I walked the Flying Pig Marathon in about 8 hours (after 2.5 hours sleep) Sunday... my results don't show up on the website because they officially close the course in 7 hours, but I was beyond grateful that they kept the Finish Swine open for me, the last participant on the course. It was such an awesome moment to have a guy there waiting for me with a medal!
I walked the event, which happens to be a giant fundraiser itself for dozens of charities, on behalf of the American Heart Association. The American Heart Association encourages people to love their heart. I have to tell you, I absolutely love my heart for keeping up with me on the course. I didn't give it the heart-pounding workout that some of the participants of the race had, but it kept me moving, even when I felt I couldn't move any more!
I get a few days to relax, but I have to finish training for my June challenge, Shanandoah Hike for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and more to come this year.
To contribute to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society on behalf of my upcoming hike (and please do), go to: http://pages.teamintraining.org/nnj/shenhke09/kwhitely I am hiking on behalf of my friend's brave battle against Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
www.fatwomanonthemountain.com
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Thursday, April 30, 2009
04.30.09: Coming in Last
When it comes to the Flying Pig Marathon, my May Save the World Diet challenge, I hope to come in last.
My husband is running the race, which is Sunday, May 3. He hopes to finish in four hours. My aim is to finish walking the 26.2-mile course in the seven hours that it will be open. Sure, you can finish later than that, sticking to the sidewalks with a map at your side, but I want to cross the finish when there are still spectators to cheer me on in those last few steps of the race. I want someone there to drape a pig medal around my neck the moment I cross the finish line.
To finish a marathon in 7 hours means keeping up a 16-minute-mile pace, which is quite a clip. Actually, I trained at a 15-mile pace, but we'll see how fast I'm going at mile 20 or so. To train while being a full-time journalist, a full-time mom and running a blog, meant getting in workouts here and there. I often broke them up into two-hour stints, but the miles added up. The most I did in one day was 20 miles. I'm hoping toting a nearly 30-pound baby all around counted as training too.
I'm walking this event on behalf of the American Heart Association, a way to recognize the strongest muscle in my body -- my heart. The aim on race day is to finish, to just keep going and going, no matter how tired I get and push myself to the finish line, no matter how far back in line I am.
www.fatwomanonthemountain.com
My husband is running the race, which is Sunday, May 3. He hopes to finish in four hours. My aim is to finish walking the 26.2-mile course in the seven hours that it will be open. Sure, you can finish later than that, sticking to the sidewalks with a map at your side, but I want to cross the finish when there are still spectators to cheer me on in those last few steps of the race. I want someone there to drape a pig medal around my neck the moment I cross the finish line.
To finish a marathon in 7 hours means keeping up a 16-minute-mile pace, which is quite a clip. Actually, I trained at a 15-mile pace, but we'll see how fast I'm going at mile 20 or so. To train while being a full-time journalist, a full-time mom and running a blog, meant getting in workouts here and there. I often broke them up into two-hour stints, but the miles added up. The most I did in one day was 20 miles. I'm hoping toting a nearly 30-pound baby all around counted as training too.
I'm walking this event on behalf of the American Heart Association, a way to recognize the strongest muscle in my body -- my heart. The aim on race day is to finish, to just keep going and going, no matter how tired I get and push myself to the finish line, no matter how far back in line I am.
www.fatwomanonthemountain.com
Thursday, March 12, 2009
03.12.09: Crumbs on the Floor Mean So Much More.
I used to lament about how many times, as a new mom, I would have to sweep my floor. Cheerios seem to multiply. And after just about every meal, it feels like there is another one on the floor in crumbs!
I realized just last week that I should be grateful and feel blessed that we have so much, especially in these tough economic times. There isn't an urgency to dive after the food on the tile. I thought about the poverty I've seen around the world in places like India, Brazil and Thailand, and thought how the amount that gets tossed could probably sustain another life.
There was a terrific show on Oprah a week or so back about Simplicity -- and how we can strive to live better with less. A moment that struck a chord with me was a woman who was tossing pounds and pounds of food from her fridge each week. I have been known to Costco overload myself, which is not good for me -- or my budget.
While we try not to waste (which is difficult when your 13-month-old plays the "Uh-oh" game, flinging whatever is in her hand and looking down at it with dismay and a cute little, "Uh-oh"), the crumbs on the floor mean we have enough, we are blessed and we make good use of the broom.
return: to www.fatwomanonthemountain.com
I realized just last week that I should be grateful and feel blessed that we have so much, especially in these tough economic times. There isn't an urgency to dive after the food on the tile. I thought about the poverty I've seen around the world in places like India, Brazil and Thailand, and thought how the amount that gets tossed could probably sustain another life.
There was a terrific show on Oprah a week or so back about Simplicity -- and how we can strive to live better with less. A moment that struck a chord with me was a woman who was tossing pounds and pounds of food from her fridge each week. I have been known to Costco overload myself, which is not good for me -- or my budget.
While we try not to waste (which is difficult when your 13-month-old plays the "Uh-oh" game, flinging whatever is in her hand and looking down at it with dismay and a cute little, "Uh-oh"), the crumbs on the floor mean we have enough, we are blessed and we make good use of the broom.
return: to www.fatwomanonthemountain.com
Sunday, March 8, 2009
3.08.09: Getting the Word Out
This weekend, readers of the Tampa Tribune got a glimpse of what I'm up to these days. The newspaper featured my story to preview walkMS, an event I'm doing in honor of my friend and colleague, Marilyn Dillon. The walk falls on the two year anniversary of a massive MS episode that had us worried that we would lose her. She has had a courageous and inspiring journey back to her feet.
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/mar/04/together-we-can-get-healthy-and-change-the-world/life/
Earlier in the week, I was featured on Marguerite Dunne's radio show on WTBQ, a radio station serving the Hudson Valley. Marguerite heard my story heard about my Save the World Diet initiative at a MediaBistro workshop and wanted to share it with her Urban Herbalist listeners.
So, I'm getting the word out about the Save the World Diet, and I'm hoping to pass on some inspiration along the way. Stay tuned!
By the way, if you're interested in joining me on my next trek up Kilimanjaro to benefit AIDS orphans, I am going again in late December. I'll have an information session about it at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 5 at the Summit Friends (Quaker) Meeting House, 158 Southern Blvd., Chatham. Global Alliance for Africa's executive director, Tom Derdak, will be there to talk about his organization's AIDS orphans programs. I will talk about my Save the World Diet initiative. Kenyan tea and snacks will be served. The event is free, through please RSVP by sending an email to info@fatwomanonthemountain.com
Return to: www.fatwomanonthemountain.com
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/mar/04/together-we-can-get-healthy-and-change-the-world/life/
Earlier in the week, I was featured on Marguerite Dunne's radio show on WTBQ, a radio station serving the Hudson Valley. Marguerite heard my story heard about my Save the World Diet initiative at a MediaBistro workshop and wanted to share it with her Urban Herbalist listeners.
So, I'm getting the word out about the Save the World Diet, and I'm hoping to pass on some inspiration along the way. Stay tuned!
By the way, if you're interested in joining me on my next trek up Kilimanjaro to benefit AIDS orphans, I am going again in late December. I'll have an information session about it at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 5 at the Summit Friends (Quaker) Meeting House, 158 Southern Blvd., Chatham. Global Alliance for Africa's executive director, Tom Derdak, will be there to talk about his organization's AIDS orphans programs. I will talk about my Save the World Diet initiative. Kenyan tea and snacks will be served. The event is free, through please RSVP by sending an email to info@fatwomanonthemountain.com
Return to: www.fatwomanonthemountain.com
Thursday, February 19, 2009
02.19.09: The World At My Feet
The World At My Feet.
As I train to run/walk the Flying Pig Marathon – my May challenge for the American Heart Association – I have to cover a lot of ground.
So far I’m up to 11 miles on my long run day, and that means going beyond my neighborhood and into neighboring towns. It is neat discovering new side streets and occasionally getting lost. (I typically carry a little map with me to I know how to get back home).
Life on my feet allows me to connect to the world around me. I get to see the tracks of other animals that have traveled the path before me.
Sure, sometimes it can be a bit unnerving sharing the street with vehicles not used to seeing someone trotting along the side of the road. But it keeps me on my feet, alert and aware of everything around me.
To read more about my Save the World Diet, and about my story go to: www.fatwomanonthemountain.com
As I train to run/walk the Flying Pig Marathon – my May challenge for the American Heart Association – I have to cover a lot of ground.
So far I’m up to 11 miles on my long run day, and that means going beyond my neighborhood and into neighboring towns. It is neat discovering new side streets and occasionally getting lost. (I typically carry a little map with me to I know how to get back home).
Life on my feet allows me to connect to the world around me. I get to see the tracks of other animals that have traveled the path before me.
Sure, sometimes it can be a bit unnerving sharing the street with vehicles not used to seeing someone trotting along the side of the road. But it keeps me on my feet, alert and aware of everything around me.
To read more about my Save the World Diet, and about my story go to: www.fatwomanonthemountain.com
Sunday, February 8, 2009
2.08.09: In and Out of the Cold
The greatest thing about the Penguin Plunge? Running out of the water and getting a towel from one of the Special Olympics athletes.
Sure it was cold (bone-chilling doesn't begin to describe it) but it was so much fun. The staging area, the tent where you wait for your number to be called, was filled with people pumped and ready to take the plunge. The Vermont Rugby Team -- the largest contingent there -- had bagpipes playing to usher them in the water in formation.
My plunge wasn't so organized, I made it to about my armpits, when a rush of my fellow plungers started heading back in to dry land. So I turned around and got out, got a towel as a jogged back to the changing tent.
A few moments of my time, a bit of discomfort, and a lot of fun for a great cause, Special Olympics Vermont. Many, many thanks to my supporters, who allowed me to take a long walk off a short pier and reminded me that sometimes you just have to jump in.
www.fatwomanonthemountain.com
Sure it was cold (bone-chilling doesn't begin to describe it) but it was so much fun. The staging area, the tent where you wait for your number to be called, was filled with people pumped and ready to take the plunge. The Vermont Rugby Team -- the largest contingent there -- had bagpipes playing to usher them in the water in formation.
My plunge wasn't so organized, I made it to about my armpits, when a rush of my fellow plungers started heading back in to dry land. So I turned around and got out, got a towel as a jogged back to the changing tent.
A few moments of my time, a bit of discomfort, and a lot of fun for a great cause, Special Olympics Vermont. Many, many thanks to my supporters, who allowed me to take a long walk off a short pier and reminded me that sometimes you just have to jump in.
www.fatwomanonthemountain.com
Saturday, February 7, 2009
02.07.09: Plunge Day
It's the morning of the Penguin Plunge, a dip in the icy waters of Burlington, Vt., to benefit Special Olympics Vermont. It's kind of a tradition around here -- and everyone seems to know someone who is going under for a good cause.
Most people who aren't doing it just commend you saying you're brave, courageous (read: Crazy). Last night, I went to workout at a local gym and membership coordinator told me that he had to cross a cold river once when he was out hiking. He couldn't breathe until he made it to dry land. Even now, he has trouble going in pools that are too cold. Yikes.
I'm trying to think of it as an invigorating experience -- one of those things that if you let the fear build up, you'll never do it. But once you do it, it will be done before you know it.
I've handed in my donations -- about $200 in total, have a "3" on my hand to indicate that I'm in one of the first "waves" going in the water, and I'm ready to take the plunge.
Like all of my Save the World Diet challenges, this one has a theme for me. It's all about jumping in and having fun. I'm glad to be supporting an organization that allows so many special athletes to do just that.
www.firstgiving.com/savetheworlddiet
www.fatwomanonthemountain.com
Most people who aren't doing it just commend you saying you're brave, courageous (read: Crazy). Last night, I went to workout at a local gym and membership coordinator told me that he had to cross a cold river once when he was out hiking. He couldn't breathe until he made it to dry land. Even now, he has trouble going in pools that are too cold. Yikes.
I'm trying to think of it as an invigorating experience -- one of those things that if you let the fear build up, you'll never do it. But once you do it, it will be done before you know it.
I've handed in my donations -- about $200 in total, have a "3" on my hand to indicate that I'm in one of the first "waves" going in the water, and I'm ready to take the plunge.
Like all of my Save the World Diet challenges, this one has a theme for me. It's all about jumping in and having fun. I'm glad to be supporting an organization that allows so many special athletes to do just that.
www.firstgiving.com/savetheworlddiet
www.fatwomanonthemountain.com
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