Harder

Distance Walk: 2.97 miles
Time Taken: 38 minutes
Walking at the end of the day is quite tough. I felt like I was walking slower but my time was still good.
Walking in the dark on my own was quite intimidating, and James told me off for going down an alleyway.
It was cold too, althought my insides were warm my hands and skin were cold.
My shins hurt, physically I felt like I could push myself harder but I need to work out how to stretch the front of my shin.
Any ideas?
Up to 4 miles on Sunday....H x

Evening walk

Distance: 3.2 miles (uphill!)
Time: 1 hour

Last night I went for my first evening, mid-week walk.

I don't find it too hard to get up on a Saturday or Sunday morning when it's bright and sunny, don my trainers and go for a walk. However after a days work when it's dark and quite cold, my enthusiasm wains slightly!

Last night I got home from work at about 6:00pm, had a cup of tea then put on my tracksuit bottoms, sweatshirt and trainers, plugged my iPod in and set off along the streets of Worcester.

I found it much harder than the 5 miles I had done last weekend. I didn't really like walking on my own and I hadn't really picked a particularly nice area of Worcester to walk through so that is something I will look into changing for next time. It was also mainly on an incline which made it a bit harder although I didn't mind it too much.

I think the hardest part of the walk was walking past the chippy that's about 500metres from my flat without stopping to go in!

It took me roughly an hour so a slower pace than I'm used to but this should increase as I get a bit fitter. I got home, cooked dinner and collapsed on the sofa.

About an hour later I had learned the hard way the importance of stretching after a walk as I was a little bit stiff and sore. Not too bad and I feel fine this morning.

It wasn't a fantastic walk but I am very pleased with the fact that I actually managed to get off my butt and do it!!

12 weeks to go

Distance Walked: 3.05 miles
Time Taken: 42 minutes
Yesterday marked the start of the twelve week training plan in Nina Barough's book: Walking for Fitness.
This week I have to walk three miles three times, so yesterday I went with James in the car to his parents and walked home the slightly convoluted route. Not as pretty and sunny as last week but still positive.
I will certainly fit another three miles in this week but maybe not two.
My muscles are screaming at me this morning though. On Saturday I took part in the Goudge Groundforce Extravaganza. I dug and pick axed for several hours. There are muscles aching that I had forgotten about.
Whilst we were skiing we talked about helpful and unhelful pain. The pain I have is very very unhelpful.

Rugby supporters

As featured in the Worcester Warriors Match Day Programme:

"A pair of Warriors supporting sisters will be swapping rugby boots for walking shoes this May as they prepare to walk 26 miles around London…at night…wearing only decorated bras as they take part in the Playtex Moonwalk 2008 to raise money for Breast Cancer research!

Alice Watts, 25, who captained the Worcester Wobblerettes at last year’s Fat Bloke Sevens tournament and Hannah Gordon, 28, who started her rugby career with Worcester Ladies at the ages of 15, have been coming to Sixways for nearly 12 years. They decided to take up the challenge having completed a 5km run last year.

“We wanted a bigger challenge but at a slower pace!” said Hannah, who now lives in South London. “I wasn’t keen to begin with but through sibling persuasion, Alice managed to convince me!”

“Virtually every family in the country has been affected by breast cancer, including ours” added Alice. “It’s now the most common cancer in the UK, with over 100 women being diagnosed every single day. Whilst 8 out of 10 women who are diagnosed survive breast cancer, we wanted to do our bit to try to make that 10 out of 10. We hope to raise at least £500 but if we can do even more then that’s fantastic. It’s going to be a tough challenge but we will be able to motivate each other enough to get through it. I’m sure we’ve got through worse together!”

The girls have started their training and will be pounding the streets in the coming months. You can track their progress at http://moonwalkingsisters.blogspot.com/ or if you want to donate and help them reach their target you can go to http://www.justgiving.com/sisterswalkingthewalk"

And they're off...

On Saturday I spent nearly 2 hours in Ron Flowers Sports Shop in Wolverhampton trying to find some proper walking trainers. Eight pairs and 3km on a treadmill later I walked out with some New Balance trainers with proper support and everything I needed to start my training.

On Sunday morning (well, alright it was afternoon!), I set out on my first walk. I had worked out what I thought was a 4 mile walk from my flat to my parents house where they could provide me with some lovely Sunday lunch and a lift home!

I set out with my ipod and was going well. I enjoyed walking in the sunshine (although wish I'd taken some sun glasses!) and despite a bit of ache in my feet, I was happy with how it went. It made me realise that whilst I really will need to put the miles in so that I can complete the Moonwalk, I'm in better shape than I expected.

It took me about an hour and a half to complete my walk. However on getting to my parents house, I checked the distance using the realbuzz.com route planner and discovered that my four mile walk was actually 5.2 miles!! That'd explain why it took me so long!!

The Great Outdoors

Distance Walked: 3 miles
Time: 40 minutes

Yesterday morning was cold, and frosty. I was feeling fuggy so my husband took charge of the day!
We were due at my in laws for lunch at 1pm but also needed to do a supermarket shop for the week.
So under instruction from James I packed clothes for lunch into a bag and we dropped it at his parents on the way to the supermarket.
After shopping we got changed into walking stuff and got going!
After an initial self conscious first few minutes we got into our stride and I loved taking big gulps of cold morning air. The sunshine was gorgeous and we walked down paths that I didn't know existed. It was good to be outdoors and thinking about my technique, and arms. I realised that my left arm is much weaker than my right and this stems from my shoulder, which still appears to be carrying an old rugby injury. It was lovely to feel my muscles working. James was quite a good coach - although I've told him he needs to read my book before he goves me any more tips. It was great of him to join me - he's more of a runner so to take time out to help me was lovely. I was pleased with the time too, which for a first outing, wasn't too bad! We arrived to the smell of Sunday lunch and a warm shower. If only all my walks could end like this. H x

Starting

Early Saturday morning, in the glorious winter sunshine, James I went to Runathon in Surrey Street in Croydon. They are official stockists of the New Balance Moonwalk trainers. Fifteen minutes later I was the proud, if somewhat nervous, owner of a pair of New Balance 859 Moonwalk trainers. Thanks to Newitts for their picture! They are swanky, with Pink laces. I also purchased expensive technical socks!
So last night I went to the gym, wearing them!
I have been doing a bit of walking on the treadmill but nothing too focussed. After a 15 minute cycle and some weights I plugged myself into Kanye West's Graduation and walked for twenty minutes, on a 1 % gradient. I tried to focus on technique and the more I walked the more I realised I need to get outside and walk properly. The treadmill automatically limits your speed. Anyhow I had managed 2.35 km in twenty minutes. If I keep this up I am walking at 7km or just over 4 miles an hour. I am happy with this start and ready to try outdoors at the weekend.
The shoes were lovely! H x

Not the best start...

Yesterday I had intended to start my training properly for the Moonwalk. I had worked out a nice six mile walk which would take my from my flat to my parents house in time to watch the rugby in the afternoon! I had worked out when I needed to leave and what I was going to wear and was really quite looking forward to it.

On Saturday night, my boyfriend and I decided we were going to go the cinema but go out for dinner first. We went to a chinese buffet restaurant in Birmingham but as I was walking back from the buffet to our table, I slipped and fell. Quite spectacularly actually. I slipped, my ankle gave way, my plate went up in the air (almost in slow motion) then I crashed down onto the floor with my left knee and hand leading the way. Shaken and upset, I got to my feet but left the restaurant (after a confrontation with less than helpful staff!) as I felt my knee, ankle and already injured shoulder start to sieze up.

Whilst it's not serious, it certain took me back a step and meant my six mile walk was out the window.

Better luck next week, eh?

Alice xxx

So why on earth am I doing this?

Good question, and maybe one that has no real answer just yet. I am not sporty or super fit, I am not an adrenalin junkie, or looking for a huge challenge. So why have I signed up to Powerwalk 26.2 miles round the city I live in, at night, in a bra?

Well the immediate and obvious answer is that Alice convinced me. After we had run the Hydro Active 5K last year Alice wanted a new challenge. She had obviously looked into the Moonwalk before and decided she was walking it. So she started badgering me about it, and in a moment of bravado I said yes.

But Bravado isn't going to get me round 26.2 miles.

I have had a think and I reckon I am doing this for women. Every woman in fact. Now I am not denying that men get breast cancer too. But it's rare. Speak to any woman you know and they will know someone whose life has been touched by breast cancer. It is a horrible disease. Now I love my breasts! I don't mean that in a dodgy way but they are part of me as a woman, and when I'm older they will be part of me as a mother. All women have an opinion on their breasts - ask them after a few drinks perhaps! Anyway one of the reasons I'm walking is in celebration of women and breasts.

I'm also doing this for my mummy. She's ace. When I was in my first year at Uni my mummy was diagnosed with a breast lump. She had to have it removed. It was benign. Good news. What came after was horrendous. She was very very poorly. For a very long time. Then she got better. Then it happened again. And she had to have radiotherapy, and drugs. This wasn't very nice. But she's better and improving. Anyway I love her and I'm walking for her.

I'm also walking for families, husbands, daughters, sons, mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers. Cancer doesn't touch just one life. It touches lots. So I'm walking for those grieving, and hurting, battling, and fighting and thanking.

I guess finally I am walking for myself. I am walking to get fit, to get toned. To focus on something positive. To get strong, to clear my head, to learn more about me and my abilities. I am doing this to acheive. I can almost smell the euphoria of crossing the line.

But now for the how - time to get training! Hannah