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...