One last bit of fundraising

On eBay I've just listed this gorgeous little notebox...

...containing 5 Just A Note notecards, made by the lovely and generous Ellen. She has made this especially for me to contribute to my fundraising for my Moonwalk, and it is to my shame that this has not been listed before now.

So if you want a gorgeous notebox, and to donate 100% of the cost of your bid to Walk the Walk, a charity that funds research in to preventing breast cancer, but also making the lives of those who already have cancer a little bit easier, then take a look at my eBay auction

Sponsorship Total

Just a quick update before I leave this blog be.

I just sent off my sponsorship money (well that which I didn't raise through my Justgiving site)

I raised £352.50. I am very proud. I hope I never have to benefit from it.

I raised £235 online, £116.50 in cash and cheques, and then I ebay'd the bra that came in my welcome pack, but which didn't fit. Unfortunately it only went for just over the starting price, but it's still another £1 to add to my total.

I have promised my husband that I won't do the walk again, but if my newfound Moonwalk friends join up for next years, I WILL be applying to be a volunteer.

If you are reading this blog because you are contemplating doing the walk yourself - do it, it was one of the best nights of my life, I very much doubt you will have as many problems as I had. If you've already signed up - best of luck to you!!

Two weeks on

Well it’s two weeks since the Moonwalk and, provided I’m not looking at my feet, it seems so much longer since it all happened.

My feet are still full of holes. Even 10 days after the event I was still getting blisters coming to the surface, I think it must have just been a build up of all the walking I’d done. Touch wood I haven’t had a new blister in 5 days now. Most nights you can find me with my feet soaking so I can give them a good scrub afterwards. I’m going to treat myself to a posh pedicure in a few weeks time – but my feet are still too sore for other people to be prodding them about at the minute.

But even with all the pain and hassle I’ve had with my feet, it still ranks up there as one of the best nights of my life. It was bloody hard work, but the sense of achievement has finally sunk in. It did take a few days though, and even now, having walked 26 miles, I still can’t quite comprehend 26 miles – if you see what I mean.

I’ve seen all my friends photos of the events, so it’s nice to have a record. I wish I had taken a few more myself, but towards the end I was so focussed on just getting over the finish line, the photos kinda fell by the wayside. Which is a shame, but not something I will beat myself up over. Unfortunately I can’t find any photos of me on the Action Photo website either because their site is pants. Which means I have no record of me actually crossing the line which is definitely a shame – or of me getting my medal. Oh well.

On the plus side, I have raised over £350 and it’s still coming in. I can’t get over people’s generosity in the current climate. It made it all worth it, and I hope the money does some good, and that I will never be in need of it.

I’m going to hang my bra up in my craft room and frame my medal. One thing I’m not doing, is signing up for next year. I am disappointed because I wanted to do the Edinburgh walk - having never been to Scotland. But it’s not worth the grief, or the antibiotics. I’m going to get my bike out and start cycling again as I really enjoyed being out in new places and exploring the countryside and coastal paths etc. If my Moonwalk friends all sign up again though, I have said I will volunteer because the atmosphere on the night was great and it would be nice to do some of things I didn’t do – like stand back and take it all in, and watch other people cross the finish line.

But for this year, all I have to do now is send off my oodles of sponsorship money.

Thanks for reading xxx

Photos from the night

Some photos from the big night. More photos, including horrible ones of my blistered feet can be found at on Facebook

Waiting for the train to take us to London

The blummin gret queue
My facebook/moonwalk friends, and some other people we picked up on the journey. Nothing like looking like an idiot to help you make friends
Inside the big pink tent - double this for an idea of actual size
Paul O'Grady and his fabulous flashing nipple bra

The warm up man in his bra

All dressed up and ready to go

Waiting for the Go Go Green Light

The random group of musicians who set up camp at mile marker 2 to play us along. Cheers guys!

St Paul's looms in the darkness

Walking past Harrods but no time to shop. Besides, I don't think we would have passed the dress code

Daybreak over the Albert Memorial

The way too familiar site of Battersea Power Station

Hyde Park between mile markers 24 and 25. Officially the longest mile known to man.

The big pink tent, but more importantly, the finish line is in sight

Exhaustion, pride, relief, but mainly exhaustion.

The aftermath

I walked out the exit and there stood Steve and then I just started crying. It had stopped raining and I pointed at some empty grass and said I wanted to sit there. As we sat down Amanda came over with her husband and 3 littlies.

I managed to get my accessories off and got on the floor. I took my trainers off and couldn’t believe the state my feet were in, no wonder they hurt so much. Steve fetched out a flask of tea and a bottle of Asti (I’m cheap, I prefer Asti to Champagne LOL) I had some of both, and they were both beautiful! Me and Amanda swopped experiences and Steve was very good at looking after me. Diane had headed home once she crossed the line, and Amanda said that she had seen Sam cross the line but that she then passed out and was taken to the medical tent. We really had put ourselves through it hadn’t we. I'd seen 2 people collapse in front of me on the way round as well.

Then after half an hour it started to rain again. We started packing our things away and I got my brolly out. We split up from Amanda and co and made our way to the edge of the park in order to catch a taxi. It was only a short distance but it took so long to walk it. I had my crocs on, but as I had blisters under my toes and on my heels, I couldn’t walk in any way other than to shuffle flat footed along the floor. We got a taxi and headed over to Charing Cross, by this time it was absolutely lashing it down. Someone really was watching over me weren’t they? At the station I needed the toilet again, getting down those stairs was such hard work! I got myself a Burger King breakfast – I was so hungry by this point I would have eaten cardboard.

As we sat on the platform Steve said ‘Isn’t that your friend?’ and up walked Sam. I thought she had gone home, but she had been in the medic tent for over an hour so we got the train home together and swapped a few more stories.

Getting off the train in Ashford was definitely a comedy moment as we held on to the doors and backed out of the train. Then laughed as it took us so long to get in the lift, the doors started to close on us. Then at the barriers the attendant had to let us through the wide gate so we didn’t have to worry about getting stuck in them as they shut. Oh the fun!!

Steve went to get the car and then drove me home. I hobbled up to the bath and then went to bed for a couple of hours. After my sleep I had another bath and then set up camp on the sofa for the rest of the night. I still don’t think it’s sunk in quite what I have achieved. But everyone keeps telling me how proud of me they are. Which is nice.

The Walk

The first couple of miles were really quite surreal, walking along in the middle of the night surrounded by half dressed people. I scooted past quite a few people to start with as at the beginning I can easily do a 4 minute mile, so I got to see a lot of bras. All the way around Hyde Park and through Green Park and St James’ it was full of groups of people who obviously had people walking somewhere but there were clapping and cheering everyone on and everyone was in high spirits. I must admit, I got a little teary at this point as the enormity of what I had taken on hit me. I was going to spend the next 8 hours walking on my own (even though I was surrounded by people) tackling the hardest physical challenge I had ever attempted, at a time when I usually get tired and go to bed and I KNEW my feet were going to be ripped to shreds at the end of it. And the more people clapped, shouted my name (written across my front) and cheered me on, the more upset I got.

I also got a couple of texts from people on a craft forum I visit and from friends I had asked to text me, and I realised how many people were supporting me. I had to focus, and by the 3rd mile marker I had picked myself up and was ready for the challenge in front of me. By 4 miles, we started to pass people from the first group who were on their way back from the half moon – OMG!

As I came past the Cabinet War Rooms and out on to Parliament Square there was a huge bottle neck as we waited to cross the roads. I had to ring Steve and talk to him for the 10 minutes I was queuing as I really didn’t want to get dejected at this early stage. There were quite a few bottlenecks along the route, but none as bad as that one. Then we were past Big Ben and walking east along the Embankment, just like walking from the office to the station, except it was 1 in the morning and I was dressed in a bra. The amount of revellers who stopped to cheer us on, and horns that were honked, was really amazing. It really lifted my spirits, and even though there were a lot of drunk people around, there were no negative or leery comments, they just stood aside and clapped us on. It has restored my faith in people a little I have to say.

We walked along the river and could see some of the earlier groups making their way back along the other side, that was quite amusing. We then headed up towards Ludgate Hill and past St Pauls. The first toilets loomed but there was no way I was waiting in that queue! We headed up towards London Bridge and over it. I was little disappointed we didn’t walk over Tower Bridge, but there you go. We were then on the South Bank and walking all the way back down past the Tate Modern, the Globe, the SouthBank and the Eye etc. I found this section quite difficult actually, it was very busy and the paths were quite narrow, meaning I couldn't overtake anymore. I was glad I knew the route but I still had to look at the floor to avoid the bollards, dropped bottles and discards ponchos etc, and it made me feel quite dizzy. At mile marker 9 they started to split the full mooners from the half mooners and then on the far side of Westminster Bridge it all thinned out quite a bit. I did see one new sight though, Houses of Parliament with the lights off, the lights are all still on when I go home from work. I also had to laugh at one of the ladies at mile marker 9 who thanked us all for walking past her LOL

It was as I drew level with my office that I saw Diane up ahead so I sped up to catch her. As we walked past the London Fire Brigade lifeboat raft, they opened their 2 toilets up for us. We only had to queue for 5 minutes and it had loo roll. Yay to the firemen!

Then it was on and on along the south embankment, past MI6 and around the back of Battersea Power Station. We got in to Battersea park and they were giving out oranges and bananas. At this point we were between 11 and 12 miles along and I was starting to get a bit light headed and dizzy, this made me feel sick but I knew that if I didn’t eat anything I was going to get worse. I had rationed myself to half a mars bar every 6 miles, so I had that, and then a biscuit bar and my half a banana, a couple of energy sweets and a good gulp of water – even though we weren’t supposed to gulp it, and after an hour the dizziness went but the sickness stayed :-(

Then it was over Albert Bridge and in to Kensington and Chelsea. We walked along the Embankment for a while and passed the 13 mile marker – woohoo! I have to say that between 13 and 19 miles it was pretty uneventful, and I had been warned that this was the most difficult part of the walk. The chatter died away, it just wasn’t fun anymore, by this time it was gone 4 in the morning (exact details are already a little hazy) we were all tired, exhausted, my feet were getting really quite sore and the route was backwards and forwards through residential areas. I lost my bearings of where we were and apart from Harrods and the Albert Memorial, we didn’t pass many ‘sights’. One highlight was the two drunk lads around 15 miles who proceeded to stand either side of the walkers, shouting our names out and making us hi-five them.

At 16 miles me and Diane both put our ipods on. We just had nothing left to say so Scott Mills filled the conversation gap. At 18 miles we stopped for toilets and I popped a couple of blisters and changed my right socks, my left foot was sore but not too sore so I didn’t want to take my trainer off. If I had, I would have seen the blisters and convinced myself they hurt. We got some oranges as we passed the Institute of Cancer Research. It was also between 4 and 5 that the sky started to get lighter which meant I could take less blurry photos. I also got a phone call from my dad at about 5:30 which gave me something else to focus on.

Around 19 miles we got to Sloane Square and I knew we would then head back down to the river. I had it in my head that once I was back on the river, I was ‘going home’ in that it was a pretty direct route back to the tent. However, I was starting to struggle. My feet were getting very sore, my legs were feeling like lead, my shoulders ached and I was bored. Bored of walking, bored of being tired and sick, bored of my feet hurting, and until I got to the 20 mile marker, I couldn’t start the backwards countdown I had promised myself.

And then we were back on the river and I was passing the 20 mile marker. Sam rang me to tell me she was just passed the 22 mile marker. I must have got my second wind or something because I became a lot more alert. At 21 miles I got the horrible ripping sensation across one of my toes which meant a blister had spread. I knew there toilets in the next mile somewhere so I told Diane I would stop there for the toilet and to pop some more blisters. She carried on whilst I went to the loo and sorted my left foot out. I popped the blister on my toe but also found a HUGE blister on my heel. I had to pop that as well to get it back in my trainer and OMG did it hurt. I put a Compeed on it but then had to ring Steve for 10 minutes until the initial burning agony had passed. I wasn’t proud of my language but I was in so much pain and I still had 4 miles to go. I knew in context it wasn’t far, but at that point it could have been the moon. Steve talked me through it but then I had to just get on with it. I put the phone down, had a little cry, dried my tears and carried on. I swopped my ipod to my Moonwalk playlist and turned it up really loud.

Because I was now limping quite badly I wasn’t using my muscles properly and I was seizing up. I willed my legs to move faster but they just wouldn’t. I felt like I was going so slowly and the people I had spent 20 miles overtaking were now overtaking me! I texted Amanda as she had been finished for nearly 3 hours by now and although the four of us had agreed to meet at the finish line, I wanted her to know I didn’t mind if she went home. She texted straight back to say no way was she going home, she was staying to cheer me over the finish line. That meant so much to me. That someone who I had only known for a few months, had only met 4 times, was prepared to stay around and cheer me on really lifted my spirits.

As I came back up towards St James’ Park, I started texting everyone I could think of. I’d been updating my Facebook status and had got quite a few texts back from that, so I sent a few more updates, and replied to anyone who had texted me. That kept me occupied for about 20 minutes by which time I was coming back up the Mall. The number of people cheering us on started to increase as they waited for their walkers to come back. I took one earphone out so I could hear the encouragement and also the music.

At 24 miles I went back over Wellington Arch and I suddenly realised how close I was to the end, because it was also so close to the start. However, the mile between 24 and 25 was so so long. It truly was the longest mile of my life, it was on a slight incline, it was all in a straight line and I could just see forever, and people continued to come past me. I couldn’t ring Steve as he was now on the tube to get to the finish before me. Based on the texts I was sending to Amanda at every mile marker, I was still doing an 18/19 minute mile but at the time it felt like I was crawling so slowly.

Then I passed the 25 mile marker and just around the corner I could see the whole path back to the tent. The end was in sight!

Steve had come out of the tube at the wrong exit and was therefore in a race to the finish. I had wanted to have my photo taken at the 26 mile marker but I just couldn’t stop and I didn’t think it was fair to ask other walkers at this stage. As I went past the marker Steve rang to say he had just come past the 25 mile marker, I knew then he wasn’t going to see me cross the line which was a big disappointment but I couldn’t stop and wait for him, it sounds silly but I just could not stop I had to get to the end.

The marshalls for the last 0.2 were brilliant, they could see I was really struggling and were shouting my name and clapping me on. And then as I came up to the barriers funnelling us to the finish line Amanda came running over to give me a hug and send me over the finish line.

And then there it was in front of me, the finish line. The plans to stick any missing tiles on to my bra (I’d only lost 3 to be fair) to smile sweetly at the camera and take in everything around me just went out the window – I managed to look in the cameraman’s direction and I think I might have managed a smile, I don’t really know. I was pointed to the people with the medals and then the little bit of metal I’d walked 26.2 miles for was around my neck.

Then I looked up to get my bearings and realised that my bag tent was right down the other end of the enclosure – nooooo! I rang Steve to tell him I’d crossed the line and he said he could see the finish and couldn’t believe he’d missed me. I think he was more disappointed than me at that point, I just had sheer relief flooding through me. I headed past the Walkwear stall but again, I just couldn’t stop. I headed for the toilet and then got my bag and headed for the exit.

At that point it started to rain, I just looked up at the sky and laughed until I cried, literally, it was as though someone was waiting for me to cross the line before they let the rain fall. I would have loved to have stopped and had a look round but it just wasn’t worth the agony of slowing down and having to get going again. I also couldn’t face going back up to the finish line to see some others cross the line. Oh well, I was over, that was all that mattered really.

The big day dawns....

I couldn’t believe it when I woke up wide awake at 9:30 this morning. A million thoughts rushed in to my head and I struggled to relax, but I tried my best and went back to sleep an hour later for another hour and a half.

I got up and had ‘breakfast’ at 12:30 and went out to do the shopping. Once I’d done that and all the other little jobs, it was time to get changed. I put my outfit on and got Steve to write my name across my chest and facebook and the forum down my arms.

I was meeting Sam and Amanda at the station at 5:30. They got tickets and we went up to the platform and got on the train with about 20 other Moonwalkers – I don’t know where they all came from. We were talking to a lone Half Mooner so we invited her to sit with us and we just chatted on the way up. We got the tube over to Hyde Park Corner and as we came out of the tube station we were just greeted with a sea of pink. It was brilliant. Mind you I think we walked a mile to join the back of the queue and it took us a while to get in. Sam met up with the person doing the walk with her, and our Half Mooner went off and met up with her friend. We met Diane just inside the main entrance and then got our outfits ready. The photographers took some photos of us, and we took photos of each other. We then went in to the tent to get the food they provide and it was so manic we lost Sam and her friend. Myself, Amanda and Diane sat outside the tent eating our food but then it started to get cold. We took our bags to check in and split up as we were all in different colour groups. I then texted someone I knew from another forum who I had never met in person. She only got diagnosed with cancer recently and has battled her way back enough to complete the half moon. Respect! It was nice to sit with a group and chat whilst the compere put on a show and introduced the celebs taking part, like Paul O’Grady and his flashing bra.

Then the warm ups started and the yellow group left the tent. Then another warm up and the green group left the tent. My new friend and her group all wanted to go to the toilets so I said goodbye and joined in with the third warm up and then the orange group left the tent. Then one last warm up and it was the pink groups turn – they saved the best til last LOL

We moved out to the start line and I spotted some empty toilets so I grabbed the opportunity for a quick wee and joined the rest of them at the start line. We were stood there nearly 10 minutes and Nina herself was keeping us all amused. At 12:04 we were off...

Moonwalk minus 1 day

OMG it's tomorrow.


I had today off and slept in until nearly ten, had breakfast at gone 11 and tried to keep my mealtimes behind for the rest of the day. In the morning, I went up to our local Boots to get some more toe separators. I had bought 4, but had lost 2 along the way so wanted 2 more. I then went to Tesco on the way back to stock on the last minute bits, like sweets, batteries for my camera and some coloured sharpie pens. I had to be back for 1pm as we were having our house alarm tested, so while I was waiting for the man to come round, I ironed my t shirt and jogging bottoms, packed my check in bag and faffed about on the walk the walk forum. Steve got back from work and I went over to a neighbours to borrow some hot pink nail varnish, I told them I was staying up late and they told us to go back after tea and they would help me stay awake. Which they did until 1:30. When I got back home, I watched the tele for an hour and finally went to bed when I couldn’t stay awake anymore.

Moonwalk minus 2 days

I had this morning off work. I had originally booked the whole day off but we had an important meeting I had to be at, but as it was in the afternoon, I booked the morning off and had a lie in. I got up at 9:45 and got the 11:03 train in. That got me in for 12:30 and then I worked a 7 hour day from there, including lunch, and left pretty late. I'm trying to trick my body clock into thinking it's a bit behind so it doesn't notice the missing night's sleep. Not sure how well it will work, but it's worth a try.

Nothing much else to report, my day was took up with my wonky day at work. I went to bed about 1:30am and have tomorrow off work.

Moonwalk minus 3 days

Working again. Walked the mile in and the mile out, and also a mile at lunch, and a mile after work. I needed the fresh air but didn't want to walk too far, I've still got a sore toe and a sore bit on my heel which I don't want to aggravate.

I posted a picture of my bra on the walk the walk forum last night and got a really good response. I really hope all the tiles don't fall off!

I left work a bit earlier today because I wanted to get up to Hyde Park and have a quick look at the big pink tent. I got the bus up to Oxford Street and then walked up to Park Lane and could see it as soon as I got there. It was surrounded by a big fence, but I walked up to it and had a peek through, I'm sooo excited

Then I had to rush back to Westminster for my belly dancing class. I didn't wear my new pink scarf, stuck to one of my old ones, I'm saving my new one for the night. I was also paranoid of falling over, I have been all week. But I sucked my tummy in for the whole hour - good practice for the photos!

Once I'd got home, I soaked my feet and gave them another scrub. I stayed up til midnight tonight as I have tomorrow morning off work to allow me to get a lie in, and to stay up even later tomorrow night.

Moonwalk minus 4 days

In work again today. Nothing exciting to report. Soaked my feet in salt water again, no idea if it’s helping, but I’ll try anything.

I did sit and create a Moonwalk playlist on my ipod though. I’ve stuck those Justin Timberlake songs on there which seem to make me walk faster. I’ve got an Classic Euphoria album on there because the whole of the two discs are remixed at the same beat, and it’s about my walking speed. I’ll need to use that after halfway once my speed starts dropping. I’ve got another few dance songs in there, Insomnia by Faithless because I think it’s appropriate, and then a few Linkin Park songs, just because they are my favourite and I know all the words so I can sing along. The last song is No Ordinary Morning by Chicane. It is one of my favourite chill-out songs ever, and let’s face it, this will be no ordinary morning. I’ll save it for after the finish line though otherwise I’ll just sit down and stare at the sky before I’ve done.

That all adds up to 6.5 hours of music, which should more than cover me, because I am planning on talking to people at some point. If I don’t, there is always the trusty Scott Mills podcast which has seen me through many a training walk. All assuming the battery lasts that long obviously.

How to make a disco ball bra

You know, just in case you find yourself with a bra, some mirror tiles and a spare afternoon. You never know.

Take one bra, any size, moulded cups are way better for this job, but I didn’t work that out til too late did I??

If it is already pink, then woo hoo, if not, may I recommend Dylon Flamingo Pink fabric dye. Stick this in a bowl with your bra, swish it around a bit (or follow the instructions on the packet) and rinse and spin it a few times. Then hang it up to dry, but nowhere where you don’t want pink dye splots. Like for example, the slabs under your washing line. Just saying.

When it’s dry, spread yourself out over a table. Get some epoxy glue, some 1cmX1cm mirror tiles and, if you’re not using moulded cups, something to put underneath, like rolled up socks, or flask lids.

Put a bit of glue on a few tiles and start sticking. This stuff takes about 10 minutes before it’s unusable, so don’t throw it all out at once. Do it in bits, mix it, apply it to tile, stick tile down.

Although it only takes 10 mins to dry, the tiles can still fall off for another 20mins so try not to move it around too much. Do a section, leave it to dry for an hour, do another section.

Leave it all overnight and then give it a good shake, because some tiles will fall off, and better for them to fall off now than whilst you are wearing it. Stick them back on, leave them all to dry for a bit longer.

And bob’s your uncle. A disco ball bra.

I'm going to take a few spare tiles with me on the walk and put double sided sticky tape on the back, just in case.

Of course, thehot pink belly dancing scarf, pink 80’s style fishnet gloves, hot pink moonwalk cap, glo-stick bracelets and pink feather boa are all optional accessories.

Moonwalk minus 5 days

I was in work today, but only doing 3 ½ days this week, using up annual leave to prepare my body for a night without sleep.

I walked the mile in and the mile out, that’s all the walking I needed for today. I still have two sore bits on my feet which I’m hoping won’t be too troublesome on the night, the rest should be healed up come Saturday. I hope.

I sent an email round work asking for sponsorship and had a really good response. I’m only about £25 off my target, which I didn’t think I’d reach. I’m really pleased and it’s motivated me even more to think how generous people are being.

The only downer for today was that the Tamils kicked off AGAIN in Parliament Square. That’s the 4th time they’ve shut off the Square in as many weeks, and I had to walk back to the station a different way as Whitehall was just covered in bottles and clothing and stuff that had been thrown everywhere. I sincerely hope they don’t kick off on Saturday night as I don’t want to be diverted and have to walk further than I need to. They tend to kick off with no warning either so I hope the organisers have contingency plans in place.

On the way home from work I popped in to Tesco, Amanda had told me about some glo-stick bracelets they were selling off. I found 4 bracelets and 2 glo-sticks, all in pink. Haven’t used glo-sticks in years! I also bought some nurofen express and some antiseptic wipes for when I’ve burst my blisters – the last few bits for my bumbag.

I finished sticking the tiles on my bra tonight. I had to put it on to work out what was missing so I spent the first half of 24 lying on the floor with glued tiles drying on me, with my feet in a bowl of salt water. I’m sure this wasn’t in the small print when I joined up.

I’m in two minds whether to put the belly dancing coins around the bottom of my bra or not, it would mean more of my stomach was covered but if I make a hash of the stitching it could irritate my skin,

I think that’s it, I’m good to go now.

Moonwalk minus 6 days

After a lie in this morning I got up and spread newspaper all over the dining table and got all my bits and bobs out to decorate my bra. It is now a beautiful hot pink colour, perfect.

I propped the cups over the lid of a couple of large flasks and sat putting tiny little mirror tiles on to the fabric. I did try not to get too much on me, but it wasn’t entirely successful. I got as many tiles on as I could without moving the bra around and then left it to dry for an hour. Whilst I was doing that I heard Sara Cox on Radio 1 saying that she is doing the Half Moon.

I then got a text from Amanda because I had mentioned she could come round and decorate her bra with me if she wanted. She turned up late afternoon and she sat sticking layers of sequins on her bra, whilst I stuck a few more mirror tiles on mine. Something different to be doing anyway.

It’s nearly finished now, I just need to stick a few more tiles around the very edges, but I think I’m going to have to put it on to do that. I was going to put tiles over the straps as well, but I don’t think I’m going to have enough. Pah!

So I left it all out to dry overnight and sat and got all the bits and bobs together that I’m going to need on the night. I’ve got two piles on the floor now, the pile for the bumbag and the pile for the holdall I can leave in the tent. And a shopping list to get everything that is missing.

I had good fun today, I spent most of the day focussing on the little details, rather than the bigger issue. So I’m looking forward to it now.

Moonwalk minus 7 days

Oh, it all seems so real now. This time next week it will be the big day. Although technically, it we set off after midnight, the big day isn’t until Sunday, but Saturday is when it all starts.

My feet are healing well, I don’t have any infection, the blisters are drying out nicely, but the skin on my feet is just very uneven. I think I need to soak my feet every night for the next week and pumice them really well to even out the holes the blisters have left everywhere. Nice. I'm not going to do any walking other than to and from work until the big night now, it's just not worth the blisters.

Today I met up with Diane, Amanda and Sam for a coffee. We wanted to get together and discuss all the little things – like what train to catch, what to put in our bumbags and what we are doing with our bras. We were there for a couple of hours just chatting about things, and then we went up to Claire’s Accessories where I bought a lovely pink feather boa and some 80’s style fishnet arm gloves. Then we separated and realised that the next time we saw each other, it would be the big night. Myself, Amanda and Sam are all travelling up on the train together and meeting Diane there.

I’d walked last week in the bra I’ll be using on the night, I wanted to make sure it was suitable. So I’d washed it and dryed it, and in the meantime I’d bought some Flamingo Pink fabric dye. So I stood for an hour swishing my bra round in bright pink water and put it on a couple of rinse and spins to get rid of the excess colour and then hung it up to dry overnight.

I was babysitting for a neighbour tonight, so I had a few drinks and a curry to make the most of my last night on the booze. It’s no alcohol or spicy food for me for the rest of the week and two litres of water and plenty of carbs instead.

Sunday 3rd May - 20 freakin miles!!

I did it!! 20 miles and I did it!!

I spent all day Saturday hoping that Sunday wasn’t going to be as hot – what a thing to say on a bank holiday!

Anyway, the original plan had been for four of us to walk together, but that shrank down to two for the actual day, myself and Diane. When I got up on Sunday it was very sunny again so we put our start time back an hour to miss the midday sun. I picked Diane up and we drove down to Folkestone, and round in circles trying to find a parking space. It was 12:45 by the time we got going. We walked through the market, under the arches and along the bit of beach there and turned back to make our way towards Hythe. At this point we got a text from Sam, she had dropped out of our walk but was doing it back to front, we were walking Folkestone>Hythe>Folkestone and she was doing Hythe>Folkestone>Hythe. Well she was just coming up to Folkestone Harbour, and with just a minute or two of waiting round on our part, we met up and walked back with her. We were all wearing our bright pink caps and passed a group of others doing the same.

We headed along the sea wall towards Hythe and although the sun was out, it kept going behind clouds so it didn’t get too hot. 3 miles in I managed to pop my contact lense out. I always use a mirror to put my lenses in so I immediately started to panic, then the wind blew the lense on the gritty floor, twice. But I managed to get it back in somehow, which made my eye water and thankfully Sam had some spare solution on her. I only had a spare lense, but the one I had in was a brand new one and I didn't want to waste it (monthy continuous aren't cheap). Panic over. As we came around the point into Hythe we could see the Imperial Hotel which got closer sooooo slowly. We stopped for the loos and blister bursting (already!) and then headed up towards the canal to walk the bridleway. We were walking reasonably slowly at this point because, although myself and Diane had only done about 6 miles, Sam was about 14 miles in. But judging by how I felt towards the end I think this might have been a good thing. The canal path was lovely and peaceful, the sun had come out properly by this time but we were in the shade thankfully.

A few miles later, we joined a road to take us back down to the main road. We stopped for water refills and toilets at a pub and then went to the bottom of the road, at this point Sam was going one way with 3 miles left to go, and me and Diane were technically heading home, with another 9.5 miles left to go. We walked along the main road and back up to the canal, then we walked the north side of it until we got to the end. I did struggle along those 2 or 3 miles, my legs were starting to seize up, my feet felt like they were on fire, we had left Sam behind, and the view was quite restricted. I was bored and in pain.

But then we got to the end of the canal, we restocked on water, I moved a few plasters around/applied talc/waved my feet around to cool them down/took some more nurofen, and we crossed over to get to the sea wall back to Folkestone. I think the nurofen must have kicked in after a while as my legs didn’t ache so much and my feet had gone numb provided I didn’t wiggle them, if I did that, it felt like they were being branded by hot pokers.

As we walked along the seafront, the evening sun was out but it wasn’t hot anymore. It was a most beautiful evening and I was trying to focus on that, rather than my feet. The last 4 miles seemed to take forever. We could see the Burstin Hotel in Folkestone and although it seemed a long long way away, I knew it wasn’t far enough away to make up the 20 miles. We walked past where the car was parked with just under 3 miles to go – I so wanted to stop. We walked past the hotel and realised we would have to walk to the end of the sandy beach again to make up the distance. Unfortunately, to do that we had to walk over some cobbles and I felt like the princess and the pea, I could feel EVERY uneven surface through the layers on my feet, and I got my third ripping sensation in my toes. I didn’t dare look anymore. We hobbled past a chippy half a mile from the car and stopped for chips and a drink and made the final bit back to the car. Once there I checked my pedometer and it read 19.76 miles. That was near enough to 20 for me, and I just wanted to get my trainers off.

I took off the trainers, but not my socks – didn’t want putting off my food, and we ate the chips in the car. Mmmm. How I managed to drive home I have no idea. But once I’d walked through the front door I headed straight to the bath. I took off my socks and counted 11 lovely blisters, 2 full of blood (ach!) and one taking up ¾’s of my left little toe. Nice. Ironically, the one toe without a blister was the one I’ve had all the problems with. I think I need to get another toe separator.

And I think I’ve worked out what the phenomenally painful ripping sensation is I get in my toes (don’t read if you don’t want details). At first I thought it was the blister bursting, but they are often still intact when I take my socks off. I think it must be when a blister is so full, it spreads across the skin, it must be the ripping apart of the two skin layers that I’m feeling. And it is intensely painful for 5/10 mins and then it calms down (a bit) and that must be when the fluid fills up. I’m just going to have to take a pin and pop them as they appear. Puke.

At the moment I can hardly walk. I left my blisters intact overnight but they were so big and uncomfortable and every time I turned over in my sleep I woke myself up. Once I’d drained them most of them were fine, but I have one on the arch of my right foot which is more painful than a blister should be. I’m hoping that it’s not going to get infected. I don’t have time for another infection.

Anyway, that’s the end of that epic. Well done to everyone else who did their 20 miles this weekend. Wind down for two weeks now, and then the big night. I’m not sure how safe it is for me to do anymore walking, I need to heal my feet first. I’ll concentrate on bra decorating instead I think LOL

Auctions for charity

In order to raise some extra sponsorship money I am handing over any money made between May 1st and May 31st from my ebid shop to Walk The Walk. If you are of a crafty nature and want to bag yourself a bargain whilst doing your bit for charity, then take a look at http://uk.nine.ebid.net/perl/main.cgi?mo=user-store&title=Crafty-Bees-Crafty-Corner

And remember, if there is nothing you want, well you can still sponsor me anyway at www.justgiving.com/paulacowperthwaite

Thank you xx

Sunday 26th April

This weekend was supposed to be a 16 mile walk, but I only did 9. I really want to do the 20 miler next weekend so I didn’t want to risk doing a lot of damage to my feet and then struggling next week.

I was at my mum’s for the weekend and the plans around who was coming for a walk with me ranged from 4 people to 0 so many times I gave up trying to keep track. As it was I ended up going on my own, which, when you think you are going with someone else, is a bit of a mental blow but hey ho. I needed to work on my speed, and being on my own was probably the best way to do it.

I walked through a few of my old haunts, and a few places I’d forgotten even existed. It was a really hot day so my feet were playing up from 3 miles in. I wore a toe separator this time between my little toe and the next one in. I thought that £2 for a little bit of silicone was a rip off when I bought it, but I have changed my mind and would have paid a tenner now. I didn’t have one mark on my little toe at the end of the walk (well apart from marks from previous blisters but they don’t count). It did make my toe ache a little, with it being squashed into the side of my trainer, but aching is way better than excruciatingly sore and full of infection. I got a blister in the arch of my right foot as well, but it’s one of those thin ones which I have since burst and drained and it’s getting better already. I’m getting better at this aren’t I – what a skill!!

I’m also having to trial different lacing styles as well. My trainers have support liners in them for my ankles, but this means that my foot is higher in the shoe. So when I lace the trainers up it’s making my right foot ache along the guiders. In the end I took the laces out and just tied the top two holes in the way they showed me and left the bottom half empty. That seemed to work.

I have to say that physically, the 9 miles was fine, I practiced my power walking and got a real bat on at points. Arms pumping, bottom wiggling and everything. But mentally, this was of the hardest walks I have done. After having all the trouble with my feet, that little devil on my shoulder telling me not to walk too far, and being told at the last minute I was going on my own, I spent the whole walk wishing I was somewhere else, trying desperately to pretend my feet weren’t sore and needing someone to talk to. AND I’d forgotten my pedometer when I packed for the weekend, and knowing you are doing about 9 miles is so de-motivating compared to knowing you are doing 8.94 miles EXACTLY. Oh well.

Anyway, 3 miles from the end, having re-laced my trainers 3 times and changed my blister plasters 4 times, having made my finger bleed on something sharp at some point, and having getting thoroughly cheesed off with the whole thing... I took my ipod off the Scott Mills podcast and put it on shuffle. Then a Justin Timberlake song came on. I bought his album off Amazon when it was on offer at £3 – best £3 I’ve spent (apart from the £2 on the toe separator obv). JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE MAKES ME WALK FASTER. The things you learn eh? Now I’m going to have to find some similar songs and make a playlist to help me on the night.

So, provided I get a decent playlist, and maybe grow a spare left foot to replace the right foot I’m having all the problems with, I’ll have no problems. I did 9 miles in 2.5 hours, which when you consider I spent 15 minutes sitting on the floor re-lacing trainers, re-applying blister plasters or in a queue buying more water, is bang on for a 15 minute mile. Result.

Thursday 22nd April

I decided it was time to get walking again, but realised I had to start small. It took me 10 minutes just to dress my feet for a 4.75 mile walk LOL. But it was worth it cause I have no blisters!! Well no new ones anyway.

I went around Battersea Power Station again with one of the people I work with. I’m getting a bit familiar with that route, but I figured on such a lovely day it was going to be packed in other parts of London, mainly with tourists who tend to stand still and move in random directions.
I went back to my proper New Balance trainers for this. I figured if all trainers were going to give me blisters, I may as well get blisters from the ones that were supporting my ankles. I think I might have cracked my problem with the blisters, my feet are just too warm. My feet get very hot very quickly, always have done. And even when they feel like blocks of ice, they are often clammy to the touch. So I’ve bought some Ice Cooling Spray from Daktarin and sprayed it all over my feet. It seems to have worked for 5 miles, not sure how well it will work for 26 – I’ll obviously have to stop and reapply, but taking off my socks and seeing the state of my feet is a real mental barrier which I want to avoid wherever possible. I’m going to do a longer walk at the weekend and try talcum powder as well. I think the powder and spray combined, and airing my feet directly before and after a walk (slightly more difficult whilst working in an open plan office but hey) then I might make some progress. And getting a bigger bumbag to carry everything!!

It took me 1 hour 10 minutes to do 4.75 miles. Not bad for saying I haven’t walked for 12 days. I hope to keep the same sort of pace at the weekend when I plan to do double today’s distance.

Things I learnt – nothing! The walk was a complete success – woo hoo!!

Just an update

I haven’t posted a walk on here yet, because I haven’t been walking L

After my 17 mile walk over Easter, I developed yet another nasty blister which was half hanging off on my right foot little toe. I’ve been trying to walk barefoot wherever possible to toughen my feet up, and unfortunately, there was such little skin left on my toe that dirt must have got in around my toenail (which is clinging on for dear life) and I got an infection. The clue was when my little toe got twice as big as it should have been and went red. So off I limped to a walk(hobble)in clinic near work to get it looked at. It’s a bit hit and miss as to whether you get a decent doctor or not. I didn’t. His grasp of English was poor and he didn’t understand what I was trying to say about being in training for an event. When I asked for some general advice, he spoke to me like the blister on my toe was the only one I had, so at that point I took the prescription for antibiotics and left. I also decided not to walk at all for a week. A good friend of mine pointed out that it didn’t matter how many miles I could walk, how quickly, or how fit I was, if I couldn’t bear to put my feet down, I wasn’t going to get far past the start line. Consider myself told. I haven’t walked the whole time I have been on antibiotics, last day today. I’m also going to substitute the long walk this weekend for a number of 6-8 mile walks. The problem has been that I have created a blister early on, then walked on that blister until it is so bad, it can’t recover before the next walk. So I’m going to concentrate on speed and technique for the next couple of weeks, and just try every trick known to man on how to prevent blisters and/or heal them afterwards. It’s getting so bad, I’ve had a voucher for plasters on my Boots advantage card LOL

Anyway, on to more cheery stuff. I’ve had my bra/t-shirt/cap pack through. I think I ticked large for the t-shirt, because I’m a 14/16 and I like big t-shirts, but when they said large, they meant large. If I take some tent poles, I can probably have a sleep under it at the end. And the bra doesn’t fit, it’s not the style I usually use. I tend to go for full cup or balcony style, but this is a cleavage enhancing style, and I really don’t need more cleavage. I ran on the spot for approximately 35 seconds before I fell out of it. Won’t be using that one! However, I do have an old white cotton bra which I don’t wear because it is slightly on the small side. It is more supportive though, so I think I will use that instead.

I’ve also got what I need to decorate my bra. I’m going for ‘shiny disco balls’ and I’m going to provide the disco balls for all the strictly dancers. I’m hopefully getting together with a few other moonwalkers to do a group decorating session, which should be really good fun. And I’m also getting together with the other moonwalkers to do the 20 mile walk over the bank holiday weekend. I think that is one long walk I have to do if I have any hope of getting over the finish line on the night.

I have really been enjoying all the training I’ve been doing for the Moonwalk, and I’m gutted that I’m having so many foot problems. I was thinking about doing the Edinburgh one next year as it is somewhere I have never been, and I spend every working day in London. But after the last couple of weeks, and pleading from my husband, I have decided that it’s just not worth the grief. I might just volunteer to help out next year instead. A shame for me, but good for them I guess. I need to work on the positive thinking as well, think I used it all up doing the last three miles at Easter LOL

Saturday 11th March

Easter Saturday with a 15 ish mile walk planned and 2 days off afterwards to recover.

In preparation for this long walk I had wrapped micropore around both little toes to make them too fat to stand on, and therefore to stick out to the side where they should be. I also had my new trainers on with the wide fitting at the front to give my toes room to stretch. I then put blister plasters round the sides of the balls of my feet, and a normal plaster around the heel of each foot as I knew the new trainers would rub. Then I put on my two pairs of 1000 miles socks, popped some nurofen and figured that might cover all bases.

If only!

I walked with Diane again, but around Ashford this time. I set off from my house and walked just under 2 miles to Diane's, where she was waiting for me. We then headed out towards Tesco and walked away from the store down in to the country lanes. We headed through Kingsnorth, and past Ashford Town football club, I never knew where it was but my neighbours are getting married there in September so I'm glad I found it. Then we turned right and walked a couple of miles across to Shadoxhurst. We stopped at the pub for bottles of water and the toilet and then we did a 6 mile loop on the far side of Shadoxhurst. The sun was out but it wasn't too hot. Perfect walking weather in fact. We passed a lot of big farmhouses and got barked at by so many dogs I lost count. Also, about halfway round we were walking along some pretty remote lanes when a little biplane flew towards us, and directly above our head proceeded to do a loop the loop, it was pretty amazing to watch so we had to stand still for a minute else trip over.

We headed back towards Shadoxhurst and were going to pop back in to the pub for more water. The underside of my right foot was really sore and I knew I had a blister but I didn't want to look because, as I've explained before, if I see it, it hurts more. However, just before we got to the pub I felt a ripping sensation across my toe. I was slightly alarmed and hoped it was nothing more serious than the micrpore tape coming half off but I knew I would have to take my socks off to sort it out :-( Then we found out the pub was closed. Aaarrgh! I sat at the edge of the road and sorted my feet out, I'm not sure what I did to my little toe, apart from take another layer of skin off, but it felt like it was on fire. I really didn't want to give up either as I was only three miles from home. I got back up and limped like a mad thing for about 10 minutes until my natural painkillers kicked in. I'd run out of water by now and couldn't swallow the spare nurofen. After another mile the intense burning had lessened and it was just a thumping ache. I toyed with giving up as I didn't want to do so much damage to my foot that it wouldn't recover. But I'd planned the route and Diane didn't know how to get home. I decided to walk another mile to the point where I could leave Diane and get a lift. But when we got to that point, I asked myself if I could live with giving up 1 mile from the end of what turned out to be a 17 mile walk. And it was sheer bloody mindedness that got me up that final hill and back through my front door. Then Diane carried on and did her final two miles back to her house.

But the end result was 17.03 miles door to door, walked in just under 5 hours. We stopped a couple of times and the last couple of miles were done quite slowly but I think that was a good time. I did 30918 steps. Blimey!

Fitness wise, I didn't really ache that much. My left leg ached a bit but that was from taking the strain of my limping for the last three miles. It's just my feet I'm worried about. They are a mess. I missed all the short walks in the week last week to allow my feet to recover, but they didn't and they are getting worse. I think I'm going to have to skip a long walk and just hope my fitness maintains itself, because I managed to limp three miles this time, I certainly wouldn't have been able to limp another 14!!

Sunday 5th April

12 mile walk – tick

All of a sudden a big clock has started ticking in my head, I know exactly how long it is until the Moonwalk at any given date, my life revolves around that date, and all the training walks in-between. Every walk I do now is one nearer to the big one. It’s 5 weeks and 5 days to go you know. That’s less than 6 weeks and everything.

Anyway, the 12 miler. I’d missed Friday’s walk as my little toes are really painful, I’d put plasters round each one before I set off. I went with fellow moonwalker Diane down to Hythe. I’d had a bit of hectic morning which included a broken computer which needed a complete re-installation, and a chip in my car windscreen which had started to spread. A call to my insurance company assured me that the car was safe to drive until they come to fix it on Thursday. All of which meant I didn’t have any lunch, but luckily I’d had a big breakfast, and I took a cereal bar and a couple of banana’s with me to munch on the way round.

We started on the sea front and walked along the promenade, we stopped for drinks and toilets about 5 mins in so we got off to a slow start. At the end of the promenade, we headed up the residential streets towards the canal, then headed along the south side of the canal for a couple of miles, before crossing over to the north side and walking another couple. Unfortunately on the north side, there was no flat path and it was hard work dodging tree roots and muddy patches. We did walk along the bottom of Port Lympne Animal Park though, wasn’t really expecting to see emus, antelopes and buffalo when I set off along the canal in the morning!! After about 4 miles altogether alongside the canal we turned left and walked for about 3 miles through the flat fields on the outskirts of Hythe. It was a beautiful day and we could see for miles. And it doesn’t seem like such a long way when you have someone to talk to. As we headed back on the main road in to Hythe, I had to stop and readjust my shoes and socks as the ball of my right foot was killing me. I wish I hadn’t looked as there was a big blister there filled with blood. I readjusted and set back off but it was really sore. After about another mile, my foot suddenly stopped hurting. I knew the blister had burst but I didn’t dare look. If I don’t know what it looks like I THINK it hurts, if I see it I KNOW it hurts. We headed back towards the canal and walked on the north side as we headed past the golf course. We only had half a mile left when we crossed the canal, headed back on to the seafront and back to the car. It took us 3.5 hours, which means if I can keep that pace up, I can do the 26 miles in less than 8 hours, which would be a personal result for me. We walked past the car to a cafe 5 mins down to have a cuppa, and by the time we headed back to the car my body’s natural painkillers had worn off, and I had to swallow a couple of nurofen. I drove back home and got in the bath, which made my burst blister sting like mad. And let’s just not talk about my little toe, it doesn’t even look like a toe anymore!

So, things I learnt today, obviously comfy trainers, 2 pairs of 1000mile socks, and plasters round your little toes are not enough to stop blisters. I give up on that one, I’m just going to have to pop painkillers all the way round I think. I’m also going to carry some safety pins, because I know you aren’t supposed to pop blisters, but the relief when it popped was immense because the pressure went away. I also tested out my bumbag, which was fab, worth every penny and I know it’s not going to get in my way on the night. And it’s a lot easier to walk when you haven’t been drinking alcohol the night before!!

So apart from the after effects I’m suffering today, it was a successful walk. I might have to skip the next short one to let my feet recover, but I’ve got 15 miles planned for Saturday.

Wednesday 1st April

Just a quick post today as I only managed a quick walk. I had planned to do a 5 mile walk up to London Bridge and back, but when I realised what date it was and that that would be a little too close to the protesting for my liking, I decided to do the 5 miles on a treadmill. However, it’s been a beautiful day and it seemed criminal to go to the basement that my gym is based in. So I decided on a middle ground of a couple of miles around the river between the two bridges near my office. So I did one lap and it was only just over 1 mile, so I did another lap and by the time I got back to the office I had done 2.49 miles in 40 minutes. I would have gone again but I’d had a busy morning so was late setting out, and I had a meeting I had to get back for. Still better than nothing.

I decided to give my proper walking trainers a last chance, but I’m not getting on with them. £70 down the drain but at least the blisters aren’t so bad anymore. Apart from the ones on my little toes, every step I took felt like they were on fire. I think I might have to wrap them in plasters on Friday and Sunday and hope they heal between walks. Don’t think I learnt any lessons today, other than, if you are going to walk fast, and you know this when you get dressed in a morning, wear a suitable frikkin bra!

Monday 30th March

Woo hoo, I’ve broken in to the double digits!!

It wasn’t too successful mind, took me 3 hours. But that might have something to do with the copious amounts of alcohol consumed the previous night and the lack of sleep due to the ridiculous hour I went to bed. I will NOT be making that mistake again! Seriously, I completely underestimated the effect that alcohol has on your body so far after the event and I felt like I’d been run over when I got back in yesterday. I am not touching the stuff for the whole week before the walk, and not before any of the longer training walks either. Consider my lesson learnt.

Anyway, enough of the moaning. I walked on the Monday as I was busy Saturday, it was the husbands birthday Sunday, and we had Monday off work. I got togged up in my new Pineapple jacket and sports top I landed in the Debenhams sale (result) and headed out on what was a lovely sunny day. I’d plotted a route around the outskirts of Ashford, through places I’d not been to before so I was looking forward to exploring. I did get lost less than 1.5 miles in when I realised I’d gone down the wrong road, so had to find my way back to the right one and stand on a corner studying my map for a few minutes before I got my bearings and worked out where I was headed next. Once out of the housing estates I walked along a couple of nice long country lanes, it was so sunny and peaceful, it was lovely. I switched my ipod off for half hour to enjoy the silence. I also got a chance to practice some proper power walking cause no one could see me LOL. About halfway round I was starting to struggle, the sun was hot, I was tired and I started to run out of water, I couldn’t believe I had the same again to go. But then I had to go over a footbridge to cross a dual carriageway and was rewarded with an amazing view of the whole of Ashford and the surrounding fields. That spurred me on a bit, as did the bottle of lucozade I got from the newsagents. Then I was back in the housing estates and putting places to road signs, which was nice. I walked all round the industrial area at the back of the railway station so that was interesting seeing as I see the front twice a day. As I came round to the front I took a detour to the Designer Outlet to get some more water and visit some proper toilets. Then it was just the last push home. And a push it was, but I made it. Unfortunately my pedometer hadn’t measured my distance properly so I only have walkjogrun to rely on in terms of distance covered, according to that I did 10.75 miles and it took me 3 hours 5 minutes. I think I can probably add on 0.25 miles to cover detours and getting lost, which would make it 11 miles. Hmmm, not too bad, but not good either.

Things I learnt today, other than alcohol is evil, is don’t put fizzy drinks in your water bottle. They fizz over, run all down your bottle and get all over your hands, then you have a sticky bottle and sticky hands. Won’t be making that mistake again. Also, keep an eye on your pedometer. There is nothing more demoralising than knowing you’ve covered over 2 miles, and then realising your pedometer has flipped upside down and has measured 0.3 miles for you. Aaaaaaah!!

So overall, not a real successful walk. But I’ve broken the mental barrier of a double digit walk. The next mental barrier is to do more than 13.2 miles which is half of the 26.3, and the 14 miler is scheduled for a fortnights time, so I have that to look forward to.

Wednesday 25th March

I nearly didn't make todays planned 5 mile walk. I was working from home today as I was waiting for our new sofa to be delivered (after 2 weeks without one) so was chained to the house for most of the day (8-6 delivery - how helpful). The sofa came just after 2, but up until then it had alternated between brief sunny spells and prolonged periods of absolutely chucking it down, oh and a quick hail storm for good luck. I decided I would finish work at 4 and go for a walk, but it was raining again at 4, my feet were sore, and I just couldn't be bothered. I decided to watch ER instead. But then ER finished and my husband still hadn't left work - we have a 2 hour commute and I knew it wouldn't take me that long to walk 5 miles. I looked out the window, and apart from the sun going down, it looked like a lovely evening. And although I'd already talked myself out of it, I decided to get walking. I think I must be ill or something, if I can find an excuse, I usually do.

So I togged up and set off. I realised that this is the first walk I have done since 'official training' started that I have done on my own. I've usually been walking at someone else's pace, or having a conversation on the way round. It's boring on your own isn't it? Thank god for Scott Mills podcasts, although laughing out loud when walking through residential streets is like, so like, not cool. I headed through Great Chart whilst it was still light (it's quite country lanish) and then back on to the main road. Then I turned left into Godinton housing estate. I'd never been past the chinese or the pub before, but it goes miles back and there were some of the biggest new build houses I have even seen up there (this is Ashford, all the houses are new build). By this time it was pitch black and absolutely freezing so I think that made me walk a bit faster. I then headed back to the main road on a big loop and headed home down a longer main road, and back to mine. I walked 5.4 miles in 1 hour and 18 minutes, which makes about a 14.5 minute mile. How pleased am I? Not sure I could keep it up for 26, but it's fastest I've walked so far.

My feet are covered in lots of little blisters, with particularly sore ones on my right little toe and one right between my big toe and the one next to it. Surprisingly the huge blister on the bottom of my foot isn't giving me too much trouble, and seems to be healing ok.

I got in the bath when I got home, just as my husband got home. Then as it was so late and I hadn't cooked tea (bad wife) we got a takeaway and settled on our new sofa to watch The Apprentice.

Saturday 21st March

Due to Wednesday's blister shenanigans, I decided to skip Friday's 5 mile walk. I knew I had to do 8 miles at the weekend and didn't want to risk making the blister really bad and missing the longer of the two walks.

This weekend I am visiting my mum for Mothers Day so I decided to do the 8 miles on the Saturday once we got here, leaving Sunday free for family duty as we were going out for a meal with my mum and grandparents.

I plotted an 8.4 mile walk on walkjogrun, going along a lot of the roads I used to travel to and from college a good few years ago, and through some of the housing estates that my friends used to live on, I have to say, not a lot has changed in 10 years. Before I set off, mum decided she wanted to come with me. She goes on a few walking holidays but they stroll around and have regular breaks. I explained that it was a power walk, I wouldn't be stopping and wouldn't be slowing down too much but she was adamant. To be fair, she kept up at a reasonable pace for the first half of the walk. Being in Derbyshire, there are lots of hills, some particularly vicious so that slowed me down anyway. Halfway round we went past a Tesco Express, which sits at the bottom of the steepest hill on the route. I bought myself a creme egg and when I got to the top, I ate it as a reward LOL.

Three quarters of the way round my mum really started to struggle. I had spent the last 2 miles walking, stopping, waiting for her to catch up and walking off again. Just after 7 miles we went up another hill and mum had to stop and have a rest. I suggested she rang for a lift, which she did and got picked up from where she stood. I zipped along the last 1.2 miles, and in the end I had done 8.9 miles. It took 2 hours 35 minutes, but considering I'd spent a large amount of time walking slowly, stopping and walking up killer hills, it wasn't too bad - but I would have liked to have completed it a bit faster. But it was nice of mum to come along, and for someone of 63, she did a damn good job to be fair.

When I got back I went in the bath and inspected the damage. I'd gone in my cheap trainers and TWO pairs of 1000 mile socks. But it appeared to do the trick. My big blister was sore, I aggravated a couple of the smaller ones, but I had NO NEW BLISTERS!!! I also worked out a way to stop me drinking too much water (I have a bladder the size of a marble), eat Polos. They are really refreshing in your mouth - definitely going on my survival pack for the night.

Wednesday 18th March

Today I did another walk on my lunch break - although rather a long lunch break it was - god bless flexi time!!

One of my members of staff had volunteered to come out on a walk with me one time so I asked him if he was up for it as my husband was working from home. It was a beautiful day so he came along. The training plan said to do 5 miles, but the route we chose was 5.8 miles. We went from work, and all the way along to Albert Bridge. I've never been that far down before and Albert Bridge is really pretty - I wonder if we cross it on the night? On the other side of the bridge we headed back through Battersea Park, behind Battersea Power Station and all the way back to Lambeth Bridge before crossing back over to work. We did the 5.8 miles in 1 hour 40, so still a bit on the slow side, but I had to stop a couple of times because of blisters. When I finished my walk on Sunday I had a blister the size of a 2p on the underneath of my heel, it was one of those that goes inside your foot rather than swells up on the outside, so as I'm getting used to having blisters, I didn't give it much thought. But by the time I had finished this walk, it had spread to 2/3rds the size of my heel. By the time it came to leaving work I had to burst it because it was impossible to walk on, then I had to get the bus for the mile up to the station - the shame! Ironically, it's been the blister on the side of my little toe that has been giving me the most pain since.

Sunday 15th March

Me and my husband had a lovely walk around the grounds of Leeds Castle today. It was a beautiful morning so we got kitted up and made our way up the motorway. Our annual tickets had expired so we had to buy new ones, along with most of Kent judging by the queues.


The first part of the walk mostly consisted of getting stuck behind big groups and avoiding small children careering round on little trikes. Yes, I am one of those people I used to pity who just couldn't slow down enough to appreciate the beauty around them LOL. Oh well, I'll appreciate it next time we go.


Normally we do just stroll around the castle and gardens, so I didn't appreciate how short the paths are, usually it seems so long cause we walk so slowly. We went right round the back of the gardens, and then got back on to the path back when I realised I'd done just over a mile. So we climbed over a fence and went over to the far side of the lake and up into the fields on the other side. We walked just over a mile and then turned back as we weren't sure whether we were supposed to be up there or not. Then we took the long way back along the return path and headed back to the car.


In all, we walked 5.1 miles, which wasn't the 6 I was supposed to be doing, but there was a hell of a lot of hill walking in this one, and I did get out of breath a few times, so I'm going to say it's ok because it all helps towards my fitness.


Here's a photo I took before my battery ran out

Friday 13th March

Today I had to do a 4 mile walk. As I was walking from home I decided to go to my gym and match my pedometer (which I found) to the treadmill as I wasn't 100% sure I had my stride length right. So instead of doing 1 x 4 mile walk, I did 4 x 1 mile walks. I think I've got a stride length of 35 inches and I walk at around 5.8 - 6 kmph. I could walk faster than that, but I was trying to walk at a speed that I could keep up for more than 5 miles. The miles were taking me about 16.5 minutes each so I think that is a reasonable pace to keep up. I have nothing more to say about that walk, it was boring, treadmills are, but it was necessary evil to sort the stride length out on my pedometer.

I did this walk in cheap trainers but I didn't have any clean 1000 mile socks. And now I have a blister and burning in the soles of my feet. :-( but that goes to show that it isn't ALL the trainers fault and I might give them another chance...

Using my mathematical prowess, I reckon I could finish the 26.2 miles in 7.2 hours. Throw in another hour for toilet and food breaks, getting stuck behind people at the start and possibly throwing a 'I can't do it anymore' tantrum 3/4 of the way round, I reckon 8 hours is a reasonable goal. We shall see.

Wednesday 11th March

Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays are now officially my walking days. Unless I have something planned on those days, in which case I will shift the walks around them. Hopefully I can stick to that. So on Wednesday I had to do a 4 mile walk.

I was in London so I did a round the river walk from the office up to Battersea Power station. 4.1 miles. I did the walk as one of the first that I did and it took me 1 hour and 15 minutes. I did the same walk again but this time I went the other way round and it took me 1 hour and 5 minutes. So that's an improvement already. Which is always nice to know.

I've not taken my camera on my walks recently as I've been trying to wear less layers to replicate the night of the walk a bit more. Meaning I've had less pockets to cram things in to. I'll probably take it on some of the longer walks but the shorter ones will be pictureless for now.

I forgot to take my pedometer again (in truth I'd misplaced it and just hadn't found it) and I did it in cheap trainers but with 1000 mile socks and got no blisters.

Back from my jollies and ready to get cracking

Well I am officially ‘in training’. I have received my pack with all the info in it. The 12 week training plan started on 23rd February, but I was in Malaysia on my jollies. As I have been walking 3 or 4 miles a couple of times a week up until I went away I figured I was ok to miss off the first week as that was only 3 mile walks anyway. But then the 2nd week didn’t get off to a flying start, I missed my first scheduled walk due to a migraine – which I think was just the jet lag etc catching up with me. But I managed a four mile walk round Ashford last Thursday. It took me a while because I was still on holiday sauntering mode, and not manic London mode. Then on Sunday, I picked up a fellow Moonwalker, Diane, and we went to Chartham to follow this route
http://www.kent.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/377BA4C8-D24E-4415-BFA2-16C4C2627316/0/walksineastkentchartham.pdf
Now it says 5 miles, but according to Diane’s pedometer it was just under 7 (I forgot to take mine). We went wrong a couple of times due to the lack of clear instructions, but we only went ½ mile out maximum. Nevermind, every little helps and it was an extra 2 miles on the total.

So I start with a vengeance this week, with a 10 week countdown to work through. I am also going to make an effort to do some stretching like it says in the training plan, and I desperately need to get back to my pilates class as the time off for my holiday is playing havoc with my bad back. So I’d like to get a couple of pilates sessions done a week but I just need more hours in the day.

I’m also overweight and a classic yo-yo dieter, so I’m taking the next 10 weeks to follow the Paul McKenna weightloss plan. I’ve bought the book and the 90 day journal, so obviously it will run for a couple of weeks after the walk, but that’s fine. So long as I look presentable in a bra on the night it will all be hunky dory. Ish.

So in my head, by the time I’ve finished the walk (and recovered) I should be a lean, mean, walking machine. In reality, we may have to see how it goes.

Strolling around and drinking chai latte

So not much training then!

Last Saturday I went out for a wander with my husband on the seafront at Hythe. This wasn’t a training walk as we weren’t walking fast, but we did do 2.5 miles. I also did it in my cheapy trainers and had no side effects at all. So now I’m torn, do I walk in my cheap trainers and risk making my ankles worse (I am going to go to the doctors about them when I get back off my hols) but not suffer the instant side effects of blisters. Or do I continue in the trainers that make me walk properly, but make myself miserable by ending each (short at the moment) walk in pain. I know which one I’m leaning towards at the moment, it’s just whether it’s a good idea in the long run. Ho hum.

Here is the obligatory photo of the seafront as we walked along it.

And on Sunday I went to meet Diane and Amanda, fellow first time Moonwalkers from Kent. We added another to our ranks, Sam came along to meet us as well, and as she did it two years ago, we spent most of the time picking her brains. It was really nice to chat about it without boring the other person (I can see the glazed look that crosses my husband’s eyes occasionally). And I think once I get back off my holiday, it’s going to sink in pretty rapidly about exactly what I’ve let myself in for!!

A few little walks under the belt

I've done a couple of small walks recently, but lack of time and the recent weather have been thwarting my efforts.

I did 1.5 miles round the river, from my nearest bridge to the next and back, on a couple of lunchtimes. I was still seeing off the remains of the last blister and on each occasion I came back with a sore area around the blister, but probably only because it was sticking out IYSWIM.

Thursday night I walked from work to Primark (cheap tops needed for my hols), I went via St James's, Green and Hyde Parks which meant there weren't too many people getting in my way. I didn't think it through though as I work from home on Fridays so had to do the 2.7 miles with a rucksack on my back containing my laptop, leads and paperwork, and boy did I feel it towards the end.

This was my route, it took me 45 minutes, but I had a heavy rucksack and seemed to spend an inordinate amount of time at traffic lights.

I had done just under 4000 steps when I got to Primark. But then I forgot to take off my pedometer, and by the time I had got back to my house in Ashford I'd done over 7500, which was a bit of a surprise. The side of my foot was a bit sore, but that may have something to do with the fact I had lost my temper with the residing blister and burst it and pulled the skin off. Oops. But a new one hadn't formed. Yay. I did also have that burning feeling in the balls of my feet when I got off the train, so I'm not sure if that is to do with the new liners, but if I have to wear 2 pairs of 1000 mile socks, then that's what I'll have to do.

Here are the mandatory pictures. One of the remains of snowmen left in St James Park

One of the frozen lake in St James. Not a sight you will see very often.Then as I was waiting at a crossing between Green Park and Hyde Park I turned round and realised what a nice picture the arch made, and then realised that I look at all the lovely views in front of me but forget the ones behind me. Note to self - turn round more often LOL.

Stop Press! Trainer Update

Ok, so it's not actually THAT exciting, but still, I said I would update on the trainer/blister situation.

I took my trainers back to the shop where I bought them, Run and Become, and explained my problem with the blister in the same place over and over. The lady I spoke to was REALLY helpful. She asked me to put the trainers back on and walk up and down in them a couple of times. Firstly, she re-laced my trainers from the usual criss-cross to some complicated weaving type lacing. To stop my trainers rubbing I had just been pulling the laces tighter and tighter and this was just making my guiders ache. So, the new way brings the laces further round my ankle for more support, but also allows them to be looser over the front.

Then she explained that, although the trainers I have had support in them to correct my ankles, I was still pronating over the top of that support, tipping the side of my foot into the side of the trainer and causing the friction. Unfortunately, the trainers I have are the ones with the most support in them so my only option was a pair of £24 orthotic liners.

She put them in the trainers for me and I had a walk in them and could definitely tell the difference. I couldn’t even feel the blister I currently have. So she then said if I could produce a receipt for the original trainers, I could have them for free. So she put them to one side and I went back with a receipt the next day and got them. I haven’t tried them out yet but will do at the weekend. I sincerely hope they do the trick.

Whilst I was there I had a look at bumbags as well and have bought one for £15. It looks like it should fit everything I want to carry on the night.

18th January - Home to the gym

This weekend I went for a walk in Ashford. My husband was off to the gym, so I thought I could walk there from our house and meet him for a sauna/steam room. I also thought I would try walking in my cheap trainers that I use for the gym – not a blister!

This was my route

I went down a road opposite my estate which I have never been down before. Because I spend a large proportion of my time in London, I probably know my way around Central London better than I know my way around Ashford, and I’m hoping my Moonwalk training will help to rectify that situation. The walk was 3.4 miles (I think) and took me an hour and 10 minutes, however, it probably took that long because a) I got lost when I realised the way I was heading wasn’t actually going to get me back on to the main road, b) I then ended up on the muddiest path EVER jumping from side to side and sliding backwards further than I was jumping forwards, and c) getting back on to the main road not that far in to the walk and deciding I was knackered.

However, I did find Singleton Lake, which I didn’t even know existed until last week. Look at this
And all within 15 minutes walk of my house. I am shameful. Anyway. I got back on the main road and walked along that, up the dual carriageway (Ashford has more hills than London!) and down to the motorway roundabout. That took some crossing, and then I was on to the leisure park where the gym is. I timed it quite well as I’d only been in reception for 5 mins when Steve (my husband) came out of the gym and we went through for a relaxing sauna and steam room.

I’m taking my trainers back to the shop where I bought them from in the week to get some advice on what to do with them, I’ll keep you posted.

15th January - River/Pimlico/Victoria

I went on my first proper walk of the new year today. As in, more than 3 miles and dressed for the part. Here is the route I took and I went out on my lunch.

The weather was quite dry and not too cold so pretty good considering the recent weather we have had. I walked 3.4 miles and it took me dead on an hour which was pretty good I think. Didn’t really see much interesting as I was walking through residential areas and shops, and missed one of the turns on the route and had to go down a parallel road past Victoria Train Station. Too many people – aaargh!

I did take a photo of the chess board flats near my work though, I’m not sure if they have any particular significance, I just think they are weird.

I am, though, a little cheesed off, because I went out in my trainers and I have got yet another blister in exactly the same place as all the rest and I am really at a loss at what to do now. I did last week’s walk in my crocs as it was an impromptu one, and not one blister did I see on my feet. I’d do the whole flippin walk in my crocs if I didn’t know how bad it was for my ankles. My left foot is absolutely fine, it’s just the inside of my right heel which gets the blisters, and it had all healed up over Christmas so it wasn’t weak or anything. And it’s not rubbing either, so the 1000 mile socks aren’t making any difference. I honestly don’t know what the problem is. I think I’m going to have to go back to the shop I bought the trainers from and ask them for advice, and possibly end up shelling out for more. Which will annoy me because a) I can’t afford it, and b) apart from this one thing, they are perfect. As it stands though, I can’t walk 26 miles in them. HELP!!

First walk of the New Year

Unless you count the mile in and mile out of work each day.

Today I met two other Moonwalkers, which was quite exciting. They are both members of the Facebook group for the Moonwalk, one from the next estate to me, and another from Hythe. It's made it all seem a little more real somehow. Eek!

We met at a coffee shop at the Ashford Designer Outlet and had a couple of drinks before Amanda had to leave, and myself and Diane walked home. Diane walked a third of the route with me before branching off to go to her own house. So I walked 2.6 miles in 40 minutes. Not bad for saying how long it is since I did and walk and the absolutely freezing temperatures. I just need to get in to some sort of proper training routine now.

And here is the route that I did

and as promised to myself, the photo a walk I will be taking. As it was dark there wasn't much to take photos of, other than the grass on the edge of my estate just to prove how cold it really was!

Happy New Year!

Just wanted to say Happy New Year to anyone reading. I've swapped my sore throat for a cold, but fresh air is good for colds so I'd best start some training again.

I've definitely put some weight on over christmas so hopefully the walking will help to shift it. The prolonged time off has also helped my blisters all heal. I've been sporadically putting surgical spirit on my feet which seems to be making a bit of difference so may well try and do that regularly.

On Saturday I am meeting up with another Moonwalker who I don't yet know. She lives on the estate next to me, and we got in contact via the Facebook Moonwalk group. We may even do the walk together as we are both doing it on our own. The power of the internet is a wonderful thing.

Now where did I leave my trainers...