#Soloman I'm done!

#Soloman I’m done. My new, expensive, cutting edge boots have spent the last 100 miles trying to kill me. I came close to taking them off on the walk home and hurling them across the Long Walk in Windsor. My feet have been beaten, blistered and squeezed into oblivion, looking now like something reminiscent of an illegal genetic experiment, or an extra/prop from ‘Lord of the Rings’ or ‘The Fly'.  

Switching to non homicidal footwear now accomplished and pushing out the miles again. Training most days and trying to maintain 10/15 miles even with hangovers. I’ve counted my rest days to be slow walks, regular days pacing as fast as I can. From this month we start the training with walking poles, pushing the miles up to 20 at least once a week.

I’ve now got great waterproof walking shoes, they fit like gloves and comfortable beyond. #vibram isodry, I love, love, love them. Not in an unnatural way, as in, we go off on long sunny walks….oh shit we do.

Just enjoyed a great walk around Pen y Fan in Wales, beautiful scenery and snow on the hill tops. Unfortunately nearly being blown off, trying to reach a certain part the mountain, brought a whole new meaning to the expression. Thankfully it’s an analogy not a euphemism. It was gale force winds of only 32mph but boy did they feel stronger, at one point I couldn’t stand up. Laughing and crouching, it was great fun for a near death experience, said no one ever.

 I can’t recommend the scenery more, absolutely breathtaking, take the steeper ascent and enjoy the easier gradually descent, tough on your knees but well worth the effort.

 There’s endless walks and endless vistas to keep you amused, plenty of places to stop, unfortunately selling hot/cold drinks/snacks and not so much alcohol (insert unsmiley emoji here to add to the dramatic gravitas to the suffering I endured)

Thankfully we found a great pub not too far away, as a conscientious athlete I rehydrated with Guinness. There is a god !