THE TUESDAY AFTER

We had a great time at our group party last night. Lot's of sharing, laughter (lot's of laughter) and reminiscing.
Yesterday I felt quite good except for some aches when I got up after sitting for a while. I did get some walking in by using the push mower to do lawn. Today I went over to the addition across from us and did 5 circles which is 2 miles. I walked the first 4 and ran the last round. Sort of "back in the saddle again".

REACHING MY GOAL

Over the last few months I have made 99 entries on this blog. 99 steps along the way to reaching a goal that I must admit I thought was probably impossible. But, because I was chosen to be part of the Fort 4 Fitness training group and had the guidance provided by Dr. Gordon, Indiana News Center and Mary Collins, and the support and encouragement of my companions, family, and friends, I achieved it.
I included a quote from Walt Disney in one of my early blog entries. "It's kinda fun to do the impossible" It certainly has!
Last February 14, at just after midnight, I made a life changing decision and sent the following letter to Mary Collins at Indiana News Center in response to her appeal for novice runners to sign up for the challenge.
I'm just wondering if I could be a part of your fitness group preparing for the Fort 4 Fitness Half Marathon? This might just be the motivation I need to do something about my level of fitness and health. Sounds like work--but, sounds like fun too. I will soon be 68 years old, I need to lose some weight, and I avoid stairs if I can. My wife, kids and grandkids would all be thrilled if I could get to the point where I could actually run a half marathon. Maybe I could be an inspiration to them and to many other senior citizens if I could pull this off.
Goal reached. Where do I go from here? That question has entered the minds of all of us in the group. Everyone is committed to continuing their efforts to stay fit. We will all choose what is most effective and satisfying for us and fits our lifestyles. I plan to devote an hour to walking or running three times a week during the next few months. Perhaps more as I will probably get the itch to run in some 5K runs yet before winter. Around year end many of us in the group will meet to begin planning how we can be part of the training of next year's novice runners so that we can "pay it forward" and help them do the "impossible" too.
I am going to continue to blog on seeterryrun because really my journey has only begun. We have a lot more miles to go.

TAH--DAH !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just a quick update so those of you who have been following this journey with me and haven't yet heard....We all did it ! All of us who ran the 13.1 and the 4 mile did it. We conquered our fears, injuries, mis-givings, excess baggage, and we did it. It was a perfect day which made the experience even better. I have recovered well physically which I am thankful for. Within 24 hours after the race I was feeling almost back to par. Today I feel "about like any normal day" except that I am still on a"high".

I did some walking today just to work out any kinks. This evening our regular monday evening group workout is going to be a party. One last chance to get together and share our experience and compare notes.

As soon as I can I will be adding my thoughts and some additional pictures to this page so you can share our day.

FINAL WEEK UPDATE NUMBER 3

Tomorrow is the big day. I am not doing anything today but rest. (except for some nervous pacing) During this week I have begun getting up at 5 AM and having my usual breakfast then. That puts my body into the time frame it is used to because I usually allow two hours after I eat to do any running. So when we take off at 7:30 there will be no belly aches. Other than the little water bottles that I take along on longer runs I haven't gotten in to the energy snack thing. I have 4 gummy worms and an energy bar packed to take along tomorrow just in case I would need them. I'll get my water along the way at the various spots it is offered.

Encouragement keeps coming my way from so many people who have followed the group and I as we worked toward this goal. I'm so glad we can be an example of what is possible.

I don't take prayer lightly. I respect it's awesome power. So it is my prayer that we can inspire others tomorrow, accomplish this safely, be joy filled and humble. To some what we have done may seem trivial. To me it has been a life changing experience.

FINAL WEEK UPDATE NUMBER 2

Yesterday I ran a three mile workout. Today I walked two miles. Other than that I haven't done anything additional to prepare for Saturday. I am still feeling good physically and my confidence is high.
I'm receiving much encouragement and good wishes from many friends, family, and a lot of others that I didn't even know were aware of my endeavor and following my progress.

FINAL WEEK UPDATE NUMBER 1

Last Friday I followed my ten mile excursion with a four mile workout. Did some lawn mowing and helped my daughter move over the weekend. Last evening our Monday group session met and we did shorter distances. Some two miles, some three, one did four. I did three. Sometime today I will do some walking, tomorrow 2 or 3 miles running, and alternate that way all the way to Friday.
We discussed the logistics of where to meet Saturday morning, what time, and the importance of not altering our routine, diet, clothing, etc. Some have driven the route to get a feel for it.

On Friday evening those of us who can will spend time at the health expo at the Indiana News Center booth. Also that will be the best time to get our race packets.

A lot of excitement and apprehension.

GREAT DAY FOR CRICKETS, WALNUTS, AND RUNNING

My usual running schedule of late, since it is so dark when I was starting out at 6:00 or 7:00, is to have breakfast at 7:00 and then run at 10 or 10:30. It works great when the weather is as nice as it has been lately. So today I started out at 10:30. Ran on the roads over north of the river and it was one of those days when it all felt good--and easy, sort of. I thought that I would maybe do 6 miles today and when I got to the 3 mile mark I decided to keep going instead of turning around. I had gone on new roads I hadn't run before and I met some new dogs. Thank goodness for the electronic dog wire buried in the ground. I also had been running with thousands of crickets for company. They were thick out on the roadway, crawling and jumping everywhere. And frequently I would find walnuts to avoid where they had fallen in my path. I kept imagining what would happen if I stepped on one and took flying nose dive.
By now I had covered 4 miles and still hadn't headed back to the starting point where my car was. So I knew I was doing at least an 8 mile run. My last big run before the marathon. Oh what the heck--I'm cruisin'. At mile 5 I turned around and headed back. Felt good and took walking breaks on the upslope of about three uphill sections of the trip back to the car.
The great thing is that at the end my per mile pace was less than a minute per mile slower than when I started. So it was a ten mile day.
Tylenol has been in order this afternoon and I've kept a bottle of water close. But I feel good and will be recovered tomorrow and will run a four mile on Friday. Saturday will be a busy day helping my daughter move and also going to my 50 year class reunion. Next week is taper off week in preparation for the big run.
Watch out for the walnuts. Is stepping on crickets bad luck?

TRYING TO STAY READY

Each day is slipping by as the F 4 F gets closer and closer. I'm concerned that I might lose some of the longer distance stamina if I don't run at least every other day. Unpleasant, rainy weather has been the norm lately so I've made some four mile runs in between showers. Saturday's planned charity walk was scrapped. Rain. Sunday morning I did a four mile run. Storms then moved through and by today it became cool and partly sunny which made our group run this evening quite pleasant. Another four miles.
We discussed a lot of the information from the marathon committee and asked Jamey a lot of questions to better get a feel for what the start, route and possible obstacles might turn out to be. None of us have run in as large a group as this will be. (3000) Or for this long a distance.
Jamey stressed the importance of not allowing more than a day off between training runs as we near the end of preparation as it will be hard to build back up in time. This week I will do another four mile and hopefully a six on Friday or Saturday. Then next week will be a couple fours and twos as the last week before the race will be here.
Some of us are going the half marathon, some the four mile, and some have injuries or illnesses that will keep them from participating.

A QUICK RUN

Today's workout was squeezed in between an early breakfast and appointment and a mid-day trip to Ft. Wayne. I hit the road at 10 a.m. and finished shortly after 11. Another four miles accomplished. I am feeling good.
I plan to walk in a walk-a-thon on Saturday to benefit Altzheimer Research so I will run 6 or 8 miles on Sunday. Then into the last two weeks before the F4F run.

I am trying to eat healthy but I am really hungry lately. May be from stress.

STAYING READY

I've found that staying ready for the marathon requires some effort. After reaching the eleven mile mark a couple weeks ago and then starting to try to hold that edge has taken some work. I tapered off to four mile runs on Monday and Wednesday and then an eight on the weekend. Then fours and six. Mentally that seems like going backwards and has created some apprehension. Waiting to run the 13 is hard--I want to run it now. Our training schedule has the 11 mile run as our peak training distance and then the taper back on distance with light training race week.
Last evening at our group get together we met at Johnny Appleseed Park. Roger was back with us after a few weeks of absense but he had kept up with training and is right with us in preparing for the run. We did four miles. Linda got lost and probably got in about 4.25. Kylee has proven to be a very fast walker as she is keeping right with it as she avoids running until her eye problem is solved.
It appears that everyone is staying on track for the big day.

A WEAK WEEK

This past week was a tough one. My daily routine was sent topsy-turvy due to the hospitalization of my father-in-law and the time we needed to devote to his care. I did get out last Monday on Labor day but after that I really didn't get to do the four miles during the week that I had planned. Today I did get out in the afternoon and I ran six miles. No walking-- 6 miles straight which I am very happy about.
I am anxious for the 27th to get here.

LABOR DAY MORNING

It was quiet and comfortable yesterday morning when I did my four mile run. I went to the new highway 24 near my home again and ran on the new pavement. Not any construction going on at all so it was wide open spaces. A routine run and I finished by 8 a.m. and returned home. Next run will be on Wednesday evening with the F4F group. I'm starting to deal with my annual dose of hayfever. Finally beginning to take some medication. So far it isn't bothering my breathing when I run.
Only 24 more days to go.