After completing the 1000 mile challenge in 2021, I was keen to continue walking and build on the health benefits that I had gained during the walking challenge.

However I really felt like I needed a break, as much as I had enjoyed the challenge it had definitely been a rollercoaster. Betwen injuried knees and the aftermath of COVID (caught right at the end of the challenge) crossing the 1000 mile finishing line had ultimtaely felt less like a celebration and more like an escape. Again, I can’t overstate how glad I was to have done and complete the challenge, as the blurb says “it’s life changing’ and I can assure you it is.

My injuries and illnesses had meant the last couple of months had seen me scrambling to walk enough distance to cover my remaining distance. Luckily, I had planned for this possible eventuality and had front-loaded my challenge with extra miles as a buffer – if I hadn’t done that I very likely wouldn’t have been able to cover the oustanding distance, (although perversely, it might have been these extra miles that contributed to my eventual knee injury). Regardless… I made it, and it’s something I felt proud of.

2022 was planned to be a year of continuing walks and maybe another smaller challenge. That mostly worked out, but the pressures of work did encroach on my time and I probably ended up walking less than 400 miles in total.
However,  during September I did complete a challenge of 11,000 steps per day to raise money for Prostate Cancer. It was this challenge that made me realise that I wanted to complete the 1000 miles again.

Ultimately though, I really missed the commitment and working towards a singular goal of the walk 1000 miles challenge. So here I am ready to start of my next 1000 mile journey… I feel excited and keen to get started.

If you’re doing it as well, or thinking of doing it would love to know your tips and how you’re getting on in the comments below!