24 Weeks Out

I got a very special email yesterday.  It's the first email for the official 24 week training schedule that tells each participant how many miles they should aim to walk this upcoming week.  In 24 weeks, the San Diego event will be here and thousands of us will be walking for this awesome cause.

I have to admit that I'm struggling with my frustration at not being able to train at the moment.  I'm trying to focus my energy into my physical therapy instead.  It's definitely helping.  My pain level is already greatly decreased.  This week my gym workouts have been on hold as I've had a pretty bad cold on top of everything, but I'm trying hard not to let it get me down.  As a few folks have pointed out to me, with the walking I've done since January, I'm already a bit ahead on the training anyway, so hopefully, by the time I get back into it, it won't take me long to catch up to where I need to be.

This is an incredible test of my ability to just let things be what they are and to go with that rather than trying to change it or fight it.  I just keep telling myself that it is OK for me to do what I can and not to worry if that means that I don't quite make all 60 miles.  This is not easy for me, but I knew that this journey was not going to be easy.  I just didn't realize that some of the "not easy part" was going to have more to do with my feelings about things than it did with walking or fund raising.

So that's where I am right now.  On Monday, many others will be starting their first official week of training.  I will be continuing my journey and eventually hope to join them again.  Thank you to all of you who have shared your stories -- they have been encouraging and incredibly helpful.  I truly could not do this without all of you.