Monday 30 June 2014
Can I post a blog entry by email?
If this appears in my blog okay then the answer is yes. Which means I will be able to post an update about the C2C walk if I have a phone signal but no wifi.
C2C - 5 days to go
The Coast To Coast (C2C) is approaching fast - just 5 days left now until I head north.
I forgot to mention a couple of things about my walk on Sun 15th Jul. After around 4 miles (as I was passing Cirencester Park Polo Club) I had to stop to check my left foot. It had started getting sore and removing my boot and socks I found the blister I hadn't wanted to find. I think it had probably started forming on the previous day when I did a 15ml walk on the Marlborough Downs. Obviously when you're out walking there's only so much can be done - I put on a compeed plaster and used a spare pair of socks to give my foot a bit more cushioning. That did the trick and I was able to do the rest of the walk.
And having mentioned the Polo Club, I'm used to having that part of the park to myself along with a handful of other walkers and runners. But the park was very busy with lots of cars arriving (and probably grumbling about a lone walker on the side of the road and getting in their way!). I found out later there was an important polo match taking place (sponsored by Maserati amongst others) and Princes William and Harry were playing, while Kate was there with Prince George. None of them were there when I walked by - they must have arrived a bit later!
Over the weekend of 21st/22nd July I managed another 28 miles over the two days (and no blisters this time). I was on call on Sat 21st so wasn't able to leave the house until 2:30pm. So I did a 'quick' 9ml walk, mostly in Cirencester Park. I say mostly because I would usually do a loop into and around the park. But the gates close at 5pm so Saturday's walk was into the park, then out via a track that leads down to Stratton on the outskirts of Cirencester, and I made my way home via the town centre.
On Sun 22nd I attempted my longest walk yet .. 19.5 miles. There was even more looping around the park than usual - partly to make up the mileage but also because there was another polo match on and this one seemed to be even more popular than the week before. No princes in evidence this time - but I can't help thinking the crowds had been attracted by the possibility of spotting some 'royals'. My feet were a bit tired by the time I had finished as I was out for 7-8 hours. But I was pleased as I had managed the maximum distance we will be expected to cover on the C2C without any problem (days 6 and 11 of the C2C are both 20 mile days)
This weekend I didn't walk on Saturday and yesterday I 'only' walked 15.5 mls. I set off at 8:30am to avoid the worst of the heat and followed my usual route of loops in and around Cirencester Park. No polo match this weekend so I had the place pretty much to myself again. Apart from a few runners I saw very few other people. One lady I stopped to chat to was from Australia and was heading for Sapperton and Daneway (to see the old canal tunnel) and then eventually to Stroud. She had a map and I pointed her in the right direction but to be honest, she was pretty blasé about getting lost. "This isn't the outback like back home" she said "I'll just stand and wait and someone is bound to come along and show me where to go".
So .. that's my last training walk done .. just the packing to do now.
I have a collection of scribbled reminders and notes on what I think I will need and a few "don't forget" items. I have also started to put to one side some of the kit and clothing I'll be using. It's time to put those notes and reminders into practise and decide on exactly what I'll take and get it packed. I'm trying to be organised and am starting on the packing now rather than leaving it to the last minute. The last thing I will need is a late night on Friday, frantically shoving things into a suitcase.
I forgot to mention a couple of things about my walk on Sun 15th Jul. After around 4 miles (as I was passing Cirencester Park Polo Club) I had to stop to check my left foot. It had started getting sore and removing my boot and socks I found the blister I hadn't wanted to find. I think it had probably started forming on the previous day when I did a 15ml walk on the Marlborough Downs. Obviously when you're out walking there's only so much can be done - I put on a compeed plaster and used a spare pair of socks to give my foot a bit more cushioning. That did the trick and I was able to do the rest of the walk.
And having mentioned the Polo Club, I'm used to having that part of the park to myself along with a handful of other walkers and runners. But the park was very busy with lots of cars arriving (and probably grumbling about a lone walker on the side of the road and getting in their way!). I found out later there was an important polo match taking place (sponsored by Maserati amongst others) and Princes William and Harry were playing, while Kate was there with Prince George. None of them were there when I walked by - they must have arrived a bit later!
Over the weekend of 21st/22nd July I managed another 28 miles over the two days (and no blisters this time). I was on call on Sat 21st so wasn't able to leave the house until 2:30pm. So I did a 'quick' 9ml walk, mostly in Cirencester Park. I say mostly because I would usually do a loop into and around the park. But the gates close at 5pm so Saturday's walk was into the park, then out via a track that leads down to Stratton on the outskirts of Cirencester, and I made my way home via the town centre.
On Sun 22nd I attempted my longest walk yet .. 19.5 miles. There was even more looping around the park than usual - partly to make up the mileage but also because there was another polo match on and this one seemed to be even more popular than the week before. No princes in evidence this time - but I can't help thinking the crowds had been attracted by the possibility of spotting some 'royals'. My feet were a bit tired by the time I had finished as I was out for 7-8 hours. But I was pleased as I had managed the maximum distance we will be expected to cover on the C2C without any problem (days 6 and 11 of the C2C are both 20 mile days)
This weekend I didn't walk on Saturday and yesterday I 'only' walked 15.5 mls. I set off at 8:30am to avoid the worst of the heat and followed my usual route of loops in and around Cirencester Park. No polo match this weekend so I had the place pretty much to myself again. Apart from a few runners I saw very few other people. One lady I stopped to chat to was from Australia and was heading for Sapperton and Daneway (to see the old canal tunnel) and then eventually to Stroud. She had a map and I pointed her in the right direction but to be honest, she was pretty blasé about getting lost. "This isn't the outback like back home" she said "I'll just stand and wait and someone is bound to come along and show me where to go".
So .. that's my last training walk done .. just the packing to do now.
I have a collection of scribbled reminders and notes on what I think I will need and a few "don't forget" items. I have also started to put to one side some of the kit and clothing I'll be using. It's time to put those notes and reminders into practise and decide on exactly what I'll take and get it packed. I'm trying to be organised and am starting on the packing now rather than leaving it to the last minute. The last thing I will need is a late night on Friday, frantically shoving things into a suitcase.
Thursday 19 June 2014
Coast To Coast - just over two weeks and counting
Last time I blogged (yes I know, it was a-g-e-s ago!!) I see I'd managed to hurt my back and the walking and running had ground to a halt. I was also still wearing in the new Hillmaster boots ..I'd been wearing them around the house and was thinking of trying them out on the treadmill. I'm pleased to say the back problem was short-term, the walking and running have resumed and I did decide to keep the Hillmaster boots after all.
During April and May I have managed to gradually build up my walking distance in preparation for the Coast To Coast (C2C) which is now just over two weeks away. In April I was managing 11 and 12 mile walks - by the end of May I was able to walk up to 14 miles. The reason for doing these long walks is that on the C2C there are a couple of 20 mile days to contend with. However, there are also lots of hills too :)
I'm lucky to have Cirencester Park close by but although it has some slopes, it is mostly flat. I needed to set myself a challenge so in May we had a weekend in Malvern. I decided to try walking the complete range of the Malvern Hills and back again - a round trip of 12 miles. I parked at the north end of the Malverns (below North Hill) and once I had managed to find the correct path up to the top of North Hill (1303ft), I set off towards Herefordshire Beacon (1109ft) which is at the southern end and is surrounded by British Camp, an iron-age hill fort. And on the way, if I saw a hill I headed up and over it. The highest point is Worcestershire Beacon (1394ft). I won't say it was easy - I was tired by the end of the day - but I was still walking and apart from tired legs and feet I was otherwise okay. You get some wonderful views on the hills - here are a couple of photos I took in 2012 to give you a flavour - the first from British Camp looking north towards Worcestershire Beacon - the second looking south back towards British Camp ..
Since the weekend in Malvern I have mainly walked in Cirencester Park and have built up my longest distance to 16 miles. Then last weekend I did what I christened the "double-whammy" weekend and walked on both days .. 15 miles on a route over the Marlborough Downs on Saturday, then a 14 mile walk in Cirencester Park on Sunday. I decided walking both days was the best way to simulate the daily walking I will be doing on the C2C. I took some more photos while I was out walking and will post another blog with the results.
During April and May I have managed to gradually build up my walking distance in preparation for the Coast To Coast (C2C) which is now just over two weeks away. In April I was managing 11 and 12 mile walks - by the end of May I was able to walk up to 14 miles. The reason for doing these long walks is that on the C2C there are a couple of 20 mile days to contend with. However, there are also lots of hills too :)
I'm lucky to have Cirencester Park close by but although it has some slopes, it is mostly flat. I needed to set myself a challenge so in May we had a weekend in Malvern. I decided to try walking the complete range of the Malvern Hills and back again - a round trip of 12 miles. I parked at the north end of the Malverns (below North Hill) and once I had managed to find the correct path up to the top of North Hill (1303ft), I set off towards Herefordshire Beacon (1109ft) which is at the southern end and is surrounded by British Camp, an iron-age hill fort. And on the way, if I saw a hill I headed up and over it. The highest point is Worcestershire Beacon (1394ft). I won't say it was easy - I was tired by the end of the day - but I was still walking and apart from tired legs and feet I was otherwise okay. You get some wonderful views on the hills - here are a couple of photos I took in 2012 to give you a flavour - the first from British Camp looking north towards Worcestershire Beacon - the second looking south back towards British Camp ..
Since the weekend in Malvern I have mainly walked in Cirencester Park and have built up my longest distance to 16 miles. Then last weekend I did what I christened the "double-whammy" weekend and walked on both days .. 15 miles on a route over the Marlborough Downs on Saturday, then a 14 mile walk in Cirencester Park on Sunday. I decided walking both days was the best way to simulate the daily walking I will be doing on the C2C. I took some more photos while I was out walking and will post another blog with the results.
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