What...no blogs since the 17th...!!!

I am slacking......

I thought I had better write this today or else personal trainer will whip my arse into shape like she did on today's walk...but more of that later.....

So, on Weds 18th, Dons was sadly unable to walk with me...but, I really felt the need to get out in the fresh air & walk away the stresses of the day...I chose a very safe route, busy road all the way & had my phone in my hand all the time...was fine, felt very safe. I knew roughly how far 4 miles would be & in fact managed 4.5 in the end. I kept the pace going which I was really happy about & took 1hr 2mins....

My next walk was on the Sunday, Mother's Day, with PT. We left just after 7 in the morning...you know how much I prefer the early Sunday morning walks.....but Tracey's children wanted her home in good time...in fact young Gabriella only wanted us to walk ONE mile!!! The walk was great, lovely weather...even at 7, it was about 10 degrees.....we walked with the sun on our faces & it felt great. We walked 9 in the end in 2hrs 4mins....so a good stomp & back in time to be pampered by our children!!

On Weds evening, we walked our 4 mile route & back.....it actually rained heavily for a few minutes.....but we must have had a spring in our step as we did the 8 in 1hr 45mins. As you know, Tracey is mega fit & I'm sure she could easily walk 11 minute miles without breaking into a sweat...whereas me.......well, I'm a different story!! I sweat like you wouldn't believe (nice) & have to work very hard to walk well...but for the first time I felt that my stamina was improving & that things were finally starting to come together.......

Tracey had a FUNNY moment on this walk...we walked the route where I fell over the other week.....she said "oh, look there's that hole you made when you fell over!!"..cow..I thought she meant that the hole must have been what caused me to stumble...NOT the other way round...she had SUCH a laugh at my expense...thought she was going to pee her pants!!!!

So, to today.......

Where did that hour go??? Who's idea was it to walk before 7am when really it was only 6am??? Oh yes...blame Tracey's hubby..off on a golfing jaunt that meant we HAD to be home by 10.30 at the very latest!!

The temperature had not even got above zero when we set off & it was COLD........

We had decided to do a good distance today, so I had plans for at least 12/13.....the sun was shining so we soon warmed up.....it was just beautiful along the cliff tops, so calming. Tracey suggested that we walked 7 miles & then turned back again, rather than going round little roads...this was a very good idea as the 7 miles out were virtually straight...BUT this meant we would have a few hills going back as well.....nevermind eh?!!! Build that stamina.......

She walked me like you wouldn't believe today....she was literally racing along....I wasn't walking with her for a large part of the walk, but this does help me, gives me that incentive to keep going....still, I couldn't believe how fast she was going!!!

The most we have walked this year is 12 miles & that took us 2hrs 52mins......so, I was thinking that if we managed 12 today in say, 2hrs 45, I would be a happy girl.........

We walked the 12 in 2hrs 30mins!!! I could not believe it......what an amazing feeling.......I really ached & was tired but it felt fantastic! So we finished the 14 in 2hrs 57mins....unbelieveable....

What an amazing walk....what an amazing personal trainer I have (though, between you & me, I did call her a few names under my breath at times!!)......what an amazing night we have to look forward to on May 16th......
xx

"Strictly Walking"....

I've just found out that this year's theme is "Strictly Walking"....so have to get really sparkly!! The website says to be glamorous as well......what.....walking 26.2 miles AND looking glamorous??!!!! Ha ha ha!!

Tracey & I walked 8 miles on Saturday & 6 miles last night........

All is well in Isobel-World.........

Training really on track, juicing definitely helping, a few aches & pains but just probably due to walking more frequently......so am happy girl!!

I have cut down on my alcohol as well, sounds bad, but you know what I mean....(EXCLUDING the Guinness at Twickenham on Sunday...what a day!!)...oh and.....not including this Saturday, 21st, spending the afternoon in the pub watching 3 games of rugby & drinking just a little Guinness......ahem, I AM TRYING!!!!

I am, honest!! I am really trying to be more healthy much sooner this year...I remember those hard times of last year's training only too well.....I am a bit tired at the moment, so even more reason to look after myself. It will soon be the worst week of the training...42 miles in just one week....GROAN...NOW how can I forget that from last year!!

Sadly, Tracey cannot walk tomorrow night, so I am going with the gorgeous Dons.....she has a spring in her step at the mo, so had better be prepared to really step it out......
xx

Oh no...I fell over..........spectacularly!!!!

Tracey & I walked 5 miles tonight.....it was great...no tiredness on my part & walked it in 1 hour 8mins, not bad at all considering............

I FELL OVER..................

Yes, it's sadly true.

I just lost my balance for a split second & then it was as if it was happening in slow motion....I stumbled forward trying to regain my balance (& my dignity) whilst Tracey tried desperately to grab me.....we both then thought I'd managed it but...oh no.....I stumbled again & ended up sprawled on the grass verge..........I must have stumbled over ten feet, must have been hilarious to see!!!!

I know it's not funny BUT IT IS!!!! I must have looked a complete twat.

I almost peed me pants as I was laughing so much........

I'm ok though but I thing I may ache in the morning.............

Anyway, still feeling fine, still juicing, still looking forward to the big night BUT........

I'm going to Twickenham to see England play France on Sunday so am SO EXCITED!!!!
xxx

12 miles......groan!!

Personal trainer told me off today.......I didn't blog about our walk on Wednesday evening....well, my excuse is that I was then out on Thursday evening & Friday, well, I was recovering from Thursday!!!!

ANYWAY, Tracey & I walked 5 miles on Wednesday evening, very nice it was too! We walked it in 1hr 9mins, still taking care because of my knee.

Tracey walked during the day this week so I thought I'd do a quick 3 miler on my own on Saturday morning. As you may know, I don't call Tracey my personal trainer for nothing...for it is her who keeps me going, paces the walks, offering words of encouragement & being an all round massive support. So, the test was, could I pace myself to walk at the usual speed? Oh yes!! I was really chuffed with myself, walked the 3 miles in 41mins but did feel billy-no-mates whilst walking!

Imagine then how the lovely Dons felt yesterday....she walked 10 miles on her own!! How fantastic is that?!

So, to today......

I arrived at PT's just after 7am...poor me, out on the town last night, but I got up ok!! I'd planned a maximum 12 miles for today, but with options to do an 8 if need be. The morning was so lovely, really sunny. We walked the first 6 miles in 1hr 23, pretty amazing, considering, well considering ME!!!!

But, and a big but at that......miles 6.5 to 9.5 were a KILLER. The wind was right in our faces & as we walked along the High Road, I really struggled. I think I was so tired after my couple of nights out & I wasn't happy at all. I had doubts about whether I should carry on, but I knew I would be so very disappointed if I did. I really wanted to do a long one, I felt I needed to remember how these ones felt & how different parts of my body would ache at different stages, call it a mental strength test if you like. Oh boy, did I ache though! Even my hips at one point, but it was good to go through it...after all, this time in 10 weeks, it will all be over. We have got some very long training walks ahead of us!

So, I mustered up those trusty old thoughts about why we were walking & thought of those women suffering as I walked...it did the trick, before I knew it, we were turning for home, thank goodness. The final 2.5 miles were still hard but I knew we were on the home stretch. We finished in 2hrs 52, so the second 6 miles took six minutes more than the first, that bloody wind!!!

It felt fantastic to have walked the 12. I remember from last year how we'd be so happy to get home even if it had been a hard walk, a really good sense of achievement.

So, all is good! I am still juicing lots & am pleased to say that niggles seem to be well & truly under control!!

xx

Guinness & juices are good for you.....!!

Well Tuesday almost gone already....TEN weeks Saturday coming is the walk!!!

Tracey & I walked 6 miles on Sunday afternoon.....it was really lovely & "warm"...10 degrees! As this was my first walk for 2 weeks we decided to do the old trusty one of the High Road...nice & straight & no hills...a nice steady pace, no speed as such.... walked in 1 hour 28, nice!!

I only felt a tiny twinge in my knee once or twice & I'm really happy to say that (fingers crossed) I have not had any problems since. The walk went really well but during the second mile, I felt a bit funny & for a split second honestly felt like I couldn't do it........I think it's because I'd not walked for so long & also maybe because I was a bit apprehensive about my knee. I soon felt a lot better though, so all is good!!

We are going to do a short 4/5 miles tomorrow night & then each try to fit a 3/4 mile one on our own before Sunday morning's biggie. I may have to get up early one morning to do my lone one though as hubby says I can't go on my own in the evening until the nights get lighter.....not long to wait for that though.

The juicing is still going really well & I have discovered one that I can drink whilst walking...a sports drink if you like, only all natural ingredients with nothing added...it's really nice too. Dons & I have been swapping our concoctions & both have to say that we may have had a touch too much beetroot...it makes things change colour.....enough said!!!

I continue to be full of energy (well, for me, anyway!) & really positive about training especially as I feel I am over my couple of niggles.....I'll take each walk as it comes & look forward to that magical night on 16th May!!

xx