Walking and Food: My Favorite Obsessions

I injured my big toenail during my super speedy walk with Vancouver Fit this morning. It hurts. Hurts like wearing-my-sock-causes-me-pain hurt. Hurts like the-blanket-I-covered-up-with-just-about-made-me-cry-out-in-agony hurt. Wow. Ouch. I don't know if my laces weren't tied just right or if my sock, for whatever reason, caused the problem. Bummer.

Regardless, I enjoyed the walk - cold, rain and all. It felt good to really move and push myself. My friend, Nanette (you rocked it!), had someplace to be this morning so she wanted to finish our scheduled six miles as quickly as possible and you knooooow I'm always up for a challenge!

Mission accomplished! 6.32 miles in 1:26:26, averaging 13:40 min miles! Yeeeeehaw!! (yep... I just said that!)

Earlier this week, one of my friends from Texas (now you see why I just said that!) posted a picture on Facebook of her okra concoction she made for dinner that night. Since that time I have been craving food from my life in the south! I would give just about anything to have some of my Grandmother's fried okra, black-eyed peas and cornbread right now! 

Although not as good as Grandmother's, I made a pot of black-eyed peas tonight. (Gotta satisfy these cravings!) I haven't had them in years. As my Grandaddy would have said, "That shoooore was some good eatin!"

I skipped the cornbread and obviously didn't have the okra (I don't buy the frozen variety because it just isn't the same...) It is doubtful I could get it to grow up here because it doesn't need a lot of water (Strike 1: can't count on long rainless periods of time, even in the summer) and it doesn't like temperatures below 50 degrees F (Strike 2: can't count on warm weather, EVEN in the summer!) Maybe I can convince one of my dear, sweet, kind, childhood friends to send me some of it fresh out of their garden! Anyone?!  ;)

"A compliment is verbal sunshine." ~ Robert Orben

I saw someone for the first time in quite awhile today. She was amazed at how much weight I have lost. She couldn't stop looking at me, hugging me and giving me compliments. Sometimes it is hard for me to believe this has really happened to me. I look in the mirror and still fret over needing to lose more weight and then when someone sees me and is so surprised and complimentary, I remember how far I have actually come. She made my day. In fact, she made my week!

Our Own Half - Bling Included!

Sue and I decided to walk our own "half marathon" today because we had not signed up for an official race for the month of January. (We really are JUNKIES like that!) Sue drafted out a route in Portland along the riverfront, which was really nice and enjoyable.

It was cold out but not too bad. The weather report said it was going to start raining later in the afternoon but it started misting early on and then it was raining before we were even half way done. By the time we finished, we were cold and soaked.

Somewhere between miles 5 and 6, I hit a wall I have never experienced before. I was lightheaded and famished! I didn't feel like I had the strength to continue walking but knew I really didn't have much of a choice. I never eat while walking (other than energy beans or gels) but for some unknown reason I packed a protein bar in my pack this morning, which I have never done before. Thank goodness I had it. It took about 10 minutes and then I was FINE. I had my normal before-a-marathon breakfast but for some reason it just didn't stick with me today. I think I'll pack that emergency bar in my pack from now on. It truly saved me.

As we were finishing up, I told Sue that doing our own half was such a great idea! It cost a lot less and there wasn't any pressure on us for time. However, doing our own, we would miss out on the "bling" that comes with the official races. But of course, we could survive without it.

We walked 13.3 miles (.2 more than a half marathon! Go us!) in 3:20:25, averaging 15:04 minute miles. No official pressure on us but we still walked it at a marathon pace.

Afterwards, we drove to the nearest Starbucks to warm up with a greatly-needed cup of coffee. When we sat down, Sue pulls something wonderful out of her pockets...

Our very own BLING for our very own half marathon! I can't believe she thought to do that! She truly made my day!  :)

She even wrote on the back of it...

THANK YOU, SUE!

The Human Inside

I saw this picture on Northwest Personal Training's Facebook page and had to share!

I believe we all have this human inside of us... we just have to let them find their way out! Hard work and dedication, right?!

I walked 6+ miles two days in a row now. I'm getting back into the swing of things and gaining control again. I feel so much better when I'm exercising and eating right.

It's a chilly, beautiful day today. Sunshine always makes me motivated and happy!

Have a great one!

One-Third of a Whole

We are each 'one of three'. 

We are siblings.

We are best friends. 

The miles separate us physically.

Our hearts connect us emotionally.

We depend on each other. 

We respect each other.

We admire each other.

We love each other.

My life would not be the same without them.

I am so blessed to be one-third of THIS whole.