I got dizzy & fell

On November 2, I went with Judy up to Ogden for a marriage reception. We had the exact address of the reception but couldn't see the place. We stopped in a large parking lot to see if the wedding place was part of the Merritt Hotel. While walking in the dark parking lot, I got dizzy and fell backwards, breaking a bone in my right leg and shattering my right shoulder into a million pieces. I was taken, by ambulance, to the Ogden Hospital, and I had surgery the next day (Sunday). I went to the Rocky Mountain Family Care in Riverton on Tuesday and spent the remainder of the month in Riverton. My muscles quit working, and I have to learn to walk again. I had walked 1.92 miles on the morning of the accident, so I was in pretty good shape. The leg injury has healed quite quickly, but the shoulder injury is taking longer to heal.

Added a bit to my long walk on Saturdays

My long walk is twice around the block and then extra distance. I waited until early Saturday afternoon to do the walk, and I added about 0.1 miles to the walk. The walk is currently about 1.92 miles.

My shoes are holding up

I'm trying to avoid compression of the soles of my shoes by alternating between two pairs of shoes. This allows me to use a pair of shoes after 24 hours of using a different pair.

I got in 1.45 miles today.

Still out there

I've been walking instead of running, but I'm still out there 4 or 5 times per week. The temperature during my walks has been in the 30s and 40s. We've had two nights with a deep frost, but most nights have been in the mid to high 30s.

I have added, though, a bit of distance to my walks. I feel stronger, so my times are probably the same or shorter than my previous times, even though my distance is longer.

Weekly update: 176 minute

Judy and I were out in the mornings, and I did walking for 176 minutes this week.

Not much is happening in my walking life. I am walking 4-5 times per week, using the same route and approximately the same time (in minutes). I will keep on walking each week. So, I've decided to not update this blog anymore. I will, though, make an entry if something significant happens to me while I am walking.

So, see you later on....

Weekly update: 206 minutes

My wife and I were out about 9-10 am this week, and I accumulated 206 minutes. The temperature is getting cooler, and I wore my running pants, a T-shirt, and my nylon windbreaker while walking.

We've been having rain during the nights but not during the day.

Weekly update: 231 minutes

I was out walking for 231 minutes this week (5 times). The daytime was cooler, and I was out earlier to catch the lower morning temperature; although, Saturday was an exception, and I was out about 11 am. The temperature was relatively cool but warmer than it was at 9 am, my time for going out earlier this week. I did my long walk of about 1.65 miles without eating breakfast before I left home, and I got pretty tired during the last half-mile.

I mowed my lawns in the afternoon during the hotter part of the day -- the temperature was in the mid 80 degrees (F). There was a slight breeze blowing from the south while I was mowing my lawns, and the breeze felt good!

Weekly update: 204 minutes

I walked five times this week, using my normal route and frequency. The temperature is cooler in the morning than it has been, and I was out about 9-10 am each day.

I feel fine and am glad to get outside.

Weekly update: 212 minutes

I walked on 5 different days, although the Saturday walk was reduced to about 1/3 of my planned distance. I waited until it was almost dark to go walking so as to avoid the high heat of the day. I would have liked to do more walking on Saturday, but my feet were tired. I was on my feet a lot during the day, working on my sprinkling system. I was mostly changing the screens in a lot of "heads" spread over 16 zones. I cleaned earlier in the week the big filter that cleans the water taken from the canal. The time (minutes) reported above includes some of the time spent on my sprinkling system, but not all of the time.

Weekly update: 170 minutes

I only ran 4 days this week due to having my daughter and 3 grandkids visiting. The temperature this week, though, was a bit cooler, and I went out early in the morning or late at night when the temperature was lower. On Monday evening, the kids were home from BYU Education week earlier that day, and after supper they all went walking around the block with me.

Weekly update: 236 minutes

This week was a good week for walking! I was out earlier in the morning, or later at night, to avoid the heat of the day. Also, I included about half of the time for mowing all of my lawns, because I do a lot of walking behind the mower.

Weekly update: 205 minutes

Daylight hours are still hot, but earlier in the morning or later in the evening the temperature is nice. Except for Saturday, I was up earlier and went walking around 9 am. On Saturday, I waited until evening to go out, and I was out around 8 pm. On Wednesday and Saturday, Judy and I went around the block several times instead of going to the Jordan River Parkway. The temperature while we were out was in the mid 70s (F) to mid 80s.

I haven't done any jogging this week, all walking.

Weekly update: 170 minutes

Daytime temperatures were very hot (high 90s to low 100s F), so I was up earlier to get lower temperatures. Also, I reduced the length of my walk/jogs.  Shade temperatures were a few degrees cooler, and nighttime temperatures were in the low 80s. On Saturday, we didn't go to the Jordan River Parkway but stayed home and circled the block about 2 1/2 times  to get equivalent distance. Because of the closeness to home, I didn't carry water but took big drinks while I was resting at home. I felt pretty good while on my walks/jogs and resting at home afterwards.

Weekly update: 175 minutes

As I mentioned in an earlier post, this was a busy week and a week bad for jogging and walking. On Saturday, my wife and I went out about 9:30 am, but the heat was high. I carried three bottles of water and used it all (each bottle is 1 cup). I was sweating quite a lot, and the sweating was heavy, that is, more than normal. I also got a touch of dizziness during the latter part of my walks and jogs. That, plus my sweating, indicates I was starting to suffer from heat exhaustion. Fortunately, my exercise ended before heat stroke occurred. I've learned that I don't adapt to hot weather as much as I did when I was younger. When I was in my 60s and 70s, I could run in midday and extra water was enough to keep me going.  Now, I get heat exhaustion from the same temperature and humidity range.

The heavy sweating and moments of dizziness, indicates that heat exhaustion was beginning to occur. My conclusion is that I need to continue to carry water, such that I have water left at the end of my walk/jog, and that I need to go out earlier in the morning or later in the evening to avoid the heat of midday. Doing a shorter distance during midday temperatures is also a good idea. So far, at least, this applies to my longer runs on Wednesday and Saturday, but not to my shorter runs on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Time will tell if I get heat exhaustion on my shorter runs.

After I arrived back home (Saturday), it was an hour before I felt normal. During that hour, I drank water and stayed indoors away from the heat.

The images shown below are taken from without approval from the Internet. Heat exhaustion occurs first and leads to heat stroke. Heat stroke leads to death!

Weekly update: 173 minutes

This was a bad week for our jogging and running. We only got out 4 days, due to a busy family schedule. The distance each time we went out was reduced, usually cut in half. On Saturday, we waited until evening to avoid hot daytimes. Next week will be bad, too.

Weekly update: 274 minutes

Judy and I did exercise on 6 days. Five of the days were scheduled, and the 6th day was our walking around Thanksgiving Point looking for a wedding; I was tired and walked slowly around Thanksgiving Point. The daytime each day was in the high 90s, and on the two longer jog/walks on Wednesday and Saturday, we were out earlier in the morning or later in the evening to avoid the heat. We were also out in the late-evening on the slow Friday walk (6th day),

I carried 3 bottles of water on Wednesday, but I carried no water on Friday and Saturday. I got extra water from the fountain at the 100th South parking lot (at the beginning and end of each outing) on Wednesday and Saturday.

The shorter walks on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday are done near my home by going twice around the block each walk. The medium jog/walk is on Wednesday, and the long jog/walk is on Saturday, and both jog/walks are on the Jordan River Parkway; especially while coming back, I take short rest-stops on some of the benches along the path of the Parkway.

All in all, it was a nice week!

Weekly update: 188 minutes

This week was a rest week, and I shortened each of my jog/walks. I went out five times this week, and on my two longer jog/walks, I tried to go out earlier to catch the morning shade, because it is pretty hot during the day. I was glad for the water I carried on my two longer outings (Wednesday and Friday), but I only carried two bottles (1 cup each bottle) of water. The water fountain at the beginning and end of my outings gave me additional water (the fountain is in the 100th South parking lot).

It is dangerous to run or walk in hot weather. The main problem is heat exhaustion, and that can lead to heat stroke, and that can lead to death! As long as one is sweating, he/she is probably OK, although the sweating should be normal for that exercise. Heavy sweating, which is sweating greater than normal, is one of the signs of heat exhaustion. But, if the sweating stops, stop your training and head for the nearest shade. Stop the exercise and get some water inside your body so sweating can begin again; otherwise, your body temperature will rise and rise and rise, until death occurs.

In hot weather, run early in the morning while it is cooler. Be careful though, because heat exhaustion can occur early in the morning, too. The main thing is if you are sweating or not when you should be sweating. However, heavy sweating which is sweating greater than normal, is one of the signs of heat exhaustion, and that exhaustion may lead to heat stroke. Normal sweating is the body's way of cooling itself. Normal sweating is good. It may save your life!

Weekly update: 269 minutes

My wife and I went out five times this week. On Saturday, I carried an extra bottle of water but didn't use it. The temperature was hot, but we were out earlier than normal, and, there was nice shade going out, but less shade coming back.

Weekly update: 236 minutes

On Saturday, Judy and I went to the Jordan River Parkway, and I jogged/walked 2.0 miles in 63 minutes. I used slightly less than the two bottles of water I was carrying, because we were out earlier and had cooler weather and more shade. On Sunday, I walked around the block, giving 236 minutes for the week in five outings. I normally don't go out on Sunday, because Sunday is my Sabbath and also a rest day. However, the weather has been cool this past week, and my wife wanted to go for a walk after church, so we went around the block. We went pretty slow and enjoyed the cool evening. The sun was down, but it was still light enough to see the sidewalk.


I didn't go out on Thursday. If I had gone out on Thursday and done my jogging and walking in 46 minutes (twice around the block), as I've done in the past, I would have had about 282 minutes for the week.

The times I'm giving are motion times and are not total times. I've been doing the same distance each week. so my motion time indicates the approximate condition of my body.

Weekly update: 270 minutes

I went out for six days this week. I don't normally go out on Sunday, because that day is my Sabbath day. However, we had my son and his family over for Father's Day dinner, and they wanted to go for a walk after the dinner. So, I went up to the corner and back, while the rest of the family went around the block. I could have gone farther, but I felt tired and went home after reaching the corner.

I am going faster but I'm getting more tired than when I went slower. I don't intentionally increase my speed. My body automatically adjusts my speed according to how my body feels. I just jog and walk at a comfortable pace and let my body adjust the speed accordingly.

On Saturday, I went to the tunnel under 106 South, for a total distance of 2.0 miles. Judy went to the bench south of the 106th tunnel, for a total distance of 2.6 miles.

I'm carrying two bottles of water on my Wednesday and Saturday outings, and I take one swallow each time I walk. I get about 1 mile per bottle this way. Wednesday is my medium outing of about 1.75 miles, and Saturday is my long outing of about 2.0 miles.

Even though I'm going faster, my wife, Judy, still walks faster than I jog.

Weekly update: 249 minutes

I went out five times this week. My goal for today was 72 minutes, but I only did 62 minutes. I am going faster, but I get more tired than when I went slower. Today, I went to the tunnel under 106 South, for a total distance today of 2.0 miles. On Wednesday, I didn't quite get to the tunnel. In other words, I went farther today in less time than on Wednesday.

I didn't get much sleep per night during the first part of the week, but I slept well last night and got a good 7+ hours of sleep. Earlier in the week I got 4-5 hours of sleep per night.

Weekly update: 256 minutes

I jogged and walked five times this week.

The halfway time for my Saturday jog/walk was 37 minutes, but I felt tired after I had completed about 31 minutes, so I turned around and headed back to my car. The total time today was 71 minutes. I walked a bit extra on my way back, but not much. I went about 2 1/4 miles today.

So far, I haven't carried water, but the fountain at the 100 South parking lot is nice at the beginning and end of my runs.

Weekly update: 243 minutes

I jogged and walked for 5 days this week. My long jog/walk this morning was for 82 minutes. My goal this morning was to do 74 minutes, and I turned around at 37 minutes. However, I got pretty tired and walked much of the last 0.5 miles. I think that if I feel pretty good before I leave home, I will turn around at half of my goal for the day. However, if I feel tired as I did this morning, I will turn around at half of my goal minus 3 or 4 minutes or even 5 minutes. If I had done that this morning I would have come close to my goal for the day. Part of the reason I was tired this morning was that I mowed all of my lawns yesterday. I think I will mow my lawns on Wednesday instead of Friday so I will be more rested on Saturday for my long run.

One woman, who was about 40 years of age, passed me (she was riding her bicycle) and then she turned around to check on me; she could tell I was pretty tired. I also look like an old guy, which of course is true; it is unusual for an old guy to be out walking and jogging in the middle of nowhere. I thanked the woman for checking on me. I was on my way back when the woman stopped me. Today's experience has taught me a lesson; on days I feel tired before I leave home, I will do a shorter distance than on days I feel good when I leave home.

Weekly update: 267 minutes

I jogged and walked 5 days this week and did this for 267 minutes.

In the past, I've taken my expected time (in minutes) and went out for half that time, assuming I would do the other half on my way back. However, I've noticed that my return-time is longer than my out-time. So, today, I went out for half the expected time minus 2 or 3 minutes. This worked pretty good, because my total time today was 73 minutes instead of 75 minutes. I had the greatest time (of the week) today, because today was my long run.

Weekly update: 252 minutes

This week (5 days of jogging and walking) is the first week I've reported time instead of distance. I did, though, do the same distance (7.16 miles per week) I've been doing to get a good base of time for my jogging and walking. I'm using my Garmin GPS watch to measure time.

Weekly recap: 7.16 miles

My granddaughter is visiting tomorrow for her birthday, so I jogged/walked today. I did five days this week.

On Wednesday for my medium run, my wife and I went to the Jordan River Parkway and went north to see all of the new houses that have been constructed. On Saturday, for my long run, we went to the JR Parkway and went south to the next tunnel and back. On the other three days, I went around the block in my neighborhood.  For all five days, the daytime temperature was in the high 60s (F) or low 70s. The nighttime temperature, though, was near freezing. We had a bit of snow and rain earlier in the week.

I jogged about 60 seconds and then walked for 80 seconds (or more until I felt like jogging again)

Weekly recap: 6.78 miles. Speculation about possible marathon training

I walked/jogged 5 days this week. On Saturday. I did my long run by going to the Jordan River Parkway. I left the 100 South parking lot and went one mile south to the next "tunnel", at 106 South, and then returned to the 100 South parking lot.

Years ago, when I finished my first marathon, there was a man who finished in the same time as me (a  few seconds faster than four hours). The only difference was that he was 83 years old and I was a middle aged man of 47. I am now 83 years old and I'm doing 5-7 miles per week instead of the 45-50 miles per week I did in my younger years. It all amounts to getting your body used to the longer distances, hence 45-50 miles per week, including at least one long run of 17-20 miles per week.

If I were to train for a marathon, it would take me about two or three years to get up to 15 miles per week and another two or three years to get up to 30 miles per week, plus another year or two to get really used to the long distance. That is, it would take me about five or six years to get ready for a marathon. I would have to dedicate myself to this training, and I would probably have to curtail my church and family activities to have time for this training. Younger people may run a marathon with less training, but they may suffer afterwards for their relatively quick training. I'm talking about an older person finishing a marathon with no injuries and with no difficult feelings afterwards.

Weekly recap: 4.22 Miles

I walked four days this week. The weather included rain showers at the first of the week, but today was a warm, sunny day! I normally don't walk on Fridays, but tomorrow (Saturday) is the day my grandkids are visiting, so I walked today instead of tomorrow.

Weekly recap: 6.26 miles

I walked and jogged (mostly walking) five  days this week.The temperature was a bit cooler this week, but the temp was in the 40s (F) and 50s. I got tired while I walked. As I get older, I have less energy in my body.

Weekly recap: 6.02 miles

Judy and I did 5 workouts this week. I aborted the mid-week workout, because I was tired. The temperature in my workouts this week was the mid 40s (F) to the mid 60s.

I'm walking/jogging one time around the block and just walking the other times around the block. Each time around the block is 0.62 miles.

Weekly recap: 6.70 miles

My wife and I walked/jogged 5 days this week, and I did 6.70 miles for the week. I walked and jogged the first time around the blog and just walked the remaining 2 times. I started to sweat this morning while walking, and I took off my jacket for the remainder of my outing. The daytime temperature today was in the mid 60s (F), and it was in the 50s during my walk and jog.

Weekly recap: 6.96 miles

I jogged/walked 5 days this week (including Sunday) and did 6.96 miles. I didn't go out on Tuesday due to a schedule conflict. On Saturday I went around the block 3 times and alternated jogging and walking for most of the way. I did 25 seconds of jogging and 60 seconds of walking. I felt pretty good for about 2 1/2 times around the block but got pretty tired during the last half of the 3rd time around the block. On Sunday I walked to the Stake Center and back for 1.4 miles. I normally don't exercise on Sunday, but I needed to get to the Stake Center , and I enjoyed the walk, even though the walk back was in a light rain.

We had a bit of rain during the night but no rain during my jogs and walks during the week. There was, as has been mentioned above, a light rain on the way back from the Stake Center on Sunday.

I added a bit to my walks during the week.

Weekly recap: Did 6.16 miles again

I walked for 5 days and did 6.16 miles again. Most of the days this week were warmer, with highs in the mid 40s (F). However, we had snow and rain on Wednesday.

I did some jogging during my walks, jogging for 25 left-foot steps, and walking to recover from the jog.

Weekly recap: 6.16 miles

I walked 5 times this week for a total distance of 6.16 miles. The temperature for most of the week was in the mid 30s (F), with snow showers and rain, but the temperature today was in the mid to high 40s, with morning snow flurries; most of the snow has melted from the lawns I passed. I waited until early afternoon to go outside so the snow flurries would be gone and the sun would be out. The sidewalks were clear of snow and were dry during my activity.

I did some jogging in the middle of my walk today, but I didn't do a lot of jogging, because I didn't want the pain I felt last week to return. I feel fine, and there was no pain during or after my walk.

Pain is not an injury. It is a sign from ones body that he/she is doing too much, too long of a distance or too fast of a walk/jog. We humans in the USA speak English with nouns and verbs, and so forth. Our body, though doesn't speak English. It speaks another language with huffing/puffing, tiredness, pain, and injury as the primary indications of improper functioning. Huffing and puffing means more oxygen is needed for proper blood circulation. In response, we should take bigger breaths to get more oxygen in our bodies, or we should do less (in terms of distance or speed) to allow our bodies to perform well with the available oxygen. Tiredness means we are going too fast or too far for our body-condition. Pain is a sign from our body that injury is on its way, unless we slow down (in distance or speed) in our activity. Injury means our bodies aren't performing well. Our bodies have lost abilities to perform, and we are "forced" to slow down, usually by not running or walking at all. Learn to understand the language of our bodies, and listen to our bodies speak that language! Be injury free!!

Weekly recap: 5.14 miles

My wife and I walked 5 times this week. The temperature during the first part of the week was in the mid to high 40s (F), and then the temperature cooled to the mid 30s for the last day of the week (today, Saturday).

I jogged a bit during my walks on the middle days of my walks, but I began experiencing some pain in my back. I took my normal day without running (Friday), and the pain went away. I jogged for 25 seconds and walked for 60 seconds. I didn't do any jogging on Saturday for my long walk, and my back felt fine. Next week I will try jogging again, but I will only do it on one day, instead of the 3 days that I did this week.

Today, for my long walk, my wife and I went around the block 3 times, 0.62 miles each time. It snowed a bit during the night, but the snow was all melted when we went out walking, and the lawns were mostly snow-free. The sidewalks were clear of snow and were dry.

Weekly recap: 4.86 miles

The temperature for most of the week was in the mid to high 20s (F), and there was a 20-25 mph wind, making the chill factor close to 0. The snow however, is melting, and the sidewalks are mostly clear.

We're supposed to have warmer weather next week with some rain mid-week.

Weekly recap: 4.32 miles

My wife and I walked 4 times this week and did 4.32 miles. Because snow was forecast for Saturday, we did our long walk on Friday. Normally, we take a rest day on Friday and do the long walk on Saturday. Right now, it is Friday evening, and it is snowing. So far, we have about 4 inches of snow, and it is still coming down.

During the first half of the week, the temperature was in the mid 30s (F), and in the latter part of the week the temperature was in the mid 40s (F), and the snow was mostly melted. The sidewalks were free of ice and snow. Now, with the current snow, we have to do our driveway in the morning.

Weekly recap: 3.34 miles

Judy and I walked 4 times this week, and I did 3.34 miles. I missed the Wednesday mid-run due to snow and ice on the sidewalks and street. We had about 15 inches of snow, and more snow is forecast for this coming week. The temperature during this past week was in the low 30s (F). I had  a tooth pulled on Thursday of this past week. I feel pretty good, but I'm eating a lot of chicken-noodle soup to avoid heavy meals.

Weekly recap: 4.46 miles

I walked 5 times this week for a total of 4.46 miles. The temperature during the week was in the low to mid 40s (F). There was a lot of sun, and the snow and ice is mostly gone.  Rain and snow is forecast for the coming week, and I may or may not get my goal of 5 walks in.

Weekly recap: 2.74 miles

I walked 3 days this week and added a bit to my walks. The temperature early in the week was cold, but it was nice today (low 40s (F)). There is 1-2 inches of snow on the ground and ice in driveways, but the warmer weather that is predicted should melt the snow and ice.

Weekly recap: 3.56 miles

During this week, I walked 5 days, and I added a small amount to my long walk and did about 3.56 miles for the week. There was a brisk head wind coming from the south, and even though the actual temperature was 34 (F), the wind chill felt colder, especially when I was going south and the wind was a head wind.

We had a few snow flurries during the week, but the snow didn't amount to much. The temperature during the week was in the mid 30s to mid 40s. We are expecting more snow on Monday, so we'll see what happens. 

Weekly recap: 3.51 miles

I walked five days this week, for a total distance of 3.51 miles. This week the temperature was in the high 30s to mid 40s (F). Today, however, the temp was about 32. The sidewalk is clear of ice an snow. The increase in total distance was less than 10%, and I felt pretty good.

Again, a weekly recap but this time for 3.26 miles

The temperature during most of my walks was in the mid to high 20s (F), and it was cold. As long as I kept moving, I was OK. I walked four days this week. The temperature, however, this morning when I went around the block twice for 1.24 miles was about 30. The sidewalk this morning was mostly clear, but I walked in the street a bit when the sidewalk was snow/ice covered while the street was clear.