This weekend’s half-marathon…

by

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Yep.

I know.

Even I am a little bit shocked I didn’t bail (best predictor of future success bailing is past bailing, right?).

That said, I didn’t do myself too too proud and I also didn’t train.

I decided to view this all through the same lens I do most things: the acknowledgement life is my sport.

I walked everywhere when we lived in Oakland (everywherewhere.  some farmers market visiting days I’d easily nail 30k steps).

I’ve continued that these past 25 days (but who’s counting?) back in the ATX as best I can.

I’ve convinced an equally nutball friend to join me in my ambles this weekend and made it a gadget-free, catching up on life, reacquainting myself with the Austin landscape 13.1 occasion.

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(can I walk *twice* a 10k? we shall find out!)

Most interesting to me is how people have responded when I share my approach to the race on Sunday:

I’m just walking.

Runner. Non-runner. Friend. Someone I’ve just met during yet another AWKWARD school pickup interaction the response in Austin has been the same:

Don’t put yourself down!

When I try and clarify (No, I mean I’m *only* walking.) it only makes matters worse.

You should be proud of that! Walking is great, Carla!

I know walking is great.

I know walking is enough.

*We* know the very act of getting off the couch & doing what we can when we can (which, for me, never equals a run) is a win.

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I’m a proud walker!

It’s funny (odd not ha ha) the greater world offline & outside my door hears “only” and “just” as meaning less than when I fully intend it to convey exclusively.

(looks up from navel where she’s been gazing as she created this post)

And you?

  • Have you done a race where you’ve chosen to EXCLUSIVELY walk?

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Comments

  2. You are going to do fine, have fun!

    Here in Holland walking a half marathon completely is not done. It’s okay to run/walk but if you want to walk it entirely you have to choose something else. As you know there are many organized walks here so that’s where you walk. I always do a 10K but they usually have distance up to 40K.
    I know there aren’t many walking events in the USA, think there are many opportunities for that.

    • Used to be like that here in U.S. too…at least in the 70s/80s during events no one would even think of walking. The support personnel (people at aid stations, medics, police directing traffic) deserve to have a cut-off time limit so they aren’t out working all day on a weekend while others want to take a stroll. Very selfish.

  5. I want that tee!!!
    I have walked a half and a number of 5ks.
    You will have a great time.
    Are you doing it alone?

  6. YAY! I am glad you went through with it, crazy that this much time has passed already, i remember when you were first talking about it! Love it 🙂 Will be there for you all the way!

  8. LOVE the tshirt! you know me, i am a HUGE fan of walking and deciding to do a half marathon is super impressive in my book. enjoy the walk! have fun!

  11. Have a great time and the shirt is absolutely perfect. As an older runner my life experiences make me feel that anything you do (other than cheating) is enough if it gets you out the door to enjoy nature and others!

  16. Non-runners think I must run marathons since I like to run so much. I don’t even like to run half marathon, but I would love to walk 13.1 with you!

  17. I’m doing the Rock N Roll half in NOLA this weekend and very tempted to walk it! Got to keep up a pace of 18 minutes to finish in time. I know I can do that, and what an awesome way to see downtown New Orleans!

  19. I may come watch or hop in and walk, is that allowed? Oye! haha. But i know you got this, so excited for you! hope it’s warm!

  22. Loved this and I get it. My goal is to walk two half marathons this year and when I say walk, I mean WALK! I used to be a jogger until 3 back surgeries, actually the second did the trick, eliminated the possibility of running again. However, I can still move, but in walking position. Good luck to you and to me!!

  24. It’s funny…we had this conversation while running our first half this past weekend. We decided that the words “But, Just and Only” are not the best words to use. You will do great and I’m betting even have a little fun along the way.

  25. I’m a walker and I am always so intimidated by races, I never join – simply because I’m a walker. I walk 4-5 miles a day as runners pass me by on the street and I am never bothered but ask me to sign up for a race and NOPE.

    Thanks for being an encouragement to not be ashamed that I am a walker.

  28. I have entered WALKING events such as charity walks with the intention of walking. I have never entered a RUNNING event with the intention of walking. I kinda think it’s odd actually although I know it is commonly done.

    Have fun! Love the tee.

  29. I walked the Georgia Publix Half with my mom last year! I paced her to her PR, I am proud to say (she is a walker, and this was her 5? half?). Walking a half is intense, and takes just as much gumption as running one–you have to put up with everything for even longer. I was exhausted after (mentally more so than physically). Hats off to you!

  31. I only do walk a thons and those are always for charity. There is not way this girl is running anywhere unless my house is on fire and I have to! I would like to do a few more of them this year and something that I am checking into besides just the two Alz walks from last year.

  33. LOVE your attitude, and wish I could evolve to have the same proud walking mentality.

    I actually love to run, but it wrecks my body, and yet I can’t help feeling that it’s something I SHOULD be doing. Sometimes I’m an idiot! 🙂

  35. You will have so much fun!! And that has happened to me a number of times, when people think that I’m downplaying something and I’m like No! I’m so happy with my decision to do whatever it is that I’m doing.

  39. I love that you have recruited someone to join you while you walk your way through the half marathon!!!
    I have told people for years when they tell me they wish they loved running that if they don’t like it but like walking then they should walk – actually much better on your body!!! (I know you already know that:)

  41. I’m so proud of you! You’ll be great and know that you serve as motivation for hundreds if not thousands of other women out there trying to put one foot in front of the other!

  42. have a great time! I one time ran a race with a friend and we didn’t get the time she wanted but I was thrilled. She kept saying “better luck next time, you can do it!” And i kept saying, thanks but I did just fine! I don’t need a next time!

    Yay for walking!

  45. I’m a bit like that when it comes to exercise requiring coordination. For the past 20 or so years I’ve LOOKED unhealthy and unfit, even at times when I wasn’t. Despite all of that I once played a lot of sport and remain fairly coordinated and strong etc. Even my current (new) PT is shocked at the weights I can lift or that I know how to do things.

    I’ve had the same in the past – surprising boxfit instructors and the like. I think they see this big (sometimes blubbery) woman and assume I’ve never exercised and know nothing about technique etc.

  46. I love this so much and I want that shirt! I too am a walker – not a runner but I walk a fast 4 miles nearly every morning and I love being a walker! I have had similar reactions at the “runners’ shoe stores when I go to get new shoes for my walking. When I explain that I am not a runner – rather a walker but one who walks a fat paced 4 miles every day – they tell me oh that’s okay – in fact that’s really good that you do that and it doesn’t matter if you walk or run the distance – just doing the distance is what counts. Um – yes I know that – and I am not ashamed of not being a runner but being a walker buying my shoes in a runners store thank you very much!

  47. I’ve never walked a race. The most fun walk I ever have done was twenty miles of Hollywood boulevard through the heart of LA!

  48. In the career that I’m in, the term 3M means “3 thousand”. So I was like, “Carla is going to run 3 thousand miles??? ” ((winks))

  51. Oh my goodness. You’re right. Only and just do not have to be words that belittle. Exclusive.

    I like it.

    And I just did my first Exclusively Walking Half Marathon in October. I loved it.

    And I want that t-shirt.

    And “exclusively” looks and sounds really word when you say/think/read it a lot.

  52. There was a 75 year old woman with your same last name 30 seconds behind you. Did you meet her?

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