Cold Weather Training

Training when the weather is really cold is like walking a tight-rope. It seems that whatever you try...at some point you are either too hot, too cold, and unable to move.

I have tried very valiantly this winter to keep up with my walking. And although we have had some warm days and some moderate days, there have been some real cold times. Like Saturday two weeks ago. And today. And last Thursday. And then there was the day it snowed. I know you can see the picture.

I seem to have the most problems with my legs because if you have on one layer you are cold...but add an additional layer and you feel bound and like you can barely move. So most of the time I just choose one layer and freezing. I have tried a tight pair of running tights under my running pants. Not the best for movement...but I don't recall being cold on that walk.

The top portion is easier. It's easier to layer the top portion. I put on a dri-weave t-shirt and then a long sleeve wicking shirt then maybe another and then a fleece jacket. Over the weekend I found an actual fleece SHIRT here in Greenville and it is so warm. I wore it Sunday to walk and it was warm...but Sunday was almost Spring-like. So not a real big test.

I am looking forward to wearing it tonight on my five-miler. I am going to do dri-weaver and then the fleece shirt and then the fleece jacket. I am hoping that I will be fine.

Alaska Dawg

Walking with others

Our team trained together Saturday morning and we walked four miles. I trained by myself on Sunday and I walked five miles.

It's unbelievable the difference between the two walks. I can walk anywhere between five and seven miles easily, so my endurance level is pretty high. But after the four miles on Saturday, I was ready for more. After the five Sunday, I was done. lol

Our team talked the first week about how different walking long distances with someone is...particularly walking the half-marathon itself. And my friend Marta's recent experience with walking alone on the Appalachian Trail bears this out. Walking alone is an additional obstacle to overcome.

Walking with others...you barely notice the miles going by. You don't notice that you are keeping a good pace (we walked about a 16 1/2 minute miles Saturday morning). The fellowship and the conversation keep your mind off how hard you are working.

Sunday I was fine fitness wise, but it seemed like the walk went on forever. Don't get me wrong...I very much enjoy my walks. But I can tell you from experience, there is a huge difference when you walk with your buddies. It's so much easier and so much more fun.

I feel so lucky to know that there are several people that will be walking with me in Alaska that I know are going to make the experience one of the best things ever.

This week brings the team social and some more training.

HIKE/WALK ON GIRLS!!!
Alaska Dawg

The 'I'm Not Worthy' Post...Times 3

Our team gathered this morning for our Saturday morning training session. It was a smaller group this week and it allowed us to get to know each other a little better. I think this week I was able to learn all the names but one. Linda, Carole the Coach, Leigh or Lee, Maggie, Flora, and me. Linda's daughter was there also, and she is the one I am not sure on the name for. I apologize profusely.

So now on to the reasons I am not worthy.

#1 As we were on our way back from Pete's this morning, we found out that Flora is a Myeloma survivor. Holy cow. This angel of a woman is out there walking a half-marathon and is a Myeloma survivor. I am so in awe. It's walking examples like this that tell us why we can't ever ever ever give up in life.

#2 Maggie and Katharine and I went out to breakfast at The HOP afterward, and we got to know each other a little better. One of the reasons that Maggie is walking is that she lost her husband Wilburn to cancer. Maggie was Wilburn's caretaker during his illness. Wow. In addition to our honored survivor Lee, I know Wilburn will be with us every step of the way.

#3 Linda's daughter, whose name I did not catch, had gotten up that morning to go out to Furman and run with the runners at 6:30 a.m. And then she came and walked four miles with us. Linda's daughter is walking the half-marathon with her mother and then running the last half. I AM SOOOOOOOOOO NOT WORTHY. You are a new inspiration to me and all of your teammates, and we are rooting rooting rooting for your BIG SUCCESS.

As a team, we are looking forward to meeting our other teammates at the big social on Tuesday night. We see the runners in downtown, and this morning we passed a group of cyclists that may be team members. But everyone is training and we wave in passing. It will be nice to be able to shake hands and say hello and maybe not be so sweaty. lol

Sooo..until Tuesday.

Alaska Dawg

Wow. Five miles huh?

Well, yesterday here in the beautiful South was 60 degrees plus, so I did what walkers do...I WALKED. 5 miles. Out the back of my neighborhood. Through the office park. Waved at Car Max (half way point), and turned around and headed back.

I encountered three young women runners along the way to the half-way point. Waved. Gave them the thumbs up. And when I passed them on the way back I shouted encouragement to the one in back. She looked ok, but you could tell she was struggling.

For now, my limit point must be about 5 1/2 miles. I was tired after the five, but I wasn't given out. But I could tell it was coming. So I figure it is about 5 1/2 miles. That should go up pretty quickly as we get into longer sustained distances as this month goes on. By the end of February our coach has us at 4-5 miles per day.

I want to add some weight training in there, and it is all a matter of getting out that Yoga DVD and making myself do it. I used to go to Yoga class, and I LOVED Power Yoga. I have a DVD. The mind has to follow. I am trying to figure out what needs to change to make me pop it in. Maybe I should just go to a class at a local studio. That will rekindled the fire.

Seriously, if you want to build up strength everywhere in your body...do Yoga. There is nothing that can compare to lifting your own weight. It is unbelievable what your arms and stomach will look like.

Four and a half months to Alaska. Three months, give or take a little, to the Big Walk in Big D. Come on Hummingbird.

Well, until next time...HIKE and WALK ON SISTERS.

Alaska Dawg

I am a Walker.

Today is Tuesday February 6, 2007. But in honor of Marta, we are backing up to Saturday February 3, 2007.

As a Team in Training for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, we had our first half-marathon training session on Saturday the 3rd. We all met at the Hyatt in downtown Greenville for a two mile walk. Two miles for me is a gimme. I am up to 4-6 miles a day. But we do have a lot of beginners on our team from the looks of it, and they are going to take a while to bring along. We have five months.

The group numbered about fourteen and our coach was among them. She was talking to the majority of the group...But I was anxious to GET GOING. It was 20-something degrees and the wind was blowing, and I was ready to walk. And then we were OFF.

There were three of us in the front that were just gone. A woman on the team named Maggie and another woman whose name I didn't catch but who had trained and done a marathon in another year. She isn't walking this year, only training because she knows our coach Carole. The three of us were way out in front and walking probably about a 16-minute mile pace. I should have timed it.

But the thing that sent me over the moon with confidence happened about half way to the West End. Maggie looked over at me and said, "I can tell you are a walker." What? O-M-G. Are you serious? This woman thinks I am an athlete. And that is when it hit me...I AM!!!

I am a walker, and therefore an athlete. There is still work to do, but I AM a walker. I was over the moon for the rest of the day. No one could have gotten me down. And Maggie, I don't know you well yet, but you will always have a special place in my heart. You called me a walker, and I don't know how to even express to you how WONDERFUL that makes me feel after all the work I have put in the last eight or so months.

Holy Cow...I am a WALKER. And I kept pace with these other walkers, and the three of us were ahead of most of the others. And no, I wasn't panting. I very rarely pant these days.

I hopefully will be a walker for the rest of my life...God-willing. And I am an athlete. I am going to Alaska to be an athlete for those that can't.

Alaska-bound Dawg

Last June, I set off on a journey. I went looking for myself. I don't know why, but my 30's, as I look back on them, are a haze. I was overweight. I lost a long-time job. I went back to college at an age where people should be buying that bump-up house, not taking on college loans.

But a funny thing happened last June. I took control. I have dropped 52 pounds. I am walking 4-6 miles a day. I have rekindled and stoked all the wonderful friendships that were stagnant. I found happiness and contentment.

I found me. And after I found me, I decided to use me to help someone else.

On Tuesday January 30, 2007 I joined the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Team in Training (TNT) to walk my first half-marathon to be held in Anchoarage, Alaska on June 23rd, 2007. I can do it, I know I can. I have faith in myself, and I have faith in what I call my family...those of blood relation and those related by love...and the list is long.

Our team will be walking in honor of Leukemia patient Lee Foster, who resides here in Greenville. Lee has battled Leukemia since 2001. Lee runs everyday with his lab named Shelly. With no e. Every year, Leukemia and related cancers claim thousands of lives. I am fund-raising for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for continued resarch for a cure.

If you are willing to help me reach my goal of $5000.00, please click on the link in the sidebar that will take you directly to my website where donations can be made via credit card.

You may also email me at gadog430@charter.net to make a donation via check. All checks should be made out to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, or LLS for short. 75% of donations go directly to research.

I will also be sending out a letter in a few weeks with more details and with a lavendar ribbon enclosed. If you would like for me to walk in honor of a family member or friend that has been affected by cancer please write their name on the ribbon and mail it back to me in the enclosed self-stamped envelope. All ribbons received will be worn on a vest for the entire marathon, and I will send a picture of me at the finish line with all the ribbons to everyone that asked me to walk in honor of their loved one. I am asking for a $50.00 donation in their honor or memory.

My personal goal is to complete all my fund-raising by April 2007 so that I can concentrate on training from then on.

I hope that you will check back regularly for updates on my fund-raising progress and my training advancement.

Rosalyn aka Alaskan Dawg

The last year has finally taught me that anything is possible in life. ANYTHING.