My shoes aren't waterproof...

Found that out the hard way. Had to walk through "Bear Meadow" with the morning dew still on the grass.

So, got another new book - this one is what came out of a college class. Two professors got together and gave a class on how to finish a marathon. Part of it deals with the psychological stuff, the other part deals with the physical. I'm liking it so far, because I haven't actually started "running" yet. That sounds a little off, doesn't it? So, in all that I've read so far, no one helps you get from the walking to the running part. These guys help you get there. They want you to be able to jog for 30 minutes, straight, before starting the actual program. I can't do that. How do I get there? There is a table that breaks it up, so that we can get there. I'm already doing the beginning part. Walk so many minutes, so many days a week. I'm walking at least 40 minutes, at least 4 days a week. I didn't start out that long. Shoot, no!! But, that's where I am now. If you're just starting out, do 10 minutes for a few days, then increase it to 15. Weeks 2 and 3, do 20 minutes a day. Week 4 go up to 30 minutes. Start slow so you don't get injured. If you can't do that much, so what you can. If you feel strong enough - do a little more.

That's what I did, and now I have the - ah - joy (yeah, that's it) of starting the jogging. The book says to jog 5 minutes, walk 10. Um, I can't do that, yet. We walked 6 minutes, jogged 2, walked 7 minutes (there was a car), jogged 2 and there we were at the mile marker. I walked back the entire way. So, did one 17 minute mile, one 20 minute mile. So, I did what I can today - and I'll do better tomorrow. Well, maybe not "better" - Michael is walking with me tomorrow, and I love that he wants to come - but I'll be going again.

Other stuff - Mark and Joshua are going on a weekend camping trip. It couldn't come at a better time. The boy is giving me fits. He's almost 11 and has this mouth that I just want to smack sometimes!! He's WAY too literal, and wants to argue about everything, even things that we've proven wrong. I just need a break. I can tell you that the physical exercise has helped me deal with him better - ah, the endorphins. I think that some days, I'm just living for those endorphins to kick in. Michael and I will be enjoying the time alone, we will be walking together every day, and we will be devouring Chinese food for dinner on Saturday. It's all planned, and we are both excited - him for the time alone, me for the Chinese!