walk a half marathon

I did three laps this weekend. My girlpal ran them and finished before me, but I kept my walking pace well. I averaged just under 13:30 for 10.8 miles of walking. Should be good to go for the half.

I’ve found I can walk pretty fast… I can do a mile in a little over 13 and a half minutes, and I can keep that pace up over 7 miles at least. There’s a 3.6 mile course near my apartment, and I did two laps yesterday morning. Maybe next week I will try three laps. If I can do almost 11 miles at that fast pace, the half marathon shouldn’t be a problem (unless there’s cold rain or otherwise inhospitable conditions).

My girlfriend is running in the Detroit half marathon in October. I thought it would be fun to enter myself in the non-competitive walking division in the same race.

Maybe the Limmah from months ago would have tried running it too, but I’m worried about my knees after hurting them a little earlier this summer. I’ve found I can still walk fine now, and I can even do so at a good pace.

My longest walk to date was about 9.5-10 miles a few years ago. 7 miles currently makes me tired, but it’s not a big problem; I can keep going. I don’t anticipate 13.1 will be physically impossible, but it is a long way.

Walking a half marathon provides opportunity and rewards. First, there is the physical reward and sense of accomplishment. Second, there is the opportunity to walk in so many different places, see so many new things. This really makes me smile.

turns out i’m all out of whack in general, but especially on my right side from my hip down. i have a good physical therapist who specializes in runners/walkers so i’m feeling confident i’ll get into pain free shape if i do my exercises. better go do them now while fat baby’s napping and bear bear is not cranky (yet)....

this goal will have to go on hold with my pregnancy and all, but i’m going to leave it on my list b/c i don’t want to lose sight of it. hopefully i can continue to walk during the pregnancy and pick up my training soon thereafter. thank goodness babies love to ride in the stroller!

i cannot wait to start making some sort of progress b/c i am going nuts just sitting around!!!

my ankles feel MUCH better since i’ve been doped up on prednisone and percocet for the past few days, but i’m pretty much off those drugs now and left with ankles that feel functional, but i KNOW i must rest for the full 6 – 8 weeks as prescribed by my sports medicine doc. this is harder than i thought it was gonna be. i want to be training so badly. i’m more energetic, motivated, happy, and optimistic when i’m physically active. i just don’t want to lose sight of this goal (and the other walking goals for the future) while i’m waiting this injury out. i did order a book on marathon walking (the last book i’m purchasing for awhile…see “read all the books i own”) and i’m hoping that reading this book while recuperating will keep me in the right mental state to get at it again. what are ya gonna do? it is what it is right?

my ankles still feel terrible. i’m going to see a sports medicine doctor today (she is the wife of my primary care doctor). i’m prepared to hear that i may need to rest my ankles for some time, but i just hope i can do non-weight bearing exercises like cycling and swimming to keep my endurance up. i guess i need to slow down (and NEVER take an aerobics class again). wish me luck!

after completing a 10k i want to keep the ball rolling and sign up for a 1/2 marathon. i have registered for an 8k in may and will likely do a 10k here and there, but i need a bigger goal to keep me going. (big plan: 10k -> 1/2 marathon -> marathon -> 3 day walk for the cure probably next fall) then, of course, i will conquer rome and expand my kingdom to include the western hemisphere and so on and so forth.

anyhoo, looking at the virginia beach rock n’ roll 1/2 labor day weekend (hot and sunny) or the 1/2 in niagra falls in october (cool and pleasant). we’ll see.