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.