Although it is almost 11 months till my walk, I find myself dismayed at my lax schedule. I walk 3 miles a day most days-- but not if it's raining. And I haven't increased my distance yet. The good news is that I'm finally feeling good at the end of my walks. Mmm, exercise buzz!
Luckily, I've pulled in an ally -- or, rather, a support group full. My workplace has started a wellness group focused on improving nutrition and exercise behavior. One of the first things the group reminded me of is the necessity of setting SMART goals:
S = specific
M = measurable
A = attainable
R = relevant
T = time oriented.
Another thing I was reminded of in the first session is that I need to plan for how to deal with obstacles --like rainy or busy days. For this week, the goal is a consistent 5 days of 3-mile days regardless of weather. If it rains, I will either do the indoor track at the fitness center or a treadmill. Next week, I will go for 3.5 miles and increase to four miles the week after, then maintain for a couple weeks.
-- Post From My iPhone
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Training and other news
I have been walking to work and back when there hasn't been pressing reasons not to (thunderstorms, out-of-town conferences). But there have been some other developments to cheer me along:
1) My father donated $200. Woot!
2) I am currently doing some research consulting for a colleague, who will donate $500 to my walk in payment. Woot woot!
3) My husband suggested that we do Spring Break in March walking for four days on the western half of the Illinois-Michigan Canal trail. This will be done as follows: About six miles on Day 1 (Seneca-Marseilles IL), 8 on Day 2 (Marseilles-Ottawa), 9 on Day 3 (Ottawa-Utica), 5 or so on Day 4 (Utica-Lasalle). Great training walks!
1) My father donated $200. Woot!
2) I am currently doing some research consulting for a colleague, who will donate $500 to my walk in payment. Woot woot!
3) My husband suggested that we do Spring Break in March walking for four days on the western half of the Illinois-Michigan Canal trail. This will be done as follows: About six miles on Day 1 (Seneca-Marseilles IL), 8 on Day 2 (Marseilles-Ottawa), 9 on Day 3 (Ottawa-Utica), 5 or so on Day 4 (Utica-Lasalle). Great training walks!
Monday, September 1, 2008
True Confessions
I have to admit, I only got 1.5 miles on Wednesday and Thursday. Wednesday's meetings ran rather long, and I begged a ride home from my husband. Thursday brought severe thunderstorm watches in the afternoon, so I begged a ride home from a colleague. I'm not scared of a little rain, but I walk with Nordic walking poles, which are the next best thing to two lightning rods in a thunderstorm. I won't be doing the cause much good by getting electrocuted.
I did, however, walk both directions (a total of 3 miles) today, and next week I will be ramping that up by about a half-mile a day. The guideline for safe exercise increase is to add about 10% a week. Half a mile more is just over that.
Today, meanwhile, I was musing over some of the albums I listen to on my iPhone while walking. Yesterday, I listened to Stevie Nicks' "Belladonna". I used to love that album unreservedly when I was younger, but now (I'm 44, the album is 28), either my tastes have changed or it hasn't aged well. On one hand, the song "Edge of Seventeen" will always be one of my favorites for its impressionistic melancholy. On the other hand, there's the opening lines of "Highwayman", which hit my ear these days with a dull thud:
"Alas he was the highwayman/The one that comes and goes/And only the highway-woman/Keeps up with the likes of those..."
The highway-woman? Revisionist history, anyone? The only places I've seen highway-women are romance novels and Renaissance faires. I'll confess that I read a few select romance novels (current favorite: Mary Jo Putney) and go to the KC Renaissance Festival yearly, but somehow my suspension of disbelief won't extend to lyrics whose music doesn't signal "This is serious filk".
Contrast this dissatisfaction with the pleasant discovery I made today that I still, after over 20 years, love Stealin' Horses' eponymous first album. They were a one-hit wonder in 1985 with their song Turnaround, but this very well may be because they were years ahead of their time. A female-driven band, they could easily join the ranks of female country-crossover that have flourished over the past 10 years (think Sheryl Crow, Martina McBride, Dixie Chicks). Stealin' Horses' music is a blend of Southern Gothic, rockabilly, and folk-rock with a distinct feminist sensibility and a touch of folksy mysticism. The lead singer, Kiya Heartwood, now fronts a folk duo named Wishing Chair, for those who are interested (it's more reminiscent of Indigo Girls, and very good mellow listening).
I did, however, walk both directions (a total of 3 miles) today, and next week I will be ramping that up by about a half-mile a day. The guideline for safe exercise increase is to add about 10% a week. Half a mile more is just over that.
Today, meanwhile, I was musing over some of the albums I listen to on my iPhone while walking. Yesterday, I listened to Stevie Nicks' "Belladonna". I used to love that album unreservedly when I was younger, but now (I'm 44, the album is 28), either my tastes have changed or it hasn't aged well. On one hand, the song "Edge of Seventeen" will always be one of my favorites for its impressionistic melancholy. On the other hand, there's the opening lines of "Highwayman", which hit my ear these days with a dull thud:
"Alas he was the highwayman/The one that comes and goes/And only the highway-woman/Keeps up with the likes of those..."
The highway-woman? Revisionist history, anyone? The only places I've seen highway-women are romance novels and Renaissance faires. I'll confess that I read a few select romance novels (current favorite: Mary Jo Putney) and go to the KC Renaissance Festival yearly, but somehow my suspension of disbelief won't extend to lyrics whose music doesn't signal "This is serious filk".
Contrast this dissatisfaction with the pleasant discovery I made today that I still, after over 20 years, love Stealin' Horses' eponymous first album. They were a one-hit wonder in 1985 with their song Turnaround, but this very well may be because they were years ahead of their time. A female-driven band, they could easily join the ranks of female country-crossover that have flourished over the past 10 years (think Sheryl Crow, Martina McBride, Dixie Chicks). Stealin' Horses' music is a blend of Southern Gothic, rockabilly, and folk-rock with a distinct feminist sensibility and a touch of folksy mysticism. The lead singer, Kiya Heartwood, now fronts a folk duo named Wishing Chair, for those who are interested (it's more reminiscent of Indigo Girls, and very good mellow listening).
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