The wall...

[BaronC]

Yesterday myself and the Baroness set off on one our walks. Got up early, set off at half eight...

Seventeen and a half miles later, we hit the wall, big time. Sharon's hip had given up almost entirely, every step was a chore. And my feet are a dreadful mess. To be honest it's tricky to find skin on them that isn't blister affected. And yet, we loved it, it was great fun.

Sadly, what we learnt is this. The charity marathon is a non-starter, it really is quite literally a step too far. We still hope in Summer to do twenty miles if people would find that enough of an achievement. We certainly wont be giving up our walks, we enjoy it too much, but we do now at least know our limit.

I'm off now to put my feet in a foot spa full of water and surgical spirit...

[cat3]

People who's main ambition is winning train regularly 'til their feet are hard as leather and their joints are working like well-oiled pistons.

You love walking, so thank god that level of competitiveness hasn't taken over your souls !

And if 20 miles is your limit..................well done !! xx

[BaronC in reply to cat3]

Thanks, Cat. We're still disappointed though...

[angelite in reply to cat3]

Hi Cat, I so agree with the competitive side. My one experience of a large charity walk was a turn off - we had entered in good spirit, as a way to raise funds after my sis and Mum's cancer care and assumed there would be other average/ post cancer participants who were doing it purely for supportive reasons, rather than well seasoned pros competing for speed. x

[angelite]

Andy, that is a huge distance !

I have done some mad things in my time : 3 peaks in Yorkshire, the nightwalk for our my local cancer ward. I pulled tendons in my left knee on the peaks in spite of lots of pre walk training - has been a recurring weak spot since and it took days for my hip tendons and feet to improve because of the fast pace set by the charity walkers. All this was before BI.

The peaks I enjoyed, in spite of the pain as the company was lovely and we all looked out for each other, the charity walk surprised me - it was far too fast paced and the company fiercely competitive and self focussed. My sister ( who had not long since completed lymphoma treatment ) and I felt pressured to keep up with the fast pace but finished next to last in the end, taking all our effort to achieve that ! I joined her for the second half of the Guild Wheel ( Preston, couldn't do first half as I was working ) and thoroughly enjoyed that as the pace was a ramble, time to enjoy the scenery and the group lovely : )

So, there are 2 sides to such things. These days I walk for physio and pleasure and hit the wall rather more quickly ! : )

Are you planning the 20 miles in stages rather than all in one go ?

Hoping yourself and Sharon mend up soon,

Take care,

Angela x

[BaronC in reply to angelite]

The initial plan was to walk the circumference of Rutland Water (26 miles) in one go. But, yesterday proved to us that that ain't happening. We feel a bit deflated by it to be honest, we were dying to do the walk, but alas, it aint to be.

If we do a twenty miler, it will be in one go, we almost managed it yesterday so our hopes are high for that at least...

[angelite in reply to BaronC]

Best of luck,

If in any doubt, I would personally be just as pleased if it was a 2 day event with 10 miles each day and adequate breaks : ) x

[RogerCMerriman in reply to BaronC]

was the walk similar sort of terrain? Rutland Water I assume is flat.

[BaronC in reply to RogerCMerriman]

Yesterday was flat ( I live in Lincolnshire) with just one hill. Rutland undulates but nothing of any significant gradient

[RogerCMerriman in reply to BaronC]

i'm impressed I couldn't manage it!

As i mentally tire and since my balance is not perfect I do have to think about it, unlike cycling, no i don't know why either!

At some point the little grey cells would start to fade and my walk would slow, and become increasingly unsteady. If I was foolish enough to be out at night fall my balance would further fail. I genrally avoid trains/bus at this point if I can.

[BaronC in reply to RogerCMerriman]

Oh, I tired, I virtually crawled the last few yards. I have some of the biggest blisters I've ever seen right now and my feet are killing me. Hey ho

[malalatete]

Oh Andy don't be too disappointed - I mean 17 miles is a long, long way. Could you do Rutland Water in 2 halves, camping out overnight in between? No-one who knows you would begrudge you a halfway nap an recgarge of batteries.

I hit the wall after walking through the Bail and back....you will often find me holed up halfway along in Curtis with a coffee and cake!

[BaronC in reply to malalatete]

Lion & Snake for lunch is my stop off point

I'm not sure my feet will do any further than we managed on Saturday, they really are killing me. At last count I have 11 blisters,one of which is the entire toe I broke earlier in the year. If I were a horse, I'd be shot

[RogerCMerriman in reply to BaronC]

Maybe by hover boards/Segway?

Joking aside don't seem to have lucked out with your feet young man!

[BaronC in reply to RogerCMerriman]

Cycling Rutland is an option. I'd have to follow the Baroness closely though, my lack of left side peripheral vision can make it tricky, but like I say, it's an option...

[RogerCMerriman in reply to BaronC]

bicycle made for two? lot of these places hire out.

[BaronC in reply to RogerCMerriman]

Could be...

[SAMBS in reply to RogerCMerriman]

Roger, I have a bike here with me now and would love to cycle again,especially As flat here. Unfortunately it has an angled crossbar on it and I've shrunk by about 1.5" so I have to stand on one foot and get my leg over the saddle - I tried once and wobbled so much I thought I was going to fall - I think I've lost my nerve. I really do think I should try again before I get back to driving on a road. I can always wear my car yellow safety jacket over my coat! Fortunately

EI didnt dispose of any of my car equipment! My Garmin was only 2 months old!

I cycled so much in Holland, along the canal towpaths when we had moored up, it was lovely! I did cycle down In the Herault along the canal du Midi, not as nice as Holland though. Also as a teenager with school friends from Torquay to Dawlish Warren and back one day and to Cockington Forge or Paignton several times! I cycled about 3/4 miles to school every day . Also when 7 months pregnant. Walking distances was always a problem for me, unless holding onto and pushing a pram!

Oh it's lovely when memories come back of times gone by!

[RogerCMerriman in reply to SAMBS]

Memories are good aren't they!

Thinking about it I tend to mount using my good leg to balance, just now and then I've made a mess attempting to dismount on to the bad leg!

[SAMBS in reply to RogerCMerriman]

Ah Roger, there's the rub - I have to stand on my left leg, because through force of a lifetime habit I always push off with right foot on the right hand side pedal - although my right foot being the one I had 3 ops on, so can't balance on that.

Brain wise I Don't know if it makes a difference or not but I am left handed - and now it's when I try and now when stand one footed on my left foot I over-balance.

Since the bi, my left foot toe joints/tendons are all changing and deforming. I can't hold my pen in the same manner in my left hand any more and my little finger is always numb.

A lot of this is also tied up with some of the research I started last year! Sounds bizarre I know, but it potentially all leads up to my having had the Haemorrhage suddenly.

[Kirk5w7]

I'm really impressed Andy. I think I've said before I hanker after walking holidays with my other half now as it's the only exercise I get apart from swimming. It's a bit of an uphill, ha ha, struggle with him because he still prefers to go everywhere in the car. Defeats the object sometimes for me, I don't need to save time at more.

Perhaps when he retires.

When I did that charity swim it was the same, loads of people just there to improve their swim times, loses it for me, at least I wasn't last, next to but hey!

So, you're both stars in my eyes, well done xxxx

Janet x

[BaronC in reply to Kirk5w7]

Aw, Janet, you're far too kind. It's a hobby really, we love a good walk, simple as that really. We like too push ourselves as well, rather than just let me stew on the sofa. It's bliss.

We'll still walk as often as we can, it's just that now, we know what our limit is. It may change, you never know. I can't be bothered with a competitive angle to anything really, just enjoy it. Life's too short

A x

[paxo05]

Hi Baron.

17 miles before hitting the wall......I would have hit the wall and then a blockof flats well before 17 miles. Well done on achieving 17 miles.

Maybe the marathon is a longer term project. Like mentioned by others, maybe a two day event or tandem.

Keep on trying and all the best.

Pax

[BaronC]

Splitting it into two days would feel a bit like cheating to us, but might be the only option, we'll see...

[CW2002]

Hi Andy, if you take the pininsula off (hambleton point) it makes it 17 miles you could try this route first. Stick with it, build up to the bigger mileage first...good luck.

[BaronC in reply to CW2002]

Aah, but the peninsula is the best bit, we walked that earlier in the year.

So many options...

[CW2002]

I decided to run Rutland as part of my marathon training last year and that's exactly why I know of the said pininsula. I made a wrong turn ran round it and back to where it starts BIG MISTAKE instead of 17 miles now full 26!!

At 18 miles nothing left to keep going and miles from where I parked I hobbled to the visitors centre and had to get a taxi..!! I still would love to complete that route and will try again one day. Little and often worked and I got around London last April.

[BaronC in reply to CW2002]

Good for you! VERY well done, quite an achievement, you must be very proud.

[CW2002 in reply to BaronC]

I ran for Headway and it made it even better raising money and to get over the line...really proud!!

[BaronC in reply to CW2002]

Good going!

My plan was to walk it in aid of Headway, I might make it, we'll see...

[SAMBS in reply to CW2002]

O bet I saw you on telly then! Well done on your achievement!

[3Rainbows]

Very impressed!

[BaronC in reply to 3Rainbows]

Thank you, most kind!

[SAMBS]

Oh Andy I'm sorry to read that about hitting the wall on your walk. It was obviously a good day for it if you set off that early. If you ever run out of S Spirit - sea salt in water is soothing also. A piece of squashed (release the juices) fresh garlic clove rubbed gently over the blistered area is also soothing, once you have washed and pat-dried them of course!

I hope you are both well recovered now.

S - have a good weekend ... X