Oh yes.
Tracey & I braved temperatures of -1 to walk this evening......
It was fantastic!! We walked 5 miles in 1 hour 10 minutes....... what a start to our training! Mind you, I think it was the chilly evening that made us step it out.....was freezing! We actually felt quite warm after a while & it was just our thighs that were cold at the end.
I loved it. It felt fantastic to get out there walking again. I had forgotten just how good it makes you feel (not ALL the time though.....read back through my blog, so many "downs" as well) but I just hope my legs are ok in the morning.....!!
The gorgeous Dons is walking again this year with some people from her office. She has already bought her trainers....go girl! I think we are more excited this year & can't wait!
Mustn't get carried away though, I remember only too well those hard times....I must admit, I am apprehensive about hitting my "wall" again, but at least I know I overcame it last year, so fingers crossed for this year!
Positive Mental Attitude
xx
Sunday, 4 January 2009
Friday, 2 January 2009
Happy New Year!
Well, it's that time again.......
Time to start thinking about beginning the training in readiness for May 16th!
I feel more excited this year. I think it's because I was very nervous about the walk last year...after all, 26.2 miles is such a long way...but having completed it once, I know I can do it again! Having said that, I hope I will be more prepared for the ups & downs that the training will bring.........
Of course, I will have my very own "personal trainer", Tracey, to help me through again & I'm really looking forward to our long walks at 7am on a Sunday morning...if you read my blog last year, you'll know how we walked in ALL weathers.....snow, sleet, wind & torrential rain...oh the joy of it all!!!!!
So, keep reading......let the training commence!!
xx
Time to start thinking about beginning the training in readiness for May 16th!
I feel more excited this year. I think it's because I was very nervous about the walk last year...after all, 26.2 miles is such a long way...but having completed it once, I know I can do it again! Having said that, I hope I will be more prepared for the ups & downs that the training will bring.........
Of course, I will have my very own "personal trainer", Tracey, to help me through again & I'm really looking forward to our long walks at 7am on a Sunday morning...if you read my blog last year, you'll know how we walked in ALL weathers.....snow, sleet, wind & torrential rain...oh the joy of it all!!!!!
So, keep reading......let the training commence!!
xx
Saturday, 18 October 2008
Playtex Moonwalk 2009 here I come....
YEEEEEESSSSSSS!!!!
I'm in for next year's walk...can't wait!!
The one & only personal trainer is also in so she'll be pushing me along once again!! Dons should hopefully also be in with some work colleagues as well.
Watch this space once again.....
xx
I'm in for next year's walk...can't wait!!
The one & only personal trainer is also in so she'll be pushing me along once again!! Dons should hopefully also be in with some work colleagues as well.
Watch this space once again.....
xx
Saturday, 24 May 2008
Photos.........................
.JPG)
Tracey & me in the pink tent............
Us girlies getting ready to walk the walk..............JPG)
Walking the walk...........................JPG)
So much emotion as we approach the finish.........JPG)
In sunny Hyde park.............XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Thursday, 22 May 2008
What an experience.....
I can't believe it's Thursday already....just think how we were all feeling this time last week.....I have to say that part of me wishes it WAS last Thursday so that we could experience the walk all over again.......yes, it was that fantastic!!
We left Ipswich on the 3.08pm train & even saw a couple of fellow walkers at the station. Before we knew it, we were stepping off at Liverpool St, being met by Trace's brother Jason. He took us to a lovely cafe where we all had a drink.....very healthy ones though. The toilets were very spacious, so we decided to change into our bras there.......the only thing was, they were communal ones!! Yes, you guessed it...a poor unsuspecting man walked in as we were in the process of changing...luckily, I think he was more embarrassed than us!!
We then set off on the underground for Marble Arch. Can you believe that Tracey even saw someone she knew at the station! At this point, I was really starting to feel nervous....but, very excited too, after all we had been waiting such a long time for this. I could feel the tears even at this point. Then it was just a very short walk to Hyde Park where we joined the huge queue.
I was overwhelmed by the size of Playtex City....the huge pink tent was the size of two football pitches put length to length & with all the people there, it was just amazing. It was a very organised as well, so no panic about anything.
The atmosphere was electric....we were ready......
Nina, the founder of the walk, gave a very moving speech. A friend of hers had sadly lost her battle with breast cancer just two weeks previously....the emotion was starting to get to me.
We were all asked to hold our hands in the air with the person next to us & remember why we were doing this....whether in memory of loved ones, because we had been or were going through the horror of breast cancer or because we wanted to help those who were & to try to ensure that in years to come, the treatment would keep improving & that a cure may even be found.
The minute silence was just so........well, I don't really know how to describe it.....at this point Tracey gave my hand a gentle squeeze......that was it, the tears came then (it makes me feel emotional even as I write this) & then we all hugged. I then received a text from our friend Sarah, such beautiful words....the tears came again.
We all then had a big warm-up which was fun & then it was off to the start. This was it, what all the training had been about. The slight drizzle soon stopped & after a couple of miles, I took off the plastic raincoat & walked proudly in my bra for the whole walk......how liberating it felt!!
Tracey had written my number & "Bella" (best nickname I have ever had, thank you) across my chest & on my back, "survivor, 10 years". As we walked, the marshalls would say "come on , Bella", "morning Bella", "keep going Bella" & other words of encouragement & it felt very personal because they said my name.
Every little bit helped.
I also had a couple of comments from people about my being a survivor. I know others noticed it as they would be talking as I passed them & then as I got in front of them, they would suddenly stop. I even turned round & smiled at some, because, do you know, I think the walk reminded me of how lucky I am & how I really shouldn't be afraid to say that I had breast cancer ten years ago & that I survived. One lady even ran up to me, tapped me on the shoulder & said that she too was a survivor of ten years.....what a wonderful feeling, I really felt like a survivor & felt so lucky to be alive...........
Cherish life, it really is so very precious.
Unfortunately, Dons' hubby couldn't travel to London, but the other three did & were waiting at Chelsea Bridge, Buckingham Palace & at the finish. To see them in 3 places was brilliant as I thought it would only be at the end. It was absolutely wonderful to see them cheering us on & they took some great pictures which I will load on here soon. Thank you boys, you are all wonderful.
I have such wonderful memories of the walk: just everything was amazing, whether it was walking proudly in my bra, the words of encouragement from the fantastic marshalls, the sights of London, the funny walks that some women did (almost pee'd my pants at some of them!), the encouraging texts (even from my daughter Jess at 3am!), the telephone conversation I had with my very drunk boss, Ade, at 1.30am (he wanted to know how the walk was going & that he was thinking of me!!), waving to everyone who was watching or driving past, walking as the sun rose..........it was all just GREAT!!!!
I have now fully recovered from the walk & it has felt really strange not walking this week. I'm going to give it just a few more days & will then go for a good walk! I will keep on walking as it made me feel fantastic &, in the words of Gaz, the 23 year old that I work with.......
"you don't want to stop the walking now as everything will go south, especially at your age"!!!!!!
Nice boy.
Thank you all so much for sponsoring me & giving me much appreciated words of encouragement & support, it all helped me so much.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
ps. I have registered my interest for next year..........who knows if I will do it, but I know I have to give myself that option.
pps. I haven't told lovely hubby yet.........if he says anything, I'll know that he has actually been reading my blog....!!!
We left Ipswich on the 3.08pm train & even saw a couple of fellow walkers at the station. Before we knew it, we were stepping off at Liverpool St, being met by Trace's brother Jason. He took us to a lovely cafe where we all had a drink.....very healthy ones though. The toilets were very spacious, so we decided to change into our bras there.......the only thing was, they were communal ones!! Yes, you guessed it...a poor unsuspecting man walked in as we were in the process of changing...luckily, I think he was more embarrassed than us!!
We then set off on the underground for Marble Arch. Can you believe that Tracey even saw someone she knew at the station! At this point, I was really starting to feel nervous....but, very excited too, after all we had been waiting such a long time for this. I could feel the tears even at this point. Then it was just a very short walk to Hyde Park where we joined the huge queue.
I was overwhelmed by the size of Playtex City....the huge pink tent was the size of two football pitches put length to length & with all the people there, it was just amazing. It was a very organised as well, so no panic about anything.
The atmosphere was electric....we were ready......
Nina, the founder of the walk, gave a very moving speech. A friend of hers had sadly lost her battle with breast cancer just two weeks previously....the emotion was starting to get to me.
We were all asked to hold our hands in the air with the person next to us & remember why we were doing this....whether in memory of loved ones, because we had been or were going through the horror of breast cancer or because we wanted to help those who were & to try to ensure that in years to come, the treatment would keep improving & that a cure may even be found.
The minute silence was just so........well, I don't really know how to describe it.....at this point Tracey gave my hand a gentle squeeze......that was it, the tears came then (it makes me feel emotional even as I write this) & then we all hugged. I then received a text from our friend Sarah, such beautiful words....the tears came again.
We all then had a big warm-up which was fun & then it was off to the start. This was it, what all the training had been about. The slight drizzle soon stopped & after a couple of miles, I took off the plastic raincoat & walked proudly in my bra for the whole walk......how liberating it felt!!
Tracey had written my number & "Bella" (best nickname I have ever had, thank you) across my chest & on my back, "survivor, 10 years". As we walked, the marshalls would say "come on , Bella", "morning Bella", "keep going Bella" & other words of encouragement & it felt very personal because they said my name.
Every little bit helped.
I also had a couple of comments from people about my being a survivor. I know others noticed it as they would be talking as I passed them & then as I got in front of them, they would suddenly stop. I even turned round & smiled at some, because, do you know, I think the walk reminded me of how lucky I am & how I really shouldn't be afraid to say that I had breast cancer ten years ago & that I survived. One lady even ran up to me, tapped me on the shoulder & said that she too was a survivor of ten years.....what a wonderful feeling, I really felt like a survivor & felt so lucky to be alive...........
Cherish life, it really is so very precious.
Unfortunately, Dons' hubby couldn't travel to London, but the other three did & were waiting at Chelsea Bridge, Buckingham Palace & at the finish. To see them in 3 places was brilliant as I thought it would only be at the end. It was absolutely wonderful to see them cheering us on & they took some great pictures which I will load on here soon. Thank you boys, you are all wonderful.
I have such wonderful memories of the walk: just everything was amazing, whether it was walking proudly in my bra, the words of encouragement from the fantastic marshalls, the sights of London, the funny walks that some women did (almost pee'd my pants at some of them!), the encouraging texts (even from my daughter Jess at 3am!), the telephone conversation I had with my very drunk boss, Ade, at 1.30am (he wanted to know how the walk was going & that he was thinking of me!!), waving to everyone who was watching or driving past, walking as the sun rose..........it was all just GREAT!!!!
I have now fully recovered from the walk & it has felt really strange not walking this week. I'm going to give it just a few more days & will then go for a good walk! I will keep on walking as it made me feel fantastic &, in the words of Gaz, the 23 year old that I work with.......
"you don't want to stop the walking now as everything will go south, especially at your age"!!!!!!
Nice boy.
Thank you all so much for sponsoring me & giving me much appreciated words of encouragement & support, it all helped me so much.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
ps. I have registered my interest for next year..........who knows if I will do it, but I know I have to give myself that option.
pps. I haven't told lovely hubby yet.........if he says anything, I'll know that he has actually been reading my blog....!!!
Sunday, 18 May 2008
Well done girlies....we did it!!
Just a mini blog......more will follow in next couple of days....
Tracey & I crossed that wonderful finishing line at 06.38am, completing the 26.2 miles in about 6 hours 45 minutes........the first 3 miles took about an hour...people everywhere....and as you know, it really is the actual finishing that counts, what an amazing achievement for us all!
Sadly however, we didn't finish with Trace & Dons....
We were separated just about mile 11-12...due to sheer volume of people. We did chat on the phone but were not always sure where each other were. We knew that at about 21-22 miles, they were only a few minutes behind us....so we tried to slow a bit & they tried to increase their pace a bit....very hard for both pairs to do.....you get used to walking at a pace & then it is very hard to change after so many miles...also, just a few minutes difference can mean a long distance walking.
I was also in a real dilemma...because I had slowed my pace, my knees started to seize up.....slowing was probably the worst thing I could have done, maybe it would have been better to keep on going as normal & walk through the problem. But, I really did want to finish with them but I didn't know if by slowing down more, I would actually stop & that would have been the worst thing for me to do. I felt really torn about what to do...
Throughout the training, we had tended to train as pairs mainly due to the times each of us could walk, me with Tracey & Trace & Dons together. So in this respect, I guess it felt almost normal to walk in pairs but, as this was THE walk, maybe we should have kept in touch more & found each other.
At mile 24-ish Trace said (thank goodness for mobiles, when they could be heard above the noise of the walk) that they had not really expected to finish with us & that it was ok...carry on...we'd meet the other side.
So, I tried to up my pace again which helped my knees & Tracey & I walked arm in arm (and yes, I cried) to the finish................
I have said all along that this was such a personal journey & challenge for each of us & you know how much so for me. I found the few miles where I tried to slow down so emotional & hard, but maybe that would have been like that anyway? The most we had walked was 20 miles, so we really didn't know how our bodies & minds would react to the extra 6.2 miles.
It was great to see Trace & Dons' faces as they walked hand in hand over the line shortly after us, they had walked brilliantly. We still managed to have the all important "medal" photo taken together.
Even though we didn't finish together, we will have wonderful memories to cherish forever.
XX
I will blog all of our special day soon......
Tracey & I crossed that wonderful finishing line at 06.38am, completing the 26.2 miles in about 6 hours 45 minutes........the first 3 miles took about an hour...people everywhere....and as you know, it really is the actual finishing that counts, what an amazing achievement for us all!
Sadly however, we didn't finish with Trace & Dons....
We were separated just about mile 11-12...due to sheer volume of people. We did chat on the phone but were not always sure where each other were. We knew that at about 21-22 miles, they were only a few minutes behind us....so we tried to slow a bit & they tried to increase their pace a bit....very hard for both pairs to do.....you get used to walking at a pace & then it is very hard to change after so many miles...also, just a few minutes difference can mean a long distance walking.
I was also in a real dilemma...because I had slowed my pace, my knees started to seize up.....slowing was probably the worst thing I could have done, maybe it would have been better to keep on going as normal & walk through the problem. But, I really did want to finish with them but I didn't know if by slowing down more, I would actually stop & that would have been the worst thing for me to do. I felt really torn about what to do...
Throughout the training, we had tended to train as pairs mainly due to the times each of us could walk, me with Tracey & Trace & Dons together. So in this respect, I guess it felt almost normal to walk in pairs but, as this was THE walk, maybe we should have kept in touch more & found each other.
At mile 24-ish Trace said (thank goodness for mobiles, when they could be heard above the noise of the walk) that they had not really expected to finish with us & that it was ok...carry on...we'd meet the other side.
So, I tried to up my pace again which helped my knees & Tracey & I walked arm in arm (and yes, I cried) to the finish................
I have said all along that this was such a personal journey & challenge for each of us & you know how much so for me. I found the few miles where I tried to slow down so emotional & hard, but maybe that would have been like that anyway? The most we had walked was 20 miles, so we really didn't know how our bodies & minds would react to the extra 6.2 miles.
It was great to see Trace & Dons' faces as they walked hand in hand over the line shortly after us, they had walked brilliantly. We still managed to have the all important "medal" photo taken together.
Even though we didn't finish together, we will have wonderful memories to cherish forever.
XX
I will blog all of our special day soon......
Saturday, 17 May 2008
Good morning.......
Yes, it's almost 6.30am & I am up & wide awake.........
I guess I had about 7 hours sleep, about normal for me really, but once I was awake, that was it today. No point just laying in bed.
I know Tracey will be awake now as gorgeous George normally toddles into her room about 6am. Dons & Trace are hoping to sleep in until about 10 so hope they are still sound asleep.
I have just seen the weather on the BBC & although it's going to rain quite heavily throughout the day, the forecast for overnight when you will all be sleeping & us girlies will be doing the hard bit, is pretty good! It's going to be dry.......keep those fingers crossed.....about 9 degrees.....bit chilly, but have walked in zero degrees & snow........& then bright about 6am....that's great, hopefully a beautiful sunrise (5.04 am I think!) over London to help us with those final hard miles!
I am feeling surprisingly calm...so far....but am going to try to keep busy this morning to keep those nerves under control...can't wait to do the ironing (!) & watch Saturday Kitchen .....James Martin, what can I say.... and he can cook............
XX
I guess I had about 7 hours sleep, about normal for me really, but once I was awake, that was it today. No point just laying in bed.
I know Tracey will be awake now as gorgeous George normally toddles into her room about 6am. Dons & Trace are hoping to sleep in until about 10 so hope they are still sound asleep.
I have just seen the weather on the BBC & although it's going to rain quite heavily throughout the day, the forecast for overnight when you will all be sleeping & us girlies will be doing the hard bit, is pretty good! It's going to be dry.......keep those fingers crossed.....about 9 degrees.....bit chilly, but have walked in zero degrees & snow........& then bright about 6am....that's great, hopefully a beautiful sunrise (5.04 am I think!) over London to help us with those final hard miles!
I am feeling surprisingly calm...so far....but am going to try to keep busy this morning to keep those nerves under control...can't wait to do the ironing (!) & watch Saturday Kitchen .....James Martin, what can I say.... and he can cook............
XX
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