250 Miles walked!

While I had crossed the previous 50-mile milestones without really being aware it had happened, the 250 mile marker was a bit different. Even though I’d been trying to avoid setting targets or ‘count downs’ to specific distances, I had found counting down to the 250 mile mark to be irresistible. It represents a significant chunk of the challenge done. 25% is a complete quarter and I’m excited to have completed “two pizza slices” worth of the challenge.

As it turned out, a busy day and awful weather meant little fanfare when I crossed the line. It was dark and I had my head down while walking through suburbia in the driving rain. I’ll definitely try and plan something for the next milestone – hopefully it’ll be easier now the nights are drawing out a bit!

I mentioned when I wrote about my first 100 miles, that in the beginning the 1000 miles seemed almost insurmountable. Completing the first 100 miles gave me a bit of a boost, and now striding over the 250 mile marker has felt like I’ve put a rocket up my ‘you-know-what’. Not only does 1000 miles now feel very achievable – but I’m starting to think I should do more and set myself a stretch target. Or maybe I’m just getting ahead of myself.

How was the first 250 miles?

The first 100 miles had been pretty much as I expected, and I don’t feel that the following 150 miles has been significantly harder.

Overall I’d say, that for me, the first 250 miles have been a fun, motivational and freeing experience. That being said, there are a few things I’ve noticed about my walks, my body and my mental well-being that are worth pointing out.

My fitness has improved

I wouldn’t say I was ‘unfit’ before starting this challenge.. but I certainly wouldn’t class myself as fit either. Being sat at a desk most of the working week, in lockdown for almost a year and dealing with an ongoing health issue, was starting to take it’s toll.

With two children, it’s impossible to be inactive much of the time, but my weight has increased over the last year and was on a trajectory that would mean I’d be shopping at a ‘big & tall’ store sooner rather than later… and I’m not tall! I had also noticed I’d been getting out-of-breath just by walking up steps or jogging. It felt like time for a reset, the first part of which is the 1000-mile challenge.

Over the last 250 miles, I have noticed a small, but significant change in my fitness levels. While I’m still a little out-of-breath walking up one of our local steep hills, I have started to run up the stairs at home and I’ve noticed my average speed has improved by almost a minute per mile.

Small changes… but something good is happening.

Walking is now part of my daily routine

Not only do I look forward to my daily walk, but I’ve actually started planning it – checking the weather for the best time to go out and even thinking about the routes before I even set off. We’re still in lockdown, so I’m still stuck within my local area but I’m trying to keep it interesting.

My day is starting to revolve around my walking. I have walked every day since January 1st and I’ve no intention of stopping, I’m committed to the daily walk. As for the walks themselves, back in January any walk would have sufficed – as long as I was broadly walking a minimum of 3 miles it didn’t seem to matter. Over the course of the last 250 miles however, my minimum has become four miles day and as lockdown eases I’m hoping to stretch that to five miles (and more) per day.

It’s not always easy

I’ve been resolute enough to not even consider missing a walk, but that hasn’t been easy. There have been a few days, especially after just getting over the 200 mile point, when I felt like the wind had been knocked out of my sails. It didn’t stop me from walking, but if I’m honest this was a week when I wasn’t enjoying it. I was literally putting one foot in front of the other for the sake of it. It was like a week-long ‘hump day’.

The weather hasn’t helped. We’ve had a couple of ‘dry’ days and a few sub-zero days (freezing cold days help as the muddy bogs get frozen solid so you can walk on them!), but overall it’s been a near constant deluge of rain, my new jacket has already lost its waterproof-ness. It’s been depressing, but I keep telling myself for every trudge in the rain and mud there will be a wonderful scenic walk in the glorious sun during summer to balance it out (fingers crossed!).

On the plus side – I’ve generally felt my mood improving, I’m definitely less-stressed and able to think clearer. Being away from my desk, is akin to taking ‘a big step back’ – I’ve even subconsciously solved a few problems with some deep thought while out on a walk. Less time at my desk might be making me more productive

A few aches and pains creeping in.

I’m no spring chicken, so a few creaky joints were to be expected after 250 miles. Nothing major and it hasn’t stopped me from walking but I’ve had a few ‘twinges’ in my knee – it’s always worse when I’m going downhill, I’m just keeping an eye on it. I have had this pain previously when I used to hike regularly about 10 years ago, but the Dr. couldn’t find a cause – for now I’m just keeping a few paracetamol in my rucksack.

My feet hurt too, it’s more of a general ‘tired’ ache. It’s not bad, but I do notice it while I’m led in bed. I assume my feet are just tired, so I’m trying to not wear my walking boots quite as much and swap them out for my lighter trainers when I can (not always easy in this weather).