Lord of the Ring walking

Hiya,

Thought to give a little update on my walking challenge. Buying the Lord of the Rings challenges from Conqueror, I gave myself the challenge of doing them while walking. I don't run enough anymore / at the moment to do them running, so walking it is. That said, I hardly ever walk, so it is a true challenge I set myself of walking every day minimum 3 km. That way I should finish the 5 challenges of over 1000 km within 1 year.

I started last Friday and have walked every day since. Ooooh, that makes a whole 5 days *feel free to insert the sarcasm*. But I do have to admit, it has been heavy already. I overestimate my body, but I can't forget that I am not healthy. I'd like to think I have the body of a healthy 20 year old, but unfortunately that is not the case and what I am left with is actually the body of a 41 year old with rheumatic arthritis. Talked with my specialist yesterday and apparently the tiredness I always feel is not me being lazy, but an effect of the RA.

That said, I also had a heavy weekend with knocking a border into a grave (yes a grave) by hammer and dragging sacks of coco-wood of each 15 kg from the car over the cemetery to the grave. Combine that with slightly longer walks both on Saturday and Sunday and I was a wreck physically by the end of the weekend, which I mentally can't cope with. I want to do more!

Anyhow, continue and yesterday I walked home from the hospital (getting my 4-weekly IV) which was only 3,8 km but which did leave me knackered. I honestly have no idea, but maybe getting the IV also takes a toll on your body? Either way, I got up this morning with a body battery of 51%, eh say what?? Feeling like a dead man (woman) dragging her ass everywhere. Not even the fancy Macadamia Latté and piece of carrot cake I treated myself to during my lunch break have cheered my body up. On contrary even, the carrot cake was verrry good, but maybe a bit too much... *urp*.

How on earth am I going to drag this pathetic excuse of a body down another walk of minimum 3 km today? What have I put myself up to? *insert a big sight* I'll stop the self pity now, hoping my body will start coping and getting accustomed to the daily walks soon.

Cheers, Evy

[nowster Graduate10]

Are you into Buckland yet? 🤣

[Hidden in reply to nowster]

Only 19 km far so far, I think I have just left Hobbiton. Passed the Green Dragon on my way out 😜

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Evy, don’t beat yourself up so much, walk take it slow, RA is an awful thing to live with and you are amazing for not giving up and just sitting, 3.8k after IV of any sort is going to take its toll but you are over your personal daily target so you can just walk shorter today or tomorrow to give your body a bit of a break. I like the Lord of the Rings theme to your challenge

[Hidden in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thanks and I know I should not beat myself up over it. But I find it hard to accept I can't do as much as I want. I have RA since 10 years or so and besides in the beginning don't suffer any pain from it. But only now I find myself running (no pun intended) against the limits of my body as I now want more of my body than in the past and it frustrates me. It feels like a failure to me and I will have to try to accept it. But it will be ok, no worries.

I felt really tired coming home after work. But I crawled on my treadmill to walk (rain outside). But I started slow, very slow at 3 km/h and I increased the speed with 0.1 km/h every 3 minutes. And because of doing it this way, I felt myself getting a bit stronger again (in contrary to getting weaker due to spending energy). I ended at 4.6 km/h and did 3.0 km in 48:52. Not fast, but I did it and that is what counts!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Hidden]

That certainly is what counts so very well done

[Doris8 Graduate10]

You’re doing well Evy considering your getting IV for your rheumatoid arthritis and your working everyday. I find it hard to go out everyday usually have a day off , especially up at 5.45 am before work. It’s completely different from running, , and I usually do the same route quite a lot which can be repetitive, so have been listening to podcasts. Don’t stress if you don’t to do your 3 km every day or go out every day you could always go longer at weekend to catch up. Your doing well 😊

[Hidden in reply to Doris8]

When walking on my treadmill I am now listening to the audiobooks of Lord of the rings 😹.

[Frenc Graduate10 60minGraduate]

I think you are amazing Evy, and bear in mind you work, you have RA, and you’ve been lugging sacks of stuff around. You aren’t a quitter, that’s for sure! Give yourself a huge pat on the back, and enjoy your walking adventure. 😊

[Hidden in reply to Frenc]

Thanks, I guess I should see it more like you all instead of finding myself a failure. But a mindchange is hard to do eh? But I will try my best!

[Frenc Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Hidden]

You are not a failure! Never forget that Evy! 😊😊😊

[Beatlesforever Graduate10]

Stop being so hard on yourself, with everything you're coping with and all that extra physical work, blimey even superman would be struggling! You're doing great, go superwoman! 💪👏👏👏

[Hidden in reply to Beatlesforever]

Thanks *blush*

[CBDB Graduate10]

Awesome! I just love your challenge and that you listen to LOTR ebooks as well! Brilliant!

But yes, I also find that my ‘active walking’ can be actually more tiring than my slow jogging. It is a different movement to get used to. (For instance, since off the IC, walking now gives me a backache, running does not! Not sure why. 🤔🤨🧐)

So make sure to build up your walking prowess, especially if your body is not used to it or is struggling with various niggles here and there.

And a rest day is never a bad thing.

Awesome and a huge well done!! And I’m sure more ‘awesomeness’ to come in the next 1000km 🤪😃

👏👏👏👍🏽💍🏔🥾

[Hidden in reply to CBDB]

Thanks, I do am going to try to walk every day though. As I noticed yesterday, if I have a day when I am really beat and tired, I best hit my treadmill for my walk and work up from 3.0 km/h to 4.6 km/h or so over an hour. It worked for my yesterday and left me feeling with more energy than when I started 😊

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

That’s brilliant. Another example why treadmills can be so good! 👍🏽👏🙌