So I thought it might be difficult to find good and safe places to walk in a big city, but this place is perfect for walks. I can walk in so many different directions and discover new things every day. There is sidewalk everywhere. I did not want to venture too far since I am new to this place. I found this park called Herbert Taylor Park within a mile walking distance from my apartment. So I figured I might as well start close. It was a wooded path with trees everywhere. I felt like I was in the middle of the woods, not in the middle of Atlanta. It was 8 pm by the time I started my journey, so it was a little sketchy to walk in this secluded park in the middle of Atlanta. So I decided to meander elsewhere around the new area. I ended up walking the 5 miles I needed.
The suggested 24 week training schedule has been very helpful in keeping me on track, but there are ALWAYS conflicts it seems. Today was move-in day for me into my new apartment. I think a few hours of carrying boxes and rearranging furniture counts as cross training, right?
It always seems easier if I have an end destination for these walks. Today I planned on hanging out at a friend’s house. Turns out it is 4 miles away from my house. Perfect distance for a walk. I did not like having to barrel through the tall weeds on some of the roads nor the daunting hills in his subdivision. Eagle’s Landing Country Club can be a zoo. But I made it.
I will be outfitted in Under Armour it seems. I went to Tanger Outlet with my mom to pick out some athletic gear. Of course everything in the store is expensive. it is good quality, but with five items in hand I had spent $150. Well, my mom spent. But still. So I have shirts and a light jacket just in case. I already have a few pairs of running shorts, and my shoes are being broken in every time I walk. Now, I need to pick a pair of socks to stick with. I need to get the ones I tried on at Fleet Feet honestly.
So today I started to think about all the random things besides walking that go into this event.
I need to worry about hydration- My body is permanently dehydrated. I drink maybe one cup of liquid a day-water, lemonade, or anything. I do not even drink when I eat sometimes. It is kind of odd. But I cannot be that girl who gets swept up by the ambulance because I have passed out due to dehydration.
I need to worry about carrying capacity-I never thought I would be out shopping for a waistpack. I always associated such things with women above the age of 40. Not something I can honestly say I look forward to wearing. However, I need to have my phone, an extra pair of socks, blister care, and other odds and ends at my disposal. I need to be a walking girl scout-ready for anything.
I need to worry about the what ifs-what if my contacts bother me half way through the day? What if I need an energy boost? What if it rains? What if I get horrible blisters the first day? What if? What if?
So today I was supposed to walk an easy 3 miles, doing 10% in my Vibrams. I ended up doing 2.9 total with 1.5 miles in the Vibrams. It was easier to walk to the end of the neighborhood and back, and then switch shoes, than to do the 0.3 miles in the Vibrams I was supposed to do. So I walked the first 1.5 miles in the Vibrams. My feet did not hurt at all. I did trip once, which kind of hurt. Imagine scraping your toe on concrete, but with a thin layer of protection.
I then did the next 1.4 miles in my tennis shoes. The tennis shoes feel a little bit more comfortable, but I notice more potential spots for blisters. They seem to rub a little on the heels, so I need to experiment with some different ways of tying my laces.
