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!
Wednesday 13 March 2013
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!
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
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!
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!
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