I’m going to share a video with you today, that speaks for itself:

Now, what were you saying is impossible?

Have an obstacle crushing day.

Happy Walking!

Darlene

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A couple of weeks ago, after my half marathon, I began to rethink my training.  Was I pushing too hard? was I being ridiculous?  Could I not just “go for a walk” and be happy?

For the two weeks after my half marathon I did next to no walking.  At least, no “training” walking as I tried to figure out how to work walking into a ridiculously busy schedule.  I decided to just relax about it, and give myself the time I needed to figure things out.

During that time, my hubby and I headed up to Quesnel, BC to attend a wedding.  While I was there I found a great book (at a crazy cheap price, I might add!) called Younger Next Year for Women: Live Strong, Fit, and Sexy – Until You’re 80 and Beyond The book is written for “seniors” and it terrifies me to realize that I am rapidly approaching that time of my life!  However, the information in it is incredibly important for everyone.

This is probably the funniest health book I’ve ever read, and it’s also one of the most accessible ones, as well.  The authors talk about the importance of exercise and pushing yourself just a little bit harder than comfortable in your later years.  I was deeply inspired and encouraged.

So…

Looks like I’ll be training for a marathon in October.  Now to just figure out how to fit the training in to this schedule…

Darlene

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Over the past several months I’ve been seriously re-assessing my understanding of my Christian walk.  A number of things have happened to jar my complacency, and I have developed an ever growing hunger to really understand what it means when Jesus says “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10b)

I started to share about this journey a couple of weeks ago and since then I’ve finished listening to Wayne Jacobsen’s “Transition” series, and am just finishing up his book “He Loves Me! Learning to Live in the Father’s Affection” and I am being deeply challenged, moved, and hugely encouraged.

So much of my faith has been based on religion – not hard to understand when yoou realize I  grew up as a traditional Baptist!

But religion keeps us as far from the heart of God as rebellion.  In fact, I’ll bet God prefers rebellion, because it’s at least usually honest, where religion is not.

Anyway, I’m very grateful for the fact that my training is going to soon be forcing me into longer and longer walks.  It will give me much more time to listen, study, and focus on walking this new path spiritually, while I train for the physical part of my marathon.

Can’t wait to see where it leads…

Happy walking!

Darlene

So, the marathon is behind me. A New Year is on the horizon, and I’m looking for a new challenge – you know me, can’t sit around on old laurels.

I decided that I need to do a new Marathon, to try and meet my original goals, now that I know what it’s REALLY like! I want something fun, though, and inspiring. So, here’s what I’ve picked:

WALT DISNEY WORLD® Marathon Weekend

Now, the info at that link is for the upcoming one this January – obviously WAY too soon. I’m going to do it a year from now. Yep, I’ve learned my lesson! Don’t train too quickly for a Marathon!

So, here’s my plan for SLOOOOOW but steady training:

From November 1 – December 31: I’m going to just get back to minimum basics in nutrition, active lifestyle, and creative prayer (which is a tool that got me through much of my Marathon!)

From January 1 – March 16: Improving on all of the above, I will begin more serious training culminating in the St. Patricks Day Run 2009, in Edmonton.  (note: Just so you get an idea of how slowly I’m training for this and the following events, note that most people can walk out their front door and do a 5k without training and without difficulty.  I am taking just under 3 months to train for it.  This means that this whole program – start to finish – is within anyone’s grasp.)

From March 23 – June 7: Still improving on basics, I will then train for a 10k walk on June 7. Don’t have a final choice yet (not all races are listed at this point) though there’s an interesting on on June 7 called the LSLBO Bird 5 K or 10K Fun Trail in Slave Lake, Alberta.

From June 8 – September 7: I will now increase my training to prepare for a half marathon. Not sure where, as I can’t find any listings yet for September.

From Sept 14 – January 4: I’ll train for the WALT DISNEY WORLD® Marathon, and turn it into a cool family vacation afterwards, as a celebration.

The timing seems perfect, it keeps me in training all year with easier races to add smaller goals. It also means that I’m not outside for too long during the cold Alberta winters! I’ve done a LOT of research, and have put together a very slow moving plan that should get me to the final finish line without injury or overtraining. I hope. Not only have I prepared the plan, but I’m making the first part of it (November 1 – December 31 above) available to anyone who wants it. The other levels will follow as I complete them. More details will be available on Friday.

So, now the question is, who wants to train with me? (and yes, you can do it in your own hometown, too – just find the appropriate races, and join in!)

With hopeful anticipation,

Darlene

In our ladies’ bible study this session we are looking at the book “Walking by Faith: Lessons Learned in the Dark (Workbook)“.  It’s been a fun study,  but there have been times when it whacked me up the side of the head.

Today was one of those days.  We looked at two verses:

And be very careful around them so you don’t lose out on what we’ve worked so diligently in together; I want you to get every reward you have coming to you. Anyone who gets so progressive in his thinking that he walks out on the teaching of Christ, walks out on God. But whoever stays with the teaching, stays faithful to both the Father and the Son. 2 John 1:8-9

and

You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternally.

I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No sloppy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself. 1 Corinthians 9:24-26

As I read these, I felt that God was asking me what training program I’m on with my faith. Sure, I read the Bible, I participate in the Ladies’ studies 2x a year, I pray, but here’s the crunch:  What is my plan? Where am I headed? What are my goals?

When I trained for the marathon I had a specific training schedule. I woke up each day, 6 days a week, and looked at that schedule to see:

1. How long was I walking today (anything from 8k to 36k)?
2. What was the purpose (speed training, endurance, hills, etc)

So, as a Christian I am good at the first part – what’s the Bible study lesson today? What am I reading? Who am I praying for?

It’s the second part that has been missing: What am I lacking? How do I need to train to overcome that weakness?

I mean, I’ve done studies on areas where I’m weak.  I’ve prayed about those things.  But I’ve never engaged in an actual time of training and testing – on purpose – to overcome them.

I can imagine God would be delighted to have me come to Him and say, “Ok, God, I’m a mess here.  This is an area I really want to give over to You and have you heal.  Set up a training program, share it with me, and let’s get on with mastering this area”.

Over this next month I want to experiment with this.  Not sure in what area yet – there are SO many areas that need help in my life, LOL! – but this is my prayer:

God, I’m not happy with being a flabby Christian.  I know how to “squeak by” really well without letting others know how messed up things are inside.  You know, though, and You know the best way to tackle my weaknesses.  show me what needs work now, and set up a training program for me to follow.

Be my coach, and turn me into a spiritual athlete.

Amen

Join me?  I’d love to hear your comments.

Darlene

Yesterday at 2:33 I completed the BMO Okanagan Marathon 2008. It took 7 hours, 33 minutes and 59 seconds. I was a ways off my goal time of 6 hours, and was second to last finishing, but I did it!

What surprised me

• I was surprised at how difficult it really was. My longest training walk was 34k, and I did that one with no difficulty – in fact, I felt I could have gone much longer. This one started getting really hard around 20k, which for me is not a difficult distance. This was probably because my training has been so badly hindered these last few weeks with the sciatica and the exhaustion.
• I was surprised at how often I had to stop and go to the bathroom! I don’t have that many options at home when I train, so I can’t go very often. On the walk I needed a bathroom about every 3 miles for the first 15 k or so. Ridiculous. Good thing I didn’t have anything to drink that morning!
• I was also surprised at how few walkers I saw. There were about 50 of us at the starting line, and about 30 were only completing the half marathon, but there should have been more walkers along the route. I’m thinking they were doing a “walk-run” and so started with me, but then very soon they disappeared.
• I was really surprised and discouraged to see how much of the route I needed to walk entirely alone. That was very hard. I sure appreciated the volunteers and police officers on that part of the walk, I can assure you. I was terrified that they’d dismantle the route before I finished, and that I’d get lost!
• I was also surprised at how much pain I was in all last night, and even some this morning. I usually was stiff for a couple of hours after a long walk, but never like this. Oh my goodness! I have to use my hands to place my legs where they need to go!

What encouraged me

• I loved the volunteers. They were fantastic. A couple of walkers near the end were also a great support, especially after I had walked almost half the distance totally alone with no other walker/runner in site. It was so lovely to see someone else – and so friendly! – still walking. I was able to make up for their friendliness by retrieving a little stuffed bear that one of them used as a “lucky charm” and get it back to her after the race. She was so pleased because that bear had been through a lot with her, and she cried when she realized she’d lost it.
• I was pleased to see that I had brought exactly what I needed. It was really cold at the start (5 degrees C) but I chose to not wear a sweatshirt, jacket, or gloves as I didn’t want to have to carry them. After about 1.5 hours it warmed up, and I was quite comfortable. I also had enough trail mix and Energy Drink to get me through.
• Having Tom, Joanne, Jaimey and Gord walk the last 2k with me was incredible. It made me cry. I was in such pain, and so exhausted I really doubted I could make those last two kilometers, but they made sure I did. I was surprised at how desperately I needed them to be there! Their support this weekend was beyond words. More about them on Wednesday!
• I actually completed it! There were some dicey moments, but for most of it I didn’t have much option except to keep going – which was good – but those last couple of kilometers when the tents were in site, but I had to take the long way around were murder!

What I learned for next time

• Well, it was pretty obvious that I need to train differently. My next step is to get a good heart rate monitor, and then get out the Maffetone book and set up my training using that. I think I’ll be MUCH less tired on the big day if I follow his guidelines.
• Get the massage. I signed up for their 20 minute post-race massage on a whim. I’m not sure I could have walked to the car without it. Pain never felt so good! Thanks, Dana!
• Hydrate better the days before, and do more research on nutrition. I think I might have done better had I been better hydrated before I started, and had I done the maximum with nutrition during the training. So much to learn!

And there you have it! I’ve done the marathon. In spite of it all, I can hardly wait to train for the next one – but I won’t be doing ANY training, this week! I’ll be glad if I can walk unassisted to the bathroom!

Darlene

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Ok, I’m going to start shifting things on this blog. I’m getting some different ideas about how I want to move forward with this, and so Fridays are no longer going to be a training program – I’ll show you how to get a training program for yourself in a couple of weeks – but I thought I might just share some of the cool things I’m using and how I’m using them as I train.

Well, the time is fast approaching. We are heading to Kelowna today in preparation for the Marathon on Sunday. My girlfriend and her family are meeting us there on Saturday; she’s walking the half Marathon, and her daughter is running the Marathon. I’m impressed!

I’m madly pulling stuff together. More specifically, I’m preparing my iPod – my most important piece of equipment. It’s going to be very important that I pace myself properly through this, and my recent weeks of fatigue are making it a little difficult to read my own level of preparedness, so I’m putting together a playlist that will keep me a little slower than I might otherwise like to go, but still allowing me to move ahead quickly if that’s how I feel. I thought I’d share with you how I set it up.

I’m hoping to complete the Marathon in 6 hours, so I have arranged my playlist by the hour, so that I know where I am.

• Hour 1: I’m starting off with my Rosary prayers, which take just under 5k to complete, and I’ll do that accompanied by the album “Patrick“, which is a beautiful, celtic instrumental album that I find very relaxing and soothing. It ends about the same time as my Rosary, so it works out well.

  That will be followed by three worship songs: Pour My Love On You (by Philips, Craig, and Dean), Breathe by Daywind Studio Musicians, and then Sanctuary by Jenn Weber. That takes care of the first hour, and will help me calm my nerves, stick to a slow warm-up, and pace myself properly for the race.



• Hour 2: Now I’ll speed up and start proper power walking form. These next 2 hours will be done using the PodRunner Podcasts. This first hour will be “Cool Running” at 140 beats per minute.
• Hour 3: Continuing to speed up using the PodRunner Podcasts, I’ll move up to 143 bpm with “Autopilot“. Somewhere in this hour, I should pass the half-way mark, and I’ll begin with my energy drinks, and possibly some trail mix and apple slices if I feel the need for more fuel.
• Hour 4: I thought by now I might need to change things up a bit, so I’m putting in a session of challenging-but-not-too-challenging interval training using the level 4 program of ZTrainer. This will be followed again by Pour My Love On You (yeah, I know, I’ve already listened to it, but that song truly inspires me, and opens up my soul!) followed by level 5 of ZTrainer, followed again by Breathe (yeah, same as above!). That takes care of hour four, and by now I should have completed somewhere around 30k.
• Hour 5: Now back to some nice, steady walking at 152 bpm using the PodRunner Podcasts, specifically the song mix entitled “Powertrip“
• Hour 6: My final hour will be at 155 bpm using PodRunner’s song mix called “World Cruise“.

Now this Playlist keeps me well within a doable speed range. I’ve trained comfortably at a rate quite a bit higher than this, but I wanted to keep it slow and low so that I am able to complete the race without killing myself. But, just in case I feel great, and want to go faster, I’ve also included the following mixes at the end of this playlist so I can skip ahead:

• PodRunner’s “Relayered” at 158 bpm
• PodRunner’s “Terra Nova” at 160 bpm

And finally, because the song so inspires me, once again I have Pour My Love On You, which is what I want to be listening to as I cross the finish line.

I can hardly wait.

Watch for pictures here on Monday!

Darlene