Christmas is over, but I'm still walking

Christmas week flew by! The week started with the Skins beating the Vikings. I guess all is well when the Skins win. I put in 16 miles on four days including 4 on the Elliptical machine at home at 9 pm. I'm feeling pretty good about walking.

I went shopping today for some new shoes. Was able to get a new pair of the same Nike I've been wearing for the last 6 months. It felt so good that I even jogged about a mile today during the walk. I had to stop myself before I hurt myself trying too hard. I realize that's my number one problem - getting ahead of myself. I have one more week of walking before I start jogging a mile or two during each "walks".

I actually lost a couple of pounds over the last two weeks! Amazing how a little bit of exercise can make a difference!

8 more miles

This week is going by very fast. I was able to walk 4 miles each on Tuesday and Thursday. Walking in 35 degree weather with the sun out is actually very very comfortable and enjoyable. Never knew! Not too much fun if it's windy.

I think I need new shoes. I've been using the same shoes for almost 9 months or so. At least, that's my excuse as I prepare to spend a Benjamin for a pair of shoes. Can't believe how much they cost! I think buying new stuff is probably the best part of any new hobby.

Awesome Weekend!

Awesome weekend! My wife - Mini, graduated from Georgetown with a Masters Degree, Redskins beat the Giants, had a great party at our house to celebrate Min's graduation (many thanks to all who came and celebrated with us). Life is good! I even made time to go the movies with Niloo to catch I am Legend (pretty good movie but I got nauseous with all the camera work). Didn't get much time to walk/run or do any exercise until 8:30 on Sunday night. I didn't want to break my commitment to walk 3-4 times a week the first week itself. So, at 8:30 at night, i got on the Elliptical machine and walked for an hour. It was much easier to do since the Skins were beating the Giants. I even caught the New Hope praise team sing on a local station while I was flipping channels during commerical breaks. I was very happy when I saw the workout summary on the machine - 757 calories. I don't believe I burned that much calories, but I feel great!

Conquering the rain

Another cold morning. I got up early enough to work an hour or so before starting out on my 4 mile walk. I really didn't want to walk since the weather outside looked dreadful. It was overcast and a bit drizzling. I layered on clothes till I looked like a blue round ball. As I was walking out of the house, my wife tells me that my blue pants, hooded sweatshirt, blue jacket, black gloves and black hat made me look like a trash collector. I take that as a compliment and step out of the house.

I feel snug and warm..albiet a little constricted with all the clothes. I care more about being warm than looking cool. I can feel the small rain drops on my face and now another worry creeps in. What if it starts pouring a mile or two away from home. I don't see the sun anywhere and not a single soul is walking. I'm thinking I should turn around and go home and get on my Eliptical Machine. I know there is a reason my $400 Eliptical hasn't seen me more than 10 times in the last 2 years. It's boring. There's no drama in walking (is it ellipting?), while flipping channels constantly. I know if I head back, I will be back to work rather than working out.

So, I keep walking. The steady drizzle keeps me company. I take comfort in the fact that the pace of the drizzle isn't picking up. So, I keep walking. My body is warming up, my mind is getting focused on walking and all the work I have to do when I get home. Before I knew it, I was at my half-way point. I see two people walking the same trail. They've been walking for more than an hour and ask me why I'm not jogging. They give me more motivation as I keep going and finish my third day of walking with out any injury...at least for now.

In the beginning...

It's cold..really cold..at least for a guy who grew up where 70 degree weather was considered cold. It's 37 degrees and slightly windy in the DC suburbs on this December morning. I decide Sunday morning is as good as any to start my quest to be fit. So, i put on 3 layers of clothing and tell my wife I'm going for a walk. She's supportive of my latest attempt to get healthy. She doesn't laugh out loud - but I can sense her mind screaming "here we go again!"

So, I grab a bottle of water and head out of the house. I decide to go back and grab some gloves just in case my hands get cold. In 2 minutes, i'm ready to turn back and head home. My face...especially my nose and neck feel frozen. I keep going only because I didn't want to quit this early on my latest quest for fitness. It usually takes me a week or two before I "get hurt" or "run out of time" to stop my getting fit routine.

I'm a guy in my late 30s with at least 25 extra pounds on my body. People don't call me fat or plump or chunky to my face. I'm sure they don't think of me as fat either..but they certainly don't see me as a fit guy. I'm the kind of guy that nobody thinks of when they think of healthy people or unhealthy people. I'm the guy who doctor's will say - "lose some weight" to if they ever see him. I'm also the guy who in 5 to 10 years will end up with a heart attack and people will say "Never expected that for him". So, I'm out to make a change.

My plan, my latest quest for fitness, is that I will prepare and run a marathon in October 08. The marine Corps marathon. It gives me a goal. I've never been a runner - my only attempt at running was running a half marathon this year in VA beach. That was a struggle. Full marathon is going to be hell. So, I figured I'll start by walking.

My plan is to walk 3-4 times a week for 3-4 miles the next month before I start to run. Based on my extensive research (NOT!), that shouldn't shock my body into another injury.

So, despite the cold and wind. I keep walking. Within the first 5 minutes I realize my foolishness in not wearing a hat that could also cover my ears. After the first 15 minutes I feel my body warming up and not feeling too cold. The overcast cold morning is no longer dull and boring to me as I begin to retreat in my thoughts as I keep walking. My plan was to walk a 4 mile loop with a small pond as the furthest point. I keep checking my watch to see if I'm walking a 15 minute mile every 5 minutes or so. The middle 30 minutes went by very quickly as I retreated into my thoughts and got into a rhythm of walking. I was no longer cold or uncomfortable. I enjoyed the last 15 minutes of my walk as I was day dreaming of being able to keep up my commitment of walking for the next month. Only time will tell if I can pull this off