The weekend I've been preparing for is finally here---I'm doing a 50-mile walk this weekend! 25 miles tonight (finishing tomorrow morning) and 25 miles on Sunday. I'm nervous as heck today! Along the way I've had to see an orthopedic doctor for knee pain, who says that I have some degeneration in my joints. Physical therapy and knee braces have helped a little bit, but there will be a certain amount of pain I'll just have to grin and bear. The knee braces increase the impact to my hips. I'm not supposed to take nsaid pain relievers, but for this weekend I will. I'd self-medicate with margaritas if I thought I could still keep up with the group!

I would not have tried this 3 years ago when my son first did it, or even a year ago. But he asked me to participate and I finally felt like I could do it, so I did. I'll count that as a huge NSV. Wish me luck!

wow!! Best of luck to you. Praying for a successful journey for you. What an awesome NSV! God bless!

What a great post! Best wishes to you this weekend!

Thanks for the good thoughts. I MADE IT!!! The first 25 miles were difficult (mentally more than physically). I came home at 5:00 am and had to pick up my left leg to get it into bed, I couldn't really lift from my hip. When I woke up a few hours later, I think I had gotten vertigo from a plugged up ear and I proceeded to be extremely sick for the rest of the day. I was only able to eat a half a piece of toast and the juice from ramen noodles all day. I really thought there was no way I would be able to get out of bed and do it again Sunday morning. Who can walk 25 miles on that many calories and having been in that much pain?

The "old" me would have said that was enough of an excuse and stayed in bed. The "new" me got up at 3:00 am, had a little Breakfast to see how I felt, and when I found I was okay, I got ready and went. I was really proud of myself for just being there! I finished the second 25 miles at about 4:00 pm on Sunday. Several blisters and sore joints to show for it, and I might add I will NEVER do it again, but I set a goal and I met it! Also I was a new low weight this morning, that put the icing on the cake.

My son finished too, as did everyone else who started the day (5 people of about 60 didn't show up on Sunday). That was another factor in my decision to get up and go, knowing that young kids as well as people older than me were going to get up and finish what they started, even though they were hurting too. I was walking with a breast cancer survivor who takes medicine that makes her hips ache a lot, and she finished. She thought I encouraged her, but I had to let her know that her being there encouraged me too. I had read her blog every step of the way through her treatment, and I was inspired by her willingness to take on such a physical challenge. Yay us!!!

congratulations! What an enourmous accomplishment! Good for you for not giving up!

way to go!!! So proud for you!

Congrats! I hope your pain doesn't last long. The weightloss was a very good reward!

I have my first 5k this weekend and know I can finish it..just hoping the temp will be at least 50 and 40's. I do not do well in the cold.

My overall goal is to be prepared to beat my brother and sister in a 5k in May! Once this one is done, I am signing up for one in April.

Good luck, mary! I just realized this week that since I've already met the only fitness goal I had set for this year, I have to do something else now. While physical therapy is helping me strengthen my upper legs to stabilize my knees, I'm going to take it easy with the walking and probably start getting my core in shape. That's a HUGE challenge for me.