So, since I wrote last, I’ve begun preparing in earnest for the Bataan Memorial Death March Marathon in March 2015. At this stage, there’s not a lot to write about that preparation.
During the week, I try to get 2 miles in before work. This means I pretty well have to be walking by 5:45. Of course, our girls have to get their potty walk in first, so that means I am on the way before 5:30. But, wait! I HAVE to have that first cup of coffee in the morning, so… and before that, Nikki has to have her special breakfast. So, I’m up and getting ready by 4:50 am
I’ve been having problems with my shins this week, each day getting worse and worse until Friday, I was only able to walk 1 mile before it got so bad I had to quit.
That got me to thinking, so I hit the pages of Google, found a few exercises to do, and have added those to my repertoire. I also discovered that just maybe I tried too much too soon in my preparations.
Most marathons that permit walkers have time constraints. Of three I’ve investigated, two require the walker to keep to a 16 min mile pace, and one allows a leisurely 18 minute mile. I’ve been preparing for that 16 min pace, so have been walking FAST!
But the Bataan is MEANT for walkers, and it’s TOUGH! So, they actually are permitting a minimum pace of 30 min per mile.
So today, I started by doing some lower leg exercises, the set out to walk a leisurely pace, one more intended to complete the distance than to do so quickly. I made 5 miles in a titch over 1hr, 34min. No shin pain! The first 3 miles were just over 19 minutes, the 4th was just under 19 and the final mile was down to under 18 (by 5 seconds).
I track my walking on Endomondo, and you can follow along here: (https://www.endomondo.com/workouts/user/17644333)
So, slower. That means I have to leave the house 10 minutes earlier every morning. Um. Jump over this graphic, for a change of subject:
Of course, if all I ever talked about here, I’d be one boring guy. I mean REALLY boring. And, yes, I do have more of a life than just walking. For a few more weeks, anyhow! By mid November, I’m afraid I’m going to be one topic.
Last night, our friends David & Paul picked us up, and we drove up to the Southern New Mexico State Fair and Rodeo. I don’t think ANY of us are all that into rodeos. I frankly don’t really get how they score things. But the scenery is nice. And so is the view of the mountains from the Rodeo bleachers!
After watching about half the rodeo (I think the guys were having an off night) we wandered around the midway, then headed into Las Cruces for a slice of pie at Village Inn, then home!
More next time!
On The Road II 