| River Bridge |
I have been walking the bike trail about half a mile from my house. I like the trail because after a couple of weeks walking it I have worked out landmarks to know where I am on the trail and when the app on my phone will give me a five minute update.
The River Bridge is the first bridge. Once I am at the end of this bridge I have usually hit the ten minute mark and if I turn around I will put in a mile walk. It is also my rejuvenation point for any walk. I know when I see the bridge I will be home in ten minutes and if I already walked more than that, ten minutes won't be so bad.
On Monday it was so hot and humid I cut my planned three mile walk down to two. I wanted to try and make three miles every day. But by the one mile mark I was struggling. My joints were aching and it was hard to get a good deep breath. It was just killing me. I finally saw the river bridge and almost called my husband for rescue.
But I made it home, collapsed just a little and sweated it out.
Tuesday I got home and it was hotter. I thought about walking for a mile and just couldn't. But I have resolved to live without making excuses, so I decided to use the stationary bike. I pedaled for half an hour while I watched an episode of "Friends". It wasn't so bad.
I have found that if I set mini goals within my exercise I can keep going. The five minute reminders are perfect for me. I just tell myself I can make it five more minutes.
Today I have the day off and decided to see how far I could go. I started at 9:30AM walking down to the bike trail. In my past walks I have to go over three bridges. Beyond those three bridges is a section that crosses the road. I have been close, but the road is just shy of a two mile walk.
Today I decided to see if I could make the road.
It was cooler, the heat didn't really come out until about noon. I had my music going and just started walking. I passed the big bridge. Another quarter of a mile or so was a little bridge. Then after another bit was the third bridge. I hit the thirty minute mark in my walk.
I kept going. Finally I came around a bend and at the 35 minute mark, I crossed the road.
I smiled like the Cheshire cat.
It feels silly that crossing a road has such an impact. But I did it. I walked another five minutes across the road and turned at 40 minutes. The walk back is on a slight decline. I didn't know this, but my app showed me. It is hardly noticeable. Just enough to make the walk home easier.
I hit my all time high, 4 miles with my house in sight. My legs felt like jelly. I had sweat running like a river down my butt crack. My hair was completely soaked under my ball cap.
I am 42 years old, almost 43 and I'm just realizing what I'm capable of. I haven't found the limit yet.
Today I made it to the road.
I can't wait for tomorrow.
YAY! I still can't believe you walked 4 miles! You should be so proud of yourself!!!!
ReplyDeleteI love the 5 minute reminders too - but I pay less attention to where they occur and more attention to the pace information. .2 of a mile per 5 minutes is what I look for - I know if I've done more - then I'm walking faster. Since - for at least this week - I'm focusing on pace - I keep this running contest in my head - OK - I did 2.2 on that one. Let's see if I can do 2.3 on the next one - - - - - Sometimes if I feel like it's been 5 minutes - I get anxious and pull my phone out of my pocket. My private version of ARE WE THERE YET????
I notice when I get so focused on 5 minutes - - i kind of forget the total # - and sometimes it catches me by surprise that my 5 minutes has become 30!
I like to try random streets and see where they go. Occasionally this gets me into trouble - particularly when I realize I keep going down - and have yet to find a side street - and I know that the only way home is UP!!!!