Last Saturday I was able to walk 10 miles. At first, I was really excited and proud of myself. About five minutes later, I decided I was absolutely crazy for signing up to do 6x the amount that I just exhausted myself doing.
Fortunately, one of the reasons for this blog is because by sharing the process of training for this walk, I am also holding myself accountable to do it. So when I have those moments of 'what the hell was I thinking?' I remind myself that I have announced I was doing this, I've been collecting donations (thank you!), and I have committed myself. I have to admit, I may sulked for a little bit.
I started off that day not wanting to walk at all. I told myself that I should just start walking and see what happens. So, I started. Once I got to 5 miles, I still had some energy and I decided that already completely 5 miles puts me closer to 10 miles than if I stopped now. Hey, it made sense at the time.
The first 8 miles were fine. The last two were less so. I really did not have any specific pains, thanks to my new custom orthotics, but I was tired. I had been walking nonstop for three hours and I had slowed down to about 3.5mph. When I got home, I was really happy that I made pushed myself for the whole 10 miles, but it also created anxiety because I knew that I was gassed out. Each day of this walk is 20 miles and, at that moment, there was no way I would have been able to go for another 10. The difference between 5 miles and 10 miles was definitely mental. The difference between 10 and 15 would have been physical.
I also knew I had to nip these concerns in the bud or else I was going to go further down the self-doubt hole. I told myself not to worry about that right now. Right now I did a good job with 10 miles and I would not worry about the fact that I was dreading ever having to go for a walk again. Sure enough, about two days later, I got over it and was ready for my next walk.
I know to take it one day at a time. I know I will get there. A few months ago, I got exhausted just by walking around the grocery store. Five months ago, I could barely walk up and down the stairs. I remember coming home from the hospital and I did not have the ability to run up the stairs, something I have always done since I was a kid, although it was usually "thundering up the stairs" then. To go from that to 10 miles is a great accomplishment and I should focus on that and not the anxiety over how I am going to do the rest. It's all just one step at a time. I imagine mountain climbers must feel that way. I imagine that if one were to climb Mt Everest, you probably get to base camp, only to look up at the rest of the mountain and think, 'what the hell did I sign up for?'
I also had a weigh-in when I went to the doctor and I have lost 12 pounds since January. Again, I am focusing on that accomplishment and trying not to think about how much I still need to lose.
Ten miles and 12 pounds in 3.5 months, three weeks of which were not active because my foot had to heal.
I'll take it. One step and one pound at a time.
CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT ME FOR THE 3-DAY 60 MILE SUSAN G. KOMEN WALK
Fortunately, one of the reasons for this blog is because by sharing the process of training for this walk, I am also holding myself accountable to do it. So when I have those moments of 'what the hell was I thinking?' I remind myself that I have announced I was doing this, I've been collecting donations (thank you!), and I have committed myself. I have to admit, I may sulked for a little bit.
I started off that day not wanting to walk at all. I told myself that I should just start walking and see what happens. So, I started. Once I got to 5 miles, I still had some energy and I decided that already completely 5 miles puts me closer to 10 miles than if I stopped now. Hey, it made sense at the time.
The first 8 miles were fine. The last two were less so. I really did not have any specific pains, thanks to my new custom orthotics, but I was tired. I had been walking nonstop for three hours and I had slowed down to about 3.5mph. When I got home, I was really happy that I made pushed myself for the whole 10 miles, but it also created anxiety because I knew that I was gassed out. Each day of this walk is 20 miles and, at that moment, there was no way I would have been able to go for another 10. The difference between 5 miles and 10 miles was definitely mental. The difference between 10 and 15 would have been physical.
I also knew I had to nip these concerns in the bud or else I was going to go further down the self-doubt hole. I told myself not to worry about that right now. Right now I did a good job with 10 miles and I would not worry about the fact that I was dreading ever having to go for a walk again. Sure enough, about two days later, I got over it and was ready for my next walk.
I know to take it one day at a time. I know I will get there. A few months ago, I got exhausted just by walking around the grocery store. Five months ago, I could barely walk up and down the stairs. I remember coming home from the hospital and I did not have the ability to run up the stairs, something I have always done since I was a kid, although it was usually "thundering up the stairs" then. To go from that to 10 miles is a great accomplishment and I should focus on that and not the anxiety over how I am going to do the rest. It's all just one step at a time. I imagine mountain climbers must feel that way. I imagine that if one were to climb Mt Everest, you probably get to base camp, only to look up at the rest of the mountain and think, 'what the hell did I sign up for?'
I also had a weigh-in when I went to the doctor and I have lost 12 pounds since January. Again, I am focusing on that accomplishment and trying not to think about how much I still need to lose.
Ten miles and 12 pounds in 3.5 months, three weeks of which were not active because my foot had to heal.
I'll take it. One step and one pound at a time.
CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT ME FOR THE 3-DAY 60 MILE SUSAN G. KOMEN WALK
