Tune in... walk ... get killed by a Bus...

On last year's attempt for the marathon ...  the one I failed ...  I had come to enjoy the 'walking unencumbered'.  No water...  no phone... no backpack ... and on the odd occasion ... no bloody dog. 

 

I am in no way intending to introduce my dog to 'Robert'.  She was so lacklustre in her performance up hills in the past, that Robert's 60second moments of speed would debilitate her.

 

But I am most proud of the fact I have more OOOMPH than my kelpie cross dog. Ha. A minor victory.

 

I have ditched ALL extras and now it is just Robert and myself...  

 

 Robert and I are getting along just fine most of the time.   His soothing, reassuring tones before he hits that techno beat calms me.   My feet and legs DO seem to stay in beat with his bad taste in music.

 

There are only a few problems I have foreseen so far.

 

i haven't mastered the earplugs... or the cords attached ... or where to place the Nano. 

 

When Robert instructs me to swing my arms - usually he falls silent.  I seem to knock the cord from the Nano or have the earplug dangling and then while continuing to keep my stride have to bugger around trying to plug it all back together again.

 

Somehow today I managed to hit SOMETHING which had Robert yelling at me...

 

I did mention I was a messy exerciser...   red faced... sweatty ... earphones flapping ... trying to put glasses on to read what's going on...  

                        and then -

                                           out of nowhere - 

                                                                    A 190 bus honks and swishes past...  

                    missing me by an eighth of an inch and nearly sucking me into it's afterdraft!!

 

So I learnt ...  like a newly deaf person ... to TURN MY HEAD towards the traffic when on a face paced 60second moment.

 

So much to think about ...........   it could be the death of me.

 

and Robert. 

Plug In Personal Trainer... Day 1

I am not foolish enough this time to personally commit to walking EVERY day for 6 months...  and dismally fall short by Day 56.   As I did last time.  Mind you... In hindsight ...writing a daily blog DID inspire me to walk every day for 56 days so it wan't too much of a failure. Unless you count the 310 other days of the year in which I chose NOT to walk. 

I'm sure I carted mulch... danced about for children...  walked up stairs instead of elevators ...  carried shopping or other incidentary 'exercise' those days.  But when the local girls gear up and dash off for boxing classes, running and 'circuit' training ... gardening sounds a tad weak. I agree.

So.  A new year and a new incentive.

A heart monitor watch which tells you ALL sorts of info 

                                                                                  and

                                                                                                 "Robert"..

HIring Robert required me to buy a Ipod Nano and then sit in front of a computer for 3 hours mastering the tricks of downloading Podcasts, setting up playlists, and working out how to transfer 'him' to the gadget.

Robert is one voice among many on the website C25K. Which means Couch to 5 K running!!  

http://www.ullreys.com/robert/Podcasts/page4/files/category-7.html

 

The plan is to have the listener 'running' by week nine.   That's if the listener  runs.  

I geared up as soon as the Nano was in order... packed the water ... ventolin (just in case) ... Phone (in case)... cloth (for the perspiration) and excitedly parked in a less hilly area.

Watch strapped on ... mini backpack on ...  Nano clipped on...    GO!

"This is Robert...  walk at a brisk pace for five minutes ... swing your arms and warm up your body...  I will let you know when your 60second run begins...  "    

The shock of being blasted by some techno music abated and I fell into a fast rhythm down hill and round the corner... but there was mild anxiety when I saw a hill up yonder and had no idea whether my five minutes would get me UP the hill or whether I was meant to break into a Robert-inspired run half way up.  

I turned the corner ... "You are nearing your 60second run ...   GO ... you can do it!"    I actually panicked and began running - and I CAN'T run!!!   Too many things jiggle ...  but his voice in my ear urged me on. "Only 20seconds to go"!   "Yes... you did it"..  "Only 6 more run sessions to go!"

SHIT.

I had to calm down.  Breathe deeply.  I had spent $180.00 on this Nano.  I had to forge onwards.  In the midst of one of my "runs" - which now I had transformed into a "speed walk" -  Robert went silent!  I had somehow unplugged him and my heart rate increased as I didn't want to "run' one second longer than instructed!!  So diddling around with the bloody plug in 'cost' me some of my slow time!!! 

So the jist of this training is 'interval speed' .... run for 60seconds... walk briskly (his word) for 90seconds...  all for a period of 25 minutes.

So, when 'Robert' congratulated me for a job well done, I found myself some distance from the car.  I used the return journey to 'cool down' , with Robert unplugged.

I really don't like "Robert" that much ...  but he DID push me ... 

And when he says "RUN" ... I can go "yeah, yeah...  running" ... while I sit and drink my water.