Walk 317. New Year's day

New year, new hope, still walking. Here's to a fantastic 2015. Discovery Park loop by myself. 3.1 miles

It's so beautiful. What a great way to start the year.

Walk 316: Blue skies

on the boulevard. 2.7 miles

Walk 311: Christmas day

Walked with kiddos up to Ella Bailey. 1.4 miles

Walk 310: Christmas Eve

3 miles

Walk 306: Soggy walk with the Nug

Discovery Park Emerson entrance to the beach. E met us at the beach. It was wet, cold and fun. We had the place to ourselves.

Missed walking today

My brother is very sick and in the hospital.

My new finish date is February 16.

Walk 301. Sunny December morning

Lovely walk along Discovery Park Loop. 3 miles.

Walk 300. Yes, I've been walking...

just not blogging. But even though I haven't missed a walk, I honestly haven't been taking my challenge that seriously. I know I won't skip a day, but my heart hasn't been that in it. I've been so busy!

So today was crazy. E went to work early, the kids didn't feel like walking with me in the morning, S had a performance at 1 (she's in the Nutcracker) @ 1pm, I needed to run downtown to get S a present from/with J, then help Jenny with the church party food, then S had performance 2 (the cast A girl was sick) @ 6:30pm, then church party, then ballet pick-up, then E finally home at 10:30pm. I was feeling sleeping and cozy and didn't want to walk. At 11:30pm it hit me I better skedaddle or I was going to officially miss a day.

So off I went.

And how incredibly glad I am I walked out the door.

Stars. And more stars.

We never get stars in Seattle. I thought it was because of light pollution (and it is), but it's also the cloud cover. Tonight was crystal clear and the sky had sparkly stars. And more than one or two faint ones.

Such a Christmas blessing and the perfect walk for 300.

I walked past the village and towards the sound. The closer to the water the less street lights. I was actually too scared to cross the street to Magnolia Blvd (too dark and creepy) but I watched the lights downtown and the glass sound and the fog over the water. And the stars.

I feel so blessed and I'm so grateful for walks.

1.8 miles

Walk 285 : Snow

2.1 miles

Walk 279. Impossibly blue

2.8 miles along Magnolia blvd...

then later walked through the village for another almost mile.

Walk 278. Volunteer Park

with the family (after a morning stop at Bakery Nouveau), then later I walked to Albertsons. 1.5 miles.

Walk 275: Green Lake

3 miles.

Walk 266: Portland

Little getaway for E's birthday. 1.7 miles

Walk 259: Lovely fall colors...

at Green Lake. 3 miles

Walk 240. Discovery Park loop, but backwards!

Let's create new neural pathways! it was fun seeing it from a new perspective and to go with a friend. Lovely damp pretty colors didn't get rained on fall day. 3 miles

Walk 239. 3.6 miles

Walk 238. Bainbridge ferry terminal to Windslow village...

and back. 3 miles (but I think this is an overestimation)

Walk 237. 3.2 miles

Walk 236. 3.4 miles

Walk 235. 1.4 miles

Walk 234. 1.5 miles

Walk 233. 3 miles

Walk 232. 2.9 miles

GL

Walk 231. 1.3 miles

Walk 230. 1.6 miles with S

Emerson parking lot (@ Discovery Park) down to the beach. With my cute daughter. Lovely walk, lovely day. E & J met us at the beach, where they played for a while and gave us a ride home (to save us from the hike out).

walk 229. 1.3 miles

Walk 228. GL + stroll to our park. 5.1 miles

Walk 227. GL 3.6 miles

Walk 226. 1.6 miles

Walk 225. Morning mist

So pretty walking in Magnolia this morning. Went with a friend and had a nice talk. 3.6 miles

Walk 224. Stroll with E, then the kids

Walked with E to the library to return a few books (impossibly beautiful warm day after church), then walked with the kids up the hill to a friend's birthday party. 1 mile (it counts!)

Walk 223. 2.8 miles

(I'm blogging in hindsight, and I literally don't even remember this walk. What did we do today again??? Oh....rented a violin for S and then went to the Women's mtg then B&N with friends. I must have walked in the morning.)

Walk 222. Put it off all day...

so I walked in the dark. 1.9 miles

p.s. it was a big day for me/S. We found out S was cast in PNB's Nutcracker! She auditioned the Sunday before & we'd been on pins/needles waiting for the cast list to be posted today. We prepared her that she might not get it and it would be disappointing but okay (They give out roles first based on who will fit the costume, then on dancing ability) and it was a good experience to even audition. But I was so stressed/worried about helping her deal with it if she didn't make it. So all morning I was too stressed to talk then when we found out in the afternoon I basically floated around on a cloud of relief and happiness that she will in fact make her 9-yr-old dream come true. Going for an actual walk today was definitely an afterthought. 

Walk 221. Break in the rain

Morning walk with Elizabeth. 4 miles

Walk 220. Feeling sick

J fell asleep in the car on the way home from ballet drop-off. Was hoping to transfer him into the stroller and go on a long walk. He woke up. We casually walked around the village and got supplies for AD. It's hard getting excited for walks when I feel yuck. J has been sick since Monday & everyone is feeling it. Oh, it rained almost all day, but when we went out around sunset the sky was a pretty stripe pink and grayish-blue. About a mile.

Walk 219. GL while talking to my folks

Fun to talk to my mom and catch her up on everything that's been going on since school began. Super fun to talk to my dad about last night's Giants/Dodgers game (that went to extra innings) and make fun of BB. 2.8 miles

Walk 218. 1.5 miles

J stayed home sick. Everyone is feeling crummy. Went on a short walk around the village to get some fresh air and supplies (medicine, soup, sprite, OJ, vanilla wafers) to help him feel better.

Walk 217. 2.7 miles

Walk 216. 1.2 miles

This was barely a walk. Went to "The Market" (aka Pike's Pl market) with my kiddos to enjoy the lovely Saturday afternoon. Strolled around the tiny park, looked at all the goodies, sampled fruit, almost bought a big bouquet of dahlias (I think they were dahlias) and headed back just under an hour (free parking time at Cost Plus). Stopped at the new Pagliacci's in Interbay, then went to Ella Bailey where J perfected his "Sea of Lightning" move and S worked on decreasing her fime up the climbing wall. Wonderful Saturday afternoon.

Walk 215. 3.5 miles

Walk 214. 3 miles

Walk 213. 3.5 miles

Walk 212. 2.5 miles

Walk 211. 2.4 miles

Walk 210. 1.7 miles

Walk 209. 1.4 miles

Alki

Walk 208. 3.4 miles

Glow sticks, golden gardens, gigantic marshmallows

Walk 207. 3.3 miles

Walk 206. 3.4 miles

Walk 205. 1.4 miles

Walk 204. The friend phase

(And hopefully the end of the non-blogging phase.)

When I first started walking taking time for myself doing something active was a little radical, a little shock to my system. I had to psyche myself up for walks, remind myself to walk, overcome not wanting to walk. It was such a change from my previous life where there really wasn't any space carved out for me and so that need spilled over into looking at the computer, or my phone, or just not being a present mom/wife, etc. (and not that I do any of that perfectly now....I just recognize that everyone needs their own time, own space, own room for just them in a family and it can be hard being a SAHM to give that gift to ourselves.) So, at first my walks were all about thoughts and thinking and letting my mind wander and getting inspired and figuring stuff out. Stuff that was probably totes obvious to everyone around me, but that I just couldn't see for the life I was living. Anyway, that phase was at least a good month. Decompression, thinking, walking, breathing, falling in love with walking, falling in love with myself. Such a good thing.

Next came the music phase. Who knew music was missing from my life so much!?!? I looked forward to my walks so I could rock out. I was so into music when I was younger. I loved going to concerts and having music on all the time. What changed? How did adult life get in the way? E and I got so old and boring so fast (once we became parents). We forgot how to go out and have fun...and for us music is a big part of feeling young. Anyway, it's been so wonderful to open myself up to that life again....to get excited about new bands and plan on going to concerts. Next up is Interpol (one of E's faves) next week.

Now I find myself in the friend phase. Since I began walking I'd walk with friends sporadically. I could take it or leave it. It was nice to be with friends and it helped strengthen my friendships....but I didn't need it. I was fine with walks with my thoughts or walks with music. In fact, I used to kind of prefer those to the friend walks. But now...

I'M LOVING WALKING WITH FRIENDS. I want to walk with a friend every day! It's so weird and so nice. Guess it's just a part of this journey. Different parts of the journey have different needs. Fortunately a lot of friends want to come with me. They've seen me walking around Magnolia and want to join me. It's pretty great and I feel lucky.

So....on with the Friend Phase! Who know what's next? Who knows what's around the corner and what new lessons are to be learned?? Walking is the best.

3.6 miles (with Elizabeth)

Walk 203. Lazy, gorgeous Sunday

Left to walk around 6. Once I stepped outside I knew we were all being silly/wasteful/missing OUR LIFE by staying indoors after church (E napping the kids watching a movie) because a glorious afternoon was happening. What were we doing inside??

It was a lovely walk taking a new path to get to the Blvd, turned around at the stop sign, actually sat and watched the water/boats/West Seattle, then hurried home to make my fam go outside.

2.4 miles

Walk 202. Discovery Park loop

3 miles

Walk 201. Date night

Walk 200. Grand plans

Walk 199. Hello, Green Lake

First day of school, first walk around GL since school let out for summer. Decided to walk it twice. 5.8 miles

Walk 198. 2.7 miles

Walk 197. 3.1 miles

Check out my walk here.

Walk 196. Long walk with a friend

4.7 miles

Walk 195. 3.4 miles

Check out my walk here.

Walk 194. Fireworks at the Safe

(oh yeah, and 1/2 a ball game.)

Don't really think this is an accurate distance...but I missed my walk earlier so I'll take it. + MMW messes up all the time. Here's one in my favor!

Walk 193. 1.7 miles

Walk 192. With a friend and the kids

Walk 191. 3.3 miles

Walk 190. 2 walks, 3.9 miles

Walk 189. 2.8 miles

Check out my walk here.

Walk 188. Ants and landscape painting

Oh the 8s! Love you so!

J joined me on my walk this evening (in the stroller, without shoes). We came across a pile of ants coming out of a crack on the sidewalk. He loved playing with them. As we continued on we saw a woman all set up with an easel and her paints. He loved looking at her and as we walked on he decided he wanted to bring his easel out to the bluff/blvd and paint the evening sky. We talked about the different colors in the sky. Love seeing him get inspired.

3 miles

Walk 187. Outside UW Medical Center

I had the idea of waking up early and walking before we headed over to UW, but I completely forgot! Then his surgery was delayed... We ended up sitting in pre-op for 4 hours. It's exhausting to sit around all day. I was afraid to leave because I thought as soon as I did the doctor would stop by. Finally 2.5 hours after his scheduled surgery time they took him. I got something to eat, sat in the waiting room, and then inspired by my mom and sis telling me to go walk and not miss it (I thought today might be the first walk I missed and I was telling myself that surgery was a good excuse) I headed out to a patch of green (the surgery waiting room volunteer told me where to go) thinking I would just circle the grass. I was surprised to find a lovely trail along the ship canal!! So close to the hospital!!! I walked under the University Bridge and even across it. It lifted my spirit so much. But of course when I got back the doctor had stopped by to tell me the surgery was finished and it went great (1.5 hrs earlier than they said it would end). Doh! 1.7 miles

Walk 186. Super wimpy walk

E's pre surgery day. Stressed out, picking up the house (for the housecleaners. That's weird!), airport run...day got away from me and I realized I didn't really walk and didn't have the energy to walk. I wonder if I'm coming down with something because I'm so tired. .6 miles

Walk 186. While J slept

J had a sore throat so we walked to a couple different stores around Mags trying to find him the soup he likes. He fell asleep. 3.3 miles

Walk 185. From Discovery Park

After quickly showing the Hulets where we pick blackberries. 2.1 miles

Walk 184. 3.6 miles

Walk 183. With J & S

2.95 miles

Walk 182. 6 months!

Today is the 6 month mark! I love walking, but I'm so bad at blogging! I think the challenge should have been walking AND blogging daily. I've got the walking part down, the writing about it.... not so much. 3.4 miles

Walk 181. Exhausting day

After an emotionally stressful day (met with Lisa, cousin in the ER with possible concussion, friend with a life changing crisis, family leaving after a fun visit) I somehow dragged my buns off the couch, got both kids in the stroller, and walked to the village to look for a movie, get treats and a frozen pizza. Kids were both so sad and cranky (S was in tears all evening) but as soon as we were outside getting fresh air they both perked up. Walks are amazing. 1.3 miles

Walk 180. Discovery park and village

We all went to Discovery Park to pick blackberries and play in the sand dune. Then the older kids + my sis went to lunch at the Space Needle and I took the littles to Bartell's for a treat and the park. 3 miles

Walk 179. After dark on Dad's birthday

Was busy all day being tourists with my sis and cousins (Fremont Troll, Salumi, Bainbridge Island ferry, Listening Trees, Mora, Great Wheel). We had a nice chat and he was happy WE celebrated for him. 2.25 miles

Girls yelled, "not windy, not windy....WINDY!" as they rounded the corner at the front of the ferry heading to Bainbridge Island.

The question on this Listening Tree is "What inspires you?"

My response...

Music ♥ Nature ♥ The sky ♥ My family ♥♥♥

Walk 178. Started at Ella Bailey...

then met a friend to walk and talk (in the rain and in the dark). 4.4 miles

Walk 177. High tide and lightning storm

Crazy high tide at Golden Gardens (it basically pushed us off the small beach on the side of the stream) from Supermoon! Later we strolled at the locks and it looked so pretty. I've never been there so late (they kicked us out and were locking the gates!). The kids liked running down the steep grassy hill and were happy to see a sea lion. After we got home my sis and I headed out to walk....but a lightning storm was off in the distance (over the sound) so we didn't make it to the bluff :-( Instead we walked the big loop past Fatima. 3 miles

Walk 176. Supermoon

Sunday evening walk with S. We ran into some friends on the bluff picking blackberries. Fun to stop and chat with them and watch as S played tag with the kids. 2.5 miles

Here comes Supermoon

Walk 175. 2.5 miles

Blasting Arcade Fire and singing OUT LOUD. I don't care!

Plus, the moon!

Walk 174. Epic kissing anniversary

8/8/98

The day E and I first kissed.

(It was a sign. Did I mention I ♥ 8s?)

This year, he got us all tix to see Arcade Fire at the Gorge. What an awesome way to celebrate US.

I went for a walk during the day because I knew it would be a super late night.

2.7 miles

p.s. I LOVE ARCADE FIRE. I didn't know I liked them this much! I knew they were good and I was happy when E got the tix since we've never been to the Gorge and I thought it would be a good show. Who knew it would be the Best. Show. Ever. So happy we were all there together as a fam.

p.p.s. The view was SPECTACULAR.

Everyone was chilling out enjoying the view while watching The Antlers (super good as well). AF didn't go on until after dark.

Walk 173. Another pretty sunset

2.7 miles

Walk 172. Stargazing

Took the kids to a short lecture ("Black Holes, Pulsars, Magnetars, and Other Weird Objects in the Universe") at the Theodor Jacobsen Observatory at UW. Looked in different sized telescopes set up around the observatory, then went up in the dome to take a look at the moon through the 120-year old, 6-inch refracting telescope. It was pretty great! But we got home late. I went for a walk in the dark. 1.75 miles.

Walk 171. Close enough

In case you hadn't noticed, I love my sunset walks. After family time I head out on my own to enjoy the lovely evening. I don't miss GL or Discovery Park (I prob should!).

Walking up the Blvd towards the sunset, I love feeling the warm summer wind in my hair. Absolutely LOVE it. Exhilarating and energizing. Don't know why it took my so long to really notice it. After the sky, it's the best part of my walks (lately). (When it turns to freezing wind + rain in my face I'll feel differently.)

Anyway, while walking tonight it also occurred that um, HELLO! a lifelong dream of mine has actually been pretty much realized and I hadn't noticed.

My whole life I've wanted to live walking distance to the beach and go for walks on the sand listening to the waves and having them swirl around my feet. That was the dream, that would be a life goal fulfilled. (Yes Gretchen, I'm super jealous of you, especially since you don't go to the beach that often!) E shares that dream, and we've always planned on ending up near the beach.

But... I visited Orange County this spring and the sky isn't blue. I love Hermosa, or Dana Point...but the crowds and $$$ and plus starting our life over and E's business is here. (Santa Cruz, you're still on the list!) I know my beach fantasies (at least now) are unrealistic.

Walking and thinking about it and really LOOKING at where we live, I finally SEE that the walking along the sound is pretty much what I was asking for. From my house to the water it's about 6 blocks. I get to see the changing sky and blue ocean, and sort of breathe in the sea air. I walk in natural setting (grass instead of sand) and while I don't experience the waves, I see boats, islands, mountains, twinkling lights, downtown, etc.

So I say, for now....it's close enough. I'm so grateful to live and walk here.

Walk 170. Blessed

Yes, I walked! Not much to say. Love walking, love being outdoors, love listening to music, love Magnolia sunsets.

Can't add my distance because my phone is dead, therefore can't check MMW. Thinking it was about 3 miles.

Walk 169. The yooge...

or yoozh.

About 3 miles.

p.s. I love walking

Walk 168. Keep on walking...

it's pretty great.

Love my challenge.

Love that it's opened me up to other interests/passions (who knew my life was missing music SO MUCH!)

Love MYSELF.

Prob about 3 miles, but I'll update when I get on MMW again.

Walk 167. Super fun

Walked around the Seattle Center for free KEXP summer concert series (wasn't that far, but wanted to include it!). Met some friends, LOVED Cumulus, ate some food, got some free stuff, kids played in the whale tail fountain. Felt like summer.

Got home, charged my phone then set out for my real walk. The yoozh walk, but kind of interested in Summerfest and thought I'd check it out on my way home. Well.... lucky I did because on the way back I saw they were showing an outdoor movie on the big wall of the community center and it was "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" (which I wrongly call "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"). So I zoomed home, scooped up the kiddos, chairs and blankies and we all headed over. It was great!

Hopefully I got close to 3 miles.

Walk 166. Home again

Walked to village for dinner as fam (we were so hungry!), then I met a friend on Magnolia Blvd and we walked/talked until it got really dark. 4.1 miles

Walk 165. Pretty hike above camp

Lots of wildflowers and nice views. J complained almost the entire way, but he walked it! 1.6 miles

Walk 164. Up the hill, then around the lake

Walked up the hill with Steph (from their house) to see a pretty view of their town. 1.9 miles.

Then, walked around part of Meadow Lake (across the logs!) once we reached our campsite. About a mile.

Walk 163. Tubing the Portneuf in Lava

We rode a 4 person raft/tube down the Portneuf river in Lava Hot Springs (With J in the middle and Isaiah on a single tube). So much fun! J was scared at first, but after the first run he yelled "One more time!!" He loved the bumpins (small rapids). At the end of the run we had to walk the rafts up again. I'm hoping after 4 runs I walked at least a mile!!

Walk 162. Same as 2 days ago

Walked around Draper. 3 miles.

Then in Pocatello, we walked down to the park by my bro's house and watched the kids ride "helicopters" down the hill and play on the playground. The sunsets here are amazing.

Walk 161. Tried to hike to Timp Caves

Sis got tix to the wrong day. Ooops. Was actually kind of relieved because I knew I'd have to carry Nug (aka J) up the 1.5 miles which would be hard in the heat/altitude. We hiked up the trail a bit...

then went to Cascade Springs (so pretty!)

where the kids played in an icy creek, almost started a water fight at the fairytale bridge, Nug complained a lot, he and I saw a deer in the meadow on the way back to the car, and on the drive home we saw a MOOSE! About 1.5 miles.

Walk 160. Draper, UT

Morning walk to Starbs. It's fun to be in Utah. Everyone has really green lawns and all the sprinklers are on! 3 miles.

Walk 159. Before leaving town

3.25 miles

Walk 158. Around the village

3 walks, about 2 miles.

Walk 157. Going the distance

Disappointed in MMW again. It stayed on pause and didn't track about 1/2 mile of my walk. This has happened a lot.....I wish I had an accurate count of how many miles I've gone.

(Of what it has tracked) I've walked 375 miles since I started using MMW. And the first month I walked without it I walked around 90 miles, right? (I can't find the post! I need to figure this out for reals.)

Anyway, so I'm getting close to 500 miles. In a little over 5 months.

Yay!

Tonight I was honestly tired and didn't feel like walking. But I did it anyway. Some walks are great. Some aren't. And I don't beat myself up on the ones where I drag my feet. I usually let myself take it easy and turn around if I want to. And know that tomorrow is another day and another walk and most likely it will be a good one. (But if it isn't, that's okay too.)

Keep walking!!

2.9 miles

Walk 156. Slow walk with S

S has been wanting to go with me the last few days, but then she goes back and forth deciding. If she doesn't join me, she waits home and regrets it, but if she does walk I think she's afraid it will be like the Russell walk and she'll get too tired. We walked slowly over to the sound, walked through the village and stopped at Menchie's (where she knew EXACTLY what she wanted. A guy even commented on her delicious looking choice and how he wanted to try it.)

I'm happy she wants to spend time with me.

I'm happy she's loving being outside and appreciating how beautiful Seattle is during the summer.

I want her to feel so blessed to live in such a lovely place and to be grateful for this beautiful world.

This summer has been very unscheduled for my kiddos. No camps or swim lessons (I feel a little bad about that), not many trips planned. Just mostly unstructured days to enjoy summer (besides Irish) and be a kid. It's been great! And since we haven't been running around so much stressed to get here and there, S and I have been talking so much more. Just hanging out and talking. I love it. I love her.

I knew walking was good when I started, but I didn't think about how it would make my relationship with my daughter stronger. In fact, all the really good things that have happened after 5 months of walking are things I didn't really expect.

What a blessing.

So, my advice for today is to go on a walk with your kids.

Love,

me

Walk 155. So tired

Evening walk. Still recovering after long day yesterday (Pioneer picnic.) 2.8 miles

Walk 154. Walking fast

Walked this morning because we have a long day ahead of us as a fam. It was fun to go in the morning. I should prob mix it up a bit. 3.1 miles (15:36 pace)

Walk 153. 1.9 miles

Walk 152. Cholesterol and walking

Saw my naturopath today. Got some blood work results (they are actually outdated, but show how beneficial walking can be) I forgot to get last visit. After walking daily for two months (and not changing my diet one bit) my bad cholesterol went down by almost 30 points and my total cholesterol went down almost 20 points! I think that's impressive. (I wonder what it would be now that I've been walking daily for 5 months??)

I stopped eating wheat (gluten) on 7/4 (so 2 weeks today). I feel much less crazy about food. I think wheat was a trigger and addictive for me AND I never felt full or satisfied when I ate wheat (Funny, it turns out wheat is an opiate that makes you hungrier! At least according to this guy.) I don't feel like that anymore and it's so freeing!! I don't know if it will translate into big weight loss, but it feels great not to feel out of control about food. Hopefully just eliminating one big thing the weight (especially my tummy) will shrink. Please.

Also, wheat (or leaky gut) isn't good for folks with thyroid probs. Me again!! The plan is to heal my gut and hopefully heal my thyroid. That would be amazing! 

Walked to village during the day, then with Sarah in the evening. It was fun to walk with a friend and catch up with her. 

4.8 miles