Well, last week wasn't so good in the training department...and it was the first week too!
The hubby, Charlie and I head out for 3 day sail to Portland Island and I had brought my stuff to measure my walks, but of course didn't use them.
Portland Island is a Marine/Island Park here in the South Gulf Island off Vancouver Island. There is a great 10 km trail around the island that is rather technical (to use the term loosely) at times. We hiked one day of 4 km, then the second day we did the full 10 in 2 1/2 hours and then the third day we did another 4 km hike. For a total of 18 kms and with the measured 10 km I have posted that is 28 kms for the week.
I see that is in step with the prescribed distance we have set for this week. Then why do I feel like I didn't get my training in?
It used to be that if I didn't bring my watch and time all my runs it seemed to not count and now with the nike + system, it seems worse! I need to see the km posted on my sight to think they count as training. What did we do in the old days? Oh yeah...we headed out and did the same training and didn't think of times/ splits/ distances so much.
Maybe I've become too entrenched in the computer age of measuring distances, times, splits, averages and the sorts. So...now looking back at the week....I did get my training in....you'll just have to take my word for it!
Tuesday 28 June 2011
Tuesday 21 June 2011
First day of Summer....
....and the first training workout for the Marathon in October. Not that I stuck to the 5 km walk today but went 10.5 with the dog on the TransCanada Trail. We had a grand time and Charlie is getting fitter and faster- not to mention he's mostly off leash now and doing quite well with that!
I knew I'd have trouble keeping to the low km's at the beginning but I do have an excuse this week....the Hubby and I are headed out sailing for a few days and I'm working until Wednesday morning...so....my training days are cut down! I've decided to try to get in 3 really good training walks instead of 4 so I'm upping the clicks for each one. I'm hoping next week we all can get together for a meet and walk and talk out our plans of attack over coffee...after the walk of course!
We are up to 6 people in the group and a possibility of 2 more joining...should be fun! But we have 16 weeks of training that we have to do, so let's get out there and enjoy the summer and have some FUN!
I knew I'd have trouble keeping to the low km's at the beginning but I do have an excuse this week....the Hubby and I are headed out sailing for a few days and I'm working until Wednesday morning...so....my training days are cut down! I've decided to try to get in 3 really good training walks instead of 4 so I'm upping the clicks for each one. I'm hoping next week we all can get together for a meet and walk and talk out our plans of attack over coffee...after the walk of course!
We are up to 6 people in the group and a possibility of 2 more joining...should be fun! But we have 16 weeks of training that we have to do, so let's get out there and enjoy the summer and have some FUN!
Saturday 18 June 2011
Swimming is exercise too!
When we got home I switched to a high gear and headed out on my own for a much faster pace...6 km in 50 minutes....got some sweat going! I decided to try out some hill training and some interval training. It's something I did when I trained for my 1/2 marathon and wanted to see how I feel walking the route. I built up some heat and was sweating quite well by the time I got home. I'm still amazed at the muscle use while walking.
This was the last free walk because Monday is the start of our Victoria Marathon training. Holy...it's here already! Our first week training is only 24.5 km and I'm wondering if I will stick to that amount since I'm currently averaging 40 kms a week. We'll see! I have a horrible guilt complex if I don't do a certain amout to km in a week.....
I'm excited because everyone is now registared for the marathon and gung-ho to get training! Let's go get them girls!
Oh, and we've nicknamed ourselves 'The DOA's"....that's right....the Dead On Arrivals!
Tuesday 14 June 2011
Walking the Dog
I had a quick change of plans and since 12 km is too far for him to go at this moment, I settled on a good up hill, then down hill hike on the local Cobble Hill Mountain. In the picture of Charlie at the top you can see some roads down at the bottom....those are the streets in my neighborhood.
Today was a quick walk and some running up the hill and a run down the hill...I had to look out for stumps, routes, other dogs, and people and Charlie....well, he barrelled down but was conciderate enough to slow down for me on the real steep parts.
We had a blast and even a quick stop at the dog park below for Charlie to blow off some leftover steam with the other dogs and a cool down walk home.
I'm going to love training with my dog and can hardly wait for him to be able to come out with me on all my run/walks. Now....I can hardly wait for him to be able to come with me off leash and come back when called consistantly....that will happen sometime...right?
Sunday 12 June 2011
What counts and what doesn't?.....
I headed out with Charlie early this morning and met up with a friend, and her 2 dogs, to walk Elk/Beaver Lake in Victoria. I needed 11 kms this week to get my 40 km's in and so I took along my nike plus counter to clock the miles.
We got there and since it is a Sunday, the lake trail is a very busy place anyways with hikers, walkers, dogs, horses, and runners.....but today was also 'walk for diabetes'....so it was packed. Now last week Charlie and I walked the 10 km in 1hr and 30 mins with a couple of stops for sniffs....but today everyone wanted to pet the puppy, the dogs wanted to swim, and my friend and I talked the whole time....so it took us 2 hours to do the same loop (albeit, we had more stops). So does this slower walk count as a training walk? I don't know!
Some purest would say no....you have to get in the desired speed and distance, work up a sweat, and keep it to plan, but I'm saying YES! Yes it counts! Sure it wasn't as fast and I don't really feel like I pushed myself...but we were out there, getting exercise and socializing. Besides, Sundays are for long, slow runs/ or walks anyways.
I think I burned out my desire to run with this last 1/2 marathon because I was thinking like a purest instead of relaxing and enjoying my runs. I pushed and pushed to get the speed work in, the distance, and the desired times! I stuck to the training schedule no matter what! And where did that get me? I was sick for 2 weeks before the race and during the race...where's the enjoyment in that?
So....again....the walk counts! Sure the training schedule is set up for a reason and I will endeavor to follow it until my marathon, but I'm going to try to relax and enjoy the walks and stop every once in a while and let the dog sniff around and I'm going to enjoy the scenery too! We need more doggy walks in our life!
We got there and since it is a Sunday, the lake trail is a very busy place anyways with hikers, walkers, dogs, horses, and runners.....but today was also 'walk for diabetes'....so it was packed. Now last week Charlie and I walked the 10 km in 1hr and 30 mins with a couple of stops for sniffs....but today everyone wanted to pet the puppy, the dogs wanted to swim, and my friend and I talked the whole time....so it took us 2 hours to do the same loop (albeit, we had more stops). So does this slower walk count as a training walk? I don't know!
Some purest would say no....you have to get in the desired speed and distance, work up a sweat, and keep it to plan, but I'm saying YES! Yes it counts! Sure it wasn't as fast and I don't really feel like I pushed myself...but we were out there, getting exercise and socializing. Besides, Sundays are for long, slow runs/ or walks anyways.
I think I burned out my desire to run with this last 1/2 marathon because I was thinking like a purest instead of relaxing and enjoying my runs. I pushed and pushed to get the speed work in, the distance, and the desired times! I stuck to the training schedule no matter what! And where did that get me? I was sick for 2 weeks before the race and during the race...where's the enjoyment in that?
So....again....the walk counts! Sure the training schedule is set up for a reason and I will endeavor to follow it until my marathon, but I'm going to try to relax and enjoy the walks and stop every once in a while and let the dog sniff around and I'm going to enjoy the scenery too! We need more doggy walks in our life!
Wednesday 8 June 2011
Training to start the training schedule
Well, who said walking was easy. Yes we walk everyday and almost everywhere, and we've been walking since we were 2....but this power walking is hard. I'm training with a bunch of other crazy girls for the Victoria marathon in October and we have the ambitious goal of completing the 42 km in 6 hours of less....yes I know a lofty goal that is!
I've run several 1/2 marathons in the past 5 years and felt that it was finally the time to jump to a full marathon, but since I run slowly anyways, I thought what about walking....and I mean power walking...the full this fall. So, I've recruited some girls from work and I've put together a 16 week- 'I just want to finish'- schedule starting June 20th.
I've been clocking 40 km's a week power walking and I tell you that this is hard. It's almost harder than running the same distance....I believe walking uses way more muscles....including arms, core and back. My legs are tired after walking 12 kms. So, yeah, I'm training so I can start the training schedule!!
I've started taking my 6 month old golden retriever, Charlie, on some of my shorter walks. It's hard to get up a head of steam when everyone wants to stop and greet the puppy. Plus, I'm not stressing his joints quite yet, since he's still growing....next year he'll be running/walking on all my outings!
I ran the 1/2 marathon in May in Vancouver and since then have had some great runs and some great walks....but I'm just a little burned out from all my running training...so I'm keeping in shape and training with the walking...plus John Staton of the Running Room has a great book out on walking and this looks like a great source of exercise and fun in the summer months.
Just to let you know the speeds I'm talking about....a 10 km route will take me 1hr 25 mins or 30 mins of walking or about 7 km/hour walking speed....I'm not talking about a leisurely stroll here people!
I've run several 1/2 marathons in the past 5 years and felt that it was finally the time to jump to a full marathon, but since I run slowly anyways, I thought what about walking....and I mean power walking...the full this fall. So, I've recruited some girls from work and I've put together a 16 week- 'I just want to finish'- schedule starting June 20th.
I've been clocking 40 km's a week power walking and I tell you that this is hard. It's almost harder than running the same distance....I believe walking uses way more muscles....including arms, core and back. My legs are tired after walking 12 kms. So, yeah, I'm training so I can start the training schedule!!
I've started taking my 6 month old golden retriever, Charlie, on some of my shorter walks. It's hard to get up a head of steam when everyone wants to stop and greet the puppy. Plus, I'm not stressing his joints quite yet, since he's still growing....next year he'll be running/walking on all my outings!
I ran the 1/2 marathon in May in Vancouver and since then have had some great runs and some great walks....but I'm just a little burned out from all my running training...so I'm keeping in shape and training with the walking...plus John Staton of the Running Room has a great book out on walking and this looks like a great source of exercise and fun in the summer months.
Just to let you know the speeds I'm talking about....a 10 km route will take me 1hr 25 mins or 30 mins of walking or about 7 km/hour walking speed....I'm not talking about a leisurely stroll here people!
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