Practice Walks

The training schedule said that on Saturday I was supposed to walk 18 miles. Of course it was going to be stinking hot again and I was trying to prepare for it. I wasn't sure if Hannah and I were going to walk since she had to find a babysitter for her 3 year old. I hadn't heard from her by Saturday morning so I loaded up a cooler with Gatorade and Power Bars and headed in to Monroe. As I was driving down North Custer Road I got a text from Hannah that she did find a sitter and to get to her house by 8. I stopped at Panera's and then headed up to Belleville.

This was my road as I was heading toward Monroe.

We went to Lower Huron Metropark in Belleville and figured we'd walk the connector to Willow Metropark and then come back. We tried to park the car about halfway. We headed out and got to talking and walked a long way. It was getting hotter and hotter. I ran out of food and cold water and Gatorade since we had walked a long way from the car. I got lightheaded and kind of blacked out (kind of really). Hannah went and got the car and we cut our walk short. It was totally that I hadn't had any food for a long time. But I was kind of knocked down in my self confidence. I spent the rest of Saturday and most of Sunday feeling kind of disgusted and depressed with the situation.

Then I decided to just take it as a really good warning and just prepare and make sure I have supplies that will help me for the walk. On the walk they will have all kinds of food, water and sports drinks but I'm going to make sure to have emergency supplies on me just in case. I am going to be soooo prepared it will be crazy. I know I can walk but I worry about the heat. However, it doesn't do any good to worry, just have to be prepared.

The schedule said I was supposed to walk 8 miles yesterday but as I said, I was spending most of Sunday having a pity party for myself. I decided to do the 8 miles today instead. I was at beautiful Gallup Park in Ann Arbor at 6:45 AM to start walking.

There is a trail that goes over to Dixboro Road and connects Gallup Park with Parker Mills Park so I walked 2 miles out and back on that trail. I got to see the sun come up over the Huron River.

I could already feel the day heating up through the trees. After doing 4 miles I went back to the car and got some cold G2. I sat on the bench and took it easy..

I watched Mama and Daddy swan and the 4 swan babies looking peaceful.

Then I walked 1 mile and back through Furstenburg Park which is right off the parking lot at Gallup Park. It's so beautiful and shady with boardwalks through most of it. It's in the middle of the Huron River.

So I got done with that part of the walk and headed over to my son's house. I still had 2 miles to go. He suggested we walk 2 miles around his neighborhood and I thought it would be a good idea to stop off at Starbucks. So that's what we did, it was so nice being with my son and granddaughter. It was also freaking hot and I was dissolving by the time we got back to his house. Yay!!! I got the 8 miles done and everything was just fine.