Training... or should that be raining?

It's been a while since I've provided any updates on my 'training' plan for the trek. So here goes. I've been trying to get out walking in the hills as much as I can (to find my hill legs I was told!) but it's not always possible. To be honest for the first month after Christmas I wasn't as focused as I could have been but over the past month I seem to have gotten a second wind and am blasting the training. Hitting the gym after work at least 4 times a week and even started tentatively running again last week. No big deal you might think but before I couldn't run longer than about 4 minutes without knee pain. Pacing myself was what was required so I've been doing intervals on the treadmill for 30 minutes at a time. Next is usually the cross-trainer, stepper machine and then some weights for the upper body. I'm trying to be good and follow the advice of the fitness officer and do my stretching afterwards. A must for my very tight IT bands and hamstrings!!! It seems to be going fine just now but I felt a little twinge in my left knee last night so tonight I went for a long walk.

It took me out through Bridge of Allan and up to Dunblane. The nights are getting lighter so I don't feel scared walking along the road. Anyway it goes like a fair with the traffic - non stop. I walked and walked for 2 hours and as I was going the sound of the cars, the noise of my waterproof trousers rubbing, my breathing... I fell into a rhythm. I kept at it for 2 hours non-stop only briefly stopping to cross the roads at strategic points. As I was walking the rain wasn't too bad - that small smirry rain that doesn't really bother you but gets you real wet. There wasn't much wind either on the outward leg of my journey but coming back in it was lashing my face. I thought to myself there's no-where I'd rather be! Getting out in the fresh air, rain hitting off my glasses wind blowing in my hair - good times. Simple.

As ever on these walks my mind races ten to the dozen and as I approached Dunblane I was suddenly hit with sadness. It was Wednesday 13th March 1996 when we received the terrible, shocking, numbing news that my wee cousin John had been killed at the primary school. Terrible terrible time it was for all concerned. He was only 5. Sadly I can remember it like it was last week but I also remember with much joy and fun his last words to me. We were having a laugh and he was running out our front door, I ran after him (it was the joke) and he shouted 'Angie, yer jist a big silly!' - cute. He ran away hee-hawing and laughing up the street as I pretended to run and catch him. I hope he's watching over me on this trek - gonna need some extra strength from somewhere.

So I made it back to the car at work in 2 hours. Not sure how many miles that was but it was a good wee walk. Must do more of these. *5 minutes later* Just checked a nice little tool on the web, mapmywalk.com and it confirmed I've walked 6.72 miles in 2 hours. Not too bad eh.

So that is the training for now. More hill days are required so if anyone out there reading this is looking for someone to take up the hills please let me know. I can provide a compass and sweeties, you must provide the map and expertise?? Offers?

I almost forgot about my little black book I've bought to take on the trek. No, not a 'little black book' in that way!! It's currently an empty notebook but my plan is to get some friends and family to write in it so I can look at it as some sort of encouragement at the end of a hard days trekking. I'm also gonna write record some of my own thoughts and feelings along the way, kind of like a diary and then I'll transfer it all to this blog afterwards. It's also got a secret pocket at the back so some photos are going in there. I'm quite a sentimental person really - in case you haven't noticed ha ha.

I'm off now, going to book my Edinburgh - Heathrow flight (eek!!!!!!) and then early to bed tonight. Busy day tomorrow. Might venture up to Fort William for the Mountain Festival. Still undecided at this point..... hhmmmm....

be safe out there
Ange xx

Music: Still loving Kings of Leon album 'Only by the night'. Great for the gym...