Walking Advice?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I alternate between fitness walking and biking and dancing for exercise.
All 3 activities use my muscles in different ways. I recommend you do at least a couple of 10 mile walks before the big event or you may be sorry. It'll also give you a chance to test out your shoes and get over any blisters and figure out how to prevent them.
Good luck!

[indysteel]

I alternate between fitness walking and biking and dancing for exercise.
All 3 activities use my muscles in different ways. I recommend you do at least a couple of 10 mile walks before the big event or you may be sorry. It'll also give you a chance to test out your shoes and get over any blisters and figure out how to prevent them.
Good luck!

I've never done a walk of that length, but that sounds like good advice. Build up to that mileage somewhat gradually (or as gradually as you can with 4-5 weeks of training). Give some thought to nutrition and hydration, just as you would with cycling.

(((((()))) and good luck. I hope it helps you in your healing and grieving process. My parents each lost a parent to suicide, which is a very sad thing to have in common with your spouse. I lost a friend in February to it.

[SheFly]

Well, the event was this past weekend, and I SURVIVED! Thankfully, no blisters, so my shoe/sock selection must have been good.

Prior to the actual event, the longest walk I had done was 4 miles . With the riding and training, I just couldn't fit more than that in. And, I had only done that ONCE!

Needless to say, I was pretty crippled on Sunday. Riding 100 miles is fine, but walking 18 took me down.

I wrote about the experience here if anyone is interested. Thanks for the tips!

SheFly

[redrhodie]

Great job, Shefly! 18 miles! I consider myself a walker, and I've never walked 18 miles. You've done something to be proud of by walking those miles.

I also lost a love to suicide, and even though it was a few years after we broke up, I still feel guilty. It's an awful thing to go through.

[zoom-zoom]

Needless to say, I was pretty crippled on Sunday. Riding 100 miles is fine, but walking 18 took me down.

There is a quote by a famous runner--not recalling which one, right now--about it being harder to run a marathon slowly than it is to run the same race fast. I'm a slow running marathoner...but I think those who walk are really the hardcore ones. It's not easy to be on one's feet at any pace for so many hours.

I'm glad the walk was a good experience. I hope it was therapeutic for you.

[lph]

I wrote about the experience here if anyone is interested. Thanks for the tips!

SheFly

That was beautifully written, SheFly. I'm all choked up here. I hope the feeling of breaking a barrier and moving through lasts.

[Crankin]

This is awesome, Cathy. I so wanted to do this, but I had my class that weekend. Some of my former clients had signed up to do part of it, and I was really proud of them.
And walking that far is an accomplishment, too. I once did 11 miles of the Walk for Hunger and my feet paid for it for days!

[indysteel]

Thank you for sharing your blog entry with us, and congrats on completing the walk. I wish you and your family continued healing and peace. ((((())))).

[SheFly]

Thanks, all. It really was emotional and healing for me. I know that there are a number of people on this very forum who unfortunately know what it is like to be a survivor.

LPH - you're not the only one . I've had a number of people write me to say they were in tears. Not my intent, but it came from the heart. And I know you have lost a brother as well, and can understand.

All I ask is that we spread the word. Talk about it, and let people know that there doesn't have to be a stigma for depression, mental illness or suicide.

I appreciate all of your support more than you know. Some of you have helped get me through the past year. I am a very lucky person.

SheFly