Way back when I was in high school, I did Cross Country in the fall and Long Distance Track running in the summer and one year we even had Cross Country Skiing during the winter. I ran a lot. We usually ran six miles a day plus a hour of sprinting. On my better races I could do the three mile run in just under 18 minutes. I wasn’t the fastest on the team by any stretch, but I was quick enough.

So I went walking again yesterday. As I said before, my old friend shin splints were back in full force. It was incredibly painful. The first part of my walk takes me uphill and when I walk shorter distances I have a long stride. After doing some reading online it seems this is my problem.

I haven’t worked out in a few months and when I was working out before I had an elliptical trainer so I didn’t pick my feet up and put them down. I’m also walking on concrete. After what I read I’m doing a lot of damage to the muscle on the front of my legs. So after my walk and after reading this information I started stretching and doing some simple exercises to hopefully help with the problem. I really do want to walk every day.

Yesterday’s walk I had to stop several times due to the pain. It really was that bad. I tried to push myself forward, but my legs just weren’t having any of it. I turned around and headed back to the house. Even though I had stopped several times and didn’t feel like I had made it that far, I did1.65 miles in just over 24 minutes.

The worst part about that was I didn’t even work up a sweat. My pace was so slow due to the pain in the front of my legs and I stopped so many times that I didn’t feel like I got a good workout. I will, however, try again today.

I’m not a subscriber of the no pain, no gain. I understand weight lifting and know that motto and the stiffness involved with a good workout. This is highly different pain. This pain tells me I’m not doing myself any good. So today I’ll take smaller steps and likely go for a shorter distance. I still need to get better walking shoes. The ones I have are hard and didn’t help much.

On a positive note, I had a great writing day. I went to my daughter’s volleyball practice and stayed to watch her practice and talk with a couple of the other parents. I had brought my netbook and did intend to write, but once it was open the girls either started spike practice or serving practice. Each requires certain evasive skills. It was not an environment conducive to writing. I was still happy with yesterday’s output.

Today I strike out once again.

It felt good getting back to work. Today will see more productivity both at work and on the writing front. Speaking of which, I’d better get at it.

Until tomorrow.

WOO WOO!