Wednesday 13 March 2013

Next Adventure..

The girls have decided that I will be picking the next adventure so stay tuned to the research....

While I am doing this and waiting for the next challenge, I have signed up to play soccer in an Over 30's Women's Team...now this may just make for very interesting blogging! My first training session is tomorrow night.

My aim over the coming months is to rid myself of those canteen lady arms and try to tone up my legs...how am I going to wear shorts for soccer?? how can I hide them???

Watch this space!

Is 3 weeks of training enough?

So the question is did I survive? The short answer is there is no short answer and it is how you look at it.

As I sat on the couch and started typing this post almost a week after the walk my toes were swollen and throbbing along with my heal and ankles.... Thankfully however, the preparation of my feet has meant that I have no blisters and am able to walk!

It is now almost two weeks since the walk and I would say I am great. My feet are no longer swollen and my legs are not aching!

So how did the walk go....well the weather was diabolical. The weather began with rain and our feet were wet for the whole 50km. The majority of beaches were closed not only for swimming but also for walking on. The only plus to this was that I didn't have to walk along Narrabeen beach...the part of the walk that I was dreading the most!

The ladies I walked with amazing and kept me going for the whole 50kms. Even through the stages when the wind was so powerful that I felt that I was walking on only one leg as the wind had practically toppled me over! The rain pelted at the side of my face at times like someone was pelting rice at high speed! Ouch!

When we eventually made it to the 25km mark we were hoping and praying that maybe the weather would be bad enough to cancel the event....no it wasn't.

After a socks and shoe change, clothes change (it was like taking off wet swimmers)and some yummy chicken and avocado sandwiches, we were off again. The fuel in our bellies and the 73 people who had sponsored us over $4000 made us soldier on to finish the task we had set for ourselves.

After the 25km stop we were all very happy to have dry socks and shoes on. This however lasted only 1km as we waited for a light change, a bus splashed water from their lane causing us to be once again in wet socks.

We eventually finished the walk and were all very glad that we weren't this year doing the full 100km. Below are some photos that I took on our way. There weren't many as the weather for the majority of time was too bad to take photos...

This woman was ahead of us at the start of the walk. The walk begins along Palm Beach and about 500m there is a section where everyone has to in single file walk up a set of stairs. Normally this would take 5 minutes. This took us half an hour....not happy Jan! The reason for this was not clear until we got to this section where you can see this woman infront of me. She was trying to dodge the puddles- Really? It is pouring rain there is no stopping getting wet. I wanted to say to her Suck it UP Princess you haven't even done 1km yet!

This woman had also handed over her backpack that had her shoes in it to her team mates as she had a bad back???? As soon as we could we got past this woman as I do not believe I was able to listen to her winge any longer. If you can't carry your own back pack 500m into the walk how are you going to walk 49 and half kms?

The rest of the photos show the signs up on the beaches. One of the pictures attempts to show the drop of the sand which was taller then me!




Wednesday 27 February 2013

2 Sleeps to go!

Ok I can't believe the three weeks has gone so quickly. It only seems like yesterday I started my "training" and was beaten by my 2 year old on his balance bike. So how do I feel? I am not sure if I am going to be able to do it but will try my hardest. At last count my team the Flying Foxes have raised enough money to save the eyesight of 120 people! That is truly amazing. It is hard to believe that it is only $25 to restore someone's eyesight. A big thank you to all those that did sponsor us it gives us a What amazing work the Fred Hollows Foundation does. And what an amazing legacy that Fred Hollows left behind. http://www.hollows.org.au/get-involved Today I got my boots out and need to remember to find my walking sticks as I am not going to survive the beach walk without them. The weather forecast doesn't look great for Friday but I need to just Suck it Up Princess as it is not like I am used to walking long distances in good weather. So watch this space to see how it all goes.....

Monday 25 February 2013

Support my trek to end avoidable blindness!

Support my trek to end avoidable blindness!

Last Chance Training!

So on Saturday it rained and it rained and it rained! Perfect for training!?!....well seeings as evertime we do a walk it has rained what is a little bit of rain when I am training. Anyway this little princess decided that she needed to go anyway. There wasn't much rain when I first started my shuffle/ walk....but there was a lot of wind. Then the rain did get heavier.

Just suck it up I kept saying to myself. I even kept going when a branch hit me in the head (well it was just some leaves!) I still can't run all the way up the hills but I would get half way and then walk a few steps and run again. So progress...just not what I was looking for. I think I must look like one of those cartoon characters that has their legs spinning around but they aren't moving! The rain was starting to annoy me. The pelicans and seagulls were even trying to hide their heads as far as they could. I was ready to give up but then it stopped. It was then I realised what a beautiful place I live in and how lucky I am to be here. As I attempted to run along the waterfront I decided to take a moment and do some lunges. The chair I was near had a dedication to Nola who walked along the waterfront every day. I took some time to stop and look out onto the water.

The best part was the stillness and it was so quiet (proberly because no one else was silly enough to be out in such crazy weather). I made it back home to a shower and the mad witching hour!! On Sunday I decided that I should look at my gear. I found my gators which is good as they will keep out that sand along the beach from hell! I did find all the girls ones too oops! Then off to the chemist to stock up on blister packs, blister spray and chaffing cream.

The last walk we did I was the only one that didn't get blisters but did have chaffing where my pack rubbed. So am going to trial some chaffing cream so will let you know how I go. I chose 3B Action Cream...because of the ad. From experience the only blister plasters to have are COMPEED® Blister They stay on unlike some of the cheaper ones. This link will also give some good advice on how to prevent blisters. The other pointer is to wear wicking tops so that you aren't completely soaked. Your socks also need to be mainly wool as sythetic socks will rub and the friction will cause blisters! If only I knew more about the exercise part!! 4 Sleeps to go!

COMPEED® Blister

COMPEED® Blister After much trial and error these are the only blister patches. Other brands don't stay on. These ones ensured that I could finish my 50km walk. This link will also give some good advice on blister prevention.

Friday 22 February 2013

It's raining!

This morning as I woke up to the rain it brought memories back about the 100km we completed last year and the 50km we had done in the blue Mountains the year before. The next thought was this time next week we will be finished the coast trek. So what will the weather be like next week? Will I make it this time? In a panic yesterday I did ring my sister and told her that I don't think that I have done nearly enough training and that I may not this time finish. I really need to work on my head space and think I can do this. Today I need to get all my gear out and check what I need to get. Walking sticks will be my saviour on the stairs and the beach so I need to remember where I put these vital instruments.... Vaseline have I got enough and my magic blister stop spray. Oh and I should go for a walk and some hill sprints! Massage.....now that is definitely what I need. OK I have looked up the 7 day forecast....and yes it looks like rain. It is also forecast for rain for the next week, so even if it doesn't rain during the actual event the ground will be soggy! Thank goodness we aren't doing the whole 100km. Last time as we walked through bush at night time it was too hard to see where you were walking as a result we sank into a lot of muddy puddles! So keep tuned!

Tuesday 19 February 2013

Support my trek to end avoidable blindness!

Support my trek to end avoidable blindness!

There are only 2 weeks to go and I desperately need sponors. My trek will save the eyesight of people for only $25...a very good cause. I will once again be getting up early to try and get my fitness up. I am already tired from a late night at parent teacher night and have more interviews Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. I need to tune into my inner goddess or in my case she needs a serious jump start! At least I can notice a difference in my clothes, even if no one else can. And yes I can hear you Kate....Suck it Up Princess!

Saturday 16 February 2013

No Hills Today

Liz and I meet yesterday morning at a reasonable hour for a change at her house. During the week I had recieved an email from one of my fabulous Flying Foxes team mates to say that it had been recommended to start tapering the training and not to go too hard.....not sure if they have seen my training I think it may be best to keep moving! We decided to take it a bit easy and do the Bay walk. I decided to listen to the advice of the Coastrek....it really had nothing to do with the wine that was consumed the night before. It was very nice to just walk without having to do any running. Liz is also great to go with because she walks fast, so technically I am jogging?? maybe not. The thing however I don't like about the bay walk is how rude people can be. Is it not the unwritten rule to stay to your left.....not be three people across a small walking path! At one of the narrow parts of the walk where it is only one person can go through or you are on the road. A really rude woman who was running past the same way us, pushed past us and nearly collided with a dad and his two kids who were on scooters. I stopped and let them through he said thanks after he had rolled his eyes. Seriously did that lady think the kids should go on the road to let her past! Anyway my job today is getting all the things ready that I will need to prevent blisters! After our last walk (the 100kms)I didn't get any blisters, unlike my team mates. I did however have a black toe for at least 6 months! Not pretty. Therefore I need to make sure I have all the necessities- the right socks, lots of vaseline and a spray that prevents blisters by putting a waterproof layer on it. More on all that later.

Tuesday 12 February 2013

Suck it Up Princess

Yes this is what I was thinking this morning when my alarm went off at 5:15am. Pitch black outside, maybe even a pitter patter of rain.

Suck it Up Princess is what I said to that little voice in my head. I even ignored it as I thought I could just sleep a little longer....what made me get up was the fact that I had arranged to meet my friend Liz. I don't think she would be impressed with me if she was left standing in the pitch black of the morning on a street corner...

Anyway so up I got dressed all the time thinking in my head, it's all good I will am a lot fitter then when I started this mad escapade. I had visions of me running all the way to where we planned to meet.

So out the door I went and began my run/ shuffle/ unknown thing I do. All good. Then I just think to myself when you can run do you feel this pain and feeling like, if I keep going will my body fall into 100 pieces onto the ground??? or do they just suck up the pain/ discomfort and just get on with it.. or do you simply not even feel pain.

Maybe genetically I am incapable of running just like I am genetically incapable of peeing standing up without complete disaster. Whatever the story I walked for a bit and then thought I would run up the first hill I came to as I thought it would take Liz a bit longer to get to our meeting spot. Not because I am by any stretch of the imagination quicker but live a lot closer.

As I neared our meeting spot I could see her dark figure in the distance, damn she had beaten me. I did then find out that she had been there since 5:30am and had already run up and down the killer of a hill we had choosen. Oops I left at 5;30am. But on the bright side she had done one extra hill sprint then me!

We walked around the block till we got to the hill that we had, well I stupidly had chosen. Once again positive speak yes I can do this...suck it up princess don't over think it.....

I of course didn't make it to the top running but I did do a better job then I had the week before. Liz sailed ahead and even ran back nearer the top to meet me and together run to the top. I stopped 4 times from bottom to top. The second time we did the hill I only stopped two (maybe 3 none the less still an improvement in my mind)

In my mind now I know I can walk (thank goodness wont have to run any of the 50km) the majority of the event and hope that this pain of running will put me in better steads then when I started!

My next plan is training on soft sand as very painful memories of Narabeen beach take over my dreams. This part of the walk starts at the 19.5 km mark. Below are the instructions for this part of the walk.....

11. CHECKPOINT 5: North Narrabeen. The checkpoint is attached to the fence on your right in front of the surf club.





12. Suck it up, and walk along sand down Narrabeen Beach (Narrabeen and


Collaroy Beach are compulsory sand walking beaches) all the way south to Collaroy (after all, it is Coastrek!!!).

It may only be 3km however it is 3km of sheer hell. Walking in soft sand is equivalent to walking twice that!

I just have to remember that by me walking and by people sponsoring me I will help save the eyesight of a lot of people for a mere $25! Amazing really

So I will just have to Suck it Up Princess....stay tuned!


Monday 11 February 2013

How Long now?

Training yesterday well it didn't eventuate. I did have big plans to walk home from work then walk to pick up my boys from school and daycare.....but I went to see a friend who just had a little baby. By the time I got home and tended to the beasts I was exhausted!

I did however at work make a conscious effort to use the stairs at every chance I could get (well it is the only way I can get to my classroom but that is beside the point). Anyway I ran up and down them yesterday about 10 times over the course of the day. Surely this has to count towards the steps I need to do to actually walk 50km in less time then I would like....yes I know Suck it Up Princess!

Today I will try to do something- maybe weights?

Saturday 9 February 2013

Doing it

Talked myself into getting up this morning to do a training session by myself.

Yep! I can do this it is all good! Beautiful morning my legs are working and then there is the first hill to run! I am not sure what it is all about but I am negotiating with myself just keep going until you reach the silver car......getting closer to it....my mind Oh I really meant the red car. Why do I do this? 

In my rundown state, I did eventually make it up each hill (not running a bit of a mixture and not every hill...again negotiating with myself) but I did it. The worst thing as I was walking/ shuffling along was when a man aged 70 ran easily past me.... well that may be a lie he was probably older then that, I just was panting too much and he was hard to recognise as he flew past me!

I think I would much rather be sitting at the cafes eating breakfast....but alas I did make it. Even after the seagulls were circling me like vultures maybe thinking that I would fall down anytime soon as I ran up and down the sets of stairs down by the water front....

The Training So far!

Sunday 3rd February

Family bike ride. My two year old also wants to ride his bike so the decision is made that I will run and walk with him and Tony and JJ ride their bikes.

Seems good except when HP, my crazy two year old, can go faster on a balance bike then I can run.....not a good start but alas a start.

Monday 4th February

Email arrives...ok ssshhhh... I need to start training or plan on how to get out of this one.

Today's training......I did head training today.....yes of no real use at all. You would think I would know better as this time last year I was training for coastrek and stupidly had been talked into walking 100kms. After I had finished this I did make the comment that I would rather donate my eyes to Fred Hollows then walk 100km for his cause......

And yes I am once again doing a walk...what am I thinking?

Wednesday 6th February

Get up at 5:30am and meet a friend (skinny, and fit) at 6am. My friend runs to my place and then we begin to walk down hills and run up the next lot of hills. It takes me back to swimming days when the swimming coach referred to my sister's swimming style as a Mercedes and mine similar to that of a mini minor. Here again as I run next to well behind, the Mercedes and I am more like a ....






The training begins....

Panic!
Received an email last week reminding that there is only 3 weeks to go before my coastrek 50km walk......Arhhh 

How did I get myself into this you may ask? This I can not answer but just say it was a weak moment. I think I was probably looking in the mirror at the time or maybe had just had a second helping of something that I shouldn't of. Or didn't want to say no to my big sister!

Anyway whatever the reason I now have less then three weeks. This blog therefore is going to be about how to train for a 50km walk in less then three weeks.....how not to train for a 50km walk!