Virtual Walk

It's been a while since I've posted about the progress on my virtual walk.  July was a bad month for slogging since it was super hot out and we were on vacation.  I'm slowly getting back into a routine though.  I am 2-1/2 miles to go before I "reach" Leg #2 - Walnut Grove. 

Several weeks ago I began thinking about my next virtual destination.  When I had blogged about Leg #2, Lori (Dakota City Quilter) had emailed me that I should come visit her at the Gavin's Point Dam/Lewis and Clark Lake.  (She volunteers at the visitor center during the summer.)  So once I "leave" Walnut Grove, I will start heading to South Dakota to visit Lori.

While I was playing on Mapquest to figure out mileage, I decided to map out a couple more legs on my virtual destination.  Currently I have it mapped to Yellowstone, which will take me a couple years at my current rate.  After that I'm not sure if I'll go north towards Oregon/Washington or just go directly west to California.

"Just" 1.5 more!

I went slogging this morning.  The weather was MUCH cooler than last week.  (Although it's going to heat up to the 90s later today and tomorrow.)  I mapped out my route using runningmap.com and had planned on going just over 10 miles.  Well, my route ended up being 11.6 miles!  Around lap 10 I was wondering what the heck I had gotten myself into.  I hadn't planned on going quite that far, but I did it!  Now, I just need to go 1.5 MORE miles to equal a half marathon.  Funny how 1.5 miles doesn't seem like that far, but it sure does after already going 11.6.

I didn't post a to-do list today because the only things I wanted to get done today were my long slog and casting on Gemini for Camp Loopy project #2.  I have 8 rows done on Gemini already, but needed to take a little break.

So now I'm going to eat a little and then continue working on Gemini while watching the Brewers.  Their luck has to change at some point right?!?!

Virtual Walk

Leg #1 of the Virtual Walk I started last year is complete!  And just where did I go you ask?  My first virtual destination was Amy's Up North since she motivated me to get my tush off the couch and start slogging again. 

Now I'm trying to decide where my next "stop" should be.  I'm thinking of heading west, with a stop in Minnesota...somewhere between 100-200 miles.  If you have any suggestions of a city to "virtually visit", let me know.

Thanks again for the inspiration Amy!

Turn The Heat On Please!!!

Would someone please turn the heat on outside?  Originally it was supposed to be 25 degrees today but currently it's only 14 degrees and we're heading to the Milwaukee Zoo for the Sampson Stomp & Romp Run/Walk.  It's going to be a refreshing slog!  And to think that I was slogging outside on Wednesday in 51 degree weather!  I'm ready for spring.

Yowzers!!!

Who would have thunk that I'd be slogging OUTSIDE on the 6th of January?!?!?  It was 45 degrees this afternoon...perfect slogging weather!  If only it would stay this way!  I'm really hoping that we get an early spring this year.

Since no snow or sleet is forecasted, I'm signed up for the Sampson Stomp 5K next weekend!

I managed to sneak in 4.5 miles for the 100-mile challenge this week.  I got a great start today for next week's total.

Fitness Friday - 9/30

Today is the last day of the 100-mile Challenge.  My personal goal was to get 125 miles in by the end of the day.  I currently have 122 miles in.  I was going to do my last 3 miles yesterday but we had 50-mph winds and rain, and I didn't feel like going on the treadmill.  So one way or another I WILL get these last 3 miles in today.

Fitness Friday - 9/23

Well it's been a while since I blogged about Fitness Friday.  I keep forgetting until Saturday and Fitness Saturday just doesn't sound as nice.  A couple weeks ago I met my pledge of 100 miles for the 100-mile Challenge!  I had a reward in mind, but I didn't post it in case I couldn't meet my pledge.  My reward was a new laptop.  I actually got it 2 weeks before I met 100 but that's only because I didn't think my old laptop would make it until I reached 100.  The new laptop is nothing fancy, just something for me to use for surfing and keeping track of my sewing, knitting and exercising time.  Next week is the last week of the challenge and I'm currently at 117 miles.  Before we started the challenge I had a personal goal of 125, so I have 8 miles to go. 

And to show you that all this slogging (slow jogging) is all worth it, three years ago my blood sugar and cholesterol numbers were high and I was tagged as "pre-diabetic".  My numbers have steadily been going down since I've started exercising, reduced my food portions, and eat healthier.  Today I had my annual physical and all my numbers were normal!!!  It just goes to show that with a little work, you can lower your "bad" numbers!  You CAN do it!

For my "virtual walk" here is my progress....over halfway there!:

~ Miles Walked in 2011: 218.97 miles
~ Miles Left to My "Virtual" Destination: 74.59 miles

It's All Amy's Fault!

That would be Amy from Amy's Passions.  She posted last week about getting together to do a run/walk someday.  She had mentioned possibly doing a 10K which I've only done twice (one race and once just for exercise). 

Last night hubby and his sister both ran a half marathon, each beat their personal best records (1 hr 34 min for hubby and 2 hrs and 17 min for SIL).  This morning I went for my walk/jog and decided to go a little further.  At first I was just going to go 5 miles, but then I saw the town road was only 1/2 mile further so decided to go a bit more.  Then I thought of Amy and how I should start practicing for 6 miles, so I kept going and went 6.2 miles in 1 hour and 17 minutes which was faster than I did the race earlier this year.  Although I almost completely walked during that race.  My legs felt heavy around lap 4 but I don't feel any worse for the wear after so we'll have to see if we can find a race next year where we get together.

Of course my pants/shorts getting looser also give me a little extra motivation to keep my feet moving!

I Did it! - Race Results

I finished!!!  My goal was to finish in 50 minutes, and I ended up finishing in 47:25 (11:52 pace)!  There was one challenging hill and the finish was at the bottom of a hill.  I thought I was going to trip up and end up rolling to the finish, but another guy who I had given a little pep talk to a little while back gave me some encouragement and we finished together.  Our "reward" was a brat (yuck) on a stick, which I happily gave to hubby.  I told him I didn't just walk/slog 4 miles to clog my arteries.  My knees hurt afterwards (probably from the finish) but I took an Aleve and they're much better now.

So now I have to figure out what/when the next race will be.  Next week hubby is doing a 1/2 marathon so I know I'll be going to that to cheer him on.

Fitness Friday - 8/5

It's Friday!!!  Rain kind of screwed up my walk/slog schedule this week, but I still managed to get some miles in.  My total for the 100-mile Challenge is now 59 miles! 

I logged 44.9 miles in the month of July which was a record for the most miles in one month not only for this year, but also last year. 

Tomorrow is my 4-mile race!  No rain forecasted, but still humid and hot.  Wish me luck! 

For my "virtual walk" here is my progress....over halfway there!:

~ Miles Walked in 2011: 164.19 miles
~ Miles Left to My "Virtual" Destination: 118.55 miles

Fitness Friday - 7/29

Ooops, looks like I forgot to post last Friday.  I can't believe it, I'm almost halfway to my 100-mile pledge and we're just finishing up the first month!   To date I have 47 miles logged for the 100-mile challenge, but August and September are when my allergies kick in so we'll see if I can keep up this pace.  Obviously, walking/slogging at least 4 miles at a time definitely helps.  One more week of training before the 4-mile race I'm entered in.

For my "virtual walk" here is my progress:

~ Miles Walked in 2011: 151.29 miles
~ Miles Left to My "Virtual" Destination: 131.45 miles

Fitness Friday - 7/15

I got a lot of walking and workouts in this past week.  On Saturday I did a 2-mile run/walk and finished in 24:33 which I was very happy with.  Ended up jogging quite a bit the last mile. 

Now I'm "training" for a 4-mile run/walk that's in a month.  I've been trying to jog for a count of 25, then walk for a count of 50 and then repeat.  Eventually I hope to jog longer, but it'll take time.

So for the 100-mile challenge, I've logged 24 miles in the first two weeks! 

For my "virtual walk" here is my progress:

~ Miles Walked in 2011: 135.19 miles
~ Miles Left to My "Virtual" Destination: 147.55 miles

Fitness Friday

Since I've signed up for the 100-mile Challenge for the next 3 months, I thought I should bring back Fitness Friday.

For the first week of the challenge (thru yesterday), I logged 6 miles.  I was off today and racked up quite a few more miles between walking this morning and exercising this afternoon.  Tomorrow we're doing a race (2 mile walk for me and 5 mile run for hubby).  I was going to do the 5 mile one but it's only for runners, so hubby suggested I do the 2 mile walk and work on going faster instead of doing the 5 miles and coming in essentially last.

I'm still keeping track of my "virtual walk" too.  Here is my progress:

~ Miles Walked in 2011: 124.19 miles
~ Miles Left to My "Virtual" Destination: 158.55 miles

The Loopy Ewe, an online yarn shop, is doing a virtual summer camp and the first month's camp project was a two-colored shawl or scarf.  My camp project was Sothia and I chose a light turquoise and grey for my stripes and a dark turquoise for the ruffle.  I bound off today and just need to weave in the ends and block it.  By the end I had almost 800 stitches on the needles!!!  It was an easy, mindless knit, but I sure was glad to be done with all those stitches.

Here is the pre-blocked photo:

Blog Vacation

My poor, poor blog.  I'm sorry I've been away, but I have been in a funk.  I didn't think anyone who reads my blog really wanted to read about it, so I decided to take a little vacation from blogging.
There are a lot of things that have gone on since my little "vacation".  I've gotten several knitting projects done, plus started several more (shawls). 

About two months ago we lost Roxie, one of our goats.  We still had one left, but she was lonely by herself so hubby watched Craigslist and about 3 weeks ago he found an ad from a lady about 4 miles from us who needed to get rid of 3 baby goats (twins born in March and 1 born in April).  We couldn't just pick 1, so now Zoey has 3 companions.

(Piper, Zoey, Leo, & Prue -

yes, I am a fan of the TV show Charmed)

I ran in the Green Bay Cellcom 5K and, despite the miserable weather, beat the goal I had placed for myself.  About a month ago I did my first 10K (6 miles) walk which I finished in 1 hour and 30 minutes.  I also signed up for the 100-mile fitness challenge that runs from July 1 to Sept. 31.  Depending on how hot it is, tomorrow I may do a 5 mile run/walk.

This past week we went up north on vacation with SIL and her family.  They always go water skiing.  For the past 3 years I've just been a spotter, but this year I bit the bullet and decided to give it a try.  The first day I tried about 5 times to get up out of the water, and was close one time.  The second day I got up on the third try but wiped out almost right away.  When I tried again later that day I got up and went about 100 yards.  By the third day I almost made an entire loop.  Practice, practice, practice!

And for those who read my blog because for quilty content, I still haven't gotten back my quilty mojo, but last week a friend dropped off 16 t-shirts for me to make into a t-shirt quilt.....so I will need to get it back soon!

That's the highlight of what's happened while I've been on vacation from blogging.  I'll post some of my finished knitting projects soon.

Hope you have a Happy 4th of July!

Fitness Friday - 4/22

Yikes, I keep forgetting to post my progress!  I HAVE been making some progress towards my "virtual" destination.  My 5K walk/run is coming up soon.  Hopefully we're FINALLY done with snow now so I can walk outside more.

~ Miles Walked in 2011:  79.6 miles

~ Miles Left to My "Virtual" Destination:  203.14 miles

Fitness Friday - 4/1

I had a pretty good week....walked 10 miles since my first post!  No fooling either!

~ Miles Walked in 2011:  61.6 miles

~ Miles Left to My "Virtual" Destination:  221.14 miles

Fitness Friday - 3/25

If you've been following my blog for a while you know that I've been walking to lose weight and reduce my blood sugar.  I've also been "training" to do the 5K run/walk in Green Bay.

I read a book last year where the character had a map and kept track of how far she went on her exercise bike.  I thought it would be fun (and hopefully motivating) to choose a "destination" to walk towards where I can look on a map and visually see my progress (kinda like a little adventure).  Each Friday I'm going to update my progress to show how much closer I've gotten to my destination.  It will likely take the entire year, but I'd like to see if I can do it.

~ Total Miles to Destination:  282.74 miles

~ Miles Walked in 2011:  51.6 miles

~ Miles Left:  231.14 miles