Grrr!

The body is a weird thing. Last Saturday was the 20 mile training walk. I felt absolutely fabulous after that. I had scheduled a 90 minute sports massage for Sunday because I thought I'd be sore, but I was feeling great.

Then it all collapsed. On Tuesday, Gretchen and I went for 6 mile walk on Mission Beach. (This time I did see the dolphins and they were fabulous - jumping out of the water and playing by the surfers.) Maybe 4 miles into the walk the arch of my foot started really hurt. No idea why, but it's still bugging me a bit.

Today we were scheduled for a light 12 mile workout. About two miles into the distance I started to think that something was in my shoe. It was like a little pebble or something rubbing my heel. I tried to empty out my shoe, but I couldn't find anything. About a half mile later, it was really bugging me. I took off my shoe. Then I pulled down my sock. The entire back of my heel was one huge blister.

I should have stopped then. Instead, I walked another seven miles - including about two miles in my socks because my sneakers were killing me. I finally had to give in and get a ride.

This failure to complete the workout has me completely and unreasonably peeved. All these training sessions and I've never given up on a session. The fact that a blister managed to stop me chaps my hide. Since I stubbornly insisted on walking seven more miles after I found the blister the entire back of my heel is shredded.

Furious. Absolutely furious. At least I put some of that energy to good use. On the way home I stopped by Mission Hills Nursery. My Saturdays are always taken by marathon training. Therefore, my yard has been looking deplorable because I never got around to putting in anything in the flower beds. Instead they've been big plots of dirt. Today I picked up some compost and a bunch of plants - dianthus, tricolor convolvulus, phlox, impatiens, asters, and dahlias. I love dahlias - they're such a showy flower.

Gardening is hard work. First I improved the soil with the compost and gypsum. Then I planted. And planted. And planted some more. Finally, I hacked back the geranium that had grown to a comically large size. I'm talking 5 feet tall and 4 feet wide; you've got to love that Southern California endless growing season.

A few more crappy workouts and my yard will look fabulous.

I think I'm ready

20 Miles. In case you missed that, I said 20 miles. Honestly, I felt pretty good the whole way and could have gone on beyond that. Truly one of the nicest training routes we've ever had. Because I love you, I made you a map. That stuff on the left, that's the Pacific Ocean. We started at the jetty in Mission Beach and went along the ocean walk where we saw dolphins playing in the water. Well, the other people saw dolphins - I can never see that stuff. When the pilot says, if you look to the left you'll see the Grand Canyon, I can't ever find it. But other people all saw the dolphins. Then we walked through the lovely Bird Rock neighborhood and in to La Jolla. We walked past the sea wall where the sea otters nap and continued North to La Jolla Cove. Finally we went up to Torrey Pines Golf Course. Then we turned around and went back the same way. Other than some mild aches in my shins and some sore feet at about mile 18, I felt pretty strong all day. We didn't have a fabulous pace, but we were certainly doing a steady rate for the entire route. 2o miles. I don't get any more ready than that.

The Beginning of the Back Down

Today was a rather skimpy 10 miles. We were walking around thinking that it was just way, way too short of a workout. It was just nothing at all. This week is a back down week - no workout is over 6 miles. This is mostly a rest period so that we can really nail the 20 miler next Saturday. After that it's a taper until the marathon. Other than that 20 miles, my training is complete. No more increases of training, it's just maintaining the level and pace.

And this just in from the non sequitur desk, I need to remember that I really loved the restaurant where we ate tonight - double yummy at the Old Venice.

Nothing to See Here

As reminder to myself here's a list of some festivals I want to visit.

Sunday May 6 - Healing Arts Festival
Saturday May 12 - Ray at Night
Sunday May 20 - North Park Arts Festival

You Can't Always Get What You Want

Sometimes people ask me if I'm disappointed that I'm walking the marathon instead of running it. Admittedly, running it was my plan and I ran as much as I could when I started training. Then my creaky joints let me know that there'd be none of that. Even when I run for short distances now the pain can be pretty intense. On Saturday, Gretchen wanted to run a bit to catch up to Linda and Carol, but I knew I could not do it. I've accepted that running this marathon just isn't meant to be.

Not running the marathon doesn't bother me. Monday was the first anniversary of losing my uncle to multiple myeloma cancer. I didn't want to run a marathon. I wanted to honor the person that we'd lost and raise money to fight the disease that took him. So walk or run isn't a big deal.

Plus, I feel lucky to have met so many wonderful people as part of training. I wouldn't have had as many fabulous, funny conversations if we'd been running. The walkers are unmistakably cool.

There will be other events for me to run. I'm sure I could do a 5K or a 10K. Maybe in the Spring.