Week 9 of 26

I didn't understand how the time/date stamps on this blog work, so you have to look at the post for May 1 to see the past two weeks, Weeks 7 and 8 of 26. I had thought I could post by month, updating weekly, and have the time/date stamp reflect when the post was updated (a kind of normal expectation for computer files), but it retains the original stamp. So from now on I'll post once a week and hopefully this will be clearer! From the start in March, I had a total of 26 weeks to prepare.

Week 9 began with three days off due to the awful blister on my left heel. I still find I have to alternate my sneakers, trail shoes, and new boots to keep my feet in any kind of shape. I also am finding that I can't do even two days back-to-back of long walks (8-10 miles) mostly due to blisters. OK, it's only been two months and the boots are clearly not broken in, but I am kind of worried. A friend told me about a cool foot and shoe store. So I went with boots in hand to get advice. The guy who runs the place informed me that my left foot is longer (which I knew) and narrower (which I didn't) than my right foot. Meaning that my foot is slopping around inside that boot even though it felt pretty solid. So he put a pad-like thing on the tongue to take up some space, and I went home and walked only 3.5 miles and ended up with three new blisters in new spots. Great. He did say I should put better arch support in the boots which may help some day, but hasn't so far. I'd like to have my feet surgically removed and replaced with someone else's. Anyone else's.

Joe loaded up an iPod nano with a bunch of books and this enormously helps relieve the boredom of walking on roads. So far I have listed to "Dark Harbor" by Tess Garritsen and am halfway through "The Lost Symbol" by Dan Brown. His grasp of science (or lack thereof) always irks me, but the book makes the miles go by. I invested in a new nano as this old one (probably the first off Apple's assembly line, if I know Joe) has some issues going backward and forward and doesn't hold a lot.

Snow, rain, mud and ugliness continue at elevation (golf today was abandoned after only 7 holes in favor of Italian food for lunch....50 degrees, fine rain, wind). So I have a tradeoff between tougher, steeper walks at 6000 feet in my neighborhood, and the gentler climb on the main highway at 8-9000 feet. Interestingly, the higher walk is easier. I wish I could say I can feel myself getting stronger and more fit every day, but I'd be lying. Some days are just a slog. I'll be happy when things dry out and I can get on trails in the mountains. Although the cost of that will be time, I know. Already this is taking a LOT OF TIME! What did I used to do? I have forgotten. Housework has taken it on the chin, I know!

May 10: Pilates, no walk due to blisters
May 11: Nothing, due to blisters and Lilli home
May 12: 5.2 miles at 6000 ft
May 13: 8.2 miles at 6000 Ft
May 14: 4 miles at about 4700 feet (saw a fox with a rabbit!!) and 3.5 miles at 6000
May 15: 6 miles ar 8400-8930 ft
May 16: 5.2 miles at 6000 ft

Total distance for Week 9: 32.1 miles

Cheers until next week,
Marlene