I saw Guernsey today.

Headed over to St Ouen's bay for dinner tonight and it was a pretty clear evening so I could see Guernsey, Sark, Herm etc.

I dunno what I'm worried about, Guernsey looks tiny from where I was stood.  and all flat.  This is going to be a doddle. ha!

A week to go.....

well this time next week, the Itex will be over.  I'll either have finished or bombed out.  It will either be the worst thing or the best thing I've ever done.  And at the moment, I really don't know which way it will go.  I have no clue if I am fit enough to complete such a long walk.  In fact, I'm not even sure it's about fitness, but more mind over matter, determination, stamina.  I'm pretty stubborn, so maybe I'm stubborn enough not to give up?

What worries me is that I'm now walking it on my own.  I did have a walking buddy, but he's now injured and the last thing I want is for his injury to be made worse because he's supporting me on my challenge.  So I'm now doing it solo, which is a little daunting if I'm honest.  I know there will be plenty of people doing the walk and I'll get to meet lots of them on the walk, but it's not the same as having a walking partner, being able to encourage each other and push each other onto the finishing line.

One of my colleagues at work is walking both the Guernsey and Jersey Itex's.  And he's planning on walking them both in 24 hours total.  Which works out at 16 mins a mile!  On cliff paths!  So, needless to say, I'm not planning on walking with him.  I have no target time to complete this walk in.  I will just be over the moon to finish at all, whether it takes me 12 hours or 20 hours.  I'm secretly hoping for more like 12 hours though!

My new pedometer arrived in the week, so I figured I better test it today.  Only I'm not sure I set it up properly. The walk I did today was 10.5 miles, only the pedometer thinks I walked 7.5.  So something not right there.  And apparently I walked 25000 steps - that's a fair amount of steps!!

Today I walked the east coast, from my house, out along the east coast round to Rozel in the north east.  Not fantastic weather initially, looked like it was going to chuck it down, but I figured I can't choose the weather on the Itex so had better get used to the rain.  But it actually didn't really rain much.  It was very overcast and gloomy, but pretty warm at the same time.  I guess, if the weather is like that next weekend then it'll be good conditions for the walk.

Oh My God.  The itex is now less than a week away.  What the hell have I let myself in for?  I have to be a total lunatic.

Combat here we come....

Second every combat class today and I am now officially 'into' combat.  I love it.

Last week I spent most of the class trying to work out what the difference was between an upper cut and a jab and a hook, and trying to keep up with the pace.  And my arms, shoulders and back ached for about 2 days afterwards.

This week, I was prepared.  And I actually managed to keep up, and enjoy it.  In fact, I really enjoyed it and want to do more than one a week.  I didn't ache after this weeks class either, even though I put a lot more effort into it as I was getting the hang of the routines.....

Spinning

Oh my god, who the hell invented spinning?  how on earth does anyone find it enjoyable???

I went to my first and last spinning class today.  I absolutely hated it.  It just seemed the complete opposite of what cycling should be.  there were around 20 bikes in a small room, lights dimmed, music banging, and then the lights started flashing on and off to the music.

And we're supposed to cycle for an hour, with differing resistances on the bike.  Sometimes standing up, sometimes seated.

It killed me.  I felt physically sick and lightheaded.

I'm told everyone hates it the first time - so why on earth do they go back??  Bring on combat tomorrow night......

Last week the south coast, this week the north coast......

So the other day I was talking to my friend about training for the Itex. The south coast challenge had been my initial focus but that was over now.  And I suddenly realised I had 3 weeks to go before the Itex!

Panic!

My friend casually said, 'why don't you walk the north coast this weekend?'  What????  The north coast is where all the cliffs are.  It's much harder than the south coast - that's the easy part of the island.  This is real, hardcore walking.  Was I really up for walking that?  But then I realised I'd have to walk that and more in just a few weeks time.

I had every intention of getting up early and walking the whole of the north coast, from Grosnez in the north west, to Rozel in the north east.  But then I woke up late.  Didn't start walking until 10, but it was still achievable, I'd just finish later than intended.

I'd added a new app to my mobile. a gps walking 'thing' that tracked my distance, speed, location, altitute - the lot.  Very snazzy.  Only thing I hadn't factored in was that would drain the battery on my phone.  Two hours in and my battery was almost flat, and being a lone walker on the steep cliffs with no means of communication wasn't the best of ideas.  So the app got switched off, as did my email, facebook updates, weather updates - everything that could use the battery.  My smartphone was no longer smart - it was just a phone!  I can't remember the last time my mobile was 'just' a phone, nothing else.  ho hum.  Keep walking

Weather was good, sunny and warm. A little windy though but that just meant I didn't get too hot.  It wasn't as though there was anyone I needed to have nice hair for anyway - I wasn't trying to impress anyone!

Well, this walk ended up being around the same length as the south coast challenge last week, but so much harder.  The terrain was much rockier and there were a few times when I slipped and lost my footing.  The climbs were really steep and what looked like only a short distance, actually took ages due to the winding cliff paths.

But while I was walking, it dawned on me that my fitness levels were actually increasing.  Maybe the gym and the bit of exercise I'd been doing were actually paying off.  Climbs where before I was having to stop and rest half way, I was now completing with comparative ease (I'm not for one minute saying I was jogging up them in case that's what you're thinking).  But I can feel and see the difference.  My legs, hips and bum are definitely getting smaller (I'm just grateful they're not getting bigger!), and my stamina levels are on the increase.

As for the weight loss, the original reason for doing this.  Well I've lost only a pound or two over the last 2/3 months, and I'm still wearing the same size clothes, but those clothes fit better.  I feel better in myself as I can see my body is changing for the better.  My posture is better as I'm more conscious of how I'm standing.  So although I'm not technically losing weight, I'm still happy with the results.  And I keep telling myself that muscle weighs more than fat!

Anyway, back to the walking.  The original plan was to walk to Rozel.  A walk that would've been about 16/17 miles I think.  Because of my phone situation, I got as far as Bouley Bay, around a 12/13 mile distance I think.  Still a fair walk given the terrain I had covered.  I walked to the highest point in Jersey today, and back down the other side and then some. I have taken more photos today too, I never tire of taking photos of the Jersey landscape.  I look at it and just say wow!  I really do appreciate having the opportunity to live on such a beautiful island.

So that's the north coast almost cracked.  And looking at the maps I've been using, the length of cliff paths I walked today is more than the stretch of rugged terrain I will face in Guernsey in two weeks time.  Two weeks?  Is it really only two weeks away?  I still have no clue if I'll complete the walk.  Just the thought of it makes me want to bail out and take my friend up on her offer of a weekend in Sark.  At the moment, I'm sorely tempted I have to admit.  But, I know, if I don't at least attempt the Itex walk, I'll not forgive myself, it will mean all this work has been in vain.  And I know deep down that I can at least give this a very good go, if not complete it.  Whether I'll be able to walk afterwards is another matter.  Maybe I need to see if Boots have got blister plasters on 3 for 2........

finally succumbed to a combat class

I've had a few friends keep telling me I should try a combat class.  Apparently it's fantastic.  Best thing since sliced bread if you believe them.

I didn't believe them but figured I'd give it a go - just to shut my friends up you understand.

So there I was in my first exercise class for I don't know how long. Probably 10-15 years.  And there were a lot of people in there, some were pretty scary looking if I'm honest.

And then we were off.  An hour of what I can honestly say was the weirdest form of exercise I'd done before.  I'm not a violent person by any means so to be told to imagine we're 'punching his head in' repeatedly, was a little alien to me.  But I was there to give it a fair try, and I did.

My sense of rhythm isn't the greatest, but it's not the worst either.  I concentrated on trying to keep up with the class for most of it - it was pretty fast paced.  So I had no clue if I was supposed to be doing a jab, an upper cut, a cross, or something else entirely.  But I kept moving, kind of in time to the rest of the class.  And I was very hot at the end of it so I must've done something!

The next day, boy did my arms and shoulders hurt.  So maybe I was putting more effort into it than I thought I was?

Maybe it does work after all.  I think I shall have to try another class this week before I decide one way or the other.  But I think I'll have to learn to become a bit more aggressive if I'm going to really get into this class

The day after the walk.....

I booked today off work.  More because I didn't know how bad I'd be today.  How many blisters my new boots had given me.  How achey my unfit body would be.

Well i was up, took the little guy to school and then spent the day pottering.  Even managed a bike ride in the afternoon.  No blisters, no aches and pains at all.

Maybe I can do the Itex after all!

Although..... that's more than twice the distance I walked yesterday so maybe not.  I guess worse case scenario I can at least walk half the Itex - better than a lot of people manage!

South Coast Challenge has arrived

Today was the day. My first major walk in 20 years. I was a little nervous, understandably I think. Would I be able to keep up with the others? Would I even finish? Would I fall off a cliff and end up fish food? All of these things, and lots more were going through my mind as we set off.

I was walking with a group of 6 other girls. Some of them had done it before which was helpful. Only two of them had I met before, so the walk was full of get-to-know you chat and general girly banter - it was great!

The weather was perfect, sunny and warm, but with a breeze. So off we set. We quickly split into two groups, only a minute or so apart but we needed to keep to our own paces and that worked.

Five hours later, after a few stops to customise our horrible t-shirts etc, we arrived at Corbiere. A sense of achievement could be seen on all our faces. It's not the longest walk in the world by any means, and half of it was pretty flat, but it was still a good walk, with some very steep climbs in places. In fact, the motto of the day was 'think of the ass'. It was that that got us up some of those very steep climbs!

But at the end of the day, I had finished the walk, I had kept up with the group (in fact I'd been setting the pace for some of it), and I most definitely hadn't fallen off the cliff and ended up as fish food. Result! In addition to that, I had made some new friends, had seen some fantastic scenery (lots of photos taken), and accomplished something that I wouldn't have even contemplated a year ago. Such as lot has changed in a year. My life is totally unrecognisable.

My last training session

well today was my third and final training session. I am going to miss them to be honest. Work is pretty stressful at the moment, and the last thing I want to do is go work out at the gym, but actually having that appointment, and needing to keep it, is forcing me to go. And don't quote me on it, but I'm actually starting to enjoy going. I still have no clue what I'm doing with the machines, and most importantly, how to change channel. But I have a better idea of what exercises to be doing.

More upper body work today - there was no way I was doing leg work so close to the south coast challenge! More rowing, more weights, more pushups, more crunches, more weird exercises with an exercise ball etc etc. oh and don't forget the rowing which again I was told I was really good at.

The funny thing is, I can actually see/feel a difference now. Only a small one mind, but given I've only been going for a few weeks, then I'm quite impressed to be honest. I can see the difference in my arms, so I'm definitely keeping up with the arm weights. Bingo wings be gone!

And I can see a difference in my stamina too. I can go for longer periods on the machines now, at a quicker pace. All good stuff. My friends keep telling me to try a combat class. I'm not so sure on that one......

the South Coast Challenge is creeping up

As part of a prelude to the Itex in June, someone who shall remain nameless talked me into doing the South Coast Challenge. It's a 15 mile (18 with the cliffs) walk from La Rocque (SE Jersey), across to Corbiere (SW Jersey). Pretty flat for most of it, but with some cliffs for the second half. The walk is in aid of Jersey Mencap, a very worthwhile cause and I'll be doing it with a group of girls I've never met - well I know one of them pretty well, and have met another of them once. But it will be good practice for the Itex and it's always good to meet new people.

Anyway, this walk is creeping up on me. in fact it's next weekend. And my training to date has been minimal to say the least. I've walked around 8miles so far in my new boots. I've been wearing them to work (and don't they look fetching with my work clothes lol) etc, but how will I know when they're actually broken in??

So I figured it was time to get serious with this walking lark. I got hubbie to drop me off at Corbiere and figured I'd walk as far as I could and then call him to pick me up. Carry on walking until either my unfit body or my boots got the better of me.

Well I got all the way home. Which is only about 1.5/2 miles short of the SCC challenge route next week. So I guess that means the boots are broken in? maybe? oh I don't know! I didn't realise this walking lark could get so technical.

It is the first walk I've done on my own, and I absolutely loved it. The weather was dry, a little cloudy but fine for what I needed. On the way, I pondered life, the universe and everything else. I saw lizards, butterflies, pheasants, all sorts of things that I don't usually see when I'm walking to work. I had taken some music and my headphones with me, but it just didn't seem appropriate to drown out the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks, or the birds nesting, with the Kaiser Chiefs or Adele.

It was hard work, especially on the cliff paths, but I could literally feel the inches coming off my butt and thighs - fan-bloody-tastic! I'm really starting to enjoy this exercise lark.

And I'm going back for more because???

Second personal training session at the gym today. Grant seemed to find it highly amusing that my thighs hurt for 4 days after that first session. It'll get easier he tells me. But he's going to work me harder today.

Help!

This week we concentrated on my arms, shoulders and back. I was just happy it wasn't my thighs! It would appear that I'm good at rowing - very good speeds so I'm told. Shame I can't swim really isn't it! I just need to make sure work don't hear about my rowing skills else I'll get dragged into the Dragon Boat races in the summer. I'm much happier cheering from the sidelines.......