A lot!
This hasn't been just about training for a walk. For me, this has been almost a journey of self discovery - sorry for the cliche!
I've learnt things about myself that I never knew before. Spending hours out walking on your own, no computers, no phones etc, gives you time to think. And to reassess your life and what direction you're heading.
I've got fitter and healthier, and have developed a love for the outdoors. Something I've never really had before.
I've achieved something that even that day, I didn't think I would achieve. Proved to myself that I could do it - and to everyone else who doubted me.
I've seen parts of Jersey (and now Guernsey) that I've never seen before. Spoken to people I would never have met.
Photos from my journey can be found here
If you've been reading this, then thank you. And I hope you've enjoyed it. It was initially meant more as a diary, so that I could look back and remember the journey I have taken to get here.
Monday, 6 June 2011
The Aftermath
Walk completed.
Now what?
Beer! Straight into the pub for a very cold pear cider. I really really wanted it. But I was too exhausted so it didn't go down as well as I had hoped it would.
Then home for a long soak in the bath. Once I could lift my legs high enough to get into the damn thing! This was when I realised how much I was aching, and just how tired I was.
But bath, takeaway and a few glasses of wine later, I felt more relaxed and more human. Time for bed. I would sleep well.
Woke up early Sunday - every time I rolled over in bed I hurt. Not agonisingly, but I was aching. A lot. I found a couple of blisters on my feet, but nothing horrendous. Also found some comedy tan lines on my legs - the ones that never ever go brown <sigh> So Sunday was definitely a day of rest, taking it easy - and sleeping all afternoon as I was so exhausted!
On to Monday - the day that I was told I would feel worst. Only I woke up and felt fine. Still aching a little. but did the school run (walk) in normal time, and back again. Went for a few hours at a spa as a treat, very relaxing sauna, jacuzzi and massage. Had a little retail therapy in the afternoon - well I did deserve it. I had walked round an island after all!
And what now? Now I keep being asked when I'm doing the Jersey one (which is in two weeks). All from people who have never walked either. Apparently it's not enough that I've walked one. Most frustrating.......
It's like childbirth though - straight after you're adamant never again. Only you do. I am secretly contemplating the Jersey one in two weeks time. But if I do attempt it, I won't be telling anyone.
Now what?
Beer! Straight into the pub for a very cold pear cider. I really really wanted it. But I was too exhausted so it didn't go down as well as I had hoped it would.
Then home for a long soak in the bath. Once I could lift my legs high enough to get into the damn thing! This was when I realised how much I was aching, and just how tired I was.
But bath, takeaway and a few glasses of wine later, I felt more relaxed and more human. Time for bed. I would sleep well.
Woke up early Sunday - every time I rolled over in bed I hurt. Not agonisingly, but I was aching. A lot. I found a couple of blisters on my feet, but nothing horrendous. Also found some comedy tan lines on my legs - the ones that never ever go brown <sigh> So Sunday was definitely a day of rest, taking it easy - and sleeping all afternoon as I was so exhausted!
On to Monday - the day that I was told I would feel worst. Only I woke up and felt fine. Still aching a little. but did the school run (walk) in normal time, and back again. Went for a few hours at a spa as a treat, very relaxing sauna, jacuzzi and massage. Had a little retail therapy in the afternoon - well I did deserve it. I had walked round an island after all!
And what now? Now I keep being asked when I'm doing the Jersey one (which is in two weeks). All from people who have never walked either. Apparently it's not enough that I've walked one. Most frustrating.......
It's like childbirth though - straight after you're adamant never again. Only you do. I am secretly contemplating the Jersey one in two weeks time. But if I do attempt it, I won't be telling anyone.
Saturday, 4 June 2011
The walk......
This part has been written retrospectively, I had better things to worry about when I was walking than blogging!
Started off at 4.30am at the harbour. Sunrise was 4.06 so it was still pretty dark, just starting to get light. It wasn't long before we started the climb up to the cliff paths. That was a shock to the system, would've been nice to get into a steady pace first, but it was also good to get the cliff paths out of the way first.
As the sun came up, it started to get really warm - and it was still so early! I had factor 50 on, but was starting to worry about just how hot it was going to get. Luckily, by 7am it had clouded over and was much cooler.
The sunrise itself looked fantastic. Much better than the pictures show. Out of the two, I much prefer sunsets, but there is no way I was planning on being still walking at sunset!
Guernseys cliffs are on the south coast, the rest of the island is pretty flat, and we were walking clockwise so once the cliff paths were out of the way, the second half of the walk was pretty flat all the way.
But first I had to tackle the cliff paths. I really didn't think I'd make it across them. So many steps, both up and down. This part of the walk was slow, and hard. It took me 3.5 hours to do the first 8 miles. I had walked Jerseys north coast before, and it was tough, but it didn't compare to Guernsey's south coast. Whoever it was that told me this walk would be easier, lied! The 10 miles or so of cliff paths in Guernsey involved almost constantly going up and down steps. Some of those steps were 2 feet up. Consequently I was jarring my knees and hips all the time. I can cope with steep climbs up ramps etc, but steps really do kill me.
There were times when I felt like I was going to fall back down one of the many sets of steps. Times when I thought they'd have to send the helicopter in to get me as I just couldn't climb any more steps.
But then I got to a water stop and was told that it was now an hour to the half way point and pretty much flat all the way. Which meant the cliff paths were almost over! Maybe I could walk a little further then.
At this point, I was going to get to the next checkpoint, at the end of the cliffs and stop. My legs had had enough. I wasn't fit enough to do this walk and had underestimated just how hard it was going to be.
I got to the 3rd checkpoint at about 11am, 6 and a half hours into the walk. And about 18 miles - the half way point. I was so happy to have got this far. Had a delivery of a very welcome bacon roll, tended to my now sore feet and started off again.
I had company for a mile or so now, which was good - chatting took my mind off how sore my legs and especially my left hip was - I had realised that I naturally lead with my left foot when I'm on stairs. This meant that is was my left knee and hip that was taking the most strain, and my hip was hurting. A lot.
Whilst I was glad to be off those horrendous cliff paths, they were at least interesting. Now the rest of the walk was flat. It was cloudy still, but now the wind was picking up too. The view was grey and miserable. Which really didn't help to spur me on. Now was the time for painkillers to help my hip, and for loud music - My Chemical Romance was just what I needed at this point!
Now, it was a case of just making it to the next checkpoint. That was all I could focus on. I couldn't think about ever getting to the finish line. Or even making it out alive at some points. It was hard. I wanted to cry. I wanted to curl up in a ball and go to sleep. It was then I realised that today was the day my stubbornness was a strength rather than a weakness. It was my stubbornness that kept me going when my head and my body was telling me to stop.
It seemed forever in between check points. I had no clue what time it was or how fast I was walking. I got to checkpoint 5 at around 3pm. This was at the top of the island and meant I had walked 29 miles, and had 10/11 left to go. Now the sun was back out again and it was really hot. I was going through fluids very quickly, was hurting, and needed sleep.
I had some more company from a friend so we chatted about 'stuff'. I have no idea what, I'm not sure I could string a sentence together but on I walked.
I reached the last checkpoint at about 4.45pm. 4 miles left to go at this point. The end was in sight. Whilst I was in a lot of pain, and was very tired, I was in much better shape than a lot of people. I wasn't limping and didn't have many blisters. It could have been a lot worse.
That last stretch back into town, was probably the longest. It was really hot, I had been walking for 12 hours, with only 5/10 min breaks at some of the checkpoints for food etc. My bag seemed to weigh a ton, and my legs felt heavy.
For the last 2 miles or so, I was walking around the bay, and so could see the finish line ahead of me. I think that really helped as I knew I was almost there. That quickened my pace and I found a last minute burst of energy - I wanted to get to that finish line as soon as possible!
When I got to the end, there were people cheering and clapping, there were balloons everywhere and I nearly collapsed on the spot.
I had made it.
Given I had wanted to give up before I even reached the half way point, to have actually completed it was a major shock - I really didn't think I could do it.
But I did. And I have the medal to prove it. It took me 13.5 hours I think in the end. But I finished it.
Started off at 4.30am at the harbour. Sunrise was 4.06 so it was still pretty dark, just starting to get light. It wasn't long before we started the climb up to the cliff paths. That was a shock to the system, would've been nice to get into a steady pace first, but it was also good to get the cliff paths out of the way first.
As the sun came up, it started to get really warm - and it was still so early! I had factor 50 on, but was starting to worry about just how hot it was going to get. Luckily, by 7am it had clouded over and was much cooler.
The sunrise itself looked fantastic. Much better than the pictures show. Out of the two, I much prefer sunsets, but there is no way I was planning on being still walking at sunset!
Guernseys cliffs are on the south coast, the rest of the island is pretty flat, and we were walking clockwise so once the cliff paths were out of the way, the second half of the walk was pretty flat all the way.
But first I had to tackle the cliff paths. I really didn't think I'd make it across them. So many steps, both up and down. This part of the walk was slow, and hard. It took me 3.5 hours to do the first 8 miles. I had walked Jerseys north coast before, and it was tough, but it didn't compare to Guernsey's south coast. Whoever it was that told me this walk would be easier, lied! The 10 miles or so of cliff paths in Guernsey involved almost constantly going up and down steps. Some of those steps were 2 feet up. Consequently I was jarring my knees and hips all the time. I can cope with steep climbs up ramps etc, but steps really do kill me.
There were times when I felt like I was going to fall back down one of the many sets of steps. Times when I thought they'd have to send the helicopter in to get me as I just couldn't climb any more steps.
But then I got to a water stop and was told that it was now an hour to the half way point and pretty much flat all the way. Which meant the cliff paths were almost over! Maybe I could walk a little further then.
At this point, I was going to get to the next checkpoint, at the end of the cliffs and stop. My legs had had enough. I wasn't fit enough to do this walk and had underestimated just how hard it was going to be.
I got to the 3rd checkpoint at about 11am, 6 and a half hours into the walk. And about 18 miles - the half way point. I was so happy to have got this far. Had a delivery of a very welcome bacon roll, tended to my now sore feet and started off again.
I had company for a mile or so now, which was good - chatting took my mind off how sore my legs and especially my left hip was - I had realised that I naturally lead with my left foot when I'm on stairs. This meant that is was my left knee and hip that was taking the most strain, and my hip was hurting. A lot.
Whilst I was glad to be off those horrendous cliff paths, they were at least interesting. Now the rest of the walk was flat. It was cloudy still, but now the wind was picking up too. The view was grey and miserable. Which really didn't help to spur me on. Now was the time for painkillers to help my hip, and for loud music - My Chemical Romance was just what I needed at this point!
Now, it was a case of just making it to the next checkpoint. That was all I could focus on. I couldn't think about ever getting to the finish line. Or even making it out alive at some points. It was hard. I wanted to cry. I wanted to curl up in a ball and go to sleep. It was then I realised that today was the day my stubbornness was a strength rather than a weakness. It was my stubbornness that kept me going when my head and my body was telling me to stop.
It seemed forever in between check points. I had no clue what time it was or how fast I was walking. I got to checkpoint 5 at around 3pm. This was at the top of the island and meant I had walked 29 miles, and had 10/11 left to go. Now the sun was back out again and it was really hot. I was going through fluids very quickly, was hurting, and needed sleep.
I had some more company from a friend so we chatted about 'stuff'. I have no idea what, I'm not sure I could string a sentence together but on I walked.
I reached the last checkpoint at about 4.45pm. 4 miles left to go at this point. The end was in sight. Whilst I was in a lot of pain, and was very tired, I was in much better shape than a lot of people. I wasn't limping and didn't have many blisters. It could have been a lot worse.
That last stretch back into town, was probably the longest. It was really hot, I had been walking for 12 hours, with only 5/10 min breaks at some of the checkpoints for food etc. My bag seemed to weigh a ton, and my legs felt heavy.
For the last 2 miles or so, I was walking around the bay, and so could see the finish line ahead of me. I think that really helped as I knew I was almost there. That quickened my pace and I found a last minute burst of energy - I wanted to get to that finish line as soon as possible!
When I got to the end, there were people cheering and clapping, there were balloons everywhere and I nearly collapsed on the spot.
I had made it.
Given I had wanted to give up before I even reached the half way point, to have actually completed it was a major shock - I really didn't think I could do it.
But I did. And I have the medal to prove it. It took me 13.5 hours I think in the end. But I finished it.
So this is it!
It's 3am. Only time I've seen 3am before is when I'm drunk and just crawling into bed, not when I'm about to walk 40 miles.
What am I doing?
What am I doing?
Friday, 3 June 2011
The Adventure begins
Just arrived in Guernsey. First time I've ever been here.
The plane was an experience! Tiny 15 seater plane, that felt like you were sat in the back of an old car - bench seats in rows of 2, that flipped forward to let people in the back. Very odd!
Flight itself only lasted 10 mins, and we could pretty much see land at all times. The plane was so light and it was pretty windy over Guernsey, so the landing was.... interesting.... shall we say. The pilot did really well to land us as well as he did given how much the plane was being blown about by the wind!
So now, time for food and maybe some wine. Early start tomorrow......
The plane was an experience! Tiny 15 seater plane, that felt like you were sat in the back of an old car - bench seats in rows of 2, that flipped forward to let people in the back. Very odd!
Flight itself only lasted 10 mins, and we could pretty much see land at all times. The plane was so light and it was pretty windy over Guernsey, so the landing was.... interesting.... shall we say. The pilot did really well to land us as well as he did given how much the plane was being blown about by the wind!
So now, time for food and maybe some wine. Early start tomorrow......
This time tomorrow
I'll (hopefully) be four hours into the walk. And hopefully will have tackled most of the more difficult cliffpaths.
Hopefully anyway !
For those that think this is an easy walk, that Guernsey is tiny, yes Guernsey is tiny. Hardly noticeable on the BBC weather map. But this walk is comparable to walking from Birmingham to Stoke or from South London to Brighton. According to google maps anyway!
Hopefully anyway !
For those that think this is an easy walk, that Guernsey is tiny, yes Guernsey is tiny. Hardly noticeable on the BBC weather map. But this walk is comparable to walking from Birmingham to Stoke or from South London to Brighton. According to google maps anyway!
Thursday, 2 June 2011
Time to pack
Well in less than 24 hours time, I'll be in Guernsey, getting ready to start the Itex (probably getting drunk to be honest - maybe the alcohol will numb the blisters?)
I'm putting off packing though as that will make it all seem real. Just how many blister plasters and paracetamol am I going to need?
And why am I doing this again? Can someone remind me what on earth was going through my head when I came up with this stupid idea??
I realised today, everyone else seems to have no doubts that I can do this. Or maybe they're just humouring me? I have no idea if I can finish it or not. And at the moment, I'm not sure I'm bothered if I do or not. At the very least, I've seen parts of Jersey that I've never seen before while I've been out training. I've had time to think, and ponder about my life and where it's heading. I've learnt more about myself over the last few months while doing this than I probably ever have. I really can't remember the original reason for me wanting to do this, but I'm glad I did decide to do it.
Even if I don't get off the starting line, I've still gained from this experience and am a better person for it.
Right, I better go pack!
I'm putting off packing though as that will make it all seem real. Just how many blister plasters and paracetamol am I going to need?
And why am I doing this again? Can someone remind me what on earth was going through my head when I came up with this stupid idea??
I realised today, everyone else seems to have no doubts that I can do this. Or maybe they're just humouring me? I have no idea if I can finish it or not. And at the moment, I'm not sure I'm bothered if I do or not. At the very least, I've seen parts of Jersey that I've never seen before while I've been out training. I've had time to think, and ponder about my life and where it's heading. I've learnt more about myself over the last few months while doing this than I probably ever have. I really can't remember the original reason for me wanting to do this, but I'm glad I did decide to do it.
Even if I don't get off the starting line, I've still gained from this experience and am a better person for it.
Right, I better go pack!
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