Posts from — July 2008

Live in the Present

Blaise Pascal
Pensees

We do not rest satisfied with the present. We anticipate the future as too slow in coming, as if in order to hasten its course; or we recall the past, to stop its too rapid flight. So imprudent are we that we wander in the times which are not ours, and do not think of the only one which belongs to us; and so idle are we that we dream of those times which are no more, and thoughtlessly overlook that which alone exists. For the present is generally painful to us. We conceal it from our sight, because it troubles us; and if it be delightful to us, we regret to see it pass away. We try to sustain it by the future, and think of arranging matters which are not in our power, for a time which we have no certainty of reaching.

Let each one examine his thoughts, and he will find them all occupied with the past and the future. We scarcely ever think of the present; and if we think of it, it is only to take light from it to arrange the future. The present is never our end. The past and the present are our means; the future alone is our end. So we never live, but we hope to live; and, as we are always preparing to be happy, it is inevitable we should never be.

It’s been a struggle to get myself out the door these last three mornings and I actually didn’t make it out the door the previous two. So now I”m back from today’s walk and am wondering why I didn’t walk longer! Well, I know why I didn’t walk longer, because my shins hurt. It would really help if I would take the time to stretch after I’ve done my warm up & right before I start power walking instead of only stretching afterwards. I know this, but putting it into action is another thing.

I missed a walk last week so I didn’t reach my goal of 14 miles. Power walking goal for this week is 14 miles total.

Temp: 76° / Sunny
Time: 1 hr / 17:52 avg pace / 3.35 mph
Route: 3 mile River Park
Daily: 3.1 mi / Monthly: 46.3 mi / Total: 53.05 mi

Today was just an average power walk on an average Friday morning. . .

Temp: 81° / Sunny
Time: 1 hr / 18:13 avg pace / 3.29 mph
Route: 3 mile River Park
Daily: 3.1 mi / Monthly: 43.2 mi / Total: 49.95 mi

Today was my long, slow day; my day to walk 5 miles. I did better than I expected average pace-wise. The humidity was up there a ways but it was partly cloudy so that helped. And I’m always thankful for the breeze in my face on the way back. I did manage to get out the door 15 minutes earlier than my usual time so perhaps there’s hope that I can eventually get started right before the sun comes up.

I always step off the trail to turn around and look behind me to see if anyone is coming before I turn around on the trail to head back. I don’t just want to crane my neck back and look because I can’t crane it back that far and I might miss seeing whoever is back there. And so, to the gentleman on the bike whomever you are that said, as he went past me when I stepped off the trail, “You’re doing good!” Thank you, again! I needed that today.

Temp: 77° / Partly cloudy / Humid
Time: 1 hr 30 min / 17:34 avg pace / 3.41 mph
Route: 5 mile River Park
Daily: 5.1 mi / Monthly: 40.1 mi / Total: 46.85 mi

Even when I do get up earlier, I don’t get out of the house until my usual time. Why is that? I would really like to start my walk about a half hour before. I will be working on that this week with more due diligence.

I did have a good walk, though. Notice that average pace time? My fastest yet since starting back into my power walking routine after a 15 year hiatus. Yeah, yeah, it’s not all that spectacular. It just feels spectacular!

Temp: 80° / Sunny
Time: 1 hr / 17:34 avg pace / 3.41 mph
Route: 3 mile River Park
Daily: 3.1 mi / Monthly: 35.0 mi / Total: 41.75 mi

This week’s goal was to walk 13 miles and I walked 14.4. Next week’s goal is to walk 14 miles. Also, I want to spend more time stretching after warming up and then while cooling down. I’ll let you know how it goes next weekend.

Temp: 80° / Sunny
Time: 1 hr / 18:13 avg pace / 3.29 mph
Route: 3 mile River Park
Daily: 3.1 mi / Monthly: 31.9 mi / Total: 38.65 mi

Today was somewhat a comedy of errors. My *plan* was to get up early enough to beat the heat and walk a longer trail–4 miles. I had it all mapped out.

I don’t know how many times I hit the snooze button this morning but it must have been a lot. Because I wasn’t up until the time I had originally planned to *leave* the house, this put me behind about a half an hour. Nevertheless, it was partly cloudy and there was a breeze so I wasn’t hampered too much by the heat.

Now mind you, I haven’t walked the 4 mile trail I have mapped out before, but I knew there was a point where the trail forks and part of it goes through a wooded area. Where the fork comes back out and meets up with the main trail was where I was supposed to turn around. . . “supposed to” being the operative word here. Yeah, I missed it completely and am thinking the intersection that I can see up ahead is a completely different street.

I get to where I can read the street sign and I realize I’ve gone too far; I’ve passed my turn around point. Not only have I gone past the turn around point but the street sign confirms I’m near the end of the *five mile* trail I have mapped out so I keep going. My reasoning being that I’ve already come this far and I need to know where the landmark for the 5 mile turn around point is anyway.

So, yeah. I walked next week’s distance walk this week and I managed to keep up a good pace. Oh, and I met a squirrel on the trail on the walk back.

Temp: 81° / Partly cloudy
Time: 1hr 33min / 18:10 avg pace / 3.3 mph
Route: 5 mile River Park
Daily: 5.1 mi / Monthly: 28.8 mi / Total: 35.55 mi

I had decided to go slower my first mile to avoid the shin pain in my left shin, but I wasn’t bothered by it today. (Yippee!) I was able to find “my zone” in the last half of the first mile and the rest was smooth sailing–uh, er, power walking. *smile*

I love to hear the birds chirping. . . wish I knew what kinds they all are. All in all, it was a great walk.

Temp: 73° / Sunny
Time: 1 hr / 17:52 avg pace / 3.35 mph
Route: 3 mile River Park
Daily: 3.1 mi / Monthly: 23.7 mi / 30.45 mi

It didn’t get very warm out yesterday because of thunderstorms the night before so it was deliciously cooler this morning! I wanted to get an early start because I knew it was going to be cooler; but having stayed up late to do eBay auctions, I just decided to sleep until I woke and didn’t set my alarm. Unfortunately I can’t do anything about making the overnight lows any lower–but 10° cooler sure is nice. (Thank you, Father.)

There weren’t very many people out on the trail this morning. I practiced a little more “hip swing” in my walk hoping it would help with the pain in my left shin that I have for the first half mile or so. (Remembering to drop the hip a little and kick my foot out–thinking of kicking a ball, but not overstriding–as I go.) It seems that when I power walked before I had the same trouble and I used inserts in my shoes for more arch support and that helped. I will have to try that again although right now money is an issue. (Hmm, when isn’t it??) And, yes, I know that some muscle strengthening exercises will help also.

Goal for this week: 3- 3 mile walks and one longer one–maybe a 4 miler!

Temp: 75° / Sunny
Time: 8am / 1 hr / 18:13 avg pace
Route: 3 mile River Park
Daily: 3.1 miles / Monthly: 20.6 / Total: 27.35

I managed to get out a *little* earlier today–not that it was any cooler.  LOL  There was a breeze again this morning which really helps to wick away the sweat on my face on the way back.

It was Saturday, so of course, there were a lot of people out on the trail.  There are a lot of runners and joggers of all shapes and sizes, and a lot of bikers of all shapes and sizes.  Walkers, not so much.  And very few of the walkers are power walkers.  I did see three women last weekend and one other power walker today.  It’s nice to see so many couples out together, whether they are biking, running or walking.

Temp: 78° / Partly cloudy
Time: 7am / 1 hr
Route: 3 mile River Parks
Daily: 3.1 miles / Monthly: 17.5 miles / Total: 24.25 miles