This is why I like it here.
And sometimes sitting on the beach, gazing at the ocean and watching the waves come in is so much more fun than working or run/walking.
Run/Walk #3
Last week Monday (about 2 weeks ago), my physical therapist said, “OK, let’s give this running thing a go.” Baby steps first, of course. He said I can slowly start run/walk intervals. My first run/walk was a 1/1 split and went splendidly. I was moving for 20 minutes and all felt good. Run #2 didn’t go quite as well. I upped it to a 2/1 split (2 minute running / 1 minute walking) and my foot started hurting during interval three. I aborted my running project frustrated.
Then I thought about the first run and wondered what was different other than the split. I realized that I had been walking inbetween every day and didn’t give my foot a rest. Duh!
A little smarter after run #2, I took a break before I attempted run #3 last Friday. I went on a 2/1 split again and it worked out great. Note to self: slow down, take rests, be smart! I ran/walked for 2.21 miles and it felt awesome!
I didn’t walk much today, won’t be walking much tomorrow and Tuesday is my first official training run with my new team. Let’s see how that goes. Very excited to make slow progress. I guess I am going to join the run/walk group to force myself to take it slow after my injury. That will allow much more time to chat and get to know my new team mates. Great plan, too! You can tell I am very excited! 
Have a great start to the week!
Moving moving moving
I am moving again. I mean not places like from California to somewhere else… that would be crazy. No, no, I am moving my feet again.
In April I walked over 28 miles. I like the sound of that. And you know what, so far in May I already walked over 25 miles. I think this can be an active summer after all.
The difference between running in London…
… and running in California is surprisingly small.
Let’s take weather out of the equation. The weather in California rocks! Good-bye rainy London, I don’t miss your weather.
But that aside, I am running on a trail next to a river (smaller than the Thames, nonetheless a river). the trail is easily accessible from my apartment. Lots of runners, dog-walkers and cyclists are on the trail. There are wild flowers on the trail. So far it’s all pretty similar. (I wish I could run. Patience, Tatjana, patience!). And you know what, my Canadian friends are here in California too. The good old Canadian geese hang out at one end of my trail. Those geese get around. So, yes, running in California is pretty much the same (for me at my current location) as running in London.
Snails on a trail are better than…
… snakes on a trail.
I think this is one area where running/walking in California wins over running/walking in Texas. So far so good. No snakes on any of my trails in California (yet)!
Pink Elephant on Parade Virtual 5k
My friend Liz organized a virtual 5k as part of her fundraising for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. It was called “Pink Elephant on Parade“. I thought that was a cool name and deserved that I brought something pink with me on this 5k.
I am still not able to run (due to broken foot in January), but I am able to walk, so off I went last Saturday with my pink bottle of water in sunny California.
This is the path that I took for my 5k. I actually ended up walking 4.4 miles, which is the longest walk since I broke my foot. I enjoyed being out and moving about. It was – of course – a sunny California day and I realized this was my first ‘race’ in my new home State.
So I looked out for all signs Californian: palm trees, mountains, sun, wildflowers. Even the new 49er stadium was on my route. Walking is actually great fun. I was able to see much more than when I am running. I am going to look into some fun walks to do until I can run properly again.
Slowly walking…
My foot is still not in shape for running, but I have increased my walking exercise. I try to walk 1 mile every evening after work (time permitting) and managed 6 walks this week. Today I slowly walked 3 miles.
The pain after walking is getting less and less, but after each physical therapy session I want to curl up and cry. It’s not quite this bad, but the sight of Dr H or Dr A entering the room makes me cringe. And both look so innocent. Like they can’t harm an ant. But they have no pity with my leg and foot… I wish I had my Stick and my foam roller, but both are on a truck somewhere waiting to be shipped to my new apartment.
I am now on to a series of strength exercise for my ankle and foot. It’s not running, but it makes me feel much better. At this point any exercise is welcome.
On the bright side: I am moving again, albeit slowly! And this coming week I’ll be joining a mixer with the local Team in Training group. Can’t wait to join the Team again for another season (even if that means I am walking a half marathon). But don’t you worry, training will only start at the end of May, I am just going to meet the Team.
