I had an elaborate plan for today, a five mile walk , on the flat, to see how long it takes, I have a 5 mile race on 21 January and won't be able to run so wondering if I could build my walking up enough to walk it. I faffed around all morning, cut and coloured my hair, cleaned the kitchen and bathroom and soaked in a hot bath but eventually after popping to the nearest shop I was all ready.....uh oh, no headphones, pop back home to pick them up.
The sky was blue and all of a sudden I had a hankering for wide open spaces and green hills. Briefly thought I should pop home for trail shoes but knew, one more time in the front door and I'd never go.
Drove to the highest point I could, oh my goodness the car park is almost full, but there's space for me 😁..
And off I go, uphill but not too steep, the music is an old favourite of mine, Clifford T Ward, I used to be word perfect for almost every track.....turns out I almost still am, almost 50 years after I played the LP over and over, both my kids grew up to my off key singing but never seemed to mind.
So, I walk and I sing, up hill, down hill, sliding a bit in muddy patches, I got back near my car and it was only just over 7k. I looked back and thought about another loop round the woods and decided enough was enough. Clouds gradually hid the blue sky, I passed walkers, greeted all, several dogs stopped for a stroke on the way past. A few cyclists bravely peddling along the narrow chalky muddy tracks. One bouncy dog running alongside a young woman running passed me on a downward slope and it was so tempting to run.....but I was wearing jeans so I wouldn't run, so I didn't.
The sun through the clouds across the distant sea was a golden delight. The dew pond at the top was fuller than I've seen it for years which may be good.
Walk happy all
Written by
SueAppleRun
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I know.....I'll see how I get on after Wednesday, today was very slow but those hills are really steep and go on and on so I'll do a few flat walks. My legs feel fine though, parkrun yesterday and longish walk today 😁
That sounds like a lovely walk, but on a 5 mile walk on the flat you will be much quicker I think.
My most usual and preferred dog walks tend to be on very mixed terrain, in forests and valley or on the cliffs, including some quite steep hills. Most are around 4kms and that’s usually enough.. averaging around 15minutes per km so i do about an hour most days.
This week, as it happens, I’ve had two walks on the flat of a little over 5 miles each, because a friend I walk with has hurt her back. She said walking helps but she wanted to avoid hills and steps. I was surprised after the first one how far we had walked, and the same applied on the second one today.. I could have easily carried on walking further. Strava said we walked 8.53kms today at an average 13mins/km, so a bit quicker than I usually walk on more challenging terrain, even though it was a chatting walk rather than aiming for speed. I’m sure you will have no problem walking your race.
Thanks Sue, I was surprised how well I felt going up the hills, slow but just kept plodding up them, I'm going to see how I can get back to regular walking after Wednesday before I decide, I should be ok walking it and I don't mind coming last I just don't want to be last by ages.I can't wait for Wednesday to be over, the first one was more exciting but this one I just want it done and get back to normal
You will have good fitness for hills because of your running.. I’ve found that walking more hilly terrain regularly has gradually improved my Garmin fitness age and VO2max so I’m hoping that will help if I can ever start running again. 🤞
It won’t be long before the op is over and you will be running towards the springtime..☺️
I can easily on the flat, I meant to go along the seafront but the hills just called to me today , thanks, don't get them out yet, for the first op I was just really tired the first couple of weeks so it's in the balance.
🍏So many of us will identify with the faffing around bit 🤣I certainly did! Love your descriptions & awesome photos! I am sure that 5miler has your name on it. It won’t be the relaxed singing wonderful walk of today but you will be fuelled by adrenaline to complete it and you will!!
You have done really well. A five miler is definitely doable, and I reckon at a decent pace too. I hope it all goes well. Oh, and absolutely wonderful photos - thank you for sharing 😁
That’s sounds like a great walk. Don’t like the look of that cow. Hope you kept off that field. Don’t see many cows down in Funchal. They’re all up in the plateaus and mountains. Hope it starts to dry up in your end of the country and you’re not going to get the snow forecast for south.
I doubt we'll get snow here on the coast, but it is very cold. The cows were friendly enough, I grew up on a farm so ok with cows.... mind you, chickens are a different matter, they peck! 😂 How long are you in Funchal? I'm wishing I was back there, it's much warmer .
we have another week here. Weather warm but been raining heavy showers and doesn’t look promising this week. Weather can change quickly in Madeira so hopefully it does.
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That hill - it's done!
Snail Trail...getting longer...
