speed walking clinic.

Bonnie and I learned a lot about walking. My fears were not realized. But then that's me. Always look for the worse case scenario.

It was cold. I had on a tee, a long sleeve tee, a fleece and a jacket, plus gloves. As the day progresses I stripped down to my tee shirt. 

First we corrected our posture/form and walking technique. Wow there's a lot to remember. I'm being vague because I'm not really sure how much I can say.

Then we walked, practicing out new techniques. We need to find a park with a line to follow.

We continued walking while each participant was videoed with an iPad. Then the film was reviewed. I lean forward. That wasn't news. After the half my back and shoulders hurt. I punch in with my right arm, instead of back, so I send the energy the wrong way.  Scuff my one foot. It's amazing what a stranger can see in 90 seconds.

Then we did drills. Look out Lydia. Walking will never be the same! One we counted our steps. Mine always stayed the same. I didn't get any faster. But in another, I did get a little faster.

At the end of the drills Bonnie said we had to go. It was already 5:00, and she needed to help her mother in law. So we said goodbye as they moved the clinic to DeSales University to do a hill demo.  When we got in the car, the car said 4:00. Bonnie never reset her watch from the time change! So I did a U-y and headed for DeSales.

At DeSales we worked on techniques that would work on a hill. I want to see them work on an actual hill—Wyandotte Street. Frederick Street. My street. That was an incline. I think the hill to the rail trail at the partk we were in is steeper. So the jury is still out on that particular technique, until I can try it on an actual hill.

We finished the day with strength exercises.

All in all a great afternoon and well worth the money.

they didn't cry wolf this time

Itaska Street. Two blocks from my house. If you remember Mrs. Billiard, from Advent and First Church, it's her old house. Remarkably, no cars or homes were damaged.

The storm arrived, big time. Destroyed the Jersey coastline that was so beautiful two weeks ago. It will take years to recover. The eye of the hurricane came thru Atlantic City. The eastern edge of the storm flooded lower Manhattan and all of Long Island. They've even cancelled tomorrows New York Marathon. Yeah, it was that bad.

What hit us was a tropical storm. It's been cold and wet. Nothing tropical about it.

Locally, I was without power two days, Lyd three and Bonnie four. Lyd stayed her because there was a tree leaning over her house. Thank goodness it didn't fall.

My primary college was closed all week but I got called in. The magazine had to go to press. So I went.  Apparently graphic designers are "essential" personal. The boss dangled a "vacation day anytime they wanted" carrot, and people responded. Why wouldn't you? Lights, heat, and the gym was open for showers. Really, coming to work was the better idea.

The community college was open by Wednesday, and the online school never closed.

Tuesday-Thursday I didn't really go on many walks except with Adonis. There were trees and power lines down everywhere.

Friday Betsy and I went for our Friday afternoon three fast miles in south Whitehall.

This morning, Mary Liz called to walk. They are moving and her new place doesn't have power yet. So they came to her old place around the corner. She's still recovering from back surgery, so we did about 1/2 mile at a slow pace.

Last night, Bonnie couldn't stand the lack of sunshine anymore, and said "Let's walk tomorrow." (Lyd had a planned autumn cleanup party at her house.) So this afternoon we went. Up to Moravia, down Lechaukecki, behind the finally opened Wawa to the Stanley Avenue park. We swung for a while and continued to Hoffert. Down Hoffert, out Seneca, down fourth, and back Broadway. We just wandered and managed 3.25 miles. Not fast, but not slow either. Then I came home and did .5 miles with Adonis.

For a lazy butt mid-week, I made up for it today.

Tomorrow I'm doing a walking speed clinic with Michelle Stanten, the Walk Your Butt Off book walking coach and Canadian Lee Scott of WOW Power Walking.

To start, you’ll simply walk while we videotape you. That way you can see what you’re doing well and areas you can improve. From there, you’ll receive group and one-on-one instruction on posture and technique to improve your speed. You’ll also learn drills and exercises that you can continue to do after the clinic to get even faster. This is not race walking.

Hopefully I learn different things than I learned in WYBO. I'll be very disappointed and will have wasted a nice chunk of change.

I've been way out of control diet-wise, and my sugar tooth is working overtime.  I have a doctors appointment at the end of the month and that Prevention photo shoot coming up. So, I've also signed up for her 21-Day Eat-Move Commitment. You only have to walk a minimum of twenty minutes a day. And I guess stick to a non-processed diet. Motivational emails (golly how I hate motivational emails and posts on FB. They make me want to gag.) come straight to your mailbox and you have to email your progress daily.  I do so much better when someone holds me accountable. The thing that sold me on this was "Eat no added processed sugar (incl honey, maple syrup, agave, cane sugar)." Twenty-one days without sugar. More than likely I'll be a raving b*tch by the time it's over.

Time will tell. It starts next Saturday.