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Original poster

Walkers' thread (those training for a moonwalk or those just wanting to get a bit fitter... sign in here)

477 replies

EllbellTheBluestocking · 03/02/2008 18:47

OK... following on from another thread, I thought I'd start this for those of us who are not really that into exercise but who are struggling to get a bit fitter.

I am working towards doing the Edinburgh moonwalk in June (and would prefer it if no-one mentioned just exactly how blardy far it's going to be just yet [panic emoticon]), and am struggling to find the time and the inclination to train.

Anyone else in a similar position? Hippipotami? Quint? Don't leave me walking all on my own...

Will come back and post again when I've got off my bum and done some exercise!

OP posts:
Ellbell · 04/04/2008 14:00

Hi hippi. LOL at us both being obsessed with the background in the yoga video. (Makes me think of the Antonioni film, Blow Up, where a photographer thinks he's accidentally photographed a murder.)

Am thinking of you today and sending strong leg vibes for your 7 miler! (That's more than halfway, remember!) I am 'working' (ha!) from home today, so nipped out for a quick 5 miles in my lunch break. I'm going to try to push it up to 8 miles tomorrow morning.

hippipotami · 04/04/2008 17:20

My 7 miler was a killer. Actually it was 7.6 miles by the time I put it on that gmaps pedometer site...

I did well for the first 5 miles, and then my heel became painful and I got a bit tired. Managed okay for the next mile. But after 6 miles my whole right leg was hurting and I started to feel sick. I was practically in tears by the time I arrived home.
I developed a killer of a headache not long after getting home, and I still have that headache now. Actually feel sick with it.

To walk 7 miles took me 2hr45min. Crapola really.

Sigh, I am still very very worried that doing a moonwalk is not for me [sad and fed up emoticon]

Posey · 04/04/2008 17:48

Aw Hippi - sorry you're feeling so crappy
The headache and nausea shout out that you didn't eat or drink enough. Make sure you eat well before hand, then while you're walking. Do you have a bum bag? If not, get one! Put in it a banana, some raisins or dried apricots, a muesli bar, some dextrose tablets - some or all - to munch as you go along.
Drink plenty before you go, then sip water as you walk. Don't allow yourself to feel thirsty as it means you are already dehydrated.

Have a lovely warm relaxing bath tonight, and see how you feel after that. Do you stretch/warm up before and after the walk? Were you walking on the flat or on hills? Hills make a huge difference to the muscles you use and remember there are none in the Moonwalk route.

There is still plenty of time before the event to prepare and I think you're doing a grand job

Ellbell · 04/04/2008 18:09

Don't beat yourself up, Hippi. I want to remind you of something you wrote back on 5th Feb:

"I have just come back from an hour and 15 minutes walk. I am exhausted. I practically cried with relief when I arrived back at my front door!"

That was just two months ago. Today you walked for a whole hour longer than that, and probably more than twice as far (I think you said somewhere that that walk was under 3.5 miles). You found it hard. But you did it! You are doing brilliantly.

The headache definitely sounds like a dehydration/lack of energy thing. Do what Posey says and see if you feel better. You need fuel to cover distances, remember.

Hang on in there. You'll be fine!

hippipotami · 04/04/2008 22:04

Thanks guys, you are both so right. I forgot my water (left it in dd's reception class when I dropped her off doh!) so I know I got dehydrated.
I did not bring any food, but I will next time.

And yes, you are right, compared to where I was two months ago, I am walking a whole lot further.
Even last week, I walked 6 miles, and I struggled after 5. This time I was okay-ish up till 6 miles, so every time it gets a bit better.

I will do frequent 3 4 mile walks with the children over hte Easter holiday, and on Tuesday night the girls have a 5 or 6 mile route planned.

Then we have an 8-miler pencilled in for the 21st April, so we are getting there.

I think my main problem is my heel. I have shoe inserts and specific heel tendon stretching exercises, but it still gets unbelievably painful.

You guys are great, I don't know how I would get through this without you
I don't feel able to tell my worries to my RL fellow moonwalkers, embarassed I guess, and worried that they will think I will slow the team down. There are some very very very very very fit people on my team [worried]

hippipotami · 04/04/2008 22:08

I had a lovely bath after my walk, felt lovely.

I walked some long but shallow hills. I live in a large village on top of a hill, so all walks, even a 3 mile one will involve getting down of this hill and then back up again.

I am very very glad the Moonwalk does not have hills, am much better on the flat

Ellbell · 04/04/2008 22:14

It's very hilly where I am. I have one very boring route, which avoids the worst of them. Otherwise I have to face the hills. Still Scotland isn't exactly known for being flat is it? (Help! Wish I was doing London now!).

You are doing great Hippi. Remember that it's not a race. The main thing is to do it, hopefully to have some fun, and to raise some money.

Posey · 04/04/2008 22:16

Glad you're feeling better about it. It really is true what Ellbell says, see how far you've progressed in such a short space of time.
I am going out for a longer walk on Monday or Tuesday. We;re just starting school hols, are away this weekend but have M/T free before off again. Dh is training for a bike race so we're going to have a day each with the kids and leave the other to do training or whatever. I'd like to try and do 8 miles. Not sure what the forecast is like after the snow of Sunday.

hippipotami · 04/04/2008 22:41

Nope Ellbell, Scotland is known for many things, but being flat is not one of them
Luckily the hills here are not too extreme...

Posey, the weather forcast for the next week is mad isn't it. I have purposely kept plenty of time spare in teh holidays so the dc and I can walk the dog in the woods. But I know dd will not want to go out if it rains...... harrumph...

Right, am off to bed

Thanks for all your encouraging words, they are much needed and appreciated.

ee

hippipotami · 04/04/2008 22:41

Nope Ellbell, Scotland is known for many things, but being flat is not one of them
Luckily the hills here are not too extreme...

Posey, the weather forcast for the next week is mad isn't it. I have purposely kept plenty of time spare in teh holidays so the dc and I can walk the dog in the woods. But I know dd will not want to go out if it rains...... harrumph...

Right, am off to bed

Thanks for all your encouraging words, they are much needed and appreciated.

ee

hippipotami · 04/04/2008 22:41

Nope Ellbell, Scotland is known for many things, but being flat is not one of them
Luckily the hills here are not too extreme...

Posey, the weather forcast for the next week is mad isn't it. I have purposely kept plenty of time spare in teh holidays so the dc and I can walk the dog in the woods. But I know dd will not want to go out if it rains...... harrumph...

Right, am off to bed

Thanks for all your encouraging words, they are much needed and appreciated.

ee

hippipotami · 04/04/2008 22:48

ooops, have no idea what happened there...

also don't know where the random 'ee' came from...

how odd...

(apologies for the overkill on ... too)

Ellbell · 04/04/2008 23:16

My dds have been back at school for a week already! They have a very long term ahead of them!

Hope the weather's not too bad this weekend and next week. Happy walking!

Ellbell · 06/04/2008 21:45

Yuk! What a weekend! Don't know about where you lot are, but the weather here has been horrendous. I missed my 'slot' to go out walking yesterday because it was snowing, and then dh had to go to work, so I was in charge of the dds. So today I was determined to go out come what may. Well... what came was driving snow. I went out anyway, but it was pretty horrible. I did 5.25 miles, got soaked and frozen and generally wondered why on earth I had got into this in the first place. I have an old ankle injury (from falling off a horse about 3 years ago) which doesn't normally give me any trouble, but even that was aching this afternoon in protest.

I feel a lot better now after a nice hot bath and a bit of a rest. I'm sort of glad I went... I suppose it's unlikely to snow in June, even in Scotland. (Hint: This is not the time to tell me your 'freak weather' stories!)

How are you feeling today Hippi? Hopefully you've recovered from your long march on Friday. Fingers crossed for no more snow, eh?

hippipotami · 06/04/2008 22:03

Am fine, thanks Ellbell I have not gone out today, dd has had a headache and vomiting thing all day.
She also had goosebumps and a blue tinge to her lips, so def not well. And as dh was at work all day, nursing duty fell to me.

I have planned 3 shortish walks with the children and dog for this week. So as long as there is no more freak weather I should get some shortish walks done.
Which is better than nothing....

Well done for going out today, bet that bath felt great!!

hippipotami · 06/04/2008 22:04

No freak weather stories by the way, but having said that I have never known it to snow in April, so technically anything is possibe

Ellbell · 06/04/2008 22:13

Aw, hope your dd is better soon, Hippi.

It definitely snowed in April in 2000, because I spent the whole of April 2000 in hospital (along with most of March and half of May!) when pregnant with dd1 and the weather went from boiling hot to freezing cold overnight and then I sat on my bed and watched the snow falling outside. (Ah, fond memories!) That was 'down south' too, before we moved to the Arctic Circle north of England!

Ahhhhh that bath was heaven

hippipotami · 06/04/2008 22:34

Oh, April 2000? Where was I? I was at Bristol Poly. Can't remember snow, but was probably in the Student Union bar somewhere....

Ellbell · 06/04/2008 22:44

OMG, Hippi! You are a mere baby!

hippipotami · 07/04/2008 09:02

Nope, I am not, I have my dates muddled by a whole decade, I was at Bristol Poly in 1990, not 2000

April 2000 I was a mum of an 8 month old boy, and I was 28years old.

I had had a large glass of wine last night before I typed that message, and it had obviously affected my numaracy skills and my memory

So no, am not a mere baby (I wish), but a frumpy, overweight mum of two who is closer to 40 then she cares to think about.

Sorry

Ellbell · 07/04/2008 11:10

I will be 40 when I start my moonwalk, but 41 by the time I finish it!

hippipotami · 07/04/2008 11:59

Hey, what better way to celebrate your birthday!!
(Unless you really are planning on it taking a year, which is a new record alltogether )

Ellbell · 07/04/2008 12:00

Ummmm.... big meal, lots of wine??? Or walking 27 miles and then driving 5 hours or so home from Edinburgh???

Might have an alternative birthday the following week and revert to Plan A!

hippipotami · 07/04/2008 12:03

Yup, Plan A is so much better!!

Please tell me you are not driving yourself home from Edinbrough? After walking 26 miles? And will there be somewhere for you to park the car? Because we have been told there won't be in Hyde Park or the surrounding areas.

We are all putting in £20 and sharing a minibus. I hope the busdriver can drop us and pick us up as close to the gates to Hyde Park as possible..... Have visions of crawling into the van.

MsBombastic · 07/04/2008 14:09

Can I plse join this thread? I am signed up for the London moonwalk and I need encouragement. Lots of it. Have been walking a few times a week since Jan, but only couple of hours at a time. Longest at the weekend has prob been 6-7 miles in one go. Am getting nervous. There are a group of us doing it but it is hard to tie in walking with others. Stamina is the main prob for me so far - I'm not good at breathing properly! (i.e. deeply).
I will be fit enough in time, won't I? Aaaagh....