Friday, October 22, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Race day! April, my daughter, said we had to be downtown at 5:45 am. It was still very dark out and a little chilly. We register at the Blue Cross sign up table, hang around to have the company group picture made, and then head on downtown to see the booths and get in line for the race.
We decided to do the 2k race instead of the 5k. As we walk downtown their are so many people in wild costumes. There was a pink harley that I wanted to do a photo opp with but April rolled her eyes! Once we got down there, we stopped at a research booth and "spit for a cure." We literally spit in test tubes and filled out lifestyle paperwork. This was for a blind study to see if we are prexisting for breast cancer. We thought we would get the results. But no. The research is just for testing and large data purposes.
The crowd begins to pick up, making it more difficult to make our way to the "freebies" tents where they give away alot of the good stuff. Unfortunately, when 45,000 people are congregating, it is darn near impossible to get near anything. We managed to get a pink key chain. I hear snippets of other people's conversations as we walk around. Some are talking about their chemo, the pills they take, and remission. I admire them tremendously for being there and doing this.
April and I had on the Blue Cross tee shirt they provided for the company team. I have to tell you they were pretty boring. They were blue with a blue ribbon theme i.e. blue ribbon cure for breast cancer. However, our shirts were quite tame compared to others I saw. Let me see, we saw shirts that said everything from "save the ta-tas to little bitty titties are the best." One group was sponsored by Riggs Catepillar. Their shirts had a pink dozer on them that said "making tracks for the cure." I thought that was pretty cool. They also had pink license plates that said Cat with the dozer. Maybe next year I can be on the tee shirt committee. The Gym Virgin would like to see a blue tie dye shirt with a funky 70's theme of Peace, Love, and the Cure!. I am seeing a big pink Peace sign. We could totally rock that out.
It was close to race time, so we went back to the starting point for the 2k. They let the serious runners go first, then the 5k, then the 2k. We probably waited 45 minutes of just starting and stopping before we actually started moving. My legs begin to cramp.
As we head toward the Broadway Street Bridge, I am doing ok until we got to the middle of the bridge. Some people feel the need to bring their dogs on leashes to the race. One such yippy dog came up from behind me and tangled around my feet. I have balance issues anyway, and I thought I was going to fall. After the dog left I kept swaying back and forth. That is when April and I realized the bridge is swaying. Swaying to such a degree, I thought I was going to throw up. We then went sideways, in a crowd that is going forward, and finally got to the railing of the bridge. I held on for dear life, as the swaying increased with the relentless pounding of 45,000 pairs of feet. I couldn't decide what was worse, the swaying, or looking over the rail at the swirling water.
We decided to de-bridge. It takes alot of fortitude, my friends, to walk against the grain of 45,000 moving people, but we did it. We then walked our 2k around the downtown area in Little Rock. Along the way, we came across fireman starting to take down the American flag. I thought we were the only gals watching them until I realized there was a whole row of women sitting on the ground staring up at the fireman. Fireman, which by the way, were wearing their gear AND pink tee shirts and pink caps. I thought their picture was blog worthy!
After I finally got home I told the husband that as it turns out I am not a race athlete. He smiles and says that is ok, because he didn't marry an athlete, he married a pretty cheerleader. And that my friends, is why after 35 years he is still the one I come home to.
P.S. Will I support the Komen race next year?
ABSOLUTELY!
Will I go down there and walk?
ABSOLUTELY NOT!... A smaller race ... yes...but 45,000 people...there ain't no way!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
This a.m. I go to Lake V again. Another 1.25 miles. Drank lots of water. Thanked God for the ability to walk, no matter what the pace. Breathed in the cool morning air and prepared my mind for the new day. Focused on what I can do and will do. Thinking about Saturday and the Komen walk. Got the shirts for that yesterday. They are a little boring...will have to Gym Virgin them up a bit. Laters!
Monday, October 11, 2010
I wake up. I am hearing voices. Then I realize. IT IS MY SISTER SCREAMING GET UP AND GO WALK. She is in my head all the way from St. Louis. AGH!
So I put on my jolly workout wear and haul butt out the door. Today 1 mile in the neighborhood before 7:00 am. Did some Rambo lunges along the way. Am sure the passing cars think I am hearing voices for real now. I was trying to lunge along the road cracks by the curb. Did arm swings and head and neck stretches and shoulder roll overs. Just like Rambo said to do. Seriously, are you getting this mental picture? gym virgin. workout clothes on inside out. hair ever which way no brushing. glasses fogging up. ipod shuffle and wiring hanging off the side of my shirt. bonnie raitt blaring in my ear saying give them something to talk about. I think I did that.
Laters!
Friday, October 8, 2010
So I just talked to my sister, SHERRI MCCANN IN CHESTERFIELD MISSOURI, who proceeded to chew my butt out because I haven't done squat in two days. Well blah blah blah. I told her I was doing the Komen walk in a week. She asked me if I had ever walked 3 miles in one setting. Well no, I haven't about it. She then said I have to, HAVE TO, mind you call Rambo and schedule an early morning session with him. She told me to get my butt out the door and walk around my neighborhood RIGHT NOW. I think she has eyes and ears in my house because she knows everytime I don't do something. AGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wellllllllllllllllllllll, The gym virgin is 54 today!!!! Woo hoo!!!!! The day is full of possibilities. Going out with my husband and daughter tonight. Son will be there thru the telephone. He always calls and sings Happy Birthday to me. I wait for that call to make my day complete.
If I could have anything in the world today, just for me, it would be:
1. Maw's banana cake
2. all my family at dinner tonight
3. a real house
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Monday, October 4, 2010
Back in the day ( and in this case the day is the '70s )I drove my sister and I to school. Everyday, without fail, I would get out my Elvis 8 track and pop that baby in as loud as it would go. My favorite song was "Burning Love." So in that vein, after a not so great weekend, I got out my Ipod and cranked up Elvis and Burning Love and hit the streets. I did 1 mile this am to the tune of Elvis, The Archies (Sugar, Sugar) and The Rolling Stones. And just for kicks I threw in a little Flo Rida. So to you oh Monday morning I say BRING IT ON!
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Well another phase starts tomorrow in the life of the Gym Virgin. New promotion at work, new hours, new...new...new. The only down side is now I can't see Rambo except if we schedule a Saturday. Don't really see that happening, but it could. The Gym Virgin likes her Saturdays.
Will be either going to the little gym in Maumelle every morning or walking at Lake Valencia. May alternate. I will just have to see what mood I am in.
Komen walk/run is October 16th. Am registered for this one. Company paid for my entrance. If I don't show up they will make me reimburse them. I can assure you the Gym Virgin is not going to let that happen.
Am mad at the fine folks at Just My Size. I ordered a new pair of capri length workout leggings. They confirmed my order. They said they were in stock. They said they would ship within 24 hours. That was 3 weeks ago. All they sent me was a postcard that said they were NOT going to ship the leggings. out of stock they said. AGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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