

(2.1 treadmill)

It continues to be overcast. Everyone is on edge.

Today was a bit of a challenge to get myself onto the treadmill. My calves were still sore from the run on Wednesday which I expected. What I wasn't expecting was how much time it took for them to feel looser (walking) and how little time it took for them to hurt (running). So today was a much shorter run time. Even so, I feel good that I'm getting stronger.

There are days when I do want to quit. I've never considered myself an athlete, never thought of myself as super-fit, or anything like that. I also refuse to give up homemade cheesecake, Brianna's Brownies, or old-fashioned roast. In my mind, none of these fit into the "healthy lifestyle" that seems typical. Please understand, I'm not bashing anyone who has given up all of that, I just don't see myself that way. I enjoy sensual things and the taste, aroma, texture and visual appeal of food pleases me. Granted, I have let go of a lot of foods such as Oreos, white sugar, and myriad others, but it hasn't been arduous. Especially since I've learned about the attractiveness of so many other foods... or relearned in some cases (like fresh blackberries).

So, if you are reading this and you think you feel like giving up. Just push yourself for one more day. And do it again tomorrow. And the next. You can do this, too.

1049.5 Miles

(2.6 treadmill)

I'm not sure what happened with my other pictures, but I did spend some time on the treadmill and the bike last week. Oh well, that just means I have to go a few more miles on this journey.

Today I did something awesome. Seriously awesome. I ran for 10 minutes before I had to walk! Then I walked for 2 minutes and ran another 5 before walking again. I walked another 2 minutes and was able to run another 3 minutes before getting a stitch in my side. My warm up and cool down times were about 5 minutes each so I went over the 30 minute mark just a little, but I didn't care. I felt pretty euphoric that I was able to go for 10 whole minutes before walking.

1046.9 Miles

(2.5 treadmill)

My shin seems to be much better now which truly makes me a happy person. Yesterday's walk left me only slightly stiff today and I got on the treadmill with a smile. Since it had been a while, I chose to do a 1-minute-run/1-minute-walk session so that I knew I would finish with that same smile. At the end (around the 25 minute point) I decided to just run until I couldn't. It was my calves that finally prompted me to slow down since they were on fire. And that was after I'd run a solid 5 minutes. I wasn't smiling anymore, I was grinning! What will tomorrow bring? I'm predicting another smile.

1042.6 Miles

(2.1 treadmill)

What a wonderful weekend! I was able to spend some time out in the country and relax. There were a couple of stressed moments (like when I got a call from Anthony about something Brianna had done), but over all it was lovely. And it gave me the time away from work and everything else that I needed to come back even more determined to stay healthy. Part of it was simply the way my body reacted to the foods I ate (and the dessert-drinks) because I didn't get that rapid heartbeat that I sometimes would get. Instead, with the combination of a healthier body and the right foods, I was able to enjoy without fear.

Now if only I can get that perfected in the rest of the areas of my life! Determination...

Today I actually was in pain during the run. It wasn't serious and it wasn't enough to keep me from getting on the treadmill, but I did need arnica salve before and after. You see, the wind was a bit strong this morning when I was getting out of the Jeep and it caught me by surprise. There is a colorful bruise on my shin and it's going to be gone soon (my arnica salve really is awesome).

The weights... I still am struggling to do the back fly movement with the 8-pound weights. I am determined to use the 10s soon. As soon as I can do more than 15 with the 8s. I've thought about a barbell, too, but only for the squats since I don't have a bench or a spotter (the last thing I need is to drop the thing on my own face or something like that.) Perhaps one of these days, but I'm not sure yet. Right now I feel like I really need to focus first on the steps I'm taking and not jump a few miles down the road.

Tomorrow will be the bike!

1030.1 Miles

(2.2 treadmill)

Even though I feel pretty shaky right now, I feel pretty good with the workouts I did today. This morning I was on the treadmill for my 30 minutes. I didn't get as far as I did on Tuesday, but I think it's simply because I've been working out each day. I know that it's good for me and I'll see results a lot faster. Today I walked a little less than half the distance due to the soreness in my calves. I'll be glad when that subsides a bit. I also had to go down to the 8-pound weights for the second round of strength exercises.

I don't see either of these as failure, though. I see them as a triumph because I still did them.

1016.2 Miles

(2.5 treadmill)

This week starts a new phase of my journey. I will now be doing the cardio portion (treadmill and bike) five days a week and the weights three days a week. Yes, that means that there will be three days that I will have a double workout. I already know that there will be a bit more pain while my body adjusts, but it will be well worth it. You see, no matter what challenges I find along my road, no matter what pain I need to endure, and no matter what fears I find within, I know that I need to keep going. I need to reach my goals in such a way that I can look back, briefly, and celebrate the triumphs.

I want to thank those who are traveling with me and cheering me on. April with her patience and guidance, Brianna with her suggestions for more challenging exercises, Kevin with his reminders of my successes: I love you! To my Fiberly with the virtual cheering and encouragement, you are fabulous friends!

There are days when I am not so sure I would make it without you all.

1013.7 Miles

(1.8 treadmill)

Okay, doing the weights in the early part of the day, then getting onto the treadmill was quite and experience. What was I thinking? Well, I had some dental work done yesterday and didn't feel up to lifting weights, so i told myself that I'd do it today. I nearly didn't. My muscles are currently wishing that I hadn't. But my heart and pride are pretty darn happy that I did.

1000.6 Miles

(3.4 treadmill)

YEAH!!!

I passed one thousand miles! And today was a personal record, too. I think the last pr was 3.3 miles. I feel fantastic! Wobbly still, but fantastic nonetheless. I can do this.

My dearest friend is such an inspiration to me. She has only been running for a year & a half and is already spending some of her weekends running 15-18 miles. How amazing is that? She really makes me want to push myself even more than I do.

My next goal is to run even more of this distance. I'm still walking about half of it (run some, walk some). When I get to the point of running the whole thing... well, I'll be pretty darn thrilled about it.

985.7 Miles

(2.2 treadmill)

Still drifting.

Today was a little easier, but still too sore to get to the third mile. Still, I am proud of myself for many reasons. One of the biggest reasons is that I've been working out through some pretty rough spots instead of giving up. In the past I've simply stopped working out because I feel crappy about something going on in my life and I didn't start back up for a few years. It has happened more than a few times. But this time... well, I did slack off in December. Part of that was because Anthony was in town, but most of it was emotional. But, that was only for a couple weeks.

Now, even though there are some stresses I feel stronger about continuing to push myself with this.

AND!!! I'm nearly at a thousand miles. I can't stop now.

983.5 Miles

(2.1 treadmill)

The last two days have been interesting. Yesterday I couldn't do my strength-training with the 10-pound weights. My arms just wouldn't get past a few lifts. So, I dropped down to the 8s and finished the workout. I do NOT feel bad about that at all. In fact, considering that I really wanted to just give up, I feel pretty damn good.

Today I am still sore (calves mostly) from my running on Tuesday, but I got on the treadmill anyway. I know I could have gone on the bike and there would have been less pain, but I also knew that I needed to get my leg muscles loosened up more than the bike would do.

Now it's time for lunch and some more water.

981.4 Miles

(3.3 treadmill)

Yes, that says 3.3 for today. I really wanted to push myself today and feel pretty good about it. It's a personal record in distance, but not in time... I don't think.

...

The last official run I did my time was 3.1 in 44:11. According to my calculator (divided 45 minutes by 3.3 miles to get 13.64 minutes/mile. That would have made the 3.1 mile mark at just over 42 minutes) I beat my time from my run in Asheville! How cool. It might have been even better if I didn't have to adjust the treadmill speed, but that's just the way it goes sometimes.

It won't be long until I hit the 1000 mile mark. That's a little strange to think about. It's not quite half the length of the Appalachian Trail, but it's not that far from it, either.

Now, it's time to eat something and finish up this day.

967.8 Miles

(1.9 treadmill)

Well, I didn't do too bad considering I have been slacking for a while. I did lose some of the momentum from early December, but I know it will only take a little time to regain that. There were moments today that I really felt some pain, but there were other moments when I had to smile because I'd pushed myself. I know I'll be sore tomorrow, but it's worth every twinge.