WRINGING WET

While the heat and humidity continue pretty much unabated, I still managed to walk TWICE today. That's SIX miles, thank you very much.

This morning, while yesterday evening's cool front was still with us, Steph and I walked three miles at Des Peres park, up and down the hills there. It was a glorious morning. I came home to change then ran some errands on the way to spend a few hours with my mom. Ended up giving her a hair cut and having a nice chat. I was so energetic.

When I got home, I did laundry and other stuff around the house, including helping my daughter make some brownies, but got antsy. So, Sally and I met at the mall for another couple miles. I may have not made it to exactly 6 miles, but based on time, that's what I'm calling it.

Even in the mall, the humidity still gets to me. But, I don't care - unless I am trying to retain an acceptable appearance for some after-walk appointment. That's a problem for me on Tuesday evenings when Laurie and I walk and I then attend a gathering for about 90 minutes before going home. Those folks are going to have to get used to seeing (but I hope not smelling) me wringing wet.

Wringing wet is what I get from this weather. Drippy from the head down. Sunscreen running into my eyes (no matter how much they swear you can't sweat it off), burning and no longer offering any sort of protection. BTW - be sure to use that stuff if you're fair skinned &/or light-eyed. I've already had one skin cancer removed from my face!

Anyway, Steph and I are scheduled to walk again Monday after work. Wringing wet or not, I'm still going at it!


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Remember my 100% GUARANTEE. Should you decide to stop walking and resume your old habits, I personally guarantee that you'll get back 100% of your former life - your pain, your lifestyle, your attitude.

UNCLE ??

How hot is too hot to walk? Depends on who you are and where in the world you are. Folks who normally reside in the tropics would have no trouble with the weather we are currently enduring in the St. Louis area. Right now, it's 96 degrees F with heat factor of 104. That's hot!

Normally, I'll trek in any weather. Although I look simply horrible, inspiring the need in others to seek medical care for me because I turn so beet red, during and for a long time after a walk in this type weather, I'll still do it. I stick to level terrain and leave the dog at home. Take plenty of water and end my walk if/when the going gets too tough.

But, if you're elderly, out of shape, heat-intolerant, or just blame tired, stay inside for your walk. You'll still heat up as the A/C just can't get all the humidity out of the air. THEN you have to go get into your overheated auto for the drive home.

Seems daunting - but don't give up. Take it slow and build up your tolerance for this weather. It can be done!


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Remember my 100% GUARANTEE. Should you decide to stop walking and resume your old habits, I personally guarantee that you'll get back 100% of your former life - your pain, your lifestyle, your attitude.

WHAT'S IN YOUR EARS??

I've written that I enjoy listening to my ipod while I walk - unless I'm walking with a buddy. What do YOU listen to?

ipod or other source of music
ipod or other source of talk - radio or book
walking buddy in person
walking buddy on the cell phone
sounds of nature
what else??

So, please share what's in your ears while you're walking?

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Remember my 100% GUARANTEE. Should you decide to stop walking and resume your old habits, I personally guarantee that you'll get back 100% of your former life - your pain, your lifestyle, your attitude.

SOME GOOD ARTICLES

Here are links to a couple of good articles about walking. Please let me know your thoughts on them.


http://www.aarp.org/health/fitness/walking/a2004-06-17-walking-downsizing.html

http://www.medicinenet.com/walking/page2.htm#tocd


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Remember my 100% GUARANTEE. Should you decide to stop walking and resume your old habits, I personally guarantee that you'll get back 100% of your former life - your pain, your lifestyle, your attitude.

Another Walking DVD

Ya'll know I'm a fan of Leslie Sansone's Walking DVD's. I've blogged about them before. At the library the other day, I ran across this DVD:


I took it home and checked it out. It's got many of the same 'moves' as the Sansone routines. Sansone usually has someone on screen who does a less strenuous version of whatever she's doing. So, if you can't raise your knees or hands as high as Sansone does, you have a visual guide who will demonstrate the next best thing. This is a good idea for those with physical impairments or beginners who have yet to build the endurance to keep up with Sansone's pace.

Madeleine Lewis is the 'guru' on the Get Moving! routine. The setting is a sort of pavillion out of doors, so it's visually appealing. Further, in addition to a side kick who does a less strenuous routine, there's also one who does a MORE strenuous routine. That is, the gal to Lewis' left is rocking away like crazy - doing more of a run than a walk, hopping, skipping, etc. A much higher impact workout than any sort of walk could be considered.

I think this might be a good purchase for some walkers, especially those who are younger and more fit without the arthritis that prevents many of us (yep, me) from participating in higher impact routines. I can see a beginner buying one of these DVD's and being able to get maximum benefit from it as s/he progresses in endurance and devotion to exercise.

It's available at www.half.com for less than $10 and at the library for a couple of weeks for free. Always a good idea to 'test drive' before you buy.


***************************
Remember my 100% GUARANTEE. Should you decide to stop walking and resume your old habits, I personally guarantee that you'll get back 100% of your former life - your pain, your lifestyle, your attitude.

Walking Long Distance??

Are you interested in (or have the ability to) walk to a distant location, like, say Alaska? How about Hawaii - or Australia. A few years ago, my mom and her walking buddies decided to walk to Australia, a land they had all wanted to visit. So, they began logging their walked miles to meet their destination goal.

Here's a bit of inspiration for determining where you might like to walk:

http://www.spiritofwomen.com/walkwithspirit/hosp_maps/wws_map.pdf

So, where'd you like to walk? I'm heading to Eureka Springs, Arkansas - one of the most beautiful places on this continent first. Then, I'll see where I go from there.


***************************
Remember my 100% GUARANTEE. Should you decide to stop walking and resume your old habits, I personally guarantee that you'll get back 100% of your former life - your pain, your lifestyle, your attitude.

TRACK YOUR WALKS - JOURNAL IT

Mapmywalk.com has come up with a nifty, free online way for us to track our walks. Here's the link:

http://www.mapmywalk.com/training

It's easy to use and might be a useful tool for walkers to sustain their motivation.


***************************
Remember my 100% GUARANTEE. Should you decide to stop walking and resume your old habits, I personally guarantee that you'll get back 100% of your former life - your pain, your lifestyle, your attitude.

PEDOMETER FOR IPODS

If you are fortunate enough to have an iPhone or an iPod, this might be for you! It's a free downloadable pedometer for just those applications. Not sure I'm savvy enough to figure it out, but if you have a techie available to you (and the requisite iPhone or iPod), you'll have access to it in no time.

http://www.awaretechs.com/StepTrakLite.html


***************************
Remember my 100% GUARANTEE. Should you decide to stop walking and resume your old habits, I personally guarantee that you'll get back 100% of your former life - your pain, your lifestyle, your attitude.

A BIT MORE ON RACEWALKING

I hope you checked out the racewalking tutorial I linked in my last blog. Here's a bit more information for you on racewalking:

http://www.eracewalk.com/PlusType.htm

Which one are you?



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Remember my 100% GUARANTEE. Should you decide to stop walking and resume your old habits, I personally guarantee that you'll get back 100% of your former life - your pain, your lifestyle, your attitude.