Tuesday 25 November 2008

What cold cold weather!!!!! Not been out walking since last Wednesday - felt far too cold and miserable. However, came out of work today and felt that I needed a walk to clear my head and to blow the cobwebs away. So before I could change my mind, as soon as I got home I put the dog on his lead and away we went. Did a bit further, just under 1 and half miles according to mapmyrun. Felt good. Just plotted a 2 mile walk, which I intend to do tomorrow. Amy still not heard anything ......

Tuesday 18 November 2008

Just a small note to say that I did my 1 mile walk yesterday - did it straight after work and it took me just under 20 mins. Not bad considering I had the dog with me and he did want to stop to sniff every lampost!!!! Going to do some stretching tonight and another 1 mile tomorrow.



We're hoping that Laura's friend Amy has got a place - the cheque has been cashed so we're hoping that means she's in. Still crossing fingers though. Happy walking ....

Sunday 16 November 2008

Been quite lazy for the past 2 weeks - no real reason. May be it's been the cold weather, dark nights - whatever, I've not been feeling 100%.

Today I've been trying to get my motivation going again. I started the day by reading "the walking book" - read it almost cover to cover. I've decided that I'm going to follow the beginner training - starting tomorrow. Today I took the dog for a long walk - a combination of strolling, regular and practicing my power walking technique as learnt from the book. I love the colours of nature at this time of year and was distracted by some lovely red berries, which I decided to stop to take pictures of with my mobile phone!! We were out for over a hour and I must admit I did feel better for getting out and about. As the dog found something particularly smelly to roll in, he had to have a bath as soon as we got in!!!!

Haven't lost any more weight since my last post, however I haven't put any more on either! so that's good.

Will try to write more often, as I think that will keep my motivation going. Planning a 1 mile walk tomorrow, not sure when yet, but will DO IT!!!

Sunday 2 November 2008

A little bit bleary eyed this morning!!! However as weather and hangover not as bad as anticipated - by 11 am I felt ready to go walking. Didn't go the extra mile though - just stuck to the same route as last Sunday (without the dog searching diversion!!!) Managed it in 46 mins (I think it's about 2 1/2 miles) and accounting for a brief conversation with a neighbour and having to detangle the dog from his long lead a few times - I didn't think that was too bad. So now I'm feeling much better - had a hot shower and a cup of tea - chicken is in the oven ready for Sunday roast and all's well with the (my) world!!! Just looked out of the window - it's gone really dark - think I got back just in time......

Saturday 1 November 2008

Had a lazy few days - walking wise. Just felt really really tired. Hope I'm not catching this coldy-fluy thing that lots of people seem to be getting.

Still waiting for my Walking book to arrive - hoped it would be here today. Planning a long walk with the dog again tomorrow - keeping him on the lead after last weeks fiasco!!! Will have to go a bit further tomorrow - to compensate for the big cooked breakfast in Wetherspoons this morning (I'm far too easily lead astray)!!!!

The long walk may be a real challenge tomorrow, apart from the forecasted bad weather, it could be dependant on the level of hangover!! Going out tonight with the girls from the darts team I play for a local team) we're celebrating Halloween a day too late!! Nights out with the girls usually result in hangover the next day....

Wednesday 29 October 2008

Did my one mile walk again today, and managed to do it in 19 mins. Really pleased and in just one week I've managed to knock a full minute off my one mile time. Just goes to show how quickly the body responds to a bit of exercise!!!

I'm trying to encourage one of the other girls in my department to join me on my lunchtime walk, she say's she thinks she will join me at least once or twice a week, it will be nice to have some company.

I was reading someone else's blog yesterday, I think it was Dawn, however she said that she did 2 miles in 25 mins, I was well impressed with that, not sure I will ever get that quick!!! I did order the walking book from Amazon - so hope it will come soon and I can get some good walking tips.

Laura, my daughter who is also doing the walk has just gone down the gym - she prefers that way of getting fitter however I will try to encourage her to come out walking with me. Really hope her friend Amy gets a place, they can then encourage each other and do their training together. Hope we're not kept waiting too long till we hear. Wonder if we'll hear before the third way of applying opens?...

Monday 27 October 2008

Back to work today and back to my one mile lunchtime walk. Think I'll stick to just one mile at lunch, and a bit longer at the weekends, for now.
My main objective at this time is to lose weight - and speaking of that I lost 4lb this week!! I'm pleased with that - means I'm right on track for my goal of 35lbs loss by Christmas.
Thinking of buying the walking book that a few people of mentioned, probably have a look on Amazon in a mo. Write more in a couple of days

happy walking :) x

Sunday 26 October 2008

Didn't get out for walk yesterday - unless you count shopping in the morning (both therapy and necessity!!). I was in Tesco's when a got a phone call from my husband - "Demetri's been on the phone how do you fancy 'all you can eat Chinese' at 2 pm?" Well what is a girl to do?!! I chose the Chinese...... I made myself designated driver though, so didn't add alcohol to my sins. It was a very enjoyable afternoon.

To compensate (a little) I promised that I would get up early today and go for a walk. I did, unfortunately the weather was not as good as yesterday!!!! I used mapmyrun to plot the route and I think it was about 2 and half miles - not easy to be accurate because some of the route is in the park and the paths are not shown on this website.

I took the dog with me, although I'm not sure he was impressed with the pouring rain. All was going well until....... well I'll give you a bit of history about my dog, he's a cocker spaniel about 2 and half now, he was a rescue dog and I've had him since he was 10 months old. He was never socialised as a puppy so is very very wary of other people, therefore when I take him out he (usually) sticks to me like glue. However today, for whatever reason (the rain, the fact I was walking faster than usual and I was concentrating on my walking) he must have lost sight of me and decided to walk the other way!!! That meant that I had to back-track my route to get him back. I soon found him, as I went round the corner he spotted me and came running towards me like he'd been lost for days!!!!!!! Any way I learn by my mistakes and in future the dog stays on his lead.

All this was to say that I'm not sure how long I walked in the end, I think it was still about 2 and half miles and took me 50 mins. I was drenched!!, but after a hot shower and a lovely cup of tea I feel good and pleased with myself that I actually got up and went walking in somewhat inclement weather.....

Friday 24 October 2008

I'm now in "real time" - managed to catch-up from the last few days of my paper diary.

Did my 1 mile again at lunchtime - managed just less than 20 mins (19 mins 30 secs!!!). Not much - but every little bit helps!!! I took my trainers, but they stayed in my locker - I did have flat shoes on today though! My trainers are quite old and not really suitable to lots of walking. I've put trainers on my Christmas list, along with the 1000 mile socks that everyone keeps talking about - I want to do everything I can to avoid blisters!! I plan to take the dog over the park for a long walk tomorrow - he could do with losing a bit of weight too!!!

I notice from the walk the walk website that you can no longer download the application form - I guess that means that all the places for paper applications are allocated now. Just got to wait to see if Amy was lucky.

Wednesday 22 October 2008

Laura's friend, Amy, has sent off her postal application today. We were very lucky, I managed to download an application form quite easily this morning for her. I was very surprised when I read all the comments on Facebook, that evening, about the problems people had had all day. I wish them all luck.

Amy managed to get her application in the post before lunchtime - so now we just have to wait. Really hope she gets a place too. It is an anxious time!! I read that it can take a couple of months before the postal applications hear whether they have been successful or not.

Managed a 1 mile walk again at lunchtime, took 20 mins again. I'm still walking in my "office" clothes though. Think I will take my trainers to work so that I can change into them - maybe that will help improve my speed.

Tuesday 21st October 2008

Well - I think it's starting to sink in what a challenge we've taken on, for me anyway! Me and my daughter Laura had our places confirmed on Sunday evening, now the work begins.



I got weighed yesterday, (not going to say how much here, let's just say too much!), how can I walk more than 26 miles at that weight - well I think it's obvious that I can't!!! I understand that the Training Plans are out in January, but I am really going to concentrate on losing some weight before Christmas and do more walking. I've given myself the goal of losing 35lb before Christmas, which is a tall order but really need to do it if the Moonwalk is going to be achievable.



I walked one mile at lunchtime today and yesterday. Managed it in 20 mins, which means I'm walkng at 3 miles/hour. Need to get a bit quicker. Didn't find it too difficult though - quite pleased. I going to try to get a walk in each lunchtime from work - I think this will also help with the weightloss - hope so.



Before I go any further perhaps I will say my reasons for doing this (might help me when times get tough later)

• raise money for Breast Cancer Research (my sister-in-law was diagnosed and treated successfully a few years ago)


• to give myself a challenge and goal


• help lose weight


• looks like great fun (if hard work!!) - did the 5k Race for Life in July this year and I think it gave me the bug

I think it will be difficult to keep the motivation going, I'm not always good at that, especially when the really cold weather gets here. I will try though - I know we are "lucky" to get a place on the London Moonwalk and I know I will do it.