Moonwalk

Welcome mrspnut

Dare I ask if you are doing the half moon in Edinburgh because the full moon was so long? (can you tell I'm feeling nervous?!)

Any top tips for us moonwalk virgins?

I shall join in if I may. I'm doing the half moon in Edinburgh and crewing in London.

I walked the full moon in London 2 years ago and crewed last year and I seem to have caught the bug.

I ought to start training soon but the Edinburgh walk isn't for another few months. I have started walking more generally but I need to find some new routes because we have moved house since I trained last time.

That's good news Marge I'm not really sure mine is a lump, just more bulgy inside than behind the other nipple - it might have always been like that - just doing the Moonwalk has made me more paranoid

Did try a bit of bum clenching this morning, but not sure I'm really doing it right (and I keep forgetting along the way!) The arm swings are good, but I have to be doing 5 miles an hour for them to feel comfortable, which is pretty hard going!

LOL at Archers - I think that would make me want to give up on the spot!

Great news marg

And well done wifey - please that the buttock clenching went well . I agree - you do suddenly feel like you're doing something that isn't 'normal' walking. I suspect I look like an arse, but hey, no back ache = good!

No good music ideas here, I'm afraid - I train with mates and we just talk. Pretty much constantly. I do like the idea of an Archers catch up though!

Glad all OK Marg & hope all OK with you next week bigTillyMint, let us know.

I did a quick 3 miles (45 min) tonight & tried the bum clenching - not a pretty sight for an commuters on their way home down the country lanes I walk - it gives a completley different walking style, far more upright & I put a few arm swings in as well & it made it all feel alot more power walking than oridinary walking, going to try for the 8 miles again on Wednesday so see how that goes.

I also need some good music ideas girls to keep me motiviated while walking, I do listen to the Archers podcast sometimes but a bit difficult to keep your momentum going

All well at docs, I'd had a large, lump removed in Oct it was benign,thank god, but all the tests I had done then showed I have a lot of cysts, the dr thinks that what it is because it moves around, We are so pleased, it was hard enough last time. Good luck to you bigTillymint next week, be thinking of you Thank you for all your support xx

I've been trying to do a bit of the technique - at least the bum clenching bit - I didn't manage it for 3 hours, but it defn helped my back, so I reckon it's worth a try. I am also trying to do short > big long strides, and waving my arms about in what i fondly imagine to be a powerful way.

But am avoiding wiggling my arse about in full powerwalk style-y!

Hope all went well at the docs today marg, & good luck for next week bigTillymint

Marg, I have got a sore bit behind my nipple so I'm going next week. Fingers crossed they are nothing serious! Let us know how you got on.

Thanks everyone, feeling a little more up today, mainly thinking about you all walking like you've got £50 stuck in your bums

I'm not doing the full power walking technique either at the moment, maybe give it a go but have enough back problems as it is so a little wary.

Marg hope all went Ok today, thinking of you x

FP no need to apologise, didn't take it that way at all.
Thanks TM for your support, got to the docs later as found lump in my breast, let you know how it goes.x

FP, are you doing the whole power walking technique? I got terrible back ache on Sat, so I should give the bum clenching a go. But for 3 hours?!!! And we aren't doing the power walking technique - do you think we should?

Marg and Wiffey - it must be hard with depression. Don't be too hard on yourselves - if you don't make it out one day, don't beat yourself up about it. Just feel proud when you do make it out for a walk. And get those natural endorphins going!

Should have said that the bum thing was a tip from the pack - if you imagine you're holding £50 between your butt cheeks, it really helps your speed walking posture apparently

Makes absolute sense, marg. And was in no way meaning to sound pom-poms and rah-rah about it - sorry if it did

And at 5 days with the girls

Funnypeculiar I didn't congratulate you on your 14 miles, great achievement, hope you have no aches tmrw. I didn't know if you clenched your bum your back doesn't ache, great tip, but size of my bum might look a bit funny [big grin]

I'm going for 5 days with 7 girlfriends, can't wait. To answer your question exercise is good for depression at times when your brain will let you get up and do some, sounds strange but its true, that is why wifey should not feel lazy about not getting out, a day at a time or even an hour at a time

Sorry to hear you've both been finding it tough, wifey & marg. My dad suffers from depression, and I hugely agree that it's not talked about enough. Whilst I feel it is getting more out in the public eye (along with other mental illness) I think it's still so misunderstood. Am I right in thinking (when you the motivation is managable ) that it's a really positive circle - ie that exercise tends to really help with endorphin levels/mood lifting? I seem to remember reading something like that.... Getting on that circle is the tricky bit i guess - & you've both managed that

Oh, & very of your Las Vegas trip, marg - how long are you going for?

My 14 miles went really well this morning - we walked along the river and it was lovely to be out in the spring sunshine (I do hope we don't get rain on moonwalk night...) . Even better, I remembered to try and clench my bum and I didn't get aches in my lower back - which nearly floored me on my 12 miler!

Onwards and upwards and into the next week...

Keep your chin up wiffey, you'll get through this patch, I know it doesn't feel like now but you will, take care

Thanks everyone, not actually manged to get out this weekend as hoped & now feel really lazy that didn't Have also suffered with depression on & off for years and was doing really well but hit a bit of a low again at the moment, need to get my motivation going again, try again next week !!!

Thanks Coutingreyhairs, that should have said song was by Pussycat Dolls!
I suppose it could be by anyone.
Gonna try and get out today, I'm off for break from Thursday to Las Vegas so not sure if any training is going to worth it?

Oh that's tough Marg .. and it must make it even harder to get out and exercise ... agree it should be talked about more

Good luck with everything - exercising can only help I suppose - but easier said than done I know x

Ah thanks Countingthegrehairs, I have clinical depression, so it floors me at times, I wish more was done for depression because it should be talked about more, well that's my rant for the day!
I'm also looking for a link to do stretches, someone mentioned it ealier just until I get my pack.
Found a song on my ipod that is great to walk to,it's Sway by Pussydoll girls - gets your hips swinging!Just don't be pole dancing at every lampost you pass!

Thanks everyone but I won't be worthy of congratulation until I've actually done the thing and raised (hopefully) lots of money!! And I take off my hat to you Moonwalkers because eight miles isn't very long in comparison to your respective marathons!!

Sorry to hear about your granny Funny Peculiar - I agree that the quality of support you receive in those circs makes all the difference - crikey 14 miles starting at 7.45 today - that really shows commitment - well done you and hope it goes well ...

Marg - hope you are feeling better now ...

Don't panic Tilly - you will prevail!!

FP at your mate's training - I am panicking right now after the 11 miler yesterday - felt knackered after it

Well done Counting for finding your own Moonwalk - great cause for you as well!

Countingthegreyhairs thats a great cause, I wish Icould've done something like that for my parents, so good on you.

Sounds like a really great cause countingthegreyhairs - my granny died recently - we were lucky to have wonderful support from macmillan/local district nurses, but it is amazing how much difference it makes to have good support in the last weeks/days/months (for patient & family)

I'm going out tomorrow for a 14 mile-r (along the Thames too ) - cross your fingers for me, esp as I've agreed to be out & walking by 7.45

Wifey, a mate of mine did the moonwalk last year - I asked her what training she did - she said she did quite a few short (3 mile) walks, and one 10 mile walk, and that was it! She must have a much better level of general fitness than me, but it did make me feel a bit more like if the worst came to the worst, I could probably get around on less training.
She did say she was in AGONY for days afterwards