A Time and A Pace 

As I sit here listening to Irish Pub music in honor of St. Patrick's day, whooshing my way through facebook, emails and this blog, I thought I'd write down a few thoughts, even though I don't have too many at the moment...this is the first time I've sat down all day; a little brain dead! 

I haven't walked since Monday after all my boasting of having walked for seven days in a row!!  Nancy and I did six of them together, yay Nancy! Were you as beat as me? The seventh was with Anne and Linda.  As exhausted as I was after walking 6 days with Nancy (she's tough!), I lagged behind Anne and Linda, but finished the whole trek with them.  Surprised myself, I thought I was going to quit on them.  We have some great little hills in the various neighborhoods you'd see us in that some of us try to avoid...but not Anne, she seems to know where they all are and she leads the way!

I know that this walking is really good for all of us and even though I would occasionally walk by myself, knowing I can find someone to walk with now is very motivating.  I look forward to it enough to put off cleaning my house, cooking dinner, etc, unfortunately!  Not much is getting done...I have to pace myself girls!  Seven days  is not good for me!  I get home, take a shower and hit the bed!!  So this past week I tried to catch up from the week before.  Maybe this coming week I may have to just stick to 3 or 4 days!

So did any of you walk this week?  Count me back in this coming week, but see you (some of you) for brunch and the show tomorrow!!  Cindy, hope your knee is feeling better...those darn hills!, and that you'll be back with us soon...you know how fast the end of the year is going to get here!

These Boots are Made for Walkin'

Well, not quite boots, but I got me some brandy-new walking shoes.  (I could have referenced Lowell George's "Put on Your Sailin' Shoes", but I figure Nancy Sinatra needed a shout out.)  I must say they (the shoes) are very comfortable and have worked wonders keeping me on track. (Please pardon the pun.  It was intentional, but unavoidable.)  Sadly, in spite of their comfort, they squeak; so they're a bit embarrassing when I walk.  Not as bad as the lycra pants I wear, but pretty bad.  There will not be a photo of the lycra pants.

We've been warming up our walking regimen slowly; still getting the kinks out.  Monday after Sam and I bought our new shoes, she and I went for a lovely walk in the snow flurries with Cindy.  Tuesday Cindy and I joined  Sheila for a spin around New Jersey, but sadly Cindy aggravated her knee.  She's taking it easy until she sees the doctor this week.

I fully broke in my shoes with a weekend in New York.  Traipsing around the city Friday, Saturday and Sunday got me warmed up (in spite of the frigid temperatures) for an evening of ice skating at Rockefeller Center (which I would not have been able to survive had we not started this walking thing).  

Monday our enlarged crew hit the streets cruising the pathways and cul de sacs challenging any and all cars in our path.  A posse of Anne, Marta, Sheila and I called on Cindy, who lent us her encouragement as we set out on our walkabout.  The walk was fun, invigorating and successful, as no paramedics needed to be called.

Onward!

OK, fine

Ok fine, I will attempt to use a blog. I have never done this before, so forgive me if I don't do it often enough. Nancy, as wonderful a person as she is, is now thrusting me into the world of blogging. Yes, I did go to her and ask about walking with a year end goal of walking in a 3K or 5 K walk next year. Heck, if I had known I'd have to write about my walking, I would have asked someone else! Oh yeah, she is an English Comp Assistant, should have known. Just kidding Nancy.

We had an awesome walk this morning. Sheila, Nancy and I; however, I think Sheila really was trying to wrangle herself out of going! We walked around Jersey for a good hour before we reached my house. I did have to go weigh in at Medifast. Lost a pound! Woo Hoo! I had gained 3 over the whole holiday season. Now it is coming off slowly, but I am determined to loose a bit more before my trip to Mexico this spring for spring break.

I sure do look forward to making this challenge work with good friends and discussions on the run. Our first short term goal is to walk to Starbucks at Muddy Branch, have a drink and then walk back. Gonna take some time to work up to that!! I'm game...are you?

Paving the road to hell

"So, do you make New Year's resolutions?" Cindy asked sweetly and sincerely. "No," I replied with an intonation that clearly suggested, "Do I look like I make resolutions?" And so it began, the resolve, the decision and soon the complaining surrounding a New Year's resolution.

Cindy is very nice (as you will find out when she posts); so is Sheila. Me? Not so much. I rather like to complain. Actually by the time Cindy mentioned the resolution, she and Sheila had already decided to take action, so I had no chance against them.

This isn't even a huge resolution. That's part of the problem. It's realistic and manageable, so there will be no excuse for me to back out, as I am wont to do. Even this blog is intended to keep us motivated and on track. If people follow this blog, or heaven forfend, comment, there will be additional impetus for us to continue towards our goal.

So what is the goal? To walk. Not far. I thought Cindy was going to request we train for a marathon. Easy, "no." Then she said, "three." I thought she was going to say, "three-day walk." Again, "no, thanks." Then she said, "K." Damn. I can do a 3K walk. So I didn't agree exactly, but I was pretty positive in my response. Meanwhile my brain was whirling to figure out how I could avoid this act of responsibility and self-respect.

As soon as Cindy left, I cleared the teacups and began looking in earnest for chocolate and a tv remote, then I thought perhaps I could research 3K walk training on the internet and perhaps play some free cell. Then I thought perhaps I should take a walk. Oh no, it's starting. I asked my family if anyone wanted to take a walk and received a resounding "No" from all. Excuse one, check. Then I called Cindy, but she had already gone out spreading resolution cheer throughout the land. Cool. Excuse two, check. Then I called Sheila. She said, "Sure. I'd love to take a walk." I asked her to repeat her response because I was so counting on her unavailability that I was not quite paying attention. I tried to dissuade her, but she cheerfully assented. I so need new friends.

So Sheila and I took a walk. It was actually lovely. The weather was cold and grey, but had that nice wintry, snowy feel. We kept extending our walk because we were enjoying our conversation and so managed to walk for at least an hour. I'm actually glad I went, because, one, I feel better for having got some exercise, and, two, I'll probably get to complain tomorrow when I'm sore from walking so much after my years of inertia. Win-win.

So stay tuned. Cindy and Sheila should get equal time posting, so all the entries won't be whiny. We may even get others on board and add pictures and distance charts and buy new sneaks and lycra running gear and qualify for the senior olympics, but maybe not. At least today we took a walk.