My plan seemed simple. Walk 60 K on my 60th birthday. On my special day I arose at 3:30 AM and at 4:00 started off on a the walk. It was an out and back course. I finished shortly after 5:00 PM. That's the short version.
I planned for months. Nearly everything I planned failed. I had help along the way but it was My Oldest finding me on his bike that saved the day.
The Training: I walked a lot but never more than 20 K in one day. I walked parts of the course several times. I didn't walk enough.
The Planning: A backpack of supplies...band aids, a couple of power bars, aspirin, a hanky. and a cell phone. A GPS watch borrowed from My Oldest. The battery on the watch died at the 6 hour mark. Water bottles scattered throughout the course strategically hidden the night before. I wore light colored clothing and a flashing red light. You can't walk that far on a couple of power bars and some water.
The Events: Larry the Communicator found me at about 15K and gave me some extra power bars and encouragement. Many folks were texting me along the way, especially Caring Kim and The Commissioner. At the 30 K mark I was stopped by a Dallas County Deputy and told that citizens were complaining about a strange man walking along the highway. At the 35 K mark I started not making sense. I began passing up water stops. I threw away the band aids to lighten my load. At the 40 K mark my son rolled up on his bike and gave me sandwiches and juice. He saved me. I got my senses back. At the 45 K mark my hands were too swollen to text in return. At the 50 K mark a group of teachers brought me fruit and water...saved again.
The Celebration: When I finally finished I grilled a steak, had a bourbon on the rocks and smoked a cigar.
The lesson was simple...train more, plan smarter, and know the warning signs.
A footnote to this experience: 3 weeks later on a Sunday morning I went to school to get ready for the new year. Unfortunately, I started the new year in the hospital. I had a heart attack.
I planned for months. Nearly everything I planned failed. I had help along the way but it was My Oldest finding me on his bike that saved the day.
The Training: I walked a lot but never more than 20 K in one day. I walked parts of the course several times. I didn't walk enough.
The Planning: A backpack of supplies...band aids, a couple of power bars, aspirin, a hanky. and a cell phone. A GPS watch borrowed from My Oldest. The battery on the watch died at the 6 hour mark. Water bottles scattered throughout the course strategically hidden the night before. I wore light colored clothing and a flashing red light. You can't walk that far on a couple of power bars and some water.
The Events: Larry the Communicator found me at about 15K and gave me some extra power bars and encouragement. Many folks were texting me along the way, especially Caring Kim and The Commissioner. At the 30 K mark I was stopped by a Dallas County Deputy and told that citizens were complaining about a strange man walking along the highway. At the 35 K mark I started not making sense. I began passing up water stops. I threw away the band aids to lighten my load. At the 40 K mark my son rolled up on his bike and gave me sandwiches and juice. He saved me. I got my senses back. At the 45 K mark my hands were too swollen to text in return. At the 50 K mark a group of teachers brought me fruit and water...saved again.
The Celebration: When I finally finished I grilled a steak, had a bourbon on the rocks and smoked a cigar.
The lesson was simple...train more, plan smarter, and know the warning signs.
A footnote to this experience: 3 weeks later on a Sunday morning I went to school to get ready for the new year. Unfortunately, I started the new year in the hospital. I had a heart attack.
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