They must be! I NEVER wear loose-fitting shorts if I am going to do any walking -- for shopping or anything because they ride up between my legs and I hate that. Today, though, we went to wash the car and I decided to walk home from the car wash to Charlie's folks' house (about a mile). I had on my loose-fitting shorts and THEY DID NOT RIDE UP as I was walking. WOOHOO!
I did walk this morning around town in my running gear. Did 4 miles in 1 hour 2 minutes. The best I have ever done just "walking". The weather was nice -- cloudy and cool and the route was flat. It felt good and NO backache. Will try that again tomorrow. I'm off the schedule with travelling, so even though it's Friday, I'll go 4 miles. I think we're travelling back home on Saturday, so it will be rest day, and I'll do the 10 on Sunday when we get home.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
I did it!
.... 20 miles around Denver!
I'd like to say it was fun, but after about 4 miles my back started killing me. Over the course of the 20 mile trek I took 4 advil and never really got any relief. I kept thinking I'd have to call Charlie and have him come get me, then I'd say to myself, "Just go one more mile and see how you feel" and one mile after another I'd say that and eventually got in all 20.
The course I walked took me through downtown Denver, past Coors stadium, through LODO (lower Denver) and then through 3 city parks and several very nice neighborhoods. It was pretty hot when I started as we didn't get downtown until after 9 and it was hot until about noon. I stopped at several 7-11's to get water and stayed well hydrated. I was able to find some shade in the shadows of the downtown Denver buildings. It was pretty hot after that (92) until finally some clouds moved in around 1:00 and it was much more tolerable.
My back hurt so bad after about 11 miles that I lay down in one of the city parks on the grass. I'm embarrassed to say that I think I actually dozed off for about 5 minutes. Gosh, I hope I don't do that in Chicago!
It's a lot more fun to do the mileage where there are turns every couple of miles and a change of scenery-- really helps break up the monotony. I think the miles in Chicago will go by quickly as we take in all the new sights. Wogging through a city is so much different than long stretches across the causeway! Of course, I didn't have the route closed, so had to stop for stop lights and wait on traffic here and there.
If I could do 20 with my back like it was, I can do 26.2. I was very slow and stopped a lot, but I did it, and I just have to figure out why my back bothered me so bad this time. That has not happened before. I sure was miserable -- and mad! Oh, well it's behind me now.
We're leaving Colorado tomorrow to go to Kansas to see Charlie's folks for a few days. His folks live in southwest Kansas -- flat, flat, flat and no altitude. I hope it's not too hot but do intend to wog around his home town a few times. It's four miles to walk all the way around his home town, so for the 10 miler this weekend I'll do that 2 1/2 times.
I have read through some of the blogs about the 20 miles in Jackson. Congrats to everyone! I'll be with the group for the 22 miler. I am going to Shreveport to check on my Mom the weekend after Labor Day and will get in the 10 miles there that weekend and the 10 miles in Kansas this weekend.
Today we took 4-wheelers up to Mosquito Pass (13,185 feet). Rita the wonder dog rode on the back of Charlie's 4-wheeler all the way up and back down. Here's a couple of pictures.
I'd like to say it was fun, but after about 4 miles my back started killing me. Over the course of the 20 mile trek I took 4 advil and never really got any relief. I kept thinking I'd have to call Charlie and have him come get me, then I'd say to myself, "Just go one more mile and see how you feel" and one mile after another I'd say that and eventually got in all 20.
The course I walked took me through downtown Denver, past Coors stadium, through LODO (lower Denver) and then through 3 city parks and several very nice neighborhoods. It was pretty hot when I started as we didn't get downtown until after 9 and it was hot until about noon. I stopped at several 7-11's to get water and stayed well hydrated. I was able to find some shade in the shadows of the downtown Denver buildings. It was pretty hot after that (92) until finally some clouds moved in around 1:00 and it was much more tolerable.
My back hurt so bad after about 11 miles that I lay down in one of the city parks on the grass. I'm embarrassed to say that I think I actually dozed off for about 5 minutes. Gosh, I hope I don't do that in Chicago!
It's a lot more fun to do the mileage where there are turns every couple of miles and a change of scenery-- really helps break up the monotony. I think the miles in Chicago will go by quickly as we take in all the new sights. Wogging through a city is so much different than long stretches across the causeway! Of course, I didn't have the route closed, so had to stop for stop lights and wait on traffic here and there.
If I could do 20 with my back like it was, I can do 26.2. I was very slow and stopped a lot, but I did it, and I just have to figure out why my back bothered me so bad this time. That has not happened before. I sure was miserable -- and mad! Oh, well it's behind me now.
We're leaving Colorado tomorrow to go to Kansas to see Charlie's folks for a few days. His folks live in southwest Kansas -- flat, flat, flat and no altitude. I hope it's not too hot but do intend to wog around his home town a few times. It's four miles to walk all the way around his home town, so for the 10 miler this weekend I'll do that 2 1/2 times.
I have read through some of the blogs about the 20 miles in Jackson. Congrats to everyone! I'll be with the group for the 22 miler. I am going to Shreveport to check on my Mom the weekend after Labor Day and will get in the 10 miles there that weekend and the 10 miles in Kansas this weekend.
Today we took 4-wheelers up to Mosquito Pass (13,185 feet). Rita the wonder dog rode on the back of Charlie's 4-wheeler all the way up and back down. Here's a couple of pictures.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
20 miles in Denver
Found the route for the Denver Marathon (which is the week after Chicago) so for my 20 miles I am going to follow that route for the first 20 miles. I will likely do that Sunday as we "have" to babysit our Grandson on Saturday (it's a tough job, but someone has to do it). The Denver route has little elevation change and will wind around through Denver landmarks, so I am pretty excited about it. I'll still be "a mile high" but think that I'll still be able to do the 20.
In looking for the Denver route I found a new website that looks pretty neat -- http://www.mapmyrun.com/
It allows you, like Sanoodi to put in your route, but allows you to annotate it, and log your training on the web.
Oh, and this Saturday in addition to babysitting, we're going to the third annual Colorado "Eggfest" -- a Big Green Egg cookoff. The hosting store has assembled 23 green eggs and will have a cookoff and then they're selling the once-used green eggs at a pretty good discount. So we've already reserved one of the used eggs as we needed a grill out here. I will report back to all interested butts the results of the cookoff. I have no doubt that the butts here will pale in comparison to our two favorite butts.
In looking for the Denver route I found a new website that looks pretty neat -- http://www.mapmyrun.com/
It allows you, like Sanoodi to put in your route, but allows you to annotate it, and log your training on the web.
Oh, and this Saturday in addition to babysitting, we're going to the third annual Colorado "Eggfest" -- a Big Green Egg cookoff. The hosting store has assembled 23 green eggs and will have a cookoff and then they're selling the once-used green eggs at a pretty good discount. So we've already reserved one of the used eggs as we needed a grill out here. I will report back to all interested butts the results of the cookoff. I have no doubt that the butts here will pale in comparison to our two favorite butts.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
I'll take mine straight up!
Miles, that is...
Well, we stuck to the mountains today and did a 4.5 mile hike. Weather was nice, fairly cool and the hike was mostly shady. It was 2.6 miles to the highest point -- an elevation gain of about 1200 feet from 7500 to 8700. Okay, that was harder than the Bellhaven hills and now I don't know which is worse, heat or altitude. I did huff and puff on the way up and felt terribly out of shape -- which I know I'm not, but it sure felt like it, and was sort of depressing.
The first shot below was taken about .6 mile from the highest point at an elevation of 8200 feet. We started out on the road below. After the hike on our way home we took a little detour to scope out a possible route for my LSD. We went down this wonderful country road that followed a stream with small waterfalls. The road was in the bottom of a canyon (second shot below) and was mostly downhill. I thought, "I could walk this," until we checked the odometer and the route was only 8 miles -- gosh it sure seemed like longer than that. It was uphill after that, climbing out of the canyon, so we'll have to find something else.
Denver set a record high today -- what's up with that? When I was in New York a few weeks ago, they had a heat wave. It was hot when I was in Michigan, too. Someone's out to get me.
Well, we stuck to the mountains today and did a 4.5 mile hike. Weather was nice, fairly cool and the hike was mostly shady. It was 2.6 miles to the highest point -- an elevation gain of about 1200 feet from 7500 to 8700. Okay, that was harder than the Bellhaven hills and now I don't know which is worse, heat or altitude. I did huff and puff on the way up and felt terribly out of shape -- which I know I'm not, but it sure felt like it, and was sort of depressing.
The first shot below was taken about .6 mile from the highest point at an elevation of 8200 feet. We started out on the road below. After the hike on our way home we took a little detour to scope out a possible route for my LSD. We went down this wonderful country road that followed a stream with small waterfalls. The road was in the bottom of a canyon (second shot below) and was mostly downhill. I thought, "I could walk this," until we checked the odometer and the route was only 8 miles -- gosh it sure seemed like longer than that. It was uphill after that, climbing out of the canyon, so we'll have to find something else.
Denver set a record high today -- what's up with that? When I was in New York a few weeks ago, they had a heat wave. It was hot when I was in Michigan, too. Someone's out to get me.
I spoke way too soon!
Well, at least I picked the wrong place, wrong day for 9 miles. I found a state park east of Denver that had a 9 mile trail around a lake and included a wildlife preserve. Sounds perfect, right? Flat, lower altitude (about 5000 feet). Ha! The weather gods decided I should suffer with my MM friends even though I wasn't in Mississippi. What an awful trail and it was HOT! Of course, thinking it was going to be pleasant and shady I didn't start until 11 and by the time I finished I was whipped. There was absolutely NO shade, no breeze and it was 95 degrees. I suspect the humidity wasn't as high, but it was there, and I was miserable. I ran out of water with one mile to go, and that was the longest mile of my life. (Longer even than the first one in Bellhaven!) There was a very long dam on the trail and I guess that's my punishment for missing some of the reservoir runs. Didn't see much wildlife, either -- except one buck wading through a bog.
So I am trying to figure out the 20-miler in the mountains. I don't think I"ll actually go 20 miles, probably won't even go 10, but at altitude and with a lot of climbing, I think I'll get the training in and be on my feet, moving forward for 6 hours or more. The weather up in the mountains is really nice, so I think I'll stick to altitude and suffer being out-of-breath rather than then heat.
So here are some pics from the party. I only got a chance to take a few.
So I am trying to figure out the 20-miler in the mountains. I don't think I"ll actually go 20 miles, probably won't even go 10, but at altitude and with a lot of climbing, I think I'll get the training in and be on my feet, moving forward for 6 hours or more. The weather up in the mountains is really nice, so I think I'll stick to altitude and suffer being out-of-breath rather than then heat.
So here are some pics from the party. I only got a chance to take a few.
Also posting a pic of the lake I walked around. Nine miles looks really long when you walk all the way 'round something this big!
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Ah....
It's 65 degrees, low humidity and I think I have died and gone to heaven!
In reality, though, I am in Colorado. We left after work Thursday night and drove all night and got to my son's Friday afternoon. Got to play with my grandson, have dinner with both sons and daughter-in-laws and then we headed to the cabin.
Woke up this a.m. to a cool , yes, cool, breeze, deer in the yard, and a hummingbird demanding some food. We'll be here for two weeks and now I know how great retirement is going to be!
The weeks since the party until we left for vacation were weeks from hell. I was faithful to the mileage, getting up at 5:00 a.m. to walk/run with my neighbor and the dog and did the 9 miles from my Mom's in Shreveport (didnt' get lost in the subdivision this time!). I am planning on doing the 9 miles tomorrow and I need today to figure out what trail I want to do and also need a little R&R today.
I have some major projects due this fall, so I've been working until 8 or later in the evenings, even until midnight a couple nights this week before we left, so I have neglected my XT and biking to work. The next few months are going to be very busy and hard, and I am worried about getting everything done that has to be done. I will not, however, let work screw up the Marathon training or the trip to Chicago. Everything else might suffer, but not that.
I know everyone is suffering with the heat and humidity. I wish you all could get the break that I'm getting right now. It sure helps bolster the confidence and increase the enthusiasm for our adventure. Of course, being on vacation, no matter where, does that.
As soon as I get my electronic act together I'll post the few pictures I took at the butt cookoff. I just have to get the card reader set up for the PC here at the cabin. It's nice to have a little time to do stuff like that.
I hope that the weather in the gulf will help cool things off a little, maybe bring some rain for you guys. I will be back in Clinton Labor Day and will go to Shreveport the following weekend. Then I'll be with the group for the 22 miles on the 15th (can't wait ;)
Mark's blog made me feel guilty that I haven't done more Saturdays with the group. Most of them were beyond my control, but I have to admit to a few Saturdays to making the decision to go it alone from my house. I'm sorry for that.
In reality, though, I am in Colorado. We left after work Thursday night and drove all night and got to my son's Friday afternoon. Got to play with my grandson, have dinner with both sons and daughter-in-laws and then we headed to the cabin.
Woke up this a.m. to a cool , yes, cool, breeze, deer in the yard, and a hummingbird demanding some food. We'll be here for two weeks and now I know how great retirement is going to be!
The weeks since the party until we left for vacation were weeks from hell. I was faithful to the mileage, getting up at 5:00 a.m. to walk/run with my neighbor and the dog and did the 9 miles from my Mom's in Shreveport (didnt' get lost in the subdivision this time!). I am planning on doing the 9 miles tomorrow and I need today to figure out what trail I want to do and also need a little R&R today.
I have some major projects due this fall, so I've been working until 8 or later in the evenings, even until midnight a couple nights this week before we left, so I have neglected my XT and biking to work. The next few months are going to be very busy and hard, and I am worried about getting everything done that has to be done. I will not, however, let work screw up the Marathon training or the trip to Chicago. Everything else might suffer, but not that.
I know everyone is suffering with the heat and humidity. I wish you all could get the break that I'm getting right now. It sure helps bolster the confidence and increase the enthusiasm for our adventure. Of course, being on vacation, no matter where, does that.
As soon as I get my electronic act together I'll post the few pictures I took at the butt cookoff. I just have to get the card reader set up for the PC here at the cabin. It's nice to have a little time to do stuff like that.
I hope that the weather in the gulf will help cool things off a little, maybe bring some rain for you guys. I will be back in Clinton Labor Day and will go to Shreveport the following weekend. Then I'll be with the group for the 22 miles on the 15th (can't wait ;)
Mark's blog made me feel guilty that I haven't done more Saturdays with the group. Most of them were beyond my control, but I have to admit to a few Saturdays to making the decision to go it alone from my house. I'm sorry for that.
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Thanks!
Thanks to everyone who came to the party tonight. You all are such a special group and I was so happy to see everyone. My sweet husband, Charlie, commented on what a fun group this is.
For those of you who could not make it, we missed you and you missed the great butt cookoff. Lots of good food and Clark, aka Dr. Butt, won the competition, so he had/has/is the best butt.
I didn't get very many pictures, but Mandy and others did, so I hope to see some posted soon.
Proud of everyone who completed the 18 miles. I know I felt really bad yesterday whenI finished and wondered how I'd ever get another 8 miles in Chicago. But having heard all the comments tonight about how everyone "suffered" the 18 miles and slowed down, I felt a little better. I'll be in Colorado the weekend of the 20 miler, but as it stands now I"ll actually be in town for the 22 mile run in September. I am hoping we get a little break in the weather by then and am looking forward to being able to participate with the group.
For those of you who could not make it, we missed you and you missed the great butt cookoff. Lots of good food and Clark, aka Dr. Butt, won the competition, so he had/has/is the best butt.
I didn't get very many pictures, but Mandy and others did, so I hope to see some posted soon.
Proud of everyone who completed the 18 miles. I know I felt really bad yesterday whenI finished and wondered how I'd ever get another 8 miles in Chicago. But having heard all the comments tonight about how everyone "suffered" the 18 miles and slowed down, I felt a little better. I'll be in Colorado the weekend of the 20 miler, but as it stands now I"ll actually be in town for the 22 mile run in September. I am hoping we get a little break in the weather by then and am looking forward to being able to participate with the group.
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