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Original poster

Best foot forward for 2023: a thread for walkers

133 replies

crosshatching · 27/12/2022 20:27

Come and tell me all your walking adventure plans for the New Year. No matter if you're just making it around the block, walking the pooch or doing the Camino de Santiago.

I'll be exploring the countryside around me and hopefully a further afield, getting a bit fitter and hoping to meet some other local walkers.

OP posts:

Thread gallery

PauliesWalnuts · 01/01/2023 17:19

None for me today as it’s been raining all day but boyfriend and I have a 14 miler through Calderdale planned for tomorrow. Sounds worse than it is - it’s a short steep climb to the top of a plateau and then most of the rest of it is flat.

ErrolTheDragon · 01/01/2023 22:19

We've been having an unplanned break in the Cambridge area with my DD, we went to Anglesey abbey and Wimpole hall, 12.6km in their grounds plus another 2kmthis evening in the town so I'm starting the year with 14.6 km

ProfYaffle · 02/01/2023 07:12

I finally managed to sign up to the 1000 mile challenge on the second attempt after failing the 'are you a robot?' test

dontdivorceoverchacha · 02/01/2023 14:17

thesnailandthewhale · 01/01/2023 13:47

Beach walk done this morning and first 11 miles chalked off :)

I have beach envy. Counting steps rather than miles atm due to the dodgy foot. Trying to add 500 steps each day to my count and hit 4000 👍 frustrating to say the least but hopefully slowly building up wins the game 🤞 clocked the post about the exercises and will investigate 👏

Theskyoutsideisblue · 03/01/2023 04:47

Did 9.5 miles on 1st and 11 yesterday. We were away for 2 days walking though. Today will be about 7 on long dog walk locally

PositivePants2023 · 03/01/2023 19:11

Hi can I join in?!

Love walking with the dog. Happily walk up to 10 miles when we go away.

However… I’ve signed up for a marathon ‘hike’ (although I think my course is fairly flat) and am a bit stressed, I ran the London marathon a year or so ago and wasn’t nearly as worried as I am about this… maybe because of how long it will take walking?! Any tips? Xx

MastieMum · 03/01/2023 19:26

@PositivePants2023 it's a few years since I did marathon walking but I do remember that taking spare socks to change into half way always reinvigorated me! And spare pants too, if you can - chafing etc...

PositivePants2023 · 03/01/2023 19:30

MastieMum · 03/01/2023 19:26

They’re really good tips! Thank you! How long did it take you? X

MastieMum · 03/01/2023 19:38

@PositivePants2023 around 8.5 hours (I wasn't very fast) but the walks I did were in pretty hilly territory, so several thousand metres of ascent per walk. A flat walk should be faster. Will you have refreshment stations on the route? I used to find taking lots of sweets and lots of fruits were key. And if you practice doing around 15 mile walks, then you'll be able to get round 26 on the day. The LDWA is a good website to look at for training tips. Good luck!

Lifesyoungdream · 05/01/2023 14:16

I have signed up to the 1000 mile challenge. I walked seven miles yesterday and six miles earlier in the week. It is a flat route along the canal but it’s a start until I am fit again to climb hills.
This thread will keep me focused.

Original poster

crosshatching · 07/01/2023 13:11

Eesh, I don't know about everyone else but the weather is not helping this first week of January! I've been lucky if I've hit my Garmin step count this week! How are you all doing?

OP posts:

MastieMum · 07/01/2023 13:58

I'm doing very badly - just a mile or so yesterday but hoping for a longer walk tomorrow, weather permitting!

ErrolTheDragon · 07/01/2023 15:42

I've now logged another 1.7, 6, 6 and 5.4 km bringing my total so far to
33.7 km

PauliesWalnuts · 07/01/2023 23:06

I’m doing rubbish - the weather has been nothing but torrential rain up here in the NW. hoping to catch up with a few long weekend walks over the next month to get me back on track.

MrsMullerBecameABaby · 07/01/2023 23:26

Lovely thread! Can I join?

I've got a five day walk planned (as in I've allocated the time and the route - nothing booked) for Easter.

I am sort of doing the Camino de Santiago from my door (which is about 2400 km) but it's going to take about 3 years as I'm just doing a few days at a time when I get the time!

I started in spring and summer 2022 and have done about 300 km of my route - the last 5 days will get me to the end of my first guide book (four guide books cover my route to Spain, then I'd like to do the Camino del Norde - the coastal path, which is the last 800 km).

I walked a lot in the first 2/3 of last year but I changed jobs in September and have had less time and it's getting me down, especially as I actually thought I'd have more free time in this new job.

Had even more of a slump over Christmas with sick kids too and been cooking and baking and eating and feeding everyone including myself too much!

Need to really get back to it to get my fitness up a bit before Easter as my route is fairly mountainous.

percypal · 07/01/2023 23:48

Would love to join you all!

Hybrid working in a desk job means my step/mile count is atrocious. There are days I am lucky to hit 1000 steps. I’ve joined a step challenge with some colleagues and we’re going to build up every month. My goal this month is 7000 per day which is about 3 miles I think. So far I’ve hit it each day.

I am not naturally active. Once I am out I’m as happy as Larry but it’s the choosing to go out over sitting on the sofa with a box set that’s the issue. I want to change that. I would love to get a dog in the future so I want to be reliably active and outdoorsy in preparation rather than getting the dog and hoping they make me more active as I know that’s a recipe for disaster.

I guess you are all really just counting ‘actual walks’ rather than your whole days worth of mileage including pottering? I think I will unofficially set myself a 1000 mile challenge but I will include pottering mileage - so maybe it’s not really a challenge at all but as I mentioned some days my steps are so low that even 3m worth of movement a day has to be an improvement. Sorry if this means I am cheating!!

23 miles so far this year :)

percypal · 07/01/2023 23:50

Also hoping this will help me lose a bit of weight - more due to less time at home snacking than the walking actually doing all that much!

ErrolTheDragon · 08/01/2023 01:04

My view is, do whatever works for you, percypal. I count 'actual walks' - ones I've turned on the walk or hike Apple Watch app for which measures the distance properly. But if using the step count estimate is more motivating/fits your lifestyle better - it's all good, isn't it.

Theskyoutsideisblue · 08/01/2023 06:17

First week
day 1 11miles
day 2 11
days 3/4/5/6 5 each
yesterday 10
so 52 total
have a collie so out in all weathers. Only worked 2 days and both at home.
next week in the office 3 days so will be less

FireworkFluster · 08/01/2023 06:46

I'm starting properly today and plan to use this thread as my inspiration. I already move about quite a lot and step count is about 8k on a normal day, so I'm not going to include that. Aiming for 1000 miles in the year of brisk walking and will log my results on Sundays. Thanks for the thread @crosshatching and all contributors 👋

FireworkFluster · 08/01/2023 06:48

@Theskyoutsideisblue I have collie envy! Beautiful dogs 💕 but not suitable for my lifestyle. Had them as a teenager living on a farm and they are just fabulous!

Billybagpuss · 08/01/2023 06:57

Just planned a 5 mile for today, did 25 miles last week but we were on holiday in Tobermory, we’d have walked much more had the weather been better. Here’s some pics