Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

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:
hippipotami · 22/02/2008 11:58

as is my spelling....

Posey · 22/02/2008 17:54

Hi all!

The 12 week training plan is for the half-moon, not sure for the full marathon. Only know as I copied it out for my sister from last years book.

I used to have trouble with stitches and spoke to a friend about it who is quite athletic. She told me it was through not warming up properly, trying to walk too fast too soon, and also not doing any stretches beforehand. Since then I don't get stitches anymore, so hope that helps.

Am hoping to get out over the weekend for an hour or so, will be nice to get a bit of p & Q after half term, and visitors

Countingthegreyhairs · 22/02/2008 18:15

Here's some 'stitch
info:

www.thestretchinghandbook.com/archives/side-stitch.php

all a bit technical re: exhaling when right foot hits ground or whatever!

Personally, I get a stitch when I've eaten less than an hour before exercising ... and I go through phases of getting lots of them and then not having one for ages ...

Mimsmum - can totally sympathise with difficulty in breaking out of front door - we are all microbe-ridden here.

Posey · 25/02/2008 14:17

Well the welcome pack arrived this morning which makes it all seem a bit more real.
Anyone else got their's yet?

Went out for a walk in Regents Park this morning. It was beautiful, very springlike and peaceful. A great start to the week!

How's everyone else doing?

hippipotami · 25/02/2008 21:30

No, no welcome pack yet, am eagerly awaiting mine

I did a 4.7 mile walk with my friend this morning. It was actually a lot of to-ing and fro-ing as we ran some errands in the village at the same time (busy housewifes dontcha know, can't be all fun fun fun) but we wore our trainers and tried to walk at a decent pace, and by the end of it we were both utterly shattered.

Tomorrow evening I am hoping to do another 4 miles at least, as I am out walking with the girls again.
(well, I hope we are, two of us can't make it, so maybe there won't be enough of us to go in which case I will go on my own with the dog for protection )

hippipotami · 26/02/2008 21:48

Still no welcome pack!!

Did a 3.5mile walk with the girls tonight, we upped the pace a bit, but it still took over an hour, and I felt I wasy dying by the end of it.
I am so not fit enough for this moonwalk, am getting worried...

AAAAARRRRGGGHHHH

hippipotami · 27/02/2008 17:23

Hello???? Is there an echo in here?? Where are you all??

My welcome pack arrived today, and I am relieved to find it is not too full on. I was worried that I would be finding myself putting in 10 mile hikes three times a week for the last month before the moonwalk. Alas, that is not the case, it appears I only need to do ONE 10 mile walk, and that is exactly 2 weeks before the Moonwalk. And a couple of 8 miles, a couple of 6, all in all it should be achievable.

Am just about to get the diary out and plan some walking days

How are you all getting on??

mybabysinthegarden · 27/02/2008 17:35

Hi all, no training pack here yet, but maybe the Edinburgh ones go out a bit later as it's after the London one. Had a good couple of weeks since I last signed in here, lots of 3-4 mile hillwalks, then last week was such rubbish weather I didn't get out at all. Did 4 miles Wednesday and today-- it was pretty wild here yesterday, especially on the hills, really high winds. Dh was along for moral support with dd in the backpack and her poor cheeks were just frozen by the time we got back.

mrspnut · 27/02/2008 17:37

Good luck to all the Moonwalkers - I did the full moon last year and it was a fantastic experience. The atmosphere is great and it really helps when it's 3 am and you're walking through Battersea Park. The band playing cheered me up loads.

The best tips I can give are to make sure your trainers and socks are well broken in and that you do the long walks before the day itself. You need the miles under your belt before the day itself.

hippipotami · 27/02/2008 19:35

hello mrspnut - can you help me with something?

do the full mooners and the half mooners set off from the same point and the half mooners veer off somewhere along hte course?

and do hte half mooners start walking much later than the full mooners?

thanks

Posey · 27/02/2008 21:35

Hippipotami - I can answer your question!
Full and half mooners all start mixed up, but split at some point when the half mooners have to head back to the park. They are differentiated by hat colour (pink for full, white for half).
There are 4 start times, about half an hour apart, and your start group is according to your estimated finish time. The first group off is the fastest.
Last year I finished the full moon at about 5am. After getting my medal, photo taken, goodie bag, and collecting my stowed bag, I wandered to the edge of the park, jumped in a cab and was home at just before 6am!!!

Not quite sure what will happen if you finish the half moon in the middle of the night as they can't have you off wandering out of Playtex City. Guess you just have to hang around until it gets light.

mrspnut · 27/02/2008 21:36

They both set off at the same time and part way through the course the half mooners are directed one way and the full mooners another.

Last year it was on the embankment and they went off towards westminster at about 10 miles and we carried on towards Battersea.

hippipotami · 28/02/2008 10:07

Fantastic, thanks both of you

I love the fact we get to veer off and 'head home'

We picked our estimated completion time as 3-4 hours so we won't get walking till about 3am is that right??

mrspnut · 28/02/2008 10:22

The last start is at midnight so you'll be walking by then at least. The starts last year were at 11pm, 11:15, 11:30 and midnight. Each start has a different colour on their race number and bag tag and they have a different place to wait in the main tent.

hippipotami · 28/02/2008 10:32

Oh fab, that is a relief Someone told me they don't start the first walkers until midnight, so I was having visions of hanging around until early morning before we even get going

Feel a bit happier now. Am still the most unfit person ever and struggle to even do 3 miles, so I have no idea how I am going to do a halfMoon, but hey, that is the challenge [extremely scared emoticon]

mrspnut · 28/02/2008 11:06

I never thought I'd be able to do a full marathon - I am very overweight and unfit but I did it.

I was told to think of the actual night as your victory parade for all the hours and miles you've put in up to then.

I'm going to volunteer as crew this year, instead of walking.

hippipotami · 28/02/2008 11:13

oh mrspnut, please tell me where you will be volunteering (tent, along the route??) and I will come and say hello

I am very very overweight too, and terribly unfit. I love the idea of looking at it as a victory parade - it will certainly feel like that!!

At the moment I am starting to classify my life as BM and AM - before Moonwalk and after Moonwalk.... It is starting to take over

Countingthegreyhairs · 28/02/2008 13:45

Gosh, all this moonwalking talk sounds v. inspiring.

Mrspnut - your post has given me hope - although I'm not setting my sights on a marathon just yet.

Having trouble just fitting 30 min power walk in to rl x5 a week. More work hours at the moment and it's proving difficult. Went on a long, brisk walk along grimy pavements last night after dd had gone to bed to deliver a letter instead of posting it. May have to do the same today. Better than 'nowt but would prefer to be among trees ...

Regent's Park sounds lovely Posey.

Sounds like you are on a roll Hipp!

Best foot forward one 'n all ....!

mrspnut · 28/02/2008 15:06

I don't know myself yet - but when I do, I will tell all.

hippipotami · 28/02/2008 15:58

mybabyisinthegarden, sorry, I missed your post earlier. (told you the moonwalk was taking over my life )
Your walking sounds brilliant - Windy peaks sound much nicer than the Surrey streetscene...

counting - I am pounding hte pavements too. It has rained a bit her recently and both the woods and the canal towpath are sooo muddy I really don't fancy it. (I would have to wear my wellies and that means I end up slowly plodding along instead of getting into a steady pace..)

Countingthegreyhairs · 01/03/2008 13:27

Still doing "urban training". Yesterday's session consisted of a brisk evening walk in the pouring rain to the supermarket. Then "power lift" of two heavy bags of fruit & veg on return. Not sure this counts but 'tis art of the possible currently!

Worried because I will be working more hours this week. Feel better when I power walk 5 days out of 7 (and that is requirement of programme). Must get more determined about fitting it in ....

hippipotami · 01/03/2008 16:44

5 days out of 7, wow that is a lot of walking!!
my training schedule for hte moonwalk recommends walking 3 or 4 times a week, no more. Which suits me fine as I am still not enjoying it....

mrspnut · 01/03/2008 18:43

I always enjoyed my walks up to a certain point.

5, 8 or 12 miles was fine, tiring but as long as the scenery was good it was enjoyable but when I had to step up and do 17 miles or more then I hated it and usually cried for the last 2 miles.

bamamama · 03/03/2008 03:52

Hello all, sorry I lost you, then we had MIL to stay for THREE WEEKS so I'm just catching up again.

Hippi - you sound like you're making fantastic progress, you should be proud of yourself. As for not enjoying the walking I think you need to unfocus on the moonwalk and just get out there and enjoy the walk regardless. Once you do that the moonwalk will follow (easy for me to say as I'm in Oz and not having to face freezing weather and dark mornings but there you go!) As someone said earlier it's great if you can walk whilst listening to music.

Anyway, I'm attempting to get my walking back on track. Somehow managed to walk nearly 12 miles yesterday so I'm hoping the extra pounds accumulated by comfort eating during MILs visit will magically drop off.

hippipotami · 03/03/2008 11:41

Morning

I have just come in from a lovely bracing 4 mile walk with a friend. It took us 1.5hrs, and we rewarded ourselves with a lovely cappucino at the coffee shop in our village. It is very cold here, but sunny and blue skies, so lovely for walking

I will start to enjoy it. I do actually enjoy it when I am walking, it is more the thought of having to do it.....
(does that make sense?)

I did get to a point at the 3 mile mark today, just after walking up a steep hill, that I was compeltely out of breath and had to sort of drape myself over someones garden wall for support, when I really questioned my sanity....
But I picked myself up and walked the final mile to the coffee shop...