Gym Cracks By Jim July 15, 2003 TRAINING FOR WALK Marathon-like training proves encouraging for a walk across Nebraska By Jim (Babe) Berryman MissingNebraska.com Western Nebraska I am in training for a walk across Nebraska. How does one train for such a walk? A person must have considerable time for such a challenge. When I ran a marathon a couple decades ago, I would run from six to nine miles each weekday morning. These workouts would last from 45 to 65 minutes. My weekend runs would last from an hour to two plus hours. To walk the same distance takes much more time. I have walked 74-miles in the last three days. Saturday I walked 30 miles. It was my first 30-miler. Sunday and again on Monday, I walked 22 miles. The clock awakens me at 2:45 a.m. so I can have most of my walk completed before the heat of the day. Wilton, our Dandie Dimont terrier, and I leave the house at 3:00 a.m. for a two-mile jaunt through the business district of this community. The police are no longer inquisitive of this unusual early morning pair. Twice in recent weeks, the police have asked me if I have seen a person of a certain description. When Wilton and I return home, we eat our breakfast. The Star-Herald paper arrives at approximately 4:00 a.m., so I have time to read the headlines while sipping my coffee. Then it off to the track without Wilton. I try to be on the track shortly before 4:30 a.m. with a 15-pound backpack. An elderly lady joins me at approximately 4:45 a.m. She leaves after completing her two miles. There are many other walkers who come and go during the morning. Most walkers average two miles. A few go as far as four miles. I didn't arrive home Saturday until 12:30 p.m. I averaged a 14:55 pace during Saturday's walk. I stop my stopwatch whenever I take a break. After I had reached 22-miles, I would stop to replenish fluids and rest for short periods every two-three miles. I was very tired when I arrived home, but elated. Sunday's time was slower. I averaged 15:35 miles. The last few miles were over 16 minutes each. I improved a little on my Monday time over my Sunday effort. I know now I can succeed in this walk. I calculated where I would be on the Nebraska map if I had walked Highway #281, starting at the Kansas border. The 74-miles would place me at the northern edge of Grand Island. I'll keep you posted. Feedback Previous Gym Cracks: 06-30-03: Walk Across Nebraska Gym Cracks By Jim 06-20-03: No Stress Stress Test Gym Cracks By Jim 06-11-03: Crazy Horse 'Fun' Gym Cracks By Jim 05-31-03: Friends For Life Gym Cracks By Jim 05-19-03: Spurs And Cubs Gym Cracks By Jim 04-29-03: L.A. Delay Gym Cracks By Jim 04-16-03: What's In A Nickname? Gym Cracks By Jim 03-28-03: More March Madness Gym Cracks By Jim 03-14-03: March To Remember Gym Cracks By Jim 03-07-03: Tall & Tough Gym Cracks By Jim 02-26-03: Zingerland Gym Cracks By Jim 02-19-03: Cuss The Bus Gym Cracks By Jim 02-09-03: Ratings And Recruiting Gym Cracks By Jim 01-31-03: Hoops Elite Gym Cracks By Jim 01-24-03: Nebraska's Super Connection Gym Cracks By Jim 01-15-03: Hometown Hits Big Time Gym Cracks By Jim 2002 12-30-02: Count The Numbers Gym Cracks By Jim 12-18-02: Cream Of Coaching Crop Gym Cracks By Jim 11-28-02: The Big Picture Gym Cracks By Jim 11-18-02: 2 For 2 Gym Cracks By Jim 10-25-02: Sweet On Switzer Gym Cracks By Jim 10-17-02: Best Time Year Gym Cracks By Jim 10-11-02: Odds And Ends Gym Cracks By Jim 10-04-02: The Rating Game Gym Cracks By Jim 09-22-02: Fans Panned Gym Cracks By Jim 09-12-02: World Herald Calling Gym Cracks 09-05-02: Bit By Baseball Bug Gym Cracks 08-29-02: Caring Coaches Gym Cracks 08-22-02: Nebraska "Storm" Hits Colorado Gym Cracks 08-15-02: Cubs Win, Wallet Drained Gym Cracks 08-08-02: To Coors For Cubs Gym Cracks 07-25-02: Major League Madness Gym Cracks 07-18-02: Nebraskans In The Majors Gym Cracks 07-11-02: Kile Death Sheds Light Gym Cracks 07-04-02: Couch Potato Parking Gym Cracks 06-23-02: Top 10 Nebraska High School Nicknames Gym Cracks 06-06-02: Better In The 50s Gym Cracks 05-30-02: Dangerfield of Nebraska Gym Cracks 05-16-02: Baseball Sneak Aways Gym Cracks