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!

Ooh well done for those 20 mile walks
That is really such an achievement.

The headache mimsmum I would say is probably due to dehydration. Make sure you get plenty to drink before you set off. Also I always feel a lot better if I wear a hat and sunglasses as I find I squint in the sun and the glare gives me a bad head even if it isn't too sunny.

Mrspnut you are so right the actual night is nothing like any practice walk. And they tell you to bring tissues in case the loo rolls run out but we know its for when you blub crossing the line. I have cried every year, partly due to complete knackeredness (I always cry when I'm tired!) and also the emotion of what you've achieved and why you've done it.

I did my 10 mile walk yesterday (for the halfmoon this year) and did it in 2 hours 13 mins which was very pleasing. I was down at the inlaws which is alot hillier than I'm used to so but a very nice walk.

Well done MsB and Posey... MsB your walk sounds idyllic. It's going to be lonely on here when you've all done your walks, but I am really looking forward to hearing all about it.

I am feeling a lot better (thankfully) and did a very hilly 8 miles today. My feet (heels and ankles, especially) are aching a bit now, but I've been on my feet all day - gardening till dh got home from work at 5, at which point I went out and walked - so I think that's why... that and the hills! I need to find out how hilly the Edinburgh route is. I bought one of those water bottles that are easy to carry yesterday, and sipped fairly constantly as I walked, and I found it much better (and I didn't need a wee!). It was actually quite hot here today so I was glad of it.

Aaargh! Got my new (Walk the Walk recommended) trainers today. No stockists near me so ordered off the internet in half a size larger than I have been wearing. Tried them on tonight and they feel tiny. My toes felt really constricted. I walked in them tonight (just 3 miles or so) and after a mile my toes had gone numb. By the time I got home the feeling had come back, though, so I'm hoping that they will expand to fit my feet and be comfortable (they weren't uncomfortable as such - just felt very tight, especially since they are meant to be a 7.5 and I've been wearing size 7s till now). Please let them to that quickly, though, as I don't have time to fanny about! I need to walk!

Am away for work reasons tomorrow and Friday. Back to walking over the weekend!

I find the New Balance ones come up small. I am normally a size 7 to 7.5 depending on shoe style.
I bought New Balance trainers in a size 8. And they felt tight around the toe area, especially after a long walk.

I hope your stretch a little Ellbell.

Don't wear them if they're too small before you even start walking - they will rip your feet to shreds.

When I bought mine, I bought a size larger than normal and I still ended up with a bruise under my big toe nail and a blister on the ball of my foot.

Am just off out again for another quick 3-miler. If they are still feeling tight, I'll dump 'em and go for an 8.

What socks are they wearing Ellbell?

When I got my running shoes fitted they also sold me some posh walking socks (£10 !). But I found my toes were tingling and going numb. Basically the socks were too thick.

Changed to m&s sports socks (with slightly thicker heel/toe bits) which were less than half the price and my feet have been fine since.

But you are right - you need to sort it out quickly.

I normally wear a size 6 - I ended up in a size 8 in the new balance trainers the shop assistant wouldn't show me the box until I'd agreed they were comfortable

Where is everybody?

Did last pre-walk walk this morning!

End in sight now and feeling quite excited.

Any last minute tips (and encouragement) for Sat night more than welcome.

Hello MsB! I am still here. You must be so excited. Have you got your bra ready? You'll be great. I'll be sending positive vibes your way.

I have decided that the New Balance Moonwalk shoes I bought are no good - they just felt soooooooo small. So now I've bought a pair similar to the ones I've been wearing previously only in a size 8. They seem comfortable enough, but now I've got a sore heel on my left foot. It feels sort of bruised, but it's not really bruised, as I can only feel it in these particular shoes and after walking for half an hour or so. Was hoping to go out and do a longer walk of 10 miles or so tomorrow, but am a bit worried about giving myself a really painful foot. Aaargh! I was doing so well and now this shoe problem has really thrown me (plus I've spent a small fortune on footwear which I'm not happy with... aaargh!). Really must get my act together now!

If anyone wants a pair of barely worn size 7.5 New Balance moonwalk shoes (style 849, I think... will check if anyone's interested), just let me know. Too late for this year for all you London walkers, but maybe for next year?????

Hope everybody is organised for saturday night.

I will be there between mile 16 and 17 clapping and cheering on every walker - if I've got any voice left when I get home I shall be very surprised.

My tips would be - get there early, there was a huge queue last year for getting into the compound and it didn't leave much time for having a massage and so on.

Take the time to go to the loo before you go to the start line because it will keep you going longer on the walk.

Above all, enjoy yourself. The atmosphere is amazing and the buzz you get from walking through the streets in your decorated bra with cars beeping their horns and people cheering is like nothing else.

I think I may have solved the problem. I have ripped the insoles out of my old trainers (size 7) and put them inside the new size 8 ones and that seems to cushion my heel better. I have just walked 8.5 miles, and although my heel did start to hurt on the last couple of miles it was much better, so I'm going to persevere and hope that it continues to improve.

Really excited thinking about you all on Saturday night. I don't feel ready, but I am almost wishing I'd registered for London and it was me walking this weekend. (Though actually I shall be at a Christening in Berlin, so will be having a lovely weekend too.)

I've just been surfing, trying to stop the nerves before Saturday's Moonwalk (I'm having a go at the full moon). I've read lots of the thread and totally sympathise with Hippipotami - I've not been able to do much for the last 3 week because of my heel. Have you tried a sports massage on your foot - the first one I had 2 weeks ago was excrutiating but the next 2 have been much easier and I am now almost pain free. Like me, it could be your plantar fasciia (a tendon from your ankle to toes) - when the calves get tight it then pulls on this tendon giving you heel pain.
See the rest of you 'Mooners' on Saturday - I wish my butterflies would calm down.

best wishes everyone

I am a volunteer on saturday night

Bother, bother, bother...! Have looked at foot again and sodding bloody trainers have given me a blister. I may have to go back to the ones that cramp my toes a bit... At least they don't give me blisters (and they're fine up to 10 miles; it's only when my feet start to swell that I feel cramped). Damn! I am getting really frustrated with this shoe fiasco.

Thankfully I still have a month to sort this out.

Good luck once again everyone!

Bother, bother, bother...! Have looked at foot again and sodding bloody trainers have given me a blister. I may have to go back to the ones that cramp my toes a bit... At least they don't give me blisters (and they're fine up to 10 miles; it's only when my feet start to swell that I feel cramped). Damn! I am getting really frustrated with this shoe fiasco.

Thankfully I still have a month to sort this out.

Good luck once again everyone!

Hello Ellbell - sorry to hear about all your foot troubles; what a pain (scuse pun). Those gel blister plaster things are gr8 but obviously not a long term solution.

Welcome stiltonmum. I am feeling strange about sat. night and nervous about hurting myself/being ill on or before the night - seems like kids keep treading on my toes! I have a real craving for a chinese take away tomorrow night which I know would be a really bad idea.

Thank you for your wishes chocolatespiders (great name). Look out for me and my team mates with giant daisies on our bras!!

Have bought Radox muscle soak bath salts thingy in preparation.

Hi guys! Sorry I have severely neglected this thread
Since my big training walk on the bank holiday weekend I've kind of gone off the boil a bit and have been so busy with other things...

Anyway, all prepared for Saturday night, I think. Am really looking forward to it, though got to say I wish it had been last weekend when it was so much warmer and drier. Am thinking there won't be as many bras on show as it is really quite chilly overnight.

Hope everyone else is okay and Ellbell that you manage to get your shoes/feet sorted out.

everyone ready for tomorrow night??? at about quarter to midnight last Saturday I was keeling over into bed feeling really knackered and the thought suddenly struck me - in a week's time I'll just be about to start walking for 26 miles !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

any tips for what we should do during the day tomorrow (apart from sleep .... if my kids let me ....)

Hi mimsmum!
Top tip is to drink water all day, get really well hydrated so you don't need to drink loads enroute, then you may not have to stop for the loo.
Take it easy tomorrow.
Have something to eat at teatime, then your pasta dish in Hyde Park around 9pm.
Dextrose tablets are nice and refreshing, give you a bit of a boost and are nice and small to carry with you.

Apart from that, enjoy it. It is fab. Don't give up around 20 miles. Its pretty awful then, but the end is in site.
When you get to 14 miles, just remember you have less to do than already completed, so its all downhill from there.

Have a brill time

Sorry to be ignorant - are distances marked around route? Think it will be very impt to me to see those miles disappearing!

Are dextrose tablets flavoured.

Suddenly lots of questions / panics fill my mind. Which knickers to wear for example!!!! How will I fit everything in my bum bag thingy. Should i wear glasses or contacts. how much water should i carry. Aaaaagh, what have i got myself into?

MsB - yes, there are mile markers.
Yes dextrose tablets are flavoured, orange, lemon and blackcurrant.
Wear your comfiest knickers
Water is handed out all along the route. Get yourself a bottle before you set off (they dole them out in Playtex City), then take a fresh one at every water stop (they're marked in your booklet I think)

Don't panic!

MsBombastic, stalked you to here from OJ thread

Can I just say good luck to all of you doing the moonwalk tomorrow night, this year is the first in 5 that I have not done it. Have done the half and the full so if you have any questions feel free !! Only sat cuddling a bottle of wine !!

Yes miles are marked, dextrose tabs come in many flavours, wear glasses.

Take blister plasters, ipod regardles of how big your group is you will want to zone out at some point.

Pee in the bushes thru the parks, dont q, you will grind to a halt.

Stick two fingers up to those that peel off on the half moon, you still got 13 miles to go.

Above all enjoy it. Atmosphere is electric.

PS the pasta/rice tastes awful, flapjack is lovely so make sure you eat before you get to the park too.

Aha VS, I've never had a stalker before!!

Thx for advice. Have never used an ipod in training so won't start tomorrow as will get in a dither with it.

Am impressed you've done it so many times - feels like this will be a one off for me, but who knows.
Thanx for warning re. pasta, although i have pretty low standards!
Should really be going to bed but know i won't sleep, so will try and lie in in the morning.