24 days to go

The days are moving so fast now! Only 24 left before the big day! Anyhoo...

Today was not really meant to be a training day, but a five kilometer fast walk with my friend was something I ended up doing. There was a moment where I thought I would cancel due to the rain, but in the end we braved it and it turned out to be okay. A bit of rain, but nothing we couldn't handle. Besides that, we would come home to a meal waiting (although it needed warming up).

So, Gizmo is almost happy. Almost, since I forgot to put it on this morning and therefor it only knows what I did this afternoon. Which is only 75% of what I should have done. Better luck tomorrow. Because every single step counts towards reaching the Excellent! Right now I am only on: not quite there yet. 

29 days to go

The blueberry picking tour that I had planned was cancelled. It rained and rained and rained and rained. Instead, me and my friend went blueberry picking yesterday. It rained on and off all day, but when we started, it was nice and dry and quite pleasant. Until we got to the blueberry bushes, where I stepped on an ant hill (clever) and was eaten by almost every single midge around. At least, that's what it feels like. 

Today would be the jogging training. But again, it rained and rained and rained. And I have this slight aversion of getting wet and then having to walk/jog in the wet for five kilometers. Call me a baby if you want, but I would rather not get ill at this point in time. So, we cancelled. Of course the weather started clearing up by then, but we had cancelled, so cancelled it was.

The guilt however. The guilt! So, I told myself that I would do a five kilometer walk later. I had my dinner. I watched television. I was comfortable on the couch. It was 8.45pm. 

And then? I got dressed. Went looking for my iPod. Went looking for the ear plugs. And yes, a little over 9pm, I made it out the door. 

I walked for just over 5 kilometers. Tried to keep my speed above 5 kilometers per hour (managed that, averaged at about 5,3). Only stopped once to pick a raspberry, but found that a little worm had gotten there before me. He was welcome to the raspberry.

I may have chickened out this afternoon. But I am happy I did this walk tonight. It might not have been jogging, but I got out of the house and got my excellent for today!

38 days to go

As if I hadn't done enough lately, I felt that today I had to take advantage of the beautiful summer weather (first time since June 15th in fact, they said so on the radio), so I called a friend and off we went! 

First I cycled home, then I cycled to my friend and then we cycled (and walked) to our starting point for the hike. We hiked to the mountain (okay, hill, but it was still steep and difficult) and then back to our bikes. 

According to the gizmo I have? I cycled about 15 km today (including to and from work) and I walked about 3,5 km. And it congratulated me on a job well done: I had reached today's target! I like gizmos like that!!

45 days to go

I was at a bit of a loss today as to what I was going to do as regards to training. But then the choice was made easy: a colleague asked whether I wanted to go blueberry picking with him (and climb Haugesund's highest mountain in the process: 246 meter above sea level). 

According to other colleagues it was an easier hike than the one we did on Saturday. Not as long and not as steep. They did forget to mention it was muddy. Very muddy. Very very muddy. However, I tried to avoid the deepest mud spots and at the same time get as many blueberries as I could. 

We made it to the top and back down without any major mishaps (or minor for that matter) and both had plenty of blueberries. Plus of course the fact that I got my walking in for this week. Although perhaps I will have a fast walk on Friday. Just going up and down mountains, doesn't necessarily make me faster after all. 

49 days to go

Photo by my friend

The order during this holiday period was: one cycle training, one walking/jogging training and one swimming training per week. Minimum! So, I walked on Tuesday, cycled on Wednesday and swam on Thursday. 

And today? Well, we went up to Valhest, a mountain top not too far from where I live. I had asked some friends to come along as well and the three of us made our way to the place where we would start from. I wanted one way, they said the other way (thank you: extra mile of up and down!), but we got to the starting point anyway. 

None of us had been there before. None of us knew what it was going to be like. One thought it was a completely different direction. Another pointed to a mountain top and declared that was the one! Ehm... no! Turned out, we had to go over one mountain ridge, a bit down and then up again to another mountain ridge. Then we had to walk along that ridge until we got to Valhest. Three hours later. 

The view was fantastic, the company was superb and the weather played along as well. A brilliant, if really tiring day (not to mention the amount of mud I got on me, partly because I slid and fell into... mud).

53 days to go

I was asked to go swimming today, but the time didn't fit with work. So, I had decided to either go on a cycle tour or go to the gym. The gym was the least favourite, because I just don't like it there, but the cycling could work. 

In the end? I went walking with a friend. Much better. Close to five kilometers, up and down and most importantly: fresh air. My friend keeps my pace and will let me decide whether to stop and rest or just continue. Glad to say I continued all the way, without stopping for more than four seconds to look at some flowers. 

I guess it will be cycling tomorrow!

70 days to go

Today I did not do any regular training at all. Instead I went to Olalia (for those uninitiated: it's in the mountains). And one of the first things I noticed (as did my friend), was that I didn't wheeze and whistle as much. Nor did I need to gasp for air every 50 meters during an uphill bit of the walk. 

Yes, I got out of breath, but I managed to keep talking and walking. Once on the top of any incline, I kept going. It all felt so much easier. I was faster. My friend didn't have to wait for me. Well, apart from one bit, but even she was struggling then! The only reason she was faster (she said) was because of all the flying creepies that were pestering her. 

At the end of the day I had walked close to 14 kilometers. A lot of uphill and a lot of downhill. A lot to see and that meant a lot to take photos of. It might not have been a regular training at all. But it showed me how far I've come in the few short weeks I have been working out.