A Dry Run

It has been a very busy week playing catch-up and working my butt off - lots of training. Inspired by the London Marathon I felt the need to go out there and do something! I decided on a  long walk or a mini-trek to get a feel for all the kit I have recently purchased. Since spring has finally decided to make an appearance, what better place to go than the Chilterns?

The Chiltern Hills are in the Southeast of England and stretch from the Thames in Oxfordshire to the ancient woodlands of Hitchin in Hertfordshire, and it is said to be home to some of the finest countryside in the United Kingdom.  The area is nationally protected with a variety of walks throughout: http://www.visitchilterns.co.uk/  We opted for the Ridgeway walk, after stopping off at an old steam train station for cream teas.

Pace Maker

The walk was amazing with fantastic views of the countryside. Bionic woman rushed off, leaving me and Mimi (bionic woman’s teenage daughter) to plod along, which suited us all fine! It really was a glorious day, so glorious that 90% of the southeast had the same idea as us, or so it seemed, and all ascended or  descended on the Chilterns. Bearing in mind that there are some 324 square miles of fantastic countryside, we somehow all seemed to have picked the same mile.

Each to His Own

So there we were, slogging it out with man, cyclist and beast for a piece of the countryside; it was like Christmas Eve on Oxford Street! I should have felt right at home, however the worst that can happen on Oxford street is you get mowed down by a group extra-zealous bargain hunters, or at worse a gang of chuggers*, which is nothing compared to being kicked by a galloping horse or sent flying by speeding cyclists in very tight Lycra.

Ascot anyone?

 

Tight squeeze

Thank God no such collisions occurred, with the reason being that there was a strict code of conduct at play: the horses took priority for obvious reasons, then people, and then bikes. It worked a treat and everyone was friendly and appreciated the need for cooperation; everyone you we met on the walk said hello and they were more than happy to point us in the right direction when we missed our trail. We ended up doing a 5 mile walk in 3 hours, factoring in lots of cosy chats and a break for a sandwich. 

Outcome

Despite all my training (DAILY), I was still a little out of breath during the ascents. I also found out that I got dehydrated very quickly, and my walking clothes were way too hot and I ended up stripping down to my vest. One would hope that the weather in the Andes is significantly better than it has been in the UK. If I’m hot over here I imagine I’ll be as hot as the hinges of hell out there; I need to rethink my wardrobe!



Tending to my flock



Training

I am constantly aching, but not in a bad way. If I’m honest the aches are a constant reminder of what I need to achieve. I now workout 6 out of 7 days per week, and alternate my routine so my body never gets used to the pace and keeps working harder. I have put on half a kilo and am now able to increase my weights. Ill be working out at night as Barry is home next week and I don’t want to miss out on any family time.

STILL NO MRS. CARTER TICKETS Has anyone brought tickets off Ebay before ? was it a good or bad experience? I am so tempted to go down that path.

*In the UK paid street fundraisers have been nicknamed “chuggers”because usually their tactics of fundraising is viewed as aggressive or invasive (a portmanteau of "charity" and "mugger").

 

A Shoe for Every Season

I have recently started buying sensible clothes; by this I mean outdoor clothes, and it is almost as life-changing as actually going to the gym! This has come about since I started dating my special friend, “The Tart,” who enjoys outdoor pursuits,  but also  in preparation for my trek. Tart lives in a charming little fishing town in Scotland, which is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to; I mean, the view from his dining table is breathtaking. Anyway, after my 2^nd visit I started to notice the double takes of my shoe candy, and not in the appreciative way that I am used to when I am in the big city. No, the looks tended to be more of a quizzical, almost comical, glares at my shoes. Then I noticed they all had on some sort of stout boot, be it Walking, Wellington or Fishing! Then I checked out their clothing and it was all the dull and outdoorsy, at which I couldn’t help but crinkle my nose.

Town mouse, Country mouse!

Fast forward 6 months, and I can’t get enough of the stuff! Its warm, cosy and has halved my dry cleaning bill. Outdoor clothes are still some of the ugliest clothing you will ever buy, but for the comfort it provides I’m sold! There must be some trendy outdoor clothes out there, or by the very definition must they be drab? Answers on a post card please.  I have now been introduced to “base layering” which means 3 thin layers for complete insulation, meaning you can hide the sensible stuff underneath regular stuff which is a win-win situation: no more “internal shivering” when out on sea front walks!  Now there's  only one problem: shoes!

 

As a retired shoe-a- holic (I say retired simply because I no longer go out and buy the first, second and third pair of shoes that makes my hart skip a beat) I think shoes are great works of art and I am in possession of a very extensive collection. I am too embarrassed to count, but at its peak I had in excess of 400 pairs! Though I must confess I had no show pieces; I wore all of my shoes, even the ones in the wrong size! But I just had to have ‘em. I have been “on the wagon” for the last 5 years, though my collection has grown its purely because I do not have the heart to throw away most of my old shoes! They hold oh-so-many memories. I can pick up any one of my shoes and have a tale to tell about them. If my shoes could talk the would make Oprah look like an amateur!

I am of the opinion that if you can only have one pair of shoes then make sure it is a red stiletto! Skinny jeans, white shirt, red stiletto; pinstripe suite, blue blouse, red stiletto; the little black dress, fishnet tights, and, yes, your trusted red stiletto! Be it casual, official or formal your red stiletto has got your back!

Mary

Paula

Denise

I am now desperately searching for a pair of hiking boots as I need to break them in a good few months before we leave for the Andes. I thought it could be a task my bionic woman and I could endure together, but even she has a well-worn pair. My mother always used to say “It hurts to be pretty,” and if your shoes are too comfortable then something is wrong! I have never bought a pair of shoes using the following parameters

·         Waterproof

·         Lightweight

·         Ankle support

·         Breathable

And why would I? If it rains stay indoors, if you want light weight wear flip-flops, and if you want breathable go bare foot and that is that.

Well, it’s not really; if I can’t find a good walking boot then I can’t do the trek and that really is that, and time is fast running out.

I need serious help………………………..