Good morning,
Mari and I completed the 2008 Trailblazers Race yesterday morning. We decided to walk the 10K run event. There was also a 5K run, and a 5K walk. We completed the race in 1 hour, 35 minutes, and 33 seconds. We had a pretty good pace going, we averaged a 15 minute, 40 second mile.
Now, as my fourth race, I have never been the last racer before, until yesterday. The Trailblazer isn't designed for people walking the 10K but the 5K would not have been challenging enough. 10K is 6.2 miles so 5K should be half that distance, and going 3 miles just isn't very challenging. Since Mari is working with Team In Training and she missed practice on Saturday she needed to do about 6-8 miles.
Sorry, bank to my point about being last, there's someone called the sweeper that follows the last person(s) to make sure they finish the race. The sweepers for the 10K race were two kids on bikes, about 12 years old. There was a boy and a girl and the young man was not happy about following us. He complained the entire time. For some reason I just thought it was slightly annoying but mostly funny. Mari was getting really irritated with his comments. In his defense he was taking his job very seriously. He was told to stay behind the last racers and he did, they sent most of the time about three feet behind us. It was creepy, but I kept smiling.
Mari and I are going to try to walk together on Sundays. I think a regular walking commitment would be good for me.
Until next post, get out and get walking.
29 September 2008
21 September 2008
Getting Ready for the Trailblazer Race
Good morning,
Well, I signed up for the Friends of Stevens Creek Trail 2008 Trailblazer Race. I'm going to do the 10K run but I'll be walking it. It finally dawned on me last week that if I wanted to get through the race with minimum pain that I better walk more. I've taken a 45 minute walk and an hour walk. I forgot how much I enjoy walking around. If I can just wake up early so I can walk while it's quieter outside it would be perfect.
The race is September 28th so I don't have much time to get prepared. My friend Al keeps telling me that I can do the walk so I shouldn't worry about it. I can walk six miles, that's not the problem. Walking six miles without ending up extremely sore and tired is another question entirely.
I'm off to have brunch with a friend. I hope you have a great day and I'll update the blog after the race.
Cheers!
Well, I signed up for the Friends of Stevens Creek Trail 2008 Trailblazer Race. I'm going to do the 10K run but I'll be walking it. It finally dawned on me last week that if I wanted to get through the race with minimum pain that I better walk more. I've taken a 45 minute walk and an hour walk. I forgot how much I enjoy walking around. If I can just wake up early so I can walk while it's quieter outside it would be perfect.
The race is September 28th so I don't have much time to get prepared. My friend Al keeps telling me that I can do the walk so I shouldn't worry about it. I can walk six miles, that's not the problem. Walking six miles without ending up extremely sore and tired is another question entirely.
I'm off to have brunch with a friend. I hope you have a great day and I'll update the blog after the race.
Cheers!
08 September 2008
One Step At a Time
Greetings!
Well, I started following my new walking schedule last week, I'm walking 10 minutes a day four days a week. I know 10 minutes isn't very long but I'm trying to get myself into the habit of walking. I'm more focused on walking four days a week, getting my time up will be the easy part.
I started on Thursday with a 10 minute walk around the neighborhood. On Saturday I walked around the Art and Wine Festival in downtown Mountain View before the festival official opened. The weather was warm and getting hot. My 10 minute walk turned into an hour walk instead. I told you getting my time up would be easy. Late in the afternoon Al and I walked about Rancho San Antonio. I think it was the first time we had been there this year. We have a good walk and saw rabbits, California quail, Stellar's Jays, a small cow, and deer. The downside was the flying insects that swarmed us. For some reason I wasn't bitten but Al ended up a walking buffet. On Sunday I took a leisurely walk around the festival with my friend Mari and her kids. It was cooler and a pleasant way to stretch my legs.
Mari is training as a participant with Team in Training for the Seattle Marathon / Half Marathon in November. If you are interested in donating here's the link to her page, Mari's TNT Fundraising Page. Team In Training is a great organization and you get to train for all sorts of cool events while raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Please get, every cent counts when you're trying to cure blood cancers.
Mari and I are thinking about participating in the Trailblazer Race Trailblazer Race 2008 I think it would be a nice goal for me. 10K is a bit over 6 miles, a great way for me to get back into training to walk longer distances. I have three weeks to prepare for a 6 mile event. No worries, eek!
Time to sign off.
Gail the Grasshopper
Well, I started following my new walking schedule last week, I'm walking 10 minutes a day four days a week. I know 10 minutes isn't very long but I'm trying to get myself into the habit of walking. I'm more focused on walking four days a week, getting my time up will be the easy part.
I started on Thursday with a 10 minute walk around the neighborhood. On Saturday I walked around the Art and Wine Festival in downtown Mountain View before the festival official opened. The weather was warm and getting hot. My 10 minute walk turned into an hour walk instead. I told you getting my time up would be easy. Late in the afternoon Al and I walked about Rancho San Antonio. I think it was the first time we had been there this year. We have a good walk and saw rabbits, California quail, Stellar's Jays, a small cow, and deer. The downside was the flying insects that swarmed us. For some reason I wasn't bitten but Al ended up a walking buffet. On Sunday I took a leisurely walk around the festival with my friend Mari and her kids. It was cooler and a pleasant way to stretch my legs.
Mari is training as a participant with Team in Training for the Seattle Marathon / Half Marathon in November. If you are interested in donating here's the link to her page, Mari's TNT Fundraising Page. Team In Training is a great organization and you get to train for all sorts of cool events while raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Please get, every cent counts when you're trying to cure blood cancers.
Mari and I are thinking about participating in the Trailblazer Race Trailblazer Race 2008 I think it would be a nice goal for me. 10K is a bit over 6 miles, a great way for me to get back into training to walk longer distances. I have three weeks to prepare for a 6 mile event. No worries, eek!
Time to sign off.
Gail the Grasshopper
01 September 2008
No, I'm not dead!
But I'm pretty lame...
I'm sorry I stopped updating the blog. Things got a little hectic and I was having enough trouble just keeping up with fundraising, training, and life in general. I completely forgot about the blog.
If you want to know what happened I completed the San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon in 7 hours, 1 minute, and 6 seconds. I raised $3,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I joined the Fall Walk Team as a Mentor and helped a group of wonderful women through their first TNT event. I cheered for my mentees and teammates during the Nike Marathon in SF. I walked the San Jose Rock and Roll Half Marathon with my friend Mari and earned my 39.3 medal. I walked and ran the Santa Barbara Half Marathon with my friend Pat Swallow. 2007 was a busy year.
I'm not walking this year. I'm hardly doing any exercise at all. I was laid off in May. I'm trying to decide what I will do next and have been volunteering for the City of Mountain View to keep busy. I do want to walk events again. I might join Team In Training next Spring.
I'd like to thank all my friends and family who supported me during my adventure last year. I might not be walking but I am donating money to my friends who are walking, running, preparing to compete in a triathlon, coaching, volunteering, living, laughing, loving.
If you've ever thought of doing a marathon, triathlon, century ride, or any other endurance event, stop thinking do it. It's an amazing experience and you can do it, you just have to try.
I'm sorry I stopped updating the blog. Things got a little hectic and I was having enough trouble just keeping up with fundraising, training, and life in general. I completely forgot about the blog.
If you want to know what happened I completed the San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon in 7 hours, 1 minute, and 6 seconds. I raised $3,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I joined the Fall Walk Team as a Mentor and helped a group of wonderful women through their first TNT event. I cheered for my mentees and teammates during the Nike Marathon in SF. I walked the San Jose Rock and Roll Half Marathon with my friend Mari and earned my 39.3 medal. I walked and ran the Santa Barbara Half Marathon with my friend Pat Swallow. 2007 was a busy year.
I'm not walking this year. I'm hardly doing any exercise at all. I was laid off in May. I'm trying to decide what I will do next and have been volunteering for the City of Mountain View to keep busy. I do want to walk events again. I might join Team In Training next Spring.
I'd like to thank all my friends and family who supported me during my adventure last year. I might not be walking but I am donating money to my friends who are walking, running, preparing to compete in a triathlon, coaching, volunteering, living, laughing, loving.
If you've ever thought of doing a marathon, triathlon, century ride, or any other endurance event, stop thinking do it. It's an amazing experience and you can do it, you just have to try.
19 April 2007
Almost There!
Just a quick post before I head out the door for this mornings walk.
Here's my fundraising stats:
As of 19 April 2007 I have raised $2,297.00!!!!!
I am:
$203.00 away from $2,500, which is half my fundraising goal of $5,000.00
$503.00 away from my required minimum of $2,800.00 that I need to reach by May 19th.
$2,703.00 away from my fundraising goal of $5,000!!!!!!!
I'm working with fellow TNTer Janice Walz and Olivia and Magda on fundraising events to close the gap. What are you doing to help?
Make a donation via my website: Help in the fight against blood cancers!!!
Gail's Donation Page
Here's my fundraising stats:
As of 19 April 2007 I have raised $2,297.00!!!!!
I am:
$203.00 away from $2,500, which is half my fundraising goal of $5,000.00
$503.00 away from my required minimum of $2,800.00 that I need to reach by May 19th.
$2,703.00 away from my fundraising goal of $5,000!!!!!!!
I'm working with fellow TNTer Janice Walz and Olivia and Magda on fundraising events to close the gap. What are you doing to help?
Make a donation via my website: Help in the fight against blood cancers!!!
Gail's Donation Page
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