Level of Difficulty "2"

...lying g*ts.

All training and no planning...

...makes Sarah and Sue very dull girls indeed
(not the most convincing argument - but it worked for us)

Sarah's Sneaky training

My friends, D&S, were visiting one weekend and - as the weather suited it and they were aware that I'm in desperate need of all the training I can get - we headed out to Derbyshire for a gentle stroll...



We started out on the Tissington Trail but veered off (following my trusty AA book of Derbyshire walks) to cross the valley to the lovely village of Parwich before crossing back to stroll through Tissington to the cars. The guide book said that it was a medium diffulty walk (meaning a few hills and generally crossing fields rather than well-marked paths) - with "lots of stiles". What it didn't say was that many of this large number of stiles (and there really were lots) were mini assault courses:




Still, it was a lovely wander - definitely good for the stamina - clearly I enjoyed it... (or was this photo taken before we'd hit the 'ascent' parts of the walk?)

Strange Birds seen in Attenborough

Another early start on a very crisp February morning for an eight-mile stroll. Any resentment about having to get out of bed way before lie-in time on a Sunday was soon dissipated by the gorgeous scenery (apologies for the indulgence of more photos that words on this post but walking's walking, right?)

















Poor Ruby's nervousness around other dogs, only seems to turn Debbie into a canine magnet:





There was quite a commotion (as much as bird-watchers cause a commotion) down at the Nature Reserve. I'm guessing it was the start of the season - or a special meeting? We didn't stop to ask (stopping means kidding your aching limbs that the walk's all over), but I was amused that some of the twitchers had a couple of very strange birds in their sights:

I got my new shoes on...

An unreasonably early start for Sue, who very kindly volunteered to pop over to Sarah's house to drag her out of her pit (and I'm sure regretted the offer when she realised that it meant setting out at 7.30am on a cold Saturday morning. What weekend lie-in?).

However, she soon cheered up - possibly due to the fancy new walking shoes she was sporting that morning or perhaps (more likely) because of the curious incident of Sarah's splits in the night time (polished floor; socks and an over eager leap into the room. Yes it did - and still does - hurt. And Sarah is still having a sense of humour failure about it.)





Anyway, Debbie and a very excited Ruby joined us at 8am and we headed off into the beautiful morning across the golf course and into Attenborough (there's a theme here, folks).



1 mile in - new shoes require a little tweak to provide maximum comfort but otherwise all well. As expected it got a bit busier as the morning rolled on and Ruby was very excited by pretty much everything and anything!



3 miles later, Sue's mood dips slightly as the shoes are adjusted...again, hmmph...not sure if they are the dream shoes she hoped.



4.5 miles later, Sue looks on in envy as Sarah makes a break for her own house (she had a visitor arriving at 9.30am) - and Sue and Debbie are required to continue on the return journey - at a steady pace (fortunately for Sue and her troublesome shoes)



All in all it was a good and reasonably uneventful jaunt out.

Debbie's Walk Two

The weekend after being away I needed to make up for missing a walk. Sue was away for the weekend and Sarah was not well and was tucked up in the warm at home. So I set off on Saturday morning with my ever trusty friend Ruby - who is always keen for a walk!



We headed off for Beeston and did a circuit round to Bramcote and then back over the A52, a bit under 8 miles. I am sure Ruby would have gone around the circuit again, but that was enough for one day!

Short break to Benidorm

So whilst Sue and Sarah were walking I was sunning myself in Benidorm. We did do a little bit of walking up and down the seafront!

We were fed up with the cold and wet and decided that a long weekend away to try and find some sun was required. It was just what was needed with some sunshine, nice food and a drink or two!

We stayed in the highest hotel in Spain which had 43 floors and our room was on the 42nd floor! A fantastic view across Benidorm - although a little daunting as it was so high. Here is the view from the balcony!

(Long) Walk Two

Whilst Debbie was spending a weekend sunning herself in Benidorm, Sue and myself remained martyrs to the cause and spent our Saturday morning wandering around Attenborough nature reserve.

To save Sue from the trauma of my warm-up aches and pains, I set out an hour early and walked from my house to Sue's to pick her up en-route. It was a glorious morning - a bit brisk, but the wind was generally behind me all the way to Beeston.

Of course, this meant that the conditions on our way back through the nature reserve were rather against us:



Despite my warm-up, Sue still had the edge...

Walk One

A gentle start (and further than our trusty planning sheet instructed us to go on the first outing). Just the 5.5 miles from Beeston into Nottingham centre and, for Sue and myself, the reward of a few hours reading the Sunday papers and drinking coffee in town.

Sue wins the prize for being the cheeriest walker on the day:

Planning

And we're off...

"Haha - like Michael Jackson?"
The recipient of this information dissolves into hysterics...
"26 miles, sliding backwards, wearing a single diamante-encrusted glove?"

Er, no.

"26.2 miles, actually. Power-walking", I sigh, "wearing a decorated bra", which, upon reflection, sounds nearly as daft.

And so it begins.

Again.

A short introduction for anyone who hasn't been through this with us before:
In October 2007, myself and Debbie decided that it was about time we had another go at the Playtex-sponsored London Moonwalk. It's been three years since we last stomped around London in the middle of the night in the name of charidee, and we'd just about forgotten how painful it can be.

Sue - a first-timer this year - enthusiastically volunteered to join us and our small (but perfectly formed) team was born.

So. On 17th May, 2008 - at around about midnight (the start times are staggered) - we will set off on a marathon-length walk around the streets of central London, wearing a decorated bra (amongst other garments, of course). It will take us anywhere between 7 and 9 hours (depending on injuries/crowding/motivation/tea-stops) and the aim, of course, is to raise as much money as possible for several breast-cancer charities.

The official website explains it in far more detail here.

I thought it might be quite
a). motivating and
b). mildly entertaining
to document our training regime - hopefully with input from all of us.

And it's been a while since I blogged.