The One Where I Blame Santa and Decide to Repeat Week 4

Ooh la la, this week has tested me - I thought that Week 4 involved four thirty minute fast walks, but in fact it was four forty five minute walks. I hadn't noticed that little detail on the Preliminary Training Programme. And I didn't get started until Wednesday, because of ... the heat, the post-Christmas sloth and the out of whack body clock, as totally predicted last post.

Monday and Tuesday came and went ... and then Wednesday morning ... and I was starting to wonder what had happened to my marathon mojo. By Wednesday evening, I knew if I didn't get started I wouldn't be able to fit the four days of exercise into the week so, even though I SO did not feel like it, I had no choice but to start. And start I did but in a modified format - I used the cross-trainer while watching Will & Grace Season Three on DVD, a cross between staying home on the couch and going for a run.The ultimate compromise position.

I don't think the cross-trainer is a true substitute for running/walking - part of the whole marathon training thing is about conditioning the muscular and skeletal system to withstand the impact of the 42km. The cross-trainer is a bit low-impact but, as I rationalised to myself, better than nothing.  I spent 45 minutes on the cross-trainer on Thursday as well (Season Six).

Come Friday the sugar hangover was lifting and I was more energetic and keen to get back to Cottesloe Beach for my regular walk. I was so busy talking to my buddy, the lovely Robyn, however, that I didn't quite make the fast walking pace. I don't have the exact speed from the time on the cross- trainer, only a rough comparison, so can't even do that slightly cheat-y thing I did last post and average out the times across the week. And New Year's Day would be the day I have to make it all up. I. Don't. Think. So. To that end, dear Readers, I have made an executive decision and will repeat the pre-training for Week 4 ... but do it properly this time. (And I choose to blame Santa. Thrown off course by a fat guy in a red suit. He seemed so nice in David Jones.)

On a slightly different topic, I'm amazed at how much more energy this exercise lark gives you (and how much I noticed the impact of Christmas).  In the first three weeks of pre-training, despite being physiologically dependent on sugar and caffeine, I starting cutting down on both without even realising. I had more energy from exercising so didn't need the energy shot of coffee or chocolate. Christmas and all the associated rich food (and the odd glass of champagne) made me really sluggish and it was a huge struggle to get motivated to move. Lesson learned. Exercise and eating properly makes you feel good - who knew??? Someone needs get this news out to the public!

A happy Hogmanay to you all and may blessings be heaped upon you and your families for 2011.

The One Where I Talk About Hamish Blake and Week 3 of Pre-Training

The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer makes it very clear early on that the only goal a non-runner attempting their first marathon should have is to finish. The authors say it's a big mistake (the biggest, according to them) to set a target time. So I'm not going to set a time goal or worse, do a Hamish Blake and try and beat anyone else's time - if I complete the marathon before they start packing up the course, that counts as success for me. (For the record, Hamish, without any training or preparation, beat Katie Holmes' 5 hours, 29 minutes and 58 seconds time by 4 minutes and 49 seconds.).

So, no time goal, no trying to beat someone else's time - although I'm conscious that Chilean miner, Edison Pena, did the 2010 New York marathon in 5 hours, 40 minutes and 51 seconds - and that's after being stuck down a mine for 69 days. Fortunately, Al Roker, the weatherman from the US 'Today' show completed it in 7 hours and 9 minutes and 44 seconds. So if I give in and start comparing, I'm thinking that as long as I am somewhere on a sliding scale between 5 hours 30 minutes and Al Roker, I can be happy.

As for me, I'm still in Pre-Training, of course, (and will be until early February). I'm now into the fast walking stage (8- 10 minutes a kilometre) and managed my scheduled three walks this week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday morning. I did procrastinate a bit when I was entering this stage as it was a move into a harder level (so Tuesdays walk was actually supposed to be Sunday's walk, which then became Monday's walk and when I finally couldn't put it off any longer for fear of  mucking up the schedule, Tuesday's walk).

When I started, I was just trying literally to walk really fast and I found that to be sore on the front of my shins. It was actually more comfortable to do a bit of jogging and a bit of walking so that's what I ended up doing.  And, although the Friday walk was social and I didn't quite make the 10 minutes a kilometre target on that walk, the average of all three walks this week was 9 minutes 50 seconds a kilometre. So I'm calling that a win. Don't burst my bubble on that one, people.

The week ahead, Week 4 of Pre-Training, involves four of the thirty minute fast walks. The heat, the post-Christmas sloth and the out of whack body clock could present challenges. But this marathon isn't going to run itself. So four walks it shall be.

The One Where I Freaked.Right.Out. but Still Managed to Have a Very Nice Breakfast

Oy. The last few days saw me slump into a 'What on EARTH have I done?' phase (that's me being polite. My actual words were somewhat different). I've been feeling sick to my stomach and completely overwhelmed by what I have taken on. I have identified two reasons for the overwhelm (and if that's not an actual word, it should be).

Firstly, I have had a few negative reactions to my admittedly extreme plan and instead of dealing with it like this, I let them get to me a bit.

Secondly, I've been talking to people who have done some actual marathons. Their experience will be of immense help once I am further along but all that talk of carbo shots and the three hour long runs ... again with the overwhelm. I've just finished Week 2 and all I've really done so far is go for seven walks. That's more than I've done for a long time, it's an important first step, yada, yada, but I'm about as ready to run a marathon at this point in time as I am ready to lead the free world. Not very ready.
But, as I was reminded by Sensible Others, these feelings are totally normal and it is quite possible to do what I am attempting to do. So I just have to keep reminding myself to stay focussed on what is right in front of me and not get too far ahead of myself. Oooh, I can feel a Buddha quote coming on!

"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment"

Right on.

Week 2 finished on a high note with the Long Walk, which involved an 8km walk from Mt Pleasant into Mount St in the city for breakfast with Prof Andrew and Paula. The pace was fast-moderate but I suspect they slowed it down for me a bit! I did consider doing the return walk back to Mt Pleasant with them but decided not to push it. Here's a picture of us enjoying the reward breakfast at (their) half-way point.

Hard at work, training for a marathon, with Andrew, Ben, Paula, Sally and Serge

Week 3 of the Pre-Training Program involves three 30 minute FAST walking sessions, fast walking defined by my Non-Runner's book as 13 to 16 minutes per mile - that's about 8 - 10 minutes per kilometre.  My pace over the last week has averaged just under 11 so I need to speed it up a bit. This is where Tom and his economy-sized femurs will come in handy once again.

I am aiming to post every five days or so with this blog so this will no doubt be my last post before Christmas Day. I hope you have a lovely one, y'all!

The One Where I Hit the Daughter Jackpot and Hugh Jackman Hits a Light

Oh, Hugh. Please try and take better care of your face.  We want you to look nice for the pictures we'll be taking in November next year.

Monday the 13th was the Day of the Great Email and Facebook Deluge. Reactions have been very positive so far and I have even received $800.00 in donations! Hoorah! Thanks so much everyone. Even people who think this is madness (which includes me) have generally been unanimous in agreeing that it just falls into the category of good-crazy as opposed to lock-her-up-because-she-thinks-she's-an-egg whisk crazy. 

Speaking of crazy, I had an anxiety dream the other night that the New York City marathon was actually taking place in the Myer city store. And I was worried about how I would explain to the people that donated that I really hadn't realised that the New York City marathon wasn't actually going to be held in New York. Although I do remember being relieved because running 42km in the Myer city store wasn't going to be too much of a drama - those escalators would have to be a help. And there is a nice cafe on the top level.

Elizabeth decided to do a lamington drive in our street to fundraise for me. What a sweetie.  Here's the flyer she designed. With Elizabeth. Face used with permission.

Training continues to go well in that I'm still sticking to the Preliminary Training Program. Already the resistance is creeping in, though, and if I wasn't committed to doing this thing, I think I would have started to slack off. See what I mean about not sticking to things? Having someone to walk with helps me. My walking partner on Wednesday morning was Tom - and the good thing about walking with him is that he takes one long step for every two of mine and I unintentionally cracked the 'fast walking pace' mentioned in Week 3 of pre-training just so I could keep up.
Tomorrow is the regular Cottesloe Beach 6am walk with Rachel. We've been walking every Friday for about a year(ish) (the only regular exercise I was doing up until now) and, coutesy of the Nike app, I now know that the walk is about 5km long. And then I have the Long Walk on Saturday with Prof Andrew and his wife. And that's Week 2 complete!

Sometimes the enormity of this completely overwhelms me but I am just trying to focus on the weekly goals, rather than the fact that, at some point, I am going to have to run 42km. Because if I think too much about running 42km at this point and from where I am now in terms of physical fitness and stamina, I am going to Freak. Right. Out.

The One Where I Quote Something Inspirational and Get Proper Running Shoes

 “All mankind is divided into three classes: those that are immovable, those that are movable, and those that move”. Benjamin Franklin

Thanks for the wise words, BFran. And I now move. At least a little bit. And have done for a whole 9 days!

All the marathon books that I have read so far (and that would be two of them) talk about the importance of proper equipment or 'kit' to a runner. (I'm going to use the word equipment here because 'kit' just makes me think of KnightRider and then I get distracted and start worrying about David Hasselhoff and whether he's managed to stop drinking yet.)

Anyway, by equipment they mean, among other things, shoes and by shoes they mean proper running shoes and by proper running shoes they mean expensive proper running shoes. And everyone who I have spoken to about this running business who runs themselves has told me that proper running shoes are a MUST. Unfortunately, no-one's written 'The Scottish Presbyterian Woman's Guide to Running a Marathon' so that meant I needed to spend me some money.    

Fortunately, I had the lovely Jess from SportsFever on hand to assist me. I remember when she was born and now, when she's not at uni, she's fitting running shoes (and totally bossing people around!).
Jess manhandled me onto the treadmill where she filmed my  sad old feet to see what they do when they run (excessively pronate. Not good.) But then, she put me in some very nice comfortable shoes that didn't make me feel like I was going to collapse in on myself when I run, like some kind of jogging black hole.  Thank you Jess. You have grown up nice.

The lovely Jess fits me for proper running shoes.



The training is progressing well but I'm still conscious of the fact that things aren't exactly hard yet. Weather is lovely, walking pace is still moderate. I'm on to Week 2 now, which will involve four thirty minute walks. I've done the usual (well, twice now) Sunday morning to the Left Bank and back 4km walk, which happily involved a quick stop for breakfast this week. Yes, I know that's not serious marathon training but it was very pleasant. I've been invited to go on a 16km Saturday morning walk this Saturday with a Council colleague and his wife and the distance should test me a bit. (It is prudent at this point to ignore everything I said in the last post about following the Preliminary Training Plan to the letter. The invitation involved a breakfast and Preliminary Training Plans get modified for a good breakfast. Everyone knows that. In fact, I'm pretty sure that's a rule. I read it in a marathon book somewhere.)

The One in Which I Discuss my Preliminary Training Program and Hugh Jackman

As you can see in the sidebar, one of the books I am using to guide me through this year is the aptly named, ‘Non Runner’s Marathon Trainer’. I purchased this book a few years ago in a flurry of optimism, not that I ever got very far with it. Gosh, that's SO unlike me. 

I started the Prelim Program (which you can see posted below with my notes) on the 5^th of December and so far have been doing exactly what it suggests. I haven't got to the actual Training Program yet - this is pre-training, just to get me into a place where I can start proper training. Week 1 of the Prelim is not hard as it  involves three thirty minute walks at a moderate pace and I've done these in lovely early summer weather along a beautiful stretch of the river. Pretty pleasant, actually, and quite do-able.

For the first couple of weeks, walking is done at a moderate pace.  'Moderate' in miles is 17 - 20 minutes per mile. Rather than having to divide by 17 and times by 33.6 or whatever it is you do to convert to kilometres, I use a Nike app on my iPhone which mercifully lets me track in either kms or miles.  I was walking at smack in the middle of the 17 – 20minutes/mile moderate mile rate (about 11 minutes a km) without any effort - so that's a very easy pace.   I'm probably a bit fitter than I think and it was tempting at that point to jump ahead to Week 3 or even Week 4 but I have a life-long tendency to take on too much and then give up. So, I’m trying to be very patient and follow the Program to the letter, knowing it will get lots harder once I start on the actual training program.

A happy discovery occurred the other day when I realised that Hugh Jackman is an ambassador for the SEE project. I've chosen to take this as a sign that Hugh and I will be total BFF’s. A difficult issue in Hugh's and my friendship up to this point has been the fact that I don’t know him and that I have never seen any of his movies but I think Hugh and I can get past this, move forward and become total besties. I do love the Lipton Iced Tea ad, especially the bit where he dances out of the lift. I think this is how we should dance across the NYC marathon finish line together. Oh yes.

My Incredibly Sophisticated and High Tech Preliminary Training Schedule

The One Where I Wonder if I Have Done Something Really Stupid

Hello and welcome to my blog, 'The New Walker'. I'd like to thank the fabulous Caroline for both the blog's name and the photographs you see here as well as 'Friends' for allowing me to shamelessly rip off their opening credits in my post titles.

As I mention in my profile, I have committed to running ... no, completing... the 2011 New York City Marathon and by doing so, I plan to raise $10000 for WorldVision's amazing SEE Solutions project.

As I also mentioned in my profile I am most definitely NOT an athlete. I think the reaction of my brother-in-law Gus sums it up best. When I told him my plan to run a marathon he looked at me for a little while, then said 'I'm just waiting for the punchline.' Ouch!

This is a massive personal challenge for me. I am a classic leave-it-to-the last minute kind of person who has difficulty sticking with things but, I am reliably informed, there is no leaving marathon training to the night before. I also doubt I can raise $10000 between the 5th and 6th of November. So this year will be a lesson in how to make a consistent, disciplined mental as well as physical effort. Not something I have received awards for in the past but perhaps this year I can change all that.

Anyway, I've sent in my registration form now. I felt slightly ill as I signed the form but it is done. Start spreading the news, as the song goes, I'm leaving on the 2nd of November 2011 (actually, I don't think Frank Sinatra sang that last bit).

So, thank you for visiting and reading my first blog post! I hope that you find something worthwhile to read over the course of the year as I go from an unfit, flabby 42 year old to a fit, hopefully less flabby 43 year old.