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

[EllbellTheBluestocking]

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!

Flippin' eck ellbell, that is some seriously fast walking - I can only dream of such speeds!!

Love the appropriatness of the music, may have to download that myself

Hiya. Hope you all had a good weekend.

I've done (roughly) 10 miles today. I walked on our local greenway, which doesn't appear on the gmap site, so I couldn't measure it properly, but I walked for 2.5 hours, and I normally average about 4 mph, so I'm calculating approx. 10 miles. It was OK at the time, but I'm feeling a bit stiff now. I also definitely need to get some new trainers, half a size larger, as the ones I've got (New Balance ones, which are really comfortable over short distances) got really tight around my toes, and I've got a blister under my right big toe. Nothing serious, but it's annoying.

I am also after some advice from experienced walkers about carrying water. What's the best way to do it? I was intending on taking some water with me today, but I just had a small bottle in my pocket, and it annoyed the hell out of me, so I left it in the car. But it would have been good to have had it today (and will be essential over longer distances, eszpecially if the weather gets hotter). Thanks.

Wow, 10 miles, I am sooo impressed!

We (our group of walkers) are psyching ourselves up for a 10 miler. It does not help that it is called 'the big one' in our training schedule

We are hoping to do 7 or 8 miles on Tuesday night, then another 8 miler the week after, and then attempt a 10 miler the week after that.

Four miles an hour though, that is brilliant [wish I could do that emoticon]

Hi all, first time checking back after Easter + trip to rellies in UK .. and while my back was turned (and I'd fallen off the wagon big time - eating cake and chocolate and all things forbidden) you've all been going great guns! Congratulations!

Wow Hipp! You are on a roll!! And your speeds are v. impressive Ellbell. You and everyone else on this thread are inspiring me to get back in to training ...

Had a bit of a bad start back yesterday (although at least I've started again - daren't post on here until I had!!).

Did a good walk (lots of hills and at least 50 mins long) but downed a large piece of choc cake and double espresso upon return ... not good ..and didn't go for a walk today either (bit of a cold but not too bad to walk) even though the weather was lovely.

Bit of bum-kicking required here please!

Argh, crap walk tonight.

Was all geared up for doing 7 or 8 miles. But ended up with a very very very sore heel pretty much from the moement we set off. Ended up lagging way behind everyone else. By the time we had done 5 miles it started pouring with rain, so we did another mile and called it quits. Drats, 6 miles in 2hrs40mins. How crap is that! There were a couple of hills, but nonetheless.

Am sooo pissed off I have not yet managed to do 8. How in the world am I going to fit that in??? We are running out of time, am starting to panic now....

Hi Counting and welcome back. I am currently deluding telling myself that I need lots of energy for my long-distance walking ( the long-distance walking that I'm not really doing yet) and so can't possibly cut back on food much till after the moonwalk. I have a plan which involves continuing to do two 3.5 mile-walks in the week and a 5-mile walk at weekends after the moonwalk, and simultaneously trying to eat less in order to try to lose some weight. However, I am not at all convinced I'll keep it up once the fear of 26.2 miles has passed!

Sorry to hear tonight's walk wasn't so good hippi, but 6 miles is still a respectable distance, and rain is horrible to walk in. Don't panic. You will do it. You still have time to fit in a couple of longer walks, and the main thing is to keep walking (and to try to stay positive).

I didn't get out tonight as planned as I got delayed at work. I'll try to go out tomorrow. Still haven't got the larger trainers either, which is a bit worrying, as I don't want another blister. I have a cough too (courtesy of dd2, who does love to share her germs around), but again not too bad to exercise with it... just an excuse to feel sorry for myself really.

I know Ellbell, I know, there is still time. But heck, only 4 weeks or so. And I have a little daytime job lined up for most of hte summer term.

And my heel huuuuuuurts

Have you tried wearing two pairs of socks, Hippi (a thin pair underneath and a thicker pair on top)? Don't know if it'll help... just a thought. I may have to do that once I get my larger trainers.

Look after yourself and stay positive.

Otherwise I'll have to change my MN name to MrsMotivator

Thank you Ellbell - hope your cough gets better soon

And sorry to hear about last walk Hippi ... the point is though that you ARE making tangible progress (v. apparent when you read down thread) and as Ellbell said, you still went out and walked six miles in the rain ...you still have the potential to do 12 to 16 training walks before the big one and that's quite a lot ....

Keep on trucking everyone and cossett (sp?? - can't spell today) those blisters ...

Morning guys, I think I have b*ggered something...

I could not sleep last night for the pain, it felt like someone was pushing carving knives into my heel. At one point I actually thought I was going to pass out.

This morning it is still no better. Normally when I get the sore heel it is okay to walk on within half an hour of waking up, but I still can not put any weight on it. If I try I literally see stars.

Now I suspect this is plantar fasciitis (sp). But I have never had it this painfully. I don't know how to get it to stop hurting, I don't know how long to rest it for, and I am worried about not being able to train for a few weeks

Oh fudge, I am sooo pissed off!

I am waiting for the doc to phone me back with some advice.

If I still can't put any weight on it next week, how on earth am I going to take the dc to school??? [extremely worried emoticon]

Oh Hippi... so sorry to hear that. No good advice, I'm afraid. It sounds like something that needs medical attention. But I am sending you hugs and lots of good vibes. Don't worry about training for now (and not even about getting the dcs to school - you'll find a way around that if you have to). Just rest and try to get better.

Poor you. Have some tea and biccies and lots and lots of sympathy.

Thanks Ellbell

Have just come back from the NHS walk in clinic.
I have acute Plantar Fasciitis. I already knew I had PF, but it has flared up badly.
They have referred me to physio, first appointment tomorrow. (impressed with NHS, seriously )

They did say that realistically my chances of doing the moonwalk are slim.

But I am not willing to give up on it until after my first physio session tomorrow.

Bugger bugger bugger buggery crappy shit.
(sorry, had to let that out)

Sorry to hear this hippipotami- frustrating AND painful.

Perhaps if you really can't do the Moonwalk there will be another walk later in the year you could aim for so that the walking to date has not been wasted.

One of my friends is unwell and as it is bronchial she is unlikely to be able to walk either.

Sorry to hear about your friend. But in a small way I am glad to hear I won't be the only one pulling out due to injury / illness.

But I feel an absolute wimp for pulling out.
But I have been told it will take a minimum of a month to heal, and then I am to start walking short little distances. Uhm, so a half marathon is out then??
But I really really want to do the Moonwalk....
But on the other hand, if I carry on causing damage to my heel now, it is likely I won't be able to walk properly for months. And I need to be able to walk, I have a life....

Aaaaarrrrrggggghhhh,I am soooooo frustrated, and so torn about what to do.....

Actually, there is no contest, if pain tells me not to walk, and the doctors/physio tell me not to walk I will not walk.
But I still fell crap for 'giving up' as it were...

Fudge, fudge and double fudge!!!!!

Perhaps you should consider a 'sponsored swear' instead!

Seriously - in a way it is probably good that you have no 'choice' to make about it. Hope physio goes OK tomorrow.

Sorry about all the 'quotes' I am using. I honestly don't do the hand sign thing for it in RL so don't know why I am on MN......

A sponsored swear would be fab the way I am feeling. In fact, I nearly pranged the car trying to park it outside the hospital this morning, and said 'crap'. Ds (aged 8) immediately said 'mum, can you say 'bad' instead, I don't like you saying crap'

Don't worry, I go quote crazy on MN too

Oh, Hippi... Poor, poor you! That is (with apologies to HippiJnr) seriously crap.

You must not walk if you are going to make the PF worse. You must do the sensible thing. Maybe you could do the Sunwalk in Bristol (I think they have a 10km version) or in Newcastle (fear this may be the other end of the country from you, though) in September. The Newcastle one has a 10km and a 5km walk and the latter is open to kids too, so you could do it with your dcs. (I really wanted to do this with the Babybells, but I didn't think I could ask for two lots of sponsorship at such a close interval!)

Will be thinking of you tomorrow. I hope it goes well and that you're much better very soon. Keep us updated.

BTW, MsB... am liking the sponsored swear idea. Perhaps I could get people to organise a sweep-stake on how many times I am going to swear between mile 10 and mile 26!

Thanks Ellbell.

Just out of interest, what would you do? Would you carry on walking (once you were able to weight-bear again) and risk further damage, or would you pull out?

I am sooo keen to continue with the Moonwalk, but my main worry is permanently damaging something. We are on holiday a week after the moonwalk, and it will be the first family holiday we have gone on (the dc are 8 and 5) and I am terrified or ruining it for everyone by not being able to walk far / properly

Oh fudge fudge fudge...

Hippi, sweetie.... I know it's disappointing, but it's not worth risking permanent damage. You can do the moonwalk again if you take the time you need now to get better. But you can't do it again if you damage your heel permanently.

It's not the same at all, but I've had to pull out of things that I really wanted to do (most distressingly an all-expenses-paid trip to the US for a conference that I really wanted to go to, but which came just after I'd changed jobs and moved to the other end of the country) and I felt horrible about it. But you know already what is more important.

If you are worried about 'letting down' (oops, MsB, those 'quotes' are infectious ) people who've sponsored you, could you write to them and explain that you are unable to do the moonwalk for health reasons, but that your team will be doing it and perhaps they'd like to transfer their sponsorship to someone else on the team instead. The last time I looked at the moonwalk website they were looking for volunteers to help on the night (this might only have been Edinburgh, though... haven't really looked at London). If your heel is OK to stand on, but not for walking long distances, you could go up with your friends and then spend the night handing out drinks or just shouting support or something instead. That way you'll still have done your bit. Or you could tell your sponsors that, instead of walking 13 miles, you'll do something else instead (not sure what... depends what you're good at)... bake 13 cakes to sell in aid of Breast Cancer, or something.

Hope you have a lovely holiday. Where are you off to? Don't put it in jeopardy.

Thanks Ellbell, I know you speak sense....

We are only off to the Isle of Wight, but apart from trips to Holland to stay with my parents, we have never done a 'proper' holiday. So I can't wait!

Volunteering may be an idea, not sure if I'd feel worse though seeing my friends walk past, and getting their medals and having that fab feeling of 'yes I have done this'

Sigh...

IoW will be great. Moonwalk will be for another year... Don't despair!

I know, I know....
But during a training walk a while back I said as a joke 'right that's it, I'm giving up' and a friend said 'L will never forgive you' (L being the friend with bc)
So now I feel utterly crap. I mean, if she can walk it whilst undergoing radiotherapy, why can't I with a manky foot?

Oh Hippi . But L. will forgive you. Of course she will. You are not giving up because you don't feel like doing it, or because you couldn't be bothered to train, or because of a headache or a snotty nose, or - far less - because you don't care. You literally can't walk. See what the physio says tomorrow, but if you can't walk, you can't, and it's as simple as that. Tell L. how sad and frustrated you feel, and then try to think about the next thing.

Just checked on the website, and there is the Bristol sunwalk in July and the Newcastle one in September, both of which still seem to be open for entries and both of which have 10 and 5 km walks. And they do still seem to be looking for volunteers for London.

It's a shame they won't allow you to give your place to someone else. Otherwise I'd go and walk as 'hippipotami'... it'd be good training for Edinburgh a month later!