There is a suggested 18-week training plan included with the registration materials - the first week you walk 3-4 miles x 4 days (13 miles total), and it steadily increases from there so that the last weeks before the event you are doing 30+ miles a week. If you follow the plan exactly, starting 18 weeks before the event, you'll walk about 425 training miles!

Okay, I'm still obsessing over YBB - some of those before and after pics are impressive!

Fiona

Fi - YBB looks like so much fun and I'm gonna go look at the before and afters.
Prior to this 'want' of YBB I was really liking the looks of the Urban Rebounder, but it passed......
Do you have good walking shoes?

New shoes are on my list of things I'm going to have to get in the near future - two pairs (Ka-ching!). There is a specialty ski-bike-run store on the way out to my parents' house, so I'm going to stop in there one of these days to get some expert advice on shoes, and maybe some help with my walking issues, too! I think my off-balance stride is probably part of the reason I hurt myself the last time I did the Walk, and we don't want to go there again.

Fiona

Fi - That is exactly where you need to go to get professional help with the correct shoe for you and your issue......sometimes it's a small thing that can make all the difference. With bunions I'm pretty anal about my workout shoes. I replace them real regular becuz I wear the inner heel area out, causing it to rub that area and possibly blister. Geez, so many issues to keep in check to try and stay fit.....lol

Fiona - also, listen to all the advice about shoes - I wear 7 1/2's and once I got up to 5 miles, my toes were going numb - I went up to 8's and was very happy. . . Will you be able to find a group of people to train with? Much easier to do those really long training walks with other people.

Star - I heard about Jane in the 70's, but didn't try her step tapes until the early 90's. .

Thanks for all of the wonderful & useful info, everyone!!

Chris - You are so welcome, for one, I am full of hot air that has to be expelled somehow.....lol But did you decide your plan of attack?
Had a good workout this a.m. It was tape/cardio day. When I get on the recumbent bike it is 6 a.m. and I watch Texas Ranger. It is a very physical show and entertains me for an hour.....Prior to 6, I watch Animal Rescue, sometimes QVC or HSN. That early in the morning I'm not too fussy about whats on.
Plan on going to the Power House gym near my new place this weekend. Want to check it out and see what time they open. Possibly I could get up, go there and come back home to get ready for work. My other option is too go back to the little gym I belong to near work. That means I would have to pack my gym bag to get ready for work there, like I use to. Decisions-Decisions.
I think I will lose my basement gym this Friday, DH is taking a truck load of "up north" stuff then and my gym is part of that load......I'm very sad.....boo-hoo
Later Fit Chicks.....

Morning Star!

Well, I was lazy last night and missed my yoga class . So instead I went to Target to look over there selection of heart rate monitors - HA! They had exactly ONE on the shelf, and it was a cheapo $25 one that you have to press your finger on the sensor to read your HR - not much better than using the palm sensors on the machine, I think. I did find an MP3 player I really liked (need something other than the clunky CD walkman that I keep tripping over!), but it was still $80 even on sale so passed for now.

For HRMs, I think I'm going to try my luck with ebay (big surprise). I did some research and I think I know what brand and model I want, so I'm just going to wait until one pops up on ebay in my price range.

Fiona

Fiona -
Tell us more about the model monitor you want, what all does it do and the price range, please...........................thx....

Well gals, I still haven't worked with hand weights for arm toning even though i said I would last week. I'm keeping up with cardio and plan to work arms tonight! I will report back tomorrow. DH had to get up early for work (3:30am) and woke me, I gave up around 4am and got up and hit the treadmill...now I'm halfway through my planned workout...will finish the other 30-35 minutes this afternoon.

Jen

Jen- Go get those arms! Summer is coming - sleeveless tops.....yoo-whoo...
Hey Chicks - Rate this thread - up at the top.......
Later

Star-this is going to sound really petty, but I have a flat mole on my right arm about the size a pencil eraser and have never been comfortable in sleeveless anything because of it. I don't mind when I'm in a bathing suit, but have just never worn anything else without sleeves...odd, I know!

Star - I added my rating, now we're 5 *****!

Jen - I have this thing with my legs. . .which is why no bathing suits for decades. . This year I have to get one, since I have a friend taking me snorkling (another new experience) this summer. . .What have you decided to do for an arm routine?

Jen - Have you ever looked into having it removed? With your new body - you should be thinking about all the ways you can change the styles you wore in the past. I mean at a size 12 you must be looking pretty dang good.....
Don't get me started on my body flaws. Okay just a funny one, I have really big ears. When I was a young teenager I always said I was gonna get them fixed when I was 21. Then other things became more important and they didn't bother me anymore. Today I love my ears, I do feel kinda sorry for my DS that got them too though......Thank God the GB's missed the gene......lol
You go chick!

Julie - Your legs are gonna see some big changes......and soon....

Note - I hope this dumb post about my 'ears' won't hurt our rating......

Star - from your lips to God's ears (and I hope they are BIG ones) about the legs. . .