Cold Day....Warm Fuzzy

Today was the culmination of a few short weeks of activity by hundreds of volunteers to accept the challenge and raise BIG BUCKS for the trails system extending from New Haven on the east to Aboite Trails on the west and north toward the Dupont Rd. area. It will serve thousands with a seamless connection of walking, biking, running, rollerblading trails. 40 miles of them. Indiana News Center spearheaded a campaign in response to seed money of $10,000.00 from Oprah's Big Give. Today as the effort culminated with a celebration of runs, walks, biking and a community party at Headwaters Park it was announced that the community response generated over a million dollars. Oprah's film crews were taping all day at the events and Ft. Wayne will certainly be a part of the final episode of Oprah's Big Give on Sunday April 20th. Several sections of the trails can now be completed and joined together with the existing system.
It was a cold and wet day and yet thousands braved the weather to participate. Tony Dungee and some of the Indianapolis Colts even came to help celebrate. A number of us on the training team helped man a booth at two of the locations to encourage anyone interested in following a program in parallel to ours to watch the Indiana News Center broadcasts and website for the weekly step by step program that they can follow. Each of us will soon be blogging on that website.
Today wasn't a workout day for me as it should have been but a few hours out in the cold and wet on the concrete was a test of undurance of a sort. Tomorrow I'll get back at it. In just over a month of step by step effort I am more fit, flexible and surprised at how good I feel and what I can do. And I've lost 8 pounds--a nice side benefit. If I were not a part of "the group" I would still be back at my sedentary square one. All of us in the training group can partner with many through the broadcast and internet media so all can benefit from the inspiration and encouragement needed to succeed.

Progress and We're On TV

Today Mary Collins did live remotes on the morning news with Dr. Jamey Gordon and Kevin from our group. It was a kick off to the public participation in our endeavor. This isn't just about those of us who are fortunate to be in the training program, it is about how we can inspire many of all ages to join in. As was the case for us a few weeks ago it is about starting with walking (correctly and efficiently) and building from that to the running. Good things happen along the way. All of us in the group can do so much more, feel so much better, and see how we are making progress.
This Saturday many of us will participate in the fund raising activities that Ft. Wayne and surrounding area have developed as participants in Oprah's Big Give that will raise money to develop and finish segments of the miles and miles of trails that stretch across the area.
Today I walked a mile on the treadmill just because I knew it would make me feel good. Our group workout was going to consist mostly of exercises so I wanted to get some walking in. At the workout we did two repetitions of the various exercises using weights, exercise balls, balance platforms, lunges, lifts, etc. That took up most of the hour. Tonight I have aches. No pain no gain.

Outdoor Workout Today

We have a fitness trail in Antwerp, only a mile or so long, but it is paved and joins up with our park and then some city streets that can be utilized. Today I did my running/walking there covering a total of 3.3 miles in about an hour. Batteries went dead in my little GPS unit so I lost the totals. It was working at the half way turn around point and so I doubled the figures it showed me there. I am happy to report that I mixed in several stints of running, some for two minutes and some for one. I am taking antibiotics and allegra for a sinus infection--breathing well wasn't one of my strong points today. Yesterday afternoon was when I got the two skin cancer spots removed and the incisions and stitches are a little tender today but not bothering me much. What I noticed the most was how much the wind affected me when I did the return portion of the trail into the wind. It seemed to make it a little more difficult.
I'm fortunate to have the free time right now to be able to put in an hour or two a day on these workouts. We'll be doing exercises at the group session tomorrow evening so I hope to put in some time walking/running early in the day tomorrow. (Can't believe I am looking forward to doing it but I am.)

Beware What's Hiding in the Closet

Tonight's group workout went well. Our fearless leader Dr. Jamey Gordon was back from his run in the St. Louis Marathon. I hope my 13.1 mile time is about what his 26.2 mile time was. 4 hours 25 minutes and a few seconds. After most of us related our experiences this past week working out on our own we did 5 minutes or so walking/running to warm up. Then Jamey went to the closet and got out various torture devices. He had already introduced some of them last week on Thursday but I was on my way to Colorado so this was my first encounter. Various weights, exercise balls, the top half of a ball that you stand on to do squats, etc. and also some variations on one legged squats, lunges and backwards running. I attempted to do each one of the twenty or so different exercises and got through each one although nothing of star quality. The great thing is that I was able to attempt them all with more ease and without hurting my leg again. I have some new tender spots this evening so I know I got to some spots that needed strengthening. I'm feeling pretty up beat and am looking forward to this weeks activities. Weather report says rain is coming so it might mean indoor running. I hope not as I like the outdoor workouts better even if they are a little more hard on me. Everybody in the group is doing better each week and we can see each other improving!!!

What a great Sunday afternoon!

I think today is really the first great day of spring for me. We came home from church and had some lunch and then tackled the lawn work. Lots of raking, we live in a wooded setting, and sticks galore to pick up. And it was a workout. I feel more beat than I do when I get done with a walk/run. It is so good to see everything starting to emerge, the crocus blooming, and the grass even greened up a lot the last few days. One of our resident garter snakes showed up out along the road.
173 days to go until the marathon. I keep that in mind when I feel that I might be falling behind. That day will probably have a hint of fall in the air. So there are two whole seasons to enjoy the benefits of building up to the big day. There will be other big days along the way as milestones are reached. Tomorrow we will get back together for a group session. Just hope to get through it without too much difficulty.

Back on Track, Now to Catch Up.

Today was a good training day all around for me. By 11a.m. it was sunny and up in 50's and Cyndy and I took off on the walking trail that starts at the high school and heads up into Antwerp. Followed it and then back out to school and down the road to where the new highway is being built and then back to school. We went 3.3 miles in one hour. The best part is that I was finally able to do some running..without pain. My right leg (hamstring) has healed enough to allow me to do it although slowly and I got in a couple 2 minute stints. Went through a session of exercises right after and that went much better too, again no leg pain. I was very careful though and didn't push it too hard.

IT'S BEEN A WEEK....TIME TO CATCH UP.

Back from Colorado and trying to get back into the swing of things. It was a great visit....albeit quite busy. The Colorado Outdoor Expo kept me very busy and I put in some long days at the Event Center. 10 to 12 hours on the concrete on Friday which was set up day for the vendors. That about did me in. I caught a cold on the plane I guess so that combined with the drier air out there made me uncomfortable. I did some of my exercises and stretches, mainly to get the kinks out from being on my feet so much. I have been able to get in 45 minutes to an hour of 3 mph walking each day and am about ready to try breaking into a run. Hamstring seems to be feeling much better so I'm hoping it won't go back to making my running life difficult. It was so great to spend time working and playing with Tim, Kerri and the 6 grandkids. Good to be back home though and feels really good to get out and do my walk/run here. I can see that spring is on it's way and the small changes I see after just one week's absense make me feel good. I did finally get a heart rate monitor which I am coupling with my gps unit when I hit the road. I gave up on the monitor with no strap and am using a POLAR FS1 that I decided on. Strap not uncomfortable at all. Oh yes, the altitude that I was concerned about, ....didn't bother me at all. Might have if I had really pushed it though. And I found that I needed to drink lots of water and that helped diminish the headache I had at first. Looking forward to next Monday when we all get together so I can see how everyone in the group is doing.