Not a walking update, more of a fundraising update.............
Us girls hit the town, well, Felixstowe (!), last night. We had a good laugh & it was a welcome break from all the training.
My pint of Guinness on the bar started a conversation with some businessmen which personal trainer amazingly managed to turn into a bit of a fundraising success!! She was able to drop the fact that we were doing the moonwalk into the conversation & ended up getting £64 in just a few minutes!! Well done Tracey!
I have also been set a challenge which, if successful, will bring me in a wonderful amount of money.....don't want to say too much as many drinks were flowing & I have to make sure it is a serious pledge from the person concerned now that he is sober!! He did give me £20 as a start so it does sound hopeful!
I still managed to get to the gym just after 8 this morning, although it was a bit of a struggle! I'm glad I did though as I had a good workout & felt refreshed after! I saw Tracey in there as usual & we have decided that we are going to attempt the longest walk of our training so far tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed for the weather.....................
xx
Saturday, 15 March 2008
Thursday, 13 March 2008
No walk................
Unfortunately I was unable to walk tonight.
Nobody was able to join me due to poorly children & injuries. I really fancied at least a six miler but felt that it wasn't really safe for me to walk such a long route on my own. I surprised myself at how disappointed I felt. I think I have got used to walking regularly and had been looking forward to it but at least I walked on Tuesday albeit a shorter distance. Perhaps it's also about keeping the momentum of the training up? I am looking forward to the clocks going forward as I will then be able to walk longer distances on my own if need be. However, I will soon make up for not walking tonight as Tracey & I are hoping to do a long walk on Sunday.
I decided to go swimming as I felt I needed to do some form of exercise. I'm glad I did as it made me feel much better. I swam 1100m, so that brings my total this week to a mile, something I didn't think I would be able to achieve in two visits to the pool. The swim went well & like with the walking, the closer I got to my target, the more I pushed on. I felt like I had given my muscles a really good workout & arrived home in a better mood than before.
I can't believe that it's Friday tomorrow, another week almost over. The weeks are starting to rush by, bringing that big night much closer, only 9 weeks to go. I feel that I am now ready to increase my distance & frequency of walking & push on in readiness for that 20 miler........
xx
Nobody was able to join me due to poorly children & injuries. I really fancied at least a six miler but felt that it wasn't really safe for me to walk such a long route on my own. I surprised myself at how disappointed I felt. I think I have got used to walking regularly and had been looking forward to it but at least I walked on Tuesday albeit a shorter distance. Perhaps it's also about keeping the momentum of the training up? I am looking forward to the clocks going forward as I will then be able to walk longer distances on my own if need be. However, I will soon make up for not walking tonight as Tracey & I are hoping to do a long walk on Sunday.
I decided to go swimming as I felt I needed to do some form of exercise. I'm glad I did as it made me feel much better. I swam 1100m, so that brings my total this week to a mile, something I didn't think I would be able to achieve in two visits to the pool. The swim went well & like with the walking, the closer I got to my target, the more I pushed on. I felt like I had given my muscles a really good workout & arrived home in a better mood than before.
I can't believe that it's Friday tomorrow, another week almost over. The weeks are starting to rush by, bringing that big night much closer, only 9 weeks to go. I feel that I am now ready to increase my distance & frequency of walking & push on in readiness for that 20 miler........
xx
Tuesday, 11 March 2008
Just need my bike now......
Well, not quite a triathlon but I did walk & swim tonight!!!!
I enjoyed my swim so much last week that I have decided to give up on the body combat (unless I have a particularly stressful day & need to punch a lot!!) & go swimming instead. But, not content with that, I decided to go for a short walk beforehand.
Unfortunately, personal trainer couldn't join me as she was being a nurse to her poorly children & Trace & Dons were going to the gym. So, I planned one that would be very safe to do on my own & set off for my first solo walk. I had read about walking safely & all the do's & dont's, so was well prepared. I was surprised at how I was able to keep my pace up (have obviously been trained well, thanks Tracey!!) & walked just under 3 miles in 35 mins. Mind you, it may be because I was on my own & although I did feel safe, I think the adrenalin helped to push me along. I did feel a bit funny walking along doing my power walking arms on my own to begin with, but then just thought, oh what the hell & carried on, even laughed at myself when I caught a glimpse of my shadow with the beginning of that power-walk-arse-wiggle...what a sight! I only had one fright; walking up a hill, I was suddenly aware of a shadow running up close behind me...almost pee'd me pants til I realised it was a woman running, good job she had her ipod on as I turned the air blue....so unlike me I know!
Then came the swimming. I really enjoyed it again, but only did 500m as I didn't want to over do it after the walk. I do feel mighty fine though, so will increase my swimming next week.
I can't believe how fit I am becoming, it's great & I am beginning to see some real results which in itself is an incentive. The walk is 9 weeks away on Saturday, which means just over 7 weeks until we have to do the 20 miler. I think that is going to be a very tough challenge but one we will manage.....be positive!! I have now walked over 100 training miles & do feel better as this increases.
Hoping to walk with Trace & Dons on Thursday & then a longer one with personal trainer on Sunday. We are having a girlie night out on Friday evening. We are all working hard & so have to play hard as well!!
XX
I enjoyed my swim so much last week that I have decided to give up on the body combat (unless I have a particularly stressful day & need to punch a lot!!) & go swimming instead. But, not content with that, I decided to go for a short walk beforehand.
Unfortunately, personal trainer couldn't join me as she was being a nurse to her poorly children & Trace & Dons were going to the gym. So, I planned one that would be very safe to do on my own & set off for my first solo walk. I had read about walking safely & all the do's & dont's, so was well prepared. I was surprised at how I was able to keep my pace up (have obviously been trained well, thanks Tracey!!) & walked just under 3 miles in 35 mins. Mind you, it may be because I was on my own & although I did feel safe, I think the adrenalin helped to push me along. I did feel a bit funny walking along doing my power walking arms on my own to begin with, but then just thought, oh what the hell & carried on, even laughed at myself when I caught a glimpse of my shadow with the beginning of that power-walk-arse-wiggle...what a sight! I only had one fright; walking up a hill, I was suddenly aware of a shadow running up close behind me...almost pee'd me pants til I realised it was a woman running, good job she had her ipod on as I turned the air blue....so unlike me I know!
Then came the swimming. I really enjoyed it again, but only did 500m as I didn't want to over do it after the walk. I do feel mighty fine though, so will increase my swimming next week.
I can't believe how fit I am becoming, it's great & I am beginning to see some real results which in itself is an incentive. The walk is 9 weeks away on Saturday, which means just over 7 weeks until we have to do the 20 miler. I think that is going to be a very tough challenge but one we will manage.....be positive!! I have now walked over 100 training miles & do feel better as this increases.
Hoping to walk with Trace & Dons on Thursday & then a longer one with personal trainer on Sunday. We are having a girlie night out on Friday evening. We are all working hard & so have to play hard as well!!
XX
Sunday, 9 March 2008
Rise & shine......
While many of you were probably still in bed this morning, personal trainer & I hit the streets! I guess starting a walk at 7.25 on a Sunday morning is a bit of a shocker but we wanted to do a long one & were aware of the bad weather forecast for later.
So off we went....we walked 12.2 miles in 2hrs 46, quicker than last time but I think we had more energy as it was so early. It was 6' when we started, but felt quite cold. My legs were cold to begin with but once the sun came out, it was really warm at times. So I think that an early morning walk is good practise for the big night, different temperatures etc. We are seriously considering walking over night at some point to see how we would cope with the temperature & early hours, but more of that another time..!!
We do realise that it is not how fast we walk (although, again, we do want to try to keep our pace steady) but more about building up our stamina & getting our bodies used to physically walking for such a long time. Imagine walking for 7 to 8 hours.....!! This in itself is bringing me some real highs & lows during my walks....the highs are when I feel really motivated & am walking well & do believe that I CAN do this...the lows, when different parts of my body start to ache & doubts creep into my head & I really have to push myself to carry on. Luckily, I am managing to do this but do feel I am in the middle of a bit of a mental battle at the moment. The good book tells us that over half of the preparation is in the mind, how true this is!!
I actually enjoyed the final two miles today, maybe that sounds a bit sadistic??!! The final mile really drove me on to get home & we did it in 11 minutes, don't ask me how, but it actually felt OK!!!! I wasn't really aware that we had walked it so quickly either.
So on the whole, I am really pleased with how my training is going & whilst Tracey & I are walking more than the training guide suggests at this time, for us, it is working well. I think we all have to do what is best for ourselves, it is such a personal journey & different for everyone. For me, it is so personal for obvious reasons & I do think about my illness during my walks & I think this helps me mentally. I certainly try not to dwell on my past, this has become easier as the years have gone by, but try to use it to my advantage as much as possible, try to be positive & just so grateful that I am here & able to do this. Our lives seem to be so busy nowadays but there are so many things in our lives that we should all be really grateful for & I think it is so important not to forget them, life is too fragile & precious.
Trace & Dons also walked later on this morning. They did a really tough one with quite a few hills & walked for 2 hours, so well done to them especially as they are having a few problems at the moment. I hope that they will soon start to feel better.
The good thing about walking this morning is that I now have the rest of the day to chill & relax....
XX
So off we went....we walked 12.2 miles in 2hrs 46, quicker than last time but I think we had more energy as it was so early. It was 6' when we started, but felt quite cold. My legs were cold to begin with but once the sun came out, it was really warm at times. So I think that an early morning walk is good practise for the big night, different temperatures etc. We are seriously considering walking over night at some point to see how we would cope with the temperature & early hours, but more of that another time..!!
We do realise that it is not how fast we walk (although, again, we do want to try to keep our pace steady) but more about building up our stamina & getting our bodies used to physically walking for such a long time. Imagine walking for 7 to 8 hours.....!! This in itself is bringing me some real highs & lows during my walks....the highs are when I feel really motivated & am walking well & do believe that I CAN do this...the lows, when different parts of my body start to ache & doubts creep into my head & I really have to push myself to carry on. Luckily, I am managing to do this but do feel I am in the middle of a bit of a mental battle at the moment. The good book tells us that over half of the preparation is in the mind, how true this is!!
I actually enjoyed the final two miles today, maybe that sounds a bit sadistic??!! The final mile really drove me on to get home & we did it in 11 minutes, don't ask me how, but it actually felt OK!!!! I wasn't really aware that we had walked it so quickly either.
So on the whole, I am really pleased with how my training is going & whilst Tracey & I are walking more than the training guide suggests at this time, for us, it is working well. I think we all have to do what is best for ourselves, it is such a personal journey & different for everyone. For me, it is so personal for obvious reasons & I do think about my illness during my walks & I think this helps me mentally. I certainly try not to dwell on my past, this has become easier as the years have gone by, but try to use it to my advantage as much as possible, try to be positive & just so grateful that I am here & able to do this. Our lives seem to be so busy nowadays but there are so many things in our lives that we should all be really grateful for & I think it is so important not to forget them, life is too fragile & precious.
Trace & Dons also walked later on this morning. They did a really tough one with quite a few hills & walked for 2 hours, so well done to them especially as they are having a few problems at the moment. I hope that they will soon start to feel better.
The good thing about walking this morning is that I now have the rest of the day to chill & relax....
XX
Thursday, 6 March 2008
The fantastic four hit the streets........
We have finally managed to walk together tonight!
I really enjoyed it, was great to chat & I thought the walk went much quicker. Trace & personal trainer went off at a cracking pace & I must admit, my legs took a little while to get going & I was trailing behind the lovely Dons at one point. I'll use the fact that I am the oldest as my excuse.....
We walked 8 miles in 1 hr 54. It was good to walk less tonight, bit of variety, plus the fact that I had a hair appointment after work meant that we started a bit later & didn't want to be out really late. No, I didn't have it done JUST for the walk..............!!
I've still walked 20 miles this week (although personal trainer has walked 30 as she did 10 yesterday morning!!), so am happy with that. Trace & Tracey also did combat this morning, then Trace even managed to go shopping! (Hope you are ok Trace, as I know you were in pain at the end of the walk xx)
We have heard various things about the bras that will be sent to us, lack of support (very important!) being one of them & so are going to buy our own, guess who has already bought hers! We will also have more time to decorate them, want to make them sparkle! We will need to wear them before the big night though to make sure no chafing/falling out (!) will occur, how much sponsorship is that worth then, to see us walking round Felixstowe in them..........??!!!!!!
Gym on Saturday as usual & then hopefully a 12 miler on Sunday, the weeks are starting to go by...................
xx
I really enjoyed it, was great to chat & I thought the walk went much quicker. Trace & personal trainer went off at a cracking pace & I must admit, my legs took a little while to get going & I was trailing behind the lovely Dons at one point. I'll use the fact that I am the oldest as my excuse.....
We walked 8 miles in 1 hr 54. It was good to walk less tonight, bit of variety, plus the fact that I had a hair appointment after work meant that we started a bit later & didn't want to be out really late. No, I didn't have it done JUST for the walk..............!!
I've still walked 20 miles this week (although personal trainer has walked 30 as she did 10 yesterday morning!!), so am happy with that. Trace & Tracey also did combat this morning, then Trace even managed to go shopping! (Hope you are ok Trace, as I know you were in pain at the end of the walk xx)
We have heard various things about the bras that will be sent to us, lack of support (very important!) being one of them & so are going to buy our own, guess who has already bought hers! We will also have more time to decorate them, want to make them sparkle! We will need to wear them before the big night though to make sure no chafing/falling out (!) will occur, how much sponsorship is that worth then, to see us walking round Felixstowe in them..........??!!!!!!
Gym on Saturday as usual & then hopefully a 12 miler on Sunday, the weeks are starting to go by...................
xx
Tuesday, 4 March 2008
Swim!
No company for combat tonight for a number of reasons, so rather than be a billy-no-mates, I decided to go for a swim!
I feel fab as I managed to swim 1000m in just over 35 mins, you may think this is a bit lame, but, you have to understand that this is the most I have ever swam non stop & I am not the strongest swimmer either! I really do feel fantastic!
The good book advises you to do a good variety of exercise, so this was a welcome change. As I have only swam in my lunch hour before, it was also good to not have to clock watch all the time.
Came home to a lovely dinner cooked by my wonderful hubby (thanks for being so understanding about the training honey!) & of course...............a Guinness for that energy boost...........!!
I'm hoping to walk on Thursday evening but will be starting a little later, so will possibly be an eight miler. I have been thinking about the weeks that are left & it has dawned on me that the last two weeks before the big night are shorter walks, allowing the body to recover from the big 20 that we have to do. When you look at it like that, you realise that in fact we only have 8 (oh no!!) weeks to build our stamina & get used to physically walking for such a long time, bit of a scary thought...................
XX
I feel fab as I managed to swim 1000m in just over 35 mins, you may think this is a bit lame, but, you have to understand that this is the most I have ever swam non stop & I am not the strongest swimmer either! I really do feel fantastic!
The good book advises you to do a good variety of exercise, so this was a welcome change. As I have only swam in my lunch hour before, it was also good to not have to clock watch all the time.
Came home to a lovely dinner cooked by my wonderful hubby (thanks for being so understanding about the training honey!) & of course...............a Guinness for that energy boost...........!!
I'm hoping to walk on Thursday evening but will be starting a little later, so will possibly be an eight miler. I have been thinking about the weeks that are left & it has dawned on me that the last two weeks before the big night are shorter walks, allowing the body to recover from the big 20 that we have to do. When you look at it like that, you realise that in fact we only have 8 (oh no!!) weeks to build our stamina & get used to physically walking for such a long time, bit of a scary thought...................
XX
Monday, 3 March 2008
Almost half way there......
Last night, personal trainer & I walked 12.2 miles........
We added on what we thought would be a further 2 miles to our ten & were pretty accurate, finishing in 2 hrs 56. Must admit that when we started on the 11th, I did have a bit of a sinking feeling, but overcame the doubts & walked on. Again, that final mile seems to give me that urge to get to the end. I really hope that the crowd will pull us through those last few miles as I really think we will need it. Hopefully, our husbands will be there to support us, which will help so much as well. Am I crazy for feeling emotional about it already?? Perhaps it's the ten year thing for me?? Blimey, am sorry, that's getting quite personal isn't it, sorry for my honesty, don't want to be melodramatic about it, but hope you can begin to understand a bit how much everything means to me..... feel this is a real journey for me.......guess you will be reading what I am thinking over the next few weeks anyway!
Anyway, back to last night!! If someone had said to me that I would be walking for almost 3 hrs, I would have had a bit of a panic...crazy I know as we will take so much longer on the actual night........but I do think it's true what I am reading.....65% of this is in the mind. I have started saying things in my head to push along & I think that is helping. I am so determined to do this........each extra mile feels me with dread to begin with, but once you are walking, you seem to go with the flow of it all. Lets hope this follows through for the big 20 that we do 2 weeks before the big night!
Just have to add...........bladder control training going really well!!! Not a single moment of panic!! I also bought some Lucozade energy sweets, they were ok, not too sweet. Tracey also had some fruit pastilles (thanks to the gorgeous George for choosing them!!) & very tasty they were too. Not sure if I could eat much while walking, so maybe will just be small things like this that you can just suck!
New pink top also bought in readiness for the night, so am easily spotted now as well. Just need to start thinking about those bras.............
xx
We added on what we thought would be a further 2 miles to our ten & were pretty accurate, finishing in 2 hrs 56. Must admit that when we started on the 11th, I did have a bit of a sinking feeling, but overcame the doubts & walked on. Again, that final mile seems to give me that urge to get to the end. I really hope that the crowd will pull us through those last few miles as I really think we will need it. Hopefully, our husbands will be there to support us, which will help so much as well. Am I crazy for feeling emotional about it already?? Perhaps it's the ten year thing for me?? Blimey, am sorry, that's getting quite personal isn't it, sorry for my honesty, don't want to be melodramatic about it, but hope you can begin to understand a bit how much everything means to me..... feel this is a real journey for me.......guess you will be reading what I am thinking over the next few weeks anyway!
Anyway, back to last night!! If someone had said to me that I would be walking for almost 3 hrs, I would have had a bit of a panic...crazy I know as we will take so much longer on the actual night........but I do think it's true what I am reading.....65% of this is in the mind. I have started saying things in my head to push along & I think that is helping. I am so determined to do this........each extra mile feels me with dread to begin with, but once you are walking, you seem to go with the flow of it all. Lets hope this follows through for the big 20 that we do 2 weeks before the big night!
Just have to add...........bladder control training going really well!!! Not a single moment of panic!! I also bought some Lucozade energy sweets, they were ok, not too sweet. Tracey also had some fruit pastilles (thanks to the gorgeous George for choosing them!!) & very tasty they were too. Not sure if I could eat much while walking, so maybe will just be small things like this that you can just suck!
New pink top also bought in readiness for the night, so am easily spotted now as well. Just need to start thinking about those bras.............
xx
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