500 in 2010 Update

We are into week #5 of the 500 in 2010 challenge and I'm a little behind but I'm feeling really good about my progress. In order to walk 500 miles in 2010, I have to average about 10 miles a week.  For the first three weeks, I did an awesome job getting almost exactly 10 miles and a few extra tenths here and there to help me fee like I was awesome.  Last week, not so much.  I ended up with a lot of back pain last week as a result of a sleepless/restless night, so I didn't end up walking much.  In fact, instead of the 10 miles I needed for the week, I only did 2.  That was depressing.

This week, however, I started feeling better and I was determined to get back on track.  We had snow and sleet here in NC last weekend so school ended up being canceled for 3 days (solid ice is hard to get off the roads) and delayed for 1 so I had some extra time to get on the treadmill.  On Monday, Katie was home with me because, with schools closed, so was her daycare.  Jim, of course, went to work as usual.  That did not deter me.  I turned on Sesame Street really loudly on the TV I have in front of the treadmill and she sat in one of the recliners with her lovey and watched Sesame Street while I walked.  Because of the pain I had last week, I didn't want to push the speed very much so the only way I could do the miles for this week AND start chipping away at miles for last week was to increase the duration.  ie, I stayed on the treadmill for a veeery loooong time.  Well, an hour, which isn't forever but seemed long enough to me!

It has payed off and I was able to put in almost 12 miles by Thursday.  I took Friday off to rest a bit but still managed to blow my miles away this week. 

I should have about 50 miles by Sunday night in order to be on track.  YTD miles: 46.2!

500 in 2010 Update from School

So, since I challenged the staff of my school to do 220 miles before June 6th, I had to organize and track the miles.  I'm keeping it easy and reporting Monday-Sunday, just like we're doing on the bigger challenge.  That way, I don't have to record my miles in 2 different ways and I can pester everyone for their miles on Monday morning when we get to school.  I created a poster to put up on the wall and a way to post the miles so the students and the rest of the staff can follow us.  I put that up today.  I am not especially artistic but it does what it needs to.  Unfortunately for me, only three people have taken up the challenge with me and they are all runners (I can only walk because of a back issue).  2 are training for a half marathon in March.  One is also the track coach.  He's killing me.  I was (and still am!) PROUD of the 10.62 miles I did last week.  I just sigh when I look at the 19 miles he put in.  Ah well, at least I am beating the other two (for now). :)

I'm behind for this week (only 3.4 miles so far) but I still have 4 more days!  Here's to 500 miles.

Hmm, so do I sing the Proclaimers?

But I would walk 500 miles

And I would walk 500 more
Just to be the man who walked 1000 miles
To fall down at your door

Or Peter, Paul and Mary?
 
Lord I'm one, Lord, I'm two, Lord I'm three, Lord I'm four.
Lord I'm 500 miles from my home....

500 Miles in 2010

Yes, you read that right.   A friend of mine posted a challenge on her blog.  Walk/run/or ellipse your way to 500 miles in 2010.  I have recently been able to return to exercising after having lots of back pain problems since July 2008 and then some additional health problems this past fall.  I need some motivation to find the time and energy to get moving again.  Since moving farther away from work, it has been harder to fit it in and it just hasn't happened since then.  This challenge was perfect and came at just the right time.

But, I was afraid that I would wimp out and not finish the challenge.  I don't know many people on the list who are participating so I was afraid I might just drop out without anyone paying much attention to me.  So I decided to go public.  I challenged the entire staff of my school to walk/run/swim/ellipse 220 miles by June 6th, 2010.  That is the last Sunday before school gets out for the summer so I'll be able to post the final tallies before the kids leave for the summer.  I'm even going to (gulp) post our weekly totals on the wall outside my classroom to get the kids in on the fun.

No backing out now!

Current totals: Monday 2.0 miles, Tuesday 1.5 miles, Thursday 2.0 miles, Friday 2.52 miles, Saturday 2.6 miles.  YTD: 10.62 miles  Woot!