Updates on the training...

Easter Sunday and it's time to go to the gym.  Nice and quiet with people locked into their own world, listening to who knows what on their respective mp3 players.

Me, I had the pleasure of listening to Heavyweight Champions,  a friends band from Hounslow. Brilliant music to train to.

45mins on the bike,  30mins swim and steam room and now I'm knackered...

The tendons round my elbows have been really sore since last weeks aquafit, that'll be the fibro flaring up just to remind me to not overdo it, not easy when you're me and just want to go for it!

The plan is for 3 gym sessions a week combined with aquafit and swimming and see how the body stands up,  both during and after whilst recovering.

News of my oppo for the walk is not great, she's struggling with work rotas and illness - fingers crossed it'll all work out ok by the walk start.
More later...

Gym bunny

Well, with the weather as bad as it's been, and only 7 weeks to go til the start of the walk, I thought it was time to join a gym. Being an ex-sports student I'd expect to be able to step into the gym and instantly be able to handle a strenuous workout...

Wrong! The brain may well be willing, but the body has other ideas. 19 years after leaving Uni (blimey - was it really that long ago?), and with the added complication of having fibromyalgia, the body is feeling the strain at the end of week 1. So I'm going to have to ease myself back into it.

The aim is to do at least 2 classes every week, plus 1 session in the gym, with a swim after every session.

I'm loving the actual 'doing' bit, despite the aches and pains that follow, it just feels great to be actually doing something I love again. Makes me realise how much I've missed my sport fix. Just got to get the pain management sorted to get me thru the next 6 weeks feeling fit and ready for the walk.

Now if I could only sort the weather out as easily....

More Peaks escapades...

Meanwhile, somewhere in the Peak District....

Tuesday proved to be an interesting if fruitless day. It started by being greeted by a pack of school kids in the canteen queueing for breakfast all dressed in their onesies! We had pink ones, rabbits, zebras, tigers, action men and skull and crossbones (yes the boys gave the girls a run for their money!)

The weather put a dampner on most of the day - walking where the only view is the inside of a cloud is not my idea of fun, esp when on my own and planning to head up Kinder. Decided to wander into Edale instead, mooch about a bit (there's not that much to see if you're not heading out or into a pub), then back to the hostel to (yes, I Know...) do some work on a presentation for that Friday.

Weds dawned and on looking out the window was pleasantly surprised to see across the valley and (bonus) blue sky appearing in places. Yes! This was going to be a good day.

As I was headed home I checked out of the hostel and drove round to Castleton to leave the car, and check out the weather on the way.

From Castleton I walked up onto Lose Hill and then turned SW towards Mam Tor. The further I got the better the weather became. By the time I'd crossed Back Tor it was time to get the camera out.

left to right: Hollins Cross to Back Tor showing Edale Valley

The sunshine brought all the closet walkers out for the day - it was great to walk with the sun on the face and recharge the batteries.

As I neared the summit of Mam Tor I could see a few parapente's out enjoying the weather. At first I could only see a couple, but as I walked round the Castleton every time I looked up there seemed to be another chute in the pack - must be breeding. By the time I reached the end of Cave Dale there were 7!

View from top of Mam Tor back the way I walked

Start of Cave Dale

Peverill Castle above the end of Cave Dale

Finally, it was time to wish the Peaks farewell and head back to reality... oh well, til next time...

First stop -the Peaks...

Well, fed up with all the wintry weather we've been having, I decided it was time for some well-earned R&R in the Peak District.

So I packed my trusty boots into the back of the car (along with some warm thermals and a wooly hat!) and headed for Edale Youth Hostel. Plenty of snow still on the ground on the tops and the boggy bits frozen solid in places made walking an absolute pleasure!

Sunday night in the hostel was really quiet, only a handful of people in so managed to get a really good night's sleep ready for the Monday morning. After an excellent cooked breakfast to set me up for the day whilst keeping an eye on the weather the decision was taken to go low and long as the visibility on the tops was not good and being on my own I didn't want to risk anything!

From the Hostel I headed off to the east, skirting round Nether Moor, crossing Jaggers Clough towards Woodlands Valley. For the first few hours the weather switched between snow, sleet, rain and drizzle (and back again), with very little vis, but at least I could see where I was going(ish)...

I walked along Woodlands Valley for a way heading towards Upper Ashop before crossing the River Ashop and heading up Rowlee pasture, up onto the ridge, turning SE along Cragg Side to Crook Hill. The weather was slightly better on this stretch and I passed the only 2 people I saw all day walking their dogs. The peace and quiet was wonderful!

View across to Kinder Plateau from Open Hagg

It was too cold to stop anywhere for long so snacks were munched on the hoof mostly to keep warm.

The worst bit of the walk was having to walk along a small section of the A57 to join 2 footpaths together - not nice in the wet!

I crossed back over the river at Haglee Ford and headed up thru the woodlands - lovely little climb thru very quiet woodland, could almost be described as spooky!

On the walk back to the Hostel all I could think of was the very big pot of tea I was looking forward to, followed by a hot shower and a snooze! Bliss....

Hello all...

We'd like to say a huge "Thank You" to Adam from Through The Lens Photography for taking some pics of myself and Bev so that we can promote our fundraising efforts.....

Plus a "Thank You" to Les from Ideas in2 Action for sponsoring our pop-up - which will be touring a networking event near you!

Well, a week to go til Christmas and we've only managed a few walks thus far...

Nicky's got achilles tendonitis - not ideal when you're trying to train for a walk - especially as the consultant has told her to lay off the walking for a couple of months - bit difficult with a house full of dogs!

Bev has been up to her eyes in work with some horribly long shifts taking their toll on any spare time.

They're both looking forward to the new year and hopefully some good walking weather...

Have a great Christmas everyone, and not too many mince pies!!