The Barefoot Blog

We've been blogged!

2008-08-14T09:13:00.000+01:00

windmills

2008-07-15T15:07:00.004+01:00

windmill pics

2008-07-15T14:57:00.002+01:00

The Windmill Walk

2008-07-15T13:50:00.004+01:00

It was billed as ‘Llanharan and the wind turbines’
Lead by: Karen Ingram, flankers Avril Brown and Niki Adams.
A classic circular walk of 9 miles, 15.5 Kms, along footpaths, trackways and
an ancient ridgeway with fine views. You pass Bronze Age burial chambers,
the ruins of an old church, old colliery buildings and a modern wind farm.

There was never any mention of livestock. Did you read: Great Big Hairy Bullocks amongst that anywhere? Hmmm???? No, nor me. Very shortly after climbing the first gentle hill, we lost Jake and Richard almost instantly as I think Richard had stopped to attend to Jake's bathroom needs (he's a dog, before anyone starts to wonder.)
Having reclaimed everyone, we climbed over the second of the days many vertiginously high stiles, nervously noting the quantity of large, fresh cowpats.

Heaving into view over the horizon, the 20 or 30 Very Large Bullocks clearly regarded us as Sunday's entertainment. We moved into the lower portion of the field hoping they'd get bored with us. No chance. With our bright colourful clothing, shiny poles and high pitched voices we were fair game, and as the bullocks gleefully herded down the sloping field towards our skittering figures, Paula sprang across the deeply rutted meadow like a hare and vaulted the barbed wire fence. 'Save yourselves!" I think she said, but I couldn't be sure.
The rest of us mere mortals, either made of sterner stuff, or more likely, not possessed of Paula's nimble knees and speed, squelched and stumbled towards the stile - even higher than the last, and bound by a virtual quagmire of cowshit.
"Make yourself bigger!" shouted Karen, holding her poles outstretched. She and I yelled "graaaa graaa!!!!!" in a really scarey way at the cows. They peered at us interestedly from lowered horns, scraping their front hooves on the ground in an unfriendly way.
Progress over the the head height stile was agonisingly slow, what with trying to negotiate the plop slurry first. "HURRY UP" we squeaked, bravely, as the herd wheeled away from our pitifully thin squawks, only to thunder as one back towards us, bucking and snorting, clods of earth flicking up around them.
I was just thinking that maybe I should have written a will before this walk, when over the hill, chewing on a hayseed, with bluebirds twittering around her head, strode Niki Adams.
Staring down at us all clustered in the cowpats, her head swivelled around and took in the belligerent bullocks in a single glance.
"WWWHHEEEEEAAAAAARRRROOOOGRAAAGHHHHH!!!!!!!" she yelled mightily, and ran towards them, poles out at right angles. As one, the cows turned tail, and fled back up the hill.
"HURRAY!!!" we cheered. "Our Heroine!!!!"
The cows in the next field had obviously already heard about our Super Cow Scarer and huddled together, watching us. That didn't fool Claire though, who had taken up residence behind a brick shed. "If they're facing you," she declared "that means they're going to charge!"
The remainder of the walk passed without further bovine incident, and we all felt brave enough later on to admire the colossal bull in a field with his wives and children - from safely behind the fence of course.
The views were most unexpected - I hardly imagined that I was so local. It was as if civilisation was very far away.

The windmills were everything they were billed to be. Awe inspiring and very windy. Karen and Avril told me that they'd met the farmer planting mini wind turbines which grow up to be big turbines. "And the windmills that go around slower than the others? They're the adolescents and haven't got up to full strength yet" They must think I'm stupid. Everyone knows it's the OLD ones that go slow!
Avril's walk next. Can't wait!

The PenyFan walk

2008-05-28T09:14:00.005+01:00

So. Capt K and I have decided - PenyFan or bust, the memberships have rolled in, and the first-of-it's-kind Nordic Walking Club is born. Throwing myself with enthusiasm into it, I design a logo. Actually, I design about 20 logos all based on the same idea and bombard Karen with them, who is frantically trying to organise her stand for the imminent Grand Designs Show in London.
Over the coming weeks, e.mails zip back and forth.
Keep waking up worrying that I've missed somebody and envisaging a sad little soul abandoned with their Nordic Walking poles expecting to be collected from somewhere....
End up setting up office in the Barefoot Studio shop with my laptop, entering all the membership details, chatting to waiting customers - "no, I don't work here, but I've bought just about everything in here, so, what can I help you with?" whilst Paula tries to deal with the sudden rush on her 'quiet' day. Eventually, we pronounce ourselves happy with the preparations.
And on the day, everything goes like clockwork! Everyone appears on time, in the right place, with all the right stuff. The weather is perfect.
We gather in the car park at the foot of PenyFan, kit up, make some introductions, and whilst warming up, set a few ground rules about 'if you don't play follow the leader we won't let you play any more', and then we're off! To the toilet, mainly. But then, full of expectation, through the gate leading down to the footbridge over the stream, I mean, how much more picturesque can the start of a walk be.
It's a long, long climb, in some parts needing a fair bit of puff, and the group begins to string out. Karen and Paula and I have anticipated this, and Paula, assuming her 'sheepdog' role, drops back to encourage the slower walkers. I'm in the middle, and trying to get to the front to slow the front runners down, trip over a stone and fall flat on my face. I didn't cry though.
We re-group to take photos, admire the view, and got Avril to set the pace from the front to maintain a comfortable ascent. I try to speak to everyone on the way and get all their names wrong, calling Diane Michelle umpteen times.
In the lee of Corn Du, the second highest peak by a whisker, we call an elevenses break. "Elevenses?" squeaks Paula's metabolism. "It's lunchtime, surely!" So the quick snack turns into a leisurely lunch, whilst we immerse ourselves in the spectacular views. We decide at that point that Karen will take those who want to up and over Corn Du, and those who want to save their energies will come with me on the by-pass route, meeting up to go onto PenyFan together. The temperature has dropped quite dramatically up here, and gloves and hats are needed.

Avril, who struggled a bit up the long climb, opts for the by-pass, and then is not to be out-done and makes a sudden decision to go up Corn Du.

Jubilantly photographed on the summit of PenyFan, the group surveys the National Park spread out before them, and we identify other walk options for the future, with BIG climbs. 'bring 'em on!' says Avril.
We set a spanking pace to return from the summit, and walk some way along the horseshoe to take in another view over the reservoir.
If the climb had spread the group, the descent proved even more of a challenge. For some of us with creaky joints, it was quite slow going, and tough on muscles unused to such a pounding.
For a group of this size, we definitely need 'top and tailers' to keep everyone together. The track is so well marked, that it was very easy for the front runners to march off, but I guess this will be curtailed by less clearly marked walks. All a learning curve.
I felt quite sad to get to the bottom. The van provided a most welcome cuppa, and we all sat on the wall, peacefully enjoying our achievements.
Our meeting at the Bear Hotel last week was well attended, with plenty of feedback, and dates set for the next 12 months. Lots of volunteers to lead walks as well, which is brilliant.
The next walk on June 22, is to be led by Karen. If you'd like to book onto the walk, contact her at karen@barefootstudio.co.uk.

2008-05-23T08:39:00.001+01:00

A shady route through the pine trees drops gently down to the footbridge over the stream. And here we all are on the summit of PenyFan. Thanks to Richard for photo!

2008-05-23T08:30:00.001+01:00

Claire demonstrates how to lick her kneecaps...Or is she just taking an alternative view of the landscape.......Or 'does my bum look big in this?'.......

2008-05-23T08:22:00.001+01:00

2008-05-22T12:32:00.000+01:00

2008-05-22T12:22:00.002+01:00

Our first walk, a great turnout of 18 of our 21 members. The weather couldn't have been more perfect!

Our new Club

2008-05-22T09:24:00.002+01:00

Welcome to the newest entry for our brand new baby - the Barefoot Nordic Walking Club. Which does sound a bit like we are all hobbits with big hairy feet ...well, maybe some of us may have big hairy feet, but we will be keeping them very firmly in our nordic walking shoes, thankyou very much.
Rapidly acquiring 21 members, our inaugural walk was up PenyFan and back on Sunday 18th May 2008. Paula did raise her eyebrows when Karen and I scampered excitedly back from our meeting and announced the FIRST WALK. Hmm she said. Nothing like easing everyone into it, she said.
Her misgivings turned out to be not without foundation when she and I reccied the walk a few weeks ago. Ok, I said, maybe we just need to...tweak it a bit....make it..less steep......and shorter......?
Retiring to the Mountain Centre at Libanus, spreading the maps all over the tables with coffee and cake, we decided to use the yak trail to go up and back, thus reducing wear and tear on knees, reducing the climb severity, whilst retaining the flavour of the walk.
I still went back the following week and did a Plan B walk, which was lovely, starting at the Mountain Centre. Scribble was impressed too, but mainly with the quantity of sheep on the route...
As it turned out, my fears of howling rain, fog, snow, hailstones,tornadoes or worse, the sudden heatwave we experienced a few days before, were all dispelled when the day dawned, bright, sunny, with a nice breeze. Perfect conditions!

Stopping here- read next post for The Walk!
Sue
x

an old post - from Oct 06! but still worth a read

2008-05-22T09:23:00.000+01:00

My Barefoot Blog
re Coppermines Walk, Coniston, 7th October 2006
(Well, not really sure if I'm doing this right -my initial excitement about creating a blog has been lost in a fug of technobabble and passwords, and I think I've managed to cross wires with Karen's blog, but NEVER MIND lets get one with it.)
Saturday was a major achievement - our first warm-up race for the Big Event- in the Lake District. A 'mere' 9.3 miler, I thought on fairly reasonable level packed hard track hurr hurr- how wrong can you be....
Al drove (brilliantly, thanks love) Dawn and I up on Friday through sheets of rain. We peered up the vertiginous (good word, that) mountains, shrouded in mist and went a bit quiet.
A texted photo from Karen, already walking part of the route with Paula, Ceri and Vic (who was RUNNING it in the race) did not dispel our apprehension. "it's......Hilly" she'd written.
It'll be fine, I said. Did that sound convincing?
Felt better after some retail therapy (although the shop keeper was such a grumpy git I'm sorry I bought anything from him) and a bit of a walk. And some pasta, And garlic bread, And just the one mrs wembley glass of wine.
We went to bed early, although Dawn entertained us into the night reading from her book, the first line of which is engraved on my mind - She was a Woman. She had no FACE -and eventually dropped off. Up at 8 am, showered and burned half a loaf of bread with the toaster set to 'defrost' instead of 1, oops, breakfasted and warmed up, walked across the campsite to the start line. A rapid readjustment of clothing - off with the waterproof legs, if it rains it's tough, and we're on the start line. I wanted to cry and laugh all at once.
We were off, and trying not to trip the couple of hundred runners behind us with our poles. Bloody hell, I thought, i can't keep this up for nearly 10 miles. We did a walking removal of jackets - which was quite nifty I thought, stuffed them into our camelbaks - me: "oh no, mines broken, I'm not getting any water out" Paula "The valve's not turned on"
Through Coniston village, and then we start to head uphill. And it keeps going, And going....I just focus, think about how amazing it is to be doing this. Less than 2 years ago I was on crutches waiting for a new hip. Paula keeps pace with me, I am relieved that she doesn't expect me to chat - I haven't enough breath for anything other than this. I look up and see Karen and Dawn striding easily uphill. Make mental note to do more quad training. And hills. Many many more hills.
My nose starts to run. I try to blow with one finger against the nostril. A stream of snot sticks to my hand. Lovely. Finally we get to the top. A marker says 2k. Or 3, or something - but it felt like longer.
Whheeee - off we go on more undulating rocky trail - I've got my second wind, feeling good, still can't keep up with the other 3, but Paula has identified my problem. Come on Shortlegs, she says, as I trot after them like a pit pony - clatter clatter pole tips on the slate hey look girls I'm nordic running!
Blow my nose and snot hits my shoes this time.
After about 8k, the serious runners begin to hurtle past us at breakneck speed. There is barely time to avoid a collision - I'm at the back and hear their breathing and yell - RUNNERS!!! so the girls can move over to the left.
Several kilometres of this and I'm starting to feel a bit fed up - can't get a rhythm, having to walk through huge puddles to get out of their way. Some are nice enough to say thank you, others just shout -out the WAY!!!!!- it's our race too, I grumble to myself.
In front, Karen and Dawn are picking off the other competitors. I stretch my (short) legs, ignore the pain in my arthritic toe and grunt onwards. Paula is like an attentive sheepdog - she's in front, beside, behind, cajoling and cheering.
Finally, the lake is in sight, and I know there's only a couple of miles to go. I don’t seem to be able to go any faster - Karen falls back to psyche me up - just think you can fall into Allan’s arms at the end, she says. Hmm, I think, he’s not going to want to kiss me with a face covered in snot.
Suddenly we are at the finish field. I see Al’s face and hear him cheer us on. There’s a watery ditch we have to leap over, and then its round the field to the finish line. It seems never-ending, and then I spot the red blow up arch, and astoundingly, about 20 feet from the finish line, I break into a trot! Where the hell did that come from? “Team, Teaam!!” yells Karen, reining me in, and we pass under the arch in a line. The commentator says something about us being the Welsh Nordic Walking Team or something and we laugh. Queuing for our commemorative tee shirts, we look at the timing and find that we’ve finished in 2 hours 32 mins. Which is weird, as that’s what I had prophesied about a week ago, it just popped into my head.
(I’ve said we will do THE BIG ONE in 14 hours 6 minutes. There. It’s in black and white.)
Lottery numbers, anyone??

We Did It!!!!

2007-04-13T20:55:00.000+01:00

Well - we did it - and it hasn't quite sunk in yet, and I guess when I start to write it all down, it will finally be real, and I'm a little bit sad that it's all over!

Arranging to meet at 9.30am, at Barefoot for the final kit inspection, I was choked to see balloons and 'Good Luck' banners across the front gate and door. (Janine, bless her socks, had been the good fairy) Laying all our kit out on the studio floor, we hugged each other, packed and were finally on our way. Planning a leisurely drive up, with lots of stops for cappuchinos and muffins, we overshot our turnoff and had to go through Manchester, finally arriving with just about enough time to unpack and get ourselves to The Bull at Tintwistle for a 6pm private 'pasta party'. I could hardly eat! I was putty pale, my innards shook and I felt freezing cold. I didn't think I was nervous, but my body was telling me otherwise. The other three seemed as calm as ever. You're not ready for this, said my body. You're not fit enough, you had that virus you did, for AGES. You'll hold everybody up, said this nasty insistent little voice, and your hip will drop off and EVERYFINK.
A pep talk from Captain K set me back on the staight and narrow, and we returned to the hostel to assemble our trail mix for our bumbags. We sat around the table, dividing our treats - nuts, dried fruit, mini mars and broken up Nak'd bars - into 2 little resealable bags for first half snacks and second half snacks and then we all were packed off to bed early, alarms set for 4am.
With admonishments from the hostel warden to keep the noise down, we crept out into the cold dark morning at 4.30, and Al drove us to Holmbridge Village Hall for registration.
Walking past a very fat chef cooking mountains of bacon beneath a gazebo outside, we entered the hall, packed to the brim with - well, about 400 mainly very young men, a sprinkling of women - none of them nearly as old as me - all busily packing their rucksacks and stretching and eating and all seeming to know exactly what they were doing. We made our way to the registration table, where we were handed our identity tags - I was 61B - to be tied around our necks until we complete or retire from the race.
We decided to go and have breakfast and a hot drink, back at the van with Al. I have been having a protein shake for breakfast every morning for months, but, unable to plug my blender in, I had to settle for muesli. It was nice, but I'm not very good at digesting it, and I thought it was the best option at the time. To be honest, my stomach felt about the size of a thimble, just when I needed a capacious holdall!
We trotted back for our kit inspection, anxious about our shoes. The kit inspector whizzed efficiently and rapidly through all our kit, casting a brief and knowing glance at our shoes and pronouncing them 'fine'. All that worry, and there they were -'fine'. "Off you go", he said, quite kindly,checking that we weren't carrying too much. In my haste to repack, the bag containing my afternoon nibbles exploded all over the floor. "Aargh, my snacks" I whimpered, scrabbling to pick up some dried apricots before catching myself and leaving them, under the kit inspectors table, where they stuck to everyone's feet for the rest of the morning I imagine.
Time for a quick cuppa, a warm up around the church and then suddenly, it was 6.45, and we began to hang around the exit, for the OFF. Very low key, teams are started in pairs, in 2 minute intervals. No worries about adrenaline making us set off too fast - a man sat next to a big clock by the door, and said languidly, ok, teams 60 and 61, 10,9,8,7,6, right oh, off you go. And we were off! Stepping out from the Hall, Al is waiting with his cameras - "Hang on" he says, "I haven't got you all in!" "Can't wait!" we said cheerily, "See you at the next checkpoint!"
I felt good. I'd taken my anti-inflammatories for my arthritic toe joint (poor old cow, haven't I mentioned it before), and we set off at a fair pace, walking with a number of other teams, and listening to their banter and cheery voices, for that first 3 miles of easy track and reaching the 1st checkpoint dead on time.
It all went a bit wrong after that. The next section is Black Hill, and the first climb is short but very steep, and suddenly every scrap of energy deserted me. "Blimey" I puffed "I thought I'd feel like this at the end, not right at the beginning!"
Soon after the climb is the bit where you need to sort out your own navigation. And the fog decided at that point to thicken up to about 20 feet of visibility. I had absolutely no memory of this bit - the first time we'd done it I'd had a terrible time with my hip, and just limped along behind everyone, not seeing where I was going (it all looks the same anyway), and the second time, I wasn't well enough to do that section and Karen and Dawn had done it alone.
It soon dawned on us that we weren't where we wanted to be, and Karen sprinted on ahead to try to find the path. This was my least favourite terrain, ankle twisting tussocky grass, and constantly climbing in and out of peat groughs. Stringing ourselves out so we could just see each other in the fog, I suddenly heard a cry, and thought 'Hey, they've found the path!" Then I saw Dawn's orange top, close to the ground, and then another plaintive call -" He-elp!" Paula got there first, to find Dawn with one leg stuck fast in a peat bog, up to the hip. Completely unable to free herself. Karen and Paula took an arm each and heaved. Nothing happened. "Hmm," said Karen. "Lets try it backwards" "Noooo!" exclaimed poor Dawn "my foot is twisted!" My contribution was to take off her rucksack, and keep out of the bog myself. Karen gave a mighty heave, and Dawn splopped out of the bog, landing on top of Karen, accompanied by the most horrible pong. Paula said it was the peat, but I thought it might have been the relief...
Eventually we re-joined the path, and made it to the 2nd checkpoint, a tent by the trig point. It seemed quite a few people had got lost at this point, so we didn't feel too bad.
Plain sailing down into Crowden Youth Hostel checkpoint 3 (about 10 miles) for a hot drink, and for Al to catch us up with the other team's progress. We were cheered to hear that some competitors were already looking worse for wear, and we were still quite fresh!
A couple of miles over the reservoir, to checkpoint 4, then onto Bleaklow for the first major climb of the day. The path goes up really steeply, then bends around the side of the hill, falling away horribly to the left hand side. My head spun and my ears were singing - whether it was the savage wind or a slight touch of vertigo I don't know. I think I was gripping my pole so hard at this point, I gave myself the most enormous blister on my index finger, and had to put my gloves on, where they welded themselves to my hands for the rest of the walk. I was able to make a little headway on the teams ahead of us for a time, and then found the stoney terrain slowing me up whilst I looked where I put my feet. Once we hit the Pennine Way, it was very pleasant walking, and we dropped down into Doctors Gate at about lunchtime, enjoying a hot drink and a sandwich at Checkpoint 5. By this time we'd walked about 20 miles. Next was the road section, about 3 miles of A57 to the Snake Pass Inn, Checkpoint 6 - and Kinder Scout! This had loomed large in my night sweats, and whilst I'd romped up it last time, that was when I was fresh, not after over 20 miles walking....
We waded through the river, the water felt nicely cooling against my hot feet, and began the ascent. I pacemake the climbs. This gives Karen and Dawn enough breath to sing their way through the Abba songbook. Also the musicals Oliver! and the Sound of Music, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and many others. It was a LONG CLIMB! And right at the top is the really really steep bit, where we have to find the finger path (see previous bogs). Dawn did her Scout Lee bit, and we actually intercepted another team who'd been in front of us for ages. "You cheated" they said. Yeah right. You try it then, I wanted to say. If only I'd had the breath.
Just before the descent, Capt k brought out a huge bar of Green & Blacks milk chocolate. I've never tasted anything so great in my life. I did quite well on the descent, actually, faster than I'd done it before, and we were quite jolly passing The Nags head and walking into Edale for Checkpoint 7. This was a major milestone, as all the big climbs were now behind us, and it was about'headology', and mental endurance now. Of course, there was still about 20 miles to go, but, y'know!!!
I had to bin my gaiters as the zipper had busted on one leg, and the other kept riding up to rub my heel.
We walked gaily through some pretty leafy lanes, and then emerged into a field, where the most enormous hill rose up before us. "AAArgh" I said, or something similar. No-one told us about this one! I was having the most horrible energy nosedive, brought on I think by the corned beef sandwich I had illadvisedly eaten at Edale. I felt really queasy. Karen whipped my rucksack off me, strapped it to her chest, and still got up that hill quicker than me. I tell you, these girls are AWESOME!
We started to see other teams, staggering up the hill. One young lad was weaving from side to side. Dawn gave him her last mini mars. He could barely see, and made a grab for her pole instead, love him. The rest of his team were lounging about at the top of the climb, tutting. That's not teamwork, I wanted to say. WE"VE got Teamwork!!
I'd been having these energy peaks and troughs for the whole day. I hadn't had them in training since the early days. It was terrible - I'd feel completely empty, and that nasty body-voice would say - see, i told you, not fit, hah, who do you think you are -and then when the food kicked in, I'd get this great surge forward and kick the body-voice into touch! I couldn't seem to take food out of my pouch without slowing or stopping and so I gave all my food to Karen and she fed me as I passed. A handful of jelly beans sucked off her peaty palm tasted great!
Al was unexpectedly at the point where the road met the track,it was great to see him! and he restocked Paula with mini mars as an added bonus. We passed a couple of competitors holding hands, hobbling painfully. We sustained ourselves on the way to Chapel deciding what kind of cake we'd have. Lemon Drizzle, decided Paula, and we were sorely disapointed to find that the Checkpoint from Hell, manned by WI ladies making steamy urns of strong tea and dispensing homemade 6inch high Victoria Sponge cake was nothing more than a grey scout hall, with a few biscuits and penguins, (that's the chocolate variety - I wasn't hallucinating).
The girls ransacked my rucksack for painkillers as we left - Dawns inner thighs were hurting, I think from her peat bog episode, and we prepared ourselves for the final sections. We took a bit of a scenic route a couple of times, tiredness setting in. Dusk was falling, and we wanted to be at 'Haribo Hill' before night fell. It was the best checkpoint (9) ever. A big army style tent on top of this horrible uphill road section, I had coffee with milk and sugar and it tasted lovely. A kind man rummaged in my rucksack for my headtorch, tied reflectors and chemi-lights to our packs, and pointed us in the right direction. It was pitch black ouside. We left with a team that we'd been bumping into throughout the course, and I had a major surge of energy and could have run the final leg. Marching on, I said something, and turned, hearing no reply, to see the rest of the team way behind me. I'd mistaken the clanking of my mug, light, reflector etc as the clicking of their poles, and gone off in completely the wrong direction across the field.
I actually quite enjoyed the night walking. You only had to walk to the end of the beam from your headtorch, and had none of the pschological barriers to conquer.
I also felt terribly emotional. It suddenly dawned on me that we were going to do it. Nothing would have stopped me from getting through that final section. I would have crawled it! Still a long way to go - about 9 miles I think, we walked with this other team to the reservoir, and uphill (nasty thing), then along the track towards the Cat and Fiddle pub (closed) and Checkpoint (10). We learned that this was the third time they'd done it, and last year they'd finished at 03.30!!!
I completely demoralised them by mentioning that it was a miracle that I was here at all, as I'd had a hip replacement only 2 years previously, and then burned them off, streaking past them with my Nordic Poles twinkling in the light from their head torches. We didn't see them again. I hope they made it.
Amazingly, Al met us at the top of the hill, having walked from the Cat & Fiddle, by the light of the full moon!! Karen asked him to go back, as we didn't want to be accused of cheating at this late stage. It was lovely to see him, and a complete suprise.
The Cat & Fiddle was a big disapointment. The helpers were more interested in keeping warm themselves than helping us. It was really cold, and we put the rest of our clothes on, buffs, hats and gloves. I don't know how much further it was. Maybe 5 miles? We'd gone quiet by then. No singing. Tired, our legs aching, there was a huge blister under my right foot which I had thought was a stone in my shoe, my arms were killing me, and I could see from the way Dawn was walking that she was in pain. Paula looked as fresh as she had when she started. The girl is EPIC! Karen was tired from the weight of responsibility (and from carrying my rucksack twice uphill). We made ourselves into a sort of Nordic Walking Train, keeping step, one behind the other and propelled ourselves forward. Made mincemeat of the 'cheeky dip'. I almost felt a pang of regret when I saw the Buxton university buildings. A sign attached to a chemi light on a post said : 4 inns FINISH, and an arrow, pointing ahead . "Come on girls" urged Paula,"lets make it look good for the finish!" Straightening ourselves up, we pushed on in formation, to the next sign: 4 inns FINISH, and an arrow pointing ahead. Formation a little ragged, we stepped on to the next sign: 4 inns FINISH, and an arrow pointing left. Up the blooming bank would you believe, and then up a flight of steps, where we crashed tiredly into the bright lights of an office, where somebody said - " Oh, another Team here", cut off our tags and lights and reflectors,took off our packs and told us our time was 16 hours and 46 minutes.
I plopped down onto a row of 4 chairs, and a nice First Aid lady asked me if I'd like a drink. "Yes please" I said, shakily. "What would you like?" she said "I don't knoooooowwwww!" I wailed. Dawn sat down at the other end of the row, and burst into tears. The First Aid lady didn't know which of us to go to first as the tears streamed down both our faces.
Paula unearthed Al from the van where he'd fallen asleep waiting for us to arrive. Well it was quarter to midnight, and we'd been up since 4 am! We all went to the rugby club where we were fed - very hard baked potatoes and beans, and a blessed, glorious beer!
There was only one women's shower, so that took ages, and finally, there was nowhere for the girls to sleep in the hall. Luckily,the Team Motorhome rose to the challenge, and took us all in. We still had the energy for a fit of the giggles though. Dawn lay next to me cocooned in her sleeping bag. "I think I need a hospital" came this little voice into the night. "Or we could open the champagne, I think that would help me sleep"
I don't think any of us needed any help sleeping!
We came 47th in the field. 4th in the Falcon (women's) trophy. Next time.............

4 days to go...

2007-03-26T20:49:00.000+01:00

I can't think about anything other than The Walk. I'm hardly getting any painting done. On Saturday I found myself looking at my watch and thinking - this time next week we'll be at the second checkpoint. This time next week, we'll be heading for Kinder. This time next Saturday we'll be - crawling on our hand and knees to the Cat and Fiddle.......
My mind is constantly traversing the route. I've been up and over Kinder in my head more times than I care to think about. And Torside. Dropped down into Doctors Gate. (In fact, I've done a Virtual Walk, so I don't need to do it now, ok? I've got a note from my Mum and everyfink)

The last couple of weeks have not been without their ups and downs. I've been hanging onto a really nasty virus, and was banned from doing the last Sunday walk, as every time I felt a little better, I'd go training and then go into a decine. It was such a nasty bug, I started to think that I wasn't ill at all, it was just me being lazy - I didn't have an ounce of Go in me! Luckily, the enforced rest has turned it around, and I am back to feeling full of energy.

We have all bought specialist fell running shoes. The Kit Inspectors for the walk insist that proper walking boots or fell running shoes are worn, and we are anxious that our lovely Asics Nordic Gels won't meet the criteria. Even though we've done all our training in them and I've worn out a pair and a half. But the alternative is, if 'They' don't like our shoes, "Their' decision is final, and we don't do the Walk....
Problem is, the fell running shoes are dead comfy, and we can't decide which ones to wear on the day. But, we KNOW our Nordic Gels. We've all walked over 25 miles in them, and not a trace of a blister to be seen. Not even sore feet at the end. And we haven't had an opportunity to wear our new shoes for anything longer than about 7 miles, so, I think I've just talked myself out of making them my first choice for the day! Ultimately, I won't be heartbroken if I have to wear the fell runners, whereas I would never be able to manage it in walking boots, it'd kill my joints.

We're having some great publicity - Radio Wales broadcast our interview on the Jamie Owen show on Tuesday morning, and they want us in the studio for a live 10.30am broadcast with Roy Noble. The Evening Echo did a great whole page spread on Wednesday.

If you've managed to read this far - please don't forget to sponsor us! www.gonordicwalk.co.uk has all the links. It's for a great cause. There will be a bucket collection in the Cowbrige HIgh Street on the Day, with live updates available as we phone through to tell you where we are.
Blogging daily from now on....

Second training weekend - getting better all the time

2007-03-14T22:33:00.000Z

What a great weekend we had. We left early on Saturday morning - Karen and Paula drove my car up (brilliantly, thanks girls!) as I was still nursing a pesky bug and didn't fancy it - and by lunchtime we'd booked into the hostel and were starting the climb over Kinder Scout. We have to cross a stream first - it's about 12 feet across, fast running and ankle deep, and there are one or two stones peeking tantalisingly above the water level, so you think you might just keep your feet dry.....last time we all slithered about, Dawn went in up to her knees and Karen and I scampered up and down the bank like worried sheepdogs trying to find a better place to cross with David tapping his foot going - "you can't do this on race day girls - get ON WITH IT' and eventually we just did the same as the others and got wet. This time, well, we just got wet. But it was great climate control for the ensuing uphill section, which is almost vertical at the top. My sand dune training paid off and I felt a lot more comfortable. Dawn 'Scout' Lee did her job by fast-forwarding to the top, finding the finger width path and guiding us onto it. The rest of Kinder was a bit of a breeze, the weather was glorious, we found all the right tracks and groughs - until suddenly Dawn sank deeply into a peat bog, accompanied by a sickening SNAP! I thought it was her leg.....until I heard her trademark giggle, which quickly turned to dismay upon seeing one of her beloved poles snapped completely in half.
The long steep descent into Edale is a bit of a killer, and I am still quite slow trying to sidestep downhill, but I'll work on that (sand dunes again). When we reached the Nags Head, one of the 'Four Inns', Karen checks her watch and announces that we have knocked 20 minutes off our previous time!! I feel really proud of myself. A lovely cup of coffee, quick potter about in the Peak District Centre and then we set off back over Kinder - as we begin the seriously steep climb, the wind picks up gradually at first, and then with increasing severity until it is not only difficult to stand, it's downright scary! In true Barefoot Studio Team form, I am puffing my way up in front, and Karen and Dawn are singing directly behind me. I mean, I have only just enough breath to WALK, and they're SINGING....
At the top, my head is spinning from the wind which by now is about Force 8, and I was so glad to have my poles for stability. I know Dawn really noticed the difference on one pole (apart from walking round in circles all the time) and we very very carefully paced downhill with surefooted Karen in front leading us down to the Snake Pass Inn. Where she let us have a half of lager!!!! We really deserved it, mind....
Found a great pub just down the road from the hostel, for an evening meal, and made plans to book it for the pre-walk evening meal pasta-fest.
Up early the following morning, walked directly from the Youth Hostel, over the dam and up over Torside and down to Doctors Gate. This time, we followed the Pennine Way for quite a lot of it, with a little navigation thrown in. Yes, it is a longer route, but much easier going - more of a track, so we should be able to pick some speed up here. Having conquered it, we returned over the moor. It was a fabulous walk. I could feel myself using both legs much more evenly, my agility had improved, my energy levels felt ok, except that I had glands the size of golf balls, my throat and my head hurt and I felt like shit actually. But hey, if I can walk feeling like this, it'll be no problem on the Day!
We made a decision at that point that Paula and I would drop Karen and Dawn off to do the remaining section of navigation from Wessenden Heights to Crowden Youth Hostel, where we would collect them and then drive back.
Paula and I enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate in the car as we watched Capt K and 'Scout' Lee set off at a blistering pace over the hills, and then drove leisurely - in the wrong direction! Oops, turn around, and drive into the village of Holmfirth, where Last of the Summer Wine was filmed. We had chips. We looked at Nora Batty's house. We got cold and bored and decided it was time to go and collect the girls. Off we went, following a bus which crawled along, full of incontinent old geezers doing the Last of the Summer Wine Tour. we didn't really mind, until I noticed that we weren't actually going the right way. Paula obligingly turned around, and we found ourselves sucked back into this junction in the middle of town where all signposts take you to Nora Batty's house, but not to any town or village. Slightly anxious about the time now, we try a different route, still wrong, and so I get sally sat nag out, who was as much use as a chocolate fireguard and was nearly hurled out of the window in exasperation. Sweaty with nerves now, imagining both girls at the pick-up point cold and hungry, we retrace our original route, and Paula drives like a demon along Snake Pass, pausing only to flick her wiper blades at a cyclist as we passed (the indicators and wiper blades are reversed on my car) which made us both laugh hysterically (you had to be there), we careen wildly onto the approach road, passing a sign saying Police Accident we stare at each other in horror that it might prevent us from getting to the girls.....we arrive at the Phone Box meeting point, to see with relief that they weren't there! About 30 seconds after our arrival, my mobile rings and Karen's cheery voice tells us not to worry, they'd be about another 45 minutes.....phew! Talk about stress - I wondered if it might have been preferable to do the walk!
When they arrived, we tucked them up in the back of the car, came clean about the chips and the navigational nightmare, and they slept almost all the way home whilst Paula and I shared the driving.
This virus thingy is hanging on for longer than I'm happy about, but I feel so much more confident about the Walk. I know it's going to be tough, but re-visiting the moors has de-scarified it for me. We've seen just about every weather variety, and coped with it. We've got great kit. We really bonded together as a Team, and I know in my heart that we will all be around to pick each other up when (if) we hit THE WALL. (so long as we don't all hit it together. We'll have to sing our way out)
Today we were interviewed by the South Wales Echo and Radio Wales.
If you haven't already sponsored us, Please please dig deep and do it online by following the links from www.gonordicwalk.co.uk, or pop into Barefoot Studio, or send us a cheque made payable to MacMillan Nordic Challenge (BArefoot Studio,61-63 Eastgate, Cowbridge CF71 7XX
THANKYOU if you've already sponsored us!!

David Ingram said...

2007-03-14T22:32:00.000Z

The girls did really well on the training weekend. It's not without reason that the Four Inns describes itself as one of the toughest walking competitions going. The first half is due south across the Dark Peak (boggy peat moorland of the worst kind) and the second takes in the high bits of the White Peak (limestone karst). They worked hard, learned the route and their fitness is good. Take it from me they will finish.

Please, Please give as much as you can to this worthy endeavor. If for no other reason than that they deserve it and it's also the 50th aniversary of the event.

David, Captain K's brother and previous 4 Inns competitor

26 DAYS TO GO - Please sponsor us!

2007-03-05T09:29:00.000Z

If you have been a regular follower of this blog you might have noticed the tone changing somewhat recently - now we've seen exactly what we are letting ourselves in for - and it ain't no walk in the park for 45 miles!
Dawn and I have come from a minimum level of fitness a bare 6 months ago, tackling all sorts of personal lows along with our training. Karen and Paula have been absolutely solid in their support and commitment.
And now we have a bare 26 days - it's scarey as hell for all of us to tackle this - but make no mistake - WE WILL DO IT - so when you are having your Saturday lie-in, out shopping and chilling our in Starbucks, curled up in front of the tv on that Saturday evening, we will be up at 4.30am to get breakfasted before a 6am kit inspection, and putting the first foot forward at 7am, and then walking non-stop over the most difficult terrain any of us have ever experienced for the next 14-20 hours until we finally get to that finish.

Every step that we take will make a difference to someone's life. Help us do that by donating online at:
www.justgiving.com/gonordicwalk
or pop into Barefoot Studio and make a donation
EVERY LITTLE HELPS!!!!

Thanks so much for your support.
Dawn's latest blog is next - read on!
love sue
x

Disastrous training Day

2007-03-05T09:26:00.000Z

Yesterday did not go well at all.

Sue has been poorly with a migraine for 3 days so Captain K decided we would be better off doing some sand dune training at Merthyr Mawr rather than going to Brecon as originally planned. The weather was awful but hey, we are used to that!

Karen was brilliant, powering up the dunes, while Paula and I struggled. Paula has had a horrible cold all week, affecting her energy levels and breathing, and I was simply exhausted, having not had a full nights sleep in over a week. Sleep is something I can have problems with, (I come from a long line of insomniacs), but recently it has got pretty bad. Add to that I had done an hour and a half of sand dunes the previous day, my legs simply felt like lead and my lungs weren’t much better.
After 45 mins Karen said we should call it a day as we risk injuring ourselves. We hate not finishing what we have started, but I for one know I didn’t have much more in me to give. Got back to the team bus and I burst into tears and cried for a good 20 minutes. Not good - and a sure sign of needing some quality sleep.

The girls were great and decided this was a Starbucks emergency and took me racing to the nearest one for a Cappuccino and some lunch. They then took me to their house and told me to go and have a sleep. It was the best quality sleep I’ve had in ages.

So, as well as March being an alcohol free zone, I’m going to have to reduce my caffeine intake ( No more Strbucks!!!) to see if that makes a difference, and also try not to be full pelt on the go all day and evening long, making relaxing difficult. This is however easier said than done.

But, that’s it, there is no use dwelling on one bad day when we have had so many good ones. At least the team know what my ‘hitting the wall’ is likely to look like. It’s time to turn the frown up-side-down and focus on next weekend. Hopefully I will get into a better sleeping pattern.

Get well soon Paula and Sue!!!

Oh and as you can see, this isn’t a walk in the park for any of us. And the reason we are doing it is to raise money for Macmillan Nurses. Please donate to our fund today; you will be making a huge difference to someone’s life.

Dawn's first blog!!!

2007-02-27T11:48:00.000Z

Well, I’m long overdue to write a contribution to this blog, but better late than never as they say!!

We have a month to go until the 4 Inns walk and the whole team is feeling exited anticipation. I tend to O.D. on the excitement factor…an unfortunate character defect, which thankfully the rest of the team are willing to be fabulously forgiving about!!

Back in September when Captain K. first issued us with our training schedule we knew we would be having a trial run of the course, and last weekend we did just that. We knew this weekend would be crucial preparation. Our navigational decisions have to be made well in advance of the big day to avoid wasting any time. I have to confess that navigation is not really my strong point. As someone who has been known to get lost in a department store I don’t feel I have the necessary skills to bring to the group. (Recipe for Mushroom Wellington anyone??)

Any how, off we went to the beautiful Peak district to suss out the course and bravely face the unknown, picking up Karen’s brother David en route, as he has taken part in the race twice, brave man. Brave for doing the race twice, oh yes, but even braver for being willing to put up with us four chicks for the weekend!! Our trusty team supporter, driver and doughnut fetcher AL got us to the youth hostel safe and sound and pumped full of sugar and caffeine. (Ta Al!!) By early Saturday we were raring to go!!

Saturday was hard work. We had anticipated that the terrain would be on a par with the Black Mountains here in Wales, but it was much more challenging. It was hard work, it was muddy and peaty and exhausting and cold and wet. But Oh! My! God! It was beautiful!!

True to form I was the first one to fall into a peat bog. Up to my thighs in the stuff but gleefully happy none the less. (Never got dirty as a kid!!) Thanks to Karen’s David my micro-navigation phobia is on the mend and I can now comfortably watch Captain K and Sue do things with a map and compass without breaking into a sweat. Excellent progress!! (Forever- in debt to you David!!)

Whilst courageously negotiating ourselves around the moorland’s I was given the important job of helping our lovely Paula count metres. This proved very handy in keeping me focussed as I can tend to get a bit blissed out in the wilds and skip along happily singing to self….hence the falling into the peat bog. Captain K and Sue and Paula were all fabulous and well – at least I was happy. The views were breathtaking. Far too stunning for me to describe and something I will never forget. Awesome!!

Saturday night was pretty awesome too as Captain K made an uncharacteristic deviation from the rules and allowed her team to have some booze. Yey!! I had two pints for rehydration purposes of course, and started to feel like I was on holiday!!

Sunday we did part two, over Kinder Scout. For months this part of the course has filled us with apprehension. Just saying the name of the place was enough for me to want to retreat to a duvet. But by now I had consumed so many stimulants I felt oddly enthusiastic. Bring it on!!

It went up and up and then it went up some more. Following David’s instructions we were searching for a path that we would `only see when we were on top of it’. And so up we went. Part of our training involves the discipline of walking as a team; however no amount of `Karen dead eye’ was going to prevent me getting up that mountain in great haste. I had only two hours sleep and the higher we got the weaker my knees became as vertigo kicked in. We eventually found what David convinced us was a path and onwards and upwards we went.

It was soooooo worth it. The scenery took my breath form me. It didn’t matter that it was freezing and wet. I have never seen such beauty. I could have stayed there all day, but had to be content with having a quick wee and a cereal bar as we had a schedule to stick too.

Alan was fab. Meeting us at what will be our checkpoints with hot drinks and snacks. Sue was brilliant with her boundless possitivity. Karen was amazing leading us on and keeping the team spirits up, as was Paula who has this tremendous gift of making sure we all feel safe, happy and have something yummy to cook in the week. And as for David who selflessly gave us his weekend and most importantly believes we can, and will accomplish this…. we are not worthy. Thankyou!!

It’s getting close now. March will be an alcohol free, my body is a temple month, and we are almost there. Keep in mind that in spite of all the fun we are having, beauty we are seeing and new skills we are learning, our motivation is to raise money for Macmillan Nurses. All of the team have seen the awfulness of cancer up close, and are passionate about raising money for Macmillan. Macmillan nurses help those facing the unimaginable to cope with dignity and strength. Please, please make a donation to our appeal today; you will be doing a great thing.

Till next time
X Dawn Lee

'Leapt up hills, can't imagine what the problem was...'

2007-02-27T10:28:00.000Z

Well, not quite, and emotionally and physically it was a roller coaster for me! The terrain on Saturday was difficult for me, slippy flat slabs have been laid to prevent erosion on the Pennine Way, and I could feel myself tensing as we traversed them, the slight drizzle adding to their greasy surface.
David's short cuts, whilst trimming substantial portions off the length of the walk, involved plopping in and out of peat bogs - a bit like walking through gigantic vats of Christmas pudding - and then horrible tussocky long grass, where I could never quite tell where my feet were landing. The subsequent constant twisting and modifying my footing played havoc with my hip (replaced a couple of years ago), my leg ached and I found myself using my sound right leg as a 'jack' to go uphill, and a brake coming down. That also meant using my right arm to compensate for the left leg, and by the time we got to the trip point above Doctors Gate, I was so miserable it was all I could do not to burst into tears. We re-joined the main path, all my aches and pains fled and my confidence began to return.
Luckily, that was the end of the day's walking, as it would be too dark to go over Kinder, and time for some serious considerations.
I knew that I had to be sensible about my own health, that nothing was worth losing the mobility I'd fought so hard for, but after some team talks, David assured us that we'd crossed the worst of the terrain, gave us some top teambuilding tips, and I mentally prepared myself for the following day.
Which was great!
Ok, it was uphill - in some places almost vertical - and apparently my face was a picture when the hill above the dam was pointed out - 'What - all of it?????"
But I managed a reasonable speed uphill, particularly as I was made to go in front, and I felt so much better that the previous day was beginning to feel like a horrible dream.
The weekend was a huge mental and physical step forward.
We couldnt have done it without either of our men - Al was the most amazing support driver, sourced fresh doughnuts (on a Sunday!), fixed the van, put the heating and the kettle on, drove us up and down titchy little roads without complaint, and all the way there and back - over 530 miles.
And David also needs a medal for keeping us on track both physically and mentally - snapping us back to reality when our silly songs and ditties threatened to get out of hand, and constantly informing and guiding us across the huge variety of terrain, which he knows like the back of his hand.
We are re-doing it in a fortnight. Trying an alternative route over the first half, checking our navigation over Kinder again. We'll have Al, but we won't have David.......
Sue x

Tried hard - could do better.

2007-02-19T08:48:00.000Z

Sunshine! Almost forgotten what that's like.... as planned, Dawn & I decided to do a short hill walk whilst Karen and Paula spent the day researching the Wednesday Nordic Walk at Merthyr Mawr (check it out: http://www.barefootstudio.co.uk/nordic_walking.shtm). It was beautiful up on the hills - and incredibly atmospheric to see the clouds dipping over the peaks. Until the clouds overtook us on the final stretch and we walked along in the eerie silence with our pole tips the only noise, clattering occasionally over the flat stones. The ridge drops off scarily into white nothingness to the right - I don't remember the path being quite as close to the edge as that!
Dawn strode easily ahead of me for the whole route - about 12 miles. Bless her, she stopped to wait for me countless times, and I fell behind almost instantly. I was so slow going uphill - and even slower going down - all the confidence in my footing seemed to have ebbed away, my knees hurt, I seemed to have no energy, and I began to have real doubts about my ability to walk 45 miles in One Day.
Sipping hot chocolate in the car at the end, I was very quiet.
The thought of slowing the other girls up so much that we all fail to finish felt like a horrible reality, and one I didn't want to contemplate. I thought of doing the route again on Weds, see if I can improve before we all took off for the Big Weekend on Friday night - when we check out the route over 2 days.
Dropped Dawn off and before I'd even reached home, I'd had a pep talk from Karen. She winkled out of me the fact that I'd not finished working in the studio, where Al is doing a major re-fit, until 11.30pm the previous night. That I'd been backwards and forwards to Ikea TWICE with flatpack furniture, and ripped half the studio to bits during the day.....that doesn't sound like a REST DAY!!!! she said. I didn't tell her that we hadn't had time to stop for dinner either, and had made do with a sandwich and kept on working...
Massive Wake up call for me -
1. I totally underestimated today's walk - ONLY 10 miles, I'd said several times the day before. I'll be back to finish working on the studio in the afternoon, I said. I've already done the 20 milers, 10 miles is nothing!!!! hurr hurr hurr.
2. I've not managed to get my nutrition sorted and without planning and shopping I've made do - bad move.
3. Underestimated effects of Trade Fair, plus a week of standing packing afterwards and not getting enough walking in during the day. (the dog isn't happy either)
So. Monday morning. A sadder, wiser Tigger.
My body is a temple. Eat and sleep properly. Do my pilates. Don't overdo it.
Look out for the apres weekend blog, when I say - leapt up hills, can't imagine what the problem was last week. xx

Where I am now

2007-02-16T09:03:00.000Z

Training has stuttered somewhat for me with a week out to do a trade fair. I never realised how hard it was going to be to suddenly stop training. My back ached. I woke up one morning barely able to turn my neck. Since then, standing all day in a trade stand has given way to standing all day packing the orders - and my poor old body DOES NOT LIKE IT! All sorts of bits of me are twanging and pinging on a daily (hourly!) basis. I haven't had time to go shopping since we came back from the show, so I'm trying hard to eat properly but not succeeding as well as I ought.
Of course, being me, I haven't eased myself gradually back into training, but carried on exactly where I left off, with almost grim determination that with less than 7 weeks to go I don't let myself down at this late stage. But I feel leaden, heavy-bodied, with no spring at all. My right toe joint is killing me. My left heel is also killing me (must ring Delme - our miracle working physio) And this time next weekend we are travelling up to walk the whole route over 2 days. Which is no mean feat by itself.
Wish me luck. I'm going to try and do a walk of a decent length this weekend - get my confidence back, stretch my legs and get out into those hills and refresh my head.

margam to afan argoed and back - 20 miles

2007-01-23T12:43:00.000Z

At 6 am on Sunday, I listened to the gale force wind hurling hail stones at the window, rang Dawn and said that I wasn't happy about revisiting the Black Mountains today. After a brief struggle with the option of returning to bed, we decided to try and do the margam-afan-margam walk that we'd aborted a couple of times before.
it's horribly badly signposted, and it's all on hard track which leaves your joints sore and stiff, but we did it, and with time to have a cuppa in the cafe at Afan Argoed - we were back at the car by 4.15pm!
We would both be pleased not to visit that walk again for quite a long time. Now that we've elevated our sights to mountain walks, it's hard to settle for these anonymous tracks fenced by trees that all look the same.
Low point of the walk - being overtaken going uphill by a man in wellies and a check shirt. I thought Dawn was going to stab him with one of her poles.
High point - navigating ourselves succesfully back on track using the map and compass, and getting back well within daylight. Oh, and not going back to bed, of course. And my home made carrot cake in the car at the end!

Awoke Monday feeling fine again, bit stiff around the hips, but I expected that due to the hard surface. I seem to have so much energy after doing these really long walks. My whole body feels renewed!
Looking forward to a long walk on Saturday...

Captains Log

2007-01-23T12:19:00.000Z

Captains Log
16 Jan 2007
Days to 4 Inns competition: 66

We Rock! We walked 20 miles today over difficult terrain in the black mountains in 7 and a half hours. I of course lead by example, forgot my waterproof trousers (thank god it didn’t rain), insufficient food (thank god Sue’s rucsac is actually a tardis and a franchise of the energy bar section of tesco), no map (well that was cool as 1st Mate Soozie was in charge of navigation today) and no head torch! Oops but I did have the team bothy which thankfully we didn’t need.

The route was spectacular, the pace up hill was the best we’d done yet, we only stopped once for 10 mins and pretty much ate on the hoof. Even over difficult bits we were managing our top speed of 3.7 mph and dawn only had to stop for a wee twice! 20 miles feels like a real milestone, its a big day walk and makes the 4 inns seem almost possible. We all need a load more fuel though, both Sue and Dawn had the stumbling dropseys at one point. Sue goes white as a sheet and the three of us quickly shove Gillian mackeath at her (that’s a chewy bar, we don’t carry our own team nutritionalist with us!). Dawn had to have an emergency sandwich having started tripping over her own poles. Even Paula stopped dead at one point and demanded a twix!

We finished in the dark, happy and slightly delirious. Sue screamed out as we approached the car “My boots open”, The poor woman who’s car it was jumped out of her skin and nearly dropped her thermos of tea. Sue’s car was still safely parked up a little further on.

I am chuffed to bits with today, so is the team…. Feels like we’re going to make it (to quote a song)

Captain K

Our first 20 miler!

2007-01-23T11:55:00.000Z

So many learning curves - every time we go out there's something else to learn. Luckily we are not painful learners - we mentally download the experience and it doesn't happen again!
Like last Sunday. Wanting to brush up on my navigational skills, I asked Captain K if she would help me map out the next walk. "You can do it!" she said cheerfully "and then you can lead the walk on Sunday!"
Gulp.
I spent hours poring over the map on Saturday night, taking compass bearing and writing copious notes, like: very steep descent, ignore paths leading from the left, escape route possible here if weather turns nasty, etc, and then re-writing the whole thing to leave at home with Allan in case we should never be seen again, at least he would know where to start looking for our mortal remains (half eaten by alsations, of course).
Anyway. Drove up towards Crickhowell using Sally SatNAg -( turn left. turn left. turnLEFT.TURNLEFT!!!!), and announced with conviction that we had arrived at our starting point. We kitted up, warmed up, strode out of the village and after about 20 minutes, when the desired road to the left had not materialised, finally retraced our steps - to find that we were not even in the right village! Werl, it had a bridge over the stream, a pub and a church - anyone can make mistakes.
Starting again at the correct village, we squeezeed my car in beside the church, and set off, gorgeous day, sunshine etc, even stripped off down to our ODLO baselayers climbing up to Table Mountain - although we quickly re-dressed once upon the summit, as it was nose-drippingly cold and windy up there.
I can't say i took in much of the view, as I spend most of my time looking at where I put my feet, but the occasional glance around confirms what all the guidebooks say. It's beautfiul up there! waves of blue and purplish hills. Wish I had time to photograph, but press onwards - we are walking 20 miles today, and there's no time to hang about. The path is alternately rocky in lunar landscape way, or spongy badly drained peatbogs which we had to jump over to avoid going in up to our knees. Challenging stuff.
We didn't see a soul, until Paula announced that she really needed a comfort stop. There is not even so much as a solitary tree up there. NO shelter whatsoever. Unless you count the fluorescent bothy pitched halfway up a hill, that wished us a good afternoon as we passed.... Just as she was about to cwpy down amongst some handily placed boulders, a whole group of young men appeared over the hill behind us, with another group making their way towards us. "It's like being in an episode of Doctor Who!" exclaimed Paula.
We could see the whole horseshoe walk before us at that point. The whole 20 miles worth. It's amazing to think that your body can walk that far.
On the bend of the horseshoe - Waun fach - was a group of hikers - who totally ignored us, which I thought was quite unfriendly, considering we were the only people up there, but as we were all zigzagging our way across the worst peatbogs, the four of us were making good headway using our poles to vault over the thousands of waterlogged ditches, until suddenly - 'aargh, SHIIIIT!' 'oops, Bollocks' and various other more descriptive nouns escaped our lips as one by one we disapeared up to our armpits in bog. We laughed our socks off. But they didn't. It was like the BORG...and we didn't exist...good job Karen wasn't wearing her www.gonordicwalk.com trousers is all I can say.
We ended the walk through a wood, in the dark, and then on the road. Headtorches were great (thanks mum!)
Navigation was ok, I'd done alright but we really need to do the walking/distance/time thing. And I wouldn't have felt happy up there in the dark.
Ended on a real high, with banana cake and hot drinks back at the car.
The next day, I felt fine, and so proud of myself. i looked in the mirror at myself on the way to the shower, expecting to see someone different. Someone more muscular, and 'Wonderwomanish'. But it was just the same old me. Aren't our bodies amazing?

Happy New Year!

2006-12-29T18:55:00.000Z

Think I've put on about a stone in 2 days - can that happen? Did a brisk walk up PenyFan on Boxing Day with Al and Andrew - it was ok, but freezing fog made icicles on my hair and the dog's! Decided to take another trot up there with Dawn this morning - but checked the weather forecast beforehand to find - severe weather warning - 45-60mph gusts!!!!! Well,it could be wrong, so we went any way, even though I spent the whole night dreaming about being blown off Corn Du, and it was horrible!!!! before any of you tell me how stupid it was, we only went up the track next to the Storey Arms for about a mile, the icy rain stung our faces, the gale force wind blew our poles horizontal and we decided we weren't enjoying ourselves AT ALL!
I'd wanted to try out my new electrolyte drink, so I drank it in the car afterwards,mmm delicious - wonder what it would be like with a drop of vodka - could be a new craze, resolve to try it out on New Years Eve, what do you think?
Starting to feel like it's all quite real now - only 12 weeks to go, which is scary. I know I've lost weight and toned up hugely since we started this at the end of Aug, but I think I ought to look like those stringy marathon running types - and I don't. New Years Resolution - stop eating rubbish, and BE SENSIBLE!!! (If I was THAT sensible, would I be walking 45 miles - IN ONE DAY?)
Anyway. So far, hip feels fine. Arthritic toe joint hurts, but what the hell, it would hurt even if I was going to the shops, but it does limit my stride, and makes it harder to get my speed up.
I know I can do the distance, but the speed issue needs some work. Fundraising is also on our minds now that Christmas is over.
Looking forward to partying with my best buddies on New Years Eve, after some solid hill training of course. Happy New Year to you all! xxx

Dec 10 06

2006-12-10T22:21:00.000Z

Happy Birthday to Dawn, Happy Birthday to Dawn, Happy Birthday to Dawneeee!!! Happy Birthday to Dawn!!!!Yaay!!!!
I think dancing at Salt may have been the best lower body workout ever as my knees are killing me today.
Wonder how Dawn feels after subzero skinny dipping....

Thanks girls for the pep talk on Friday - I am resolved to try not to allow myself to get so mentally stressed - I swear it is more debilitating than physical stress, certainly blimmin' exhausting. Anyway, thanks to all of you - I'm back on track, even though I feel knackered today, didn't get anything I wanted in Cardiff. Has anyone noticed how many of the shops seem to have closed? What's happening there then?

Anyway, looking forward to doing the Taff Trail on Sunday - it would be a really good psychological boost to end the year on.
love yas
soosie

New Barefoot Studio store now open!

2006-11-07T00:08:00.000Z

The new Barefoot Studio store is now open and it'e bigger and better than the existing one! Go to www.barefootstudio.co.uk and click on "Go Shopping".

The coppermines trail Coniston

2006-10-23T16:08:00.000+01:00

The Coppermines Walk 7th October 2006
Saturday was a major achievement - our first warm-up race for the Big Event- in the Lake District. A 'mere' 9.3 miler, I thought on fairly reasonable level packed hard track hurr hurr- how wrong can you be....
Al drove (brilliantly, thanks love) Dawn and I up on Friday through sheets of rain. We peered up the vertiginous (good word, that) mountains, shrouded in mist and went a bit quiet.
A texted photo from Karen, already walking part of the route with Paula, Ceri and Vic (who was RUNNING it in the race) did not dispel our apprehension. "it's......Hilly" she'd written.
It'll be fine, I said. Did that sound convincing?
Felt better after some retail therapy (although the shop keeper was such a grumpy git I'm sorry I bought anything from him) and a bit of a walk. And some pasta, And garlic bread, And just the one mrs wembley glass of wine.
We went to bed early, although Dawn entertained us into the night reading from her book, the first line of which is engraved on my mind - She was a Woman. She had no FACE -and eventually dropped off. Up at 8 am, showered and burned half a loaf of bread with the toaster set to 'defrost' instead of 1, oops, breakfasted and warmed up, walked across the campsite to the start line. A rapid readjustment of clothing - off with the waterproof legs, if it rains it's tough, and we're on the start line. I wanted to cry and laugh all at once.
We were off, and trying not to trip the couple of hundred runners behind us with our poles. Bloody hell, I thought, i can't keep this up for nearly 10 miles. We did a walking removal of jackets - which was quite nifty I thought, stuffed them into our camelbaks - me: "oh no, mines broken, I'm not getting any water out" Paula "The valve's not turned on"
Through Coniston village, and then we start to head uphill. And it keeps going, And going....I just focus, think about how amazing it is to be doing this. Less than 2 years ago I was on crutches waiting for a new hip. Paula keeps pace with me, I am relieved that she doesn't expect me to chat - I haven't enough breath for anything other than this. I look up and see Karen and Dawn striding easily uphill. Make mental note to do more quad training. And hills. Many many more hills.
My nose starts to run. I try to blow with one finger against the nostril. A stream of snot sticks to my hand. Lovely. Finally we get to the top. A marker says 2k. Or 3, or something - but it felt like longer.
Whheeee - off we go on more undulating rocky trail - I've got my second wind, feeling good, still can't keep up with the other 3, but Paula has identified my problem. Come on Shortlegs, she says, as I trot after them like a pit pony - clatter clatter pole tips on the slate hey look girls I'm nordic running!
Blow my nose and snot hits my shoes this time.
After about 8k, the serious runners begin to hurtle past us at breakneck speed. There is barely time to avoid a collision - I'm at the back and hear their breathing and yell - RUNNERS!!! so the girls can move over to the left.
Several kilometres of this and I'm starting to feel a bit fed up - can't get a rhythm, having to walk through huge puddles to get out of their way. Some are nice enough to say thank you, others just shout -out the WAY!!!!!- it's our race too, I grumble to myself.
In front, Karen and Dawn are picking off the other competitors. I stretch my (short) legs, ignore the pain in my arthritic toe and grunt onwards. Paula is like an attentive sheepdog - she's in front, beside, behind, cajoling and cheering.
Finally, the lake is in sight, and I know there's only a couple of miles to go. I don’t seem to be able to go any faster - Karen falls back to psyche me up - just think you can fall into Allan’s arms at the end, she says. Hmm, I think, he’s not going to want to kiss me with a face covered in snot.
Suddenly we are at the finish field. I see Al’s face and hear him cheer us on. There’s a watery ditch we have to leap over, and then its round the field to the finish line. It seems never-ending, and then I spot the red blow up arch, and astoundingly, about 20 feet from the finish line, I break into a trot! Where the hell did that come from? “Team, Teaam!!” yells Karen, reining me in, and we pass under the arch in a line. The commentator says something about us being the Welsh Nordic Walking Team or something and we laugh. Queuing for our commemorative tee shirts, we look at the timing and find that we’ve finished in 2 hours 32 mins. Which is weird, as that’s what I had prophesied about a week ago, it just popped into my head.
(I’ve said we will do THE BIG ONE in 14 hours 6 minutes. There. It’s in black and white.)
Lottery numbers, anyone??

Asics Gel Cardio - road tested!

2006-09-20T09:14:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone. My name is Rob, I am Barefoot Studio's web designer. I was asked by Karen Ingram to 'road test' a pair of Asics Gel Cardio shoes/trainers (shown left). I am a Type 1 Diabetic (insulin dependant) and suffer from more or less constantly painful feet and ingrown toenails - which are soon to be removed again for the 3rd time! As with any diabetic, I am also at risk of problems with my heart, kidneys, liver, eyes, nervous system etc. I take care of my internal organs by diet, exercise and good glucose & insulin control.

My feet are a different story. They are generally 'looked after' by what I put them in! I have flat feet, so not wearing shoes is also very painful, so I tend to wear them from the minute I wake up to the time I go to bed - we're very attached!

My pains
General day-to-day pains include pins & needles in my toes and down the balls of my feet, shooting/stabbing pains in my heels and pads under my toes, shooting pains (like someone kicking me) up my shins and sore toe-tips. There are also problems with dry, cracking skin—all common complaints for people with diabetes.

The shoes
When I first heard about the Asic Gel Cardio I thought, "£90 for a pair of shoes that will change the way I walk and how my feet hurt, hahahahaaa". I am very sceptical about these special pieces of gel and super bendy rubber etc, so I was happily proved wrong when I tried them on! As soon as my feet were inside the shoes I was aware of the fact that there was no heavy duty stitching inside, to impress itself against my foot! The tongue formed part of the inside of the shoe, so that didn't impress itself either, the shoe outer was separate from the inner, like a kind of glove around the shoe - very clever, my flat feet touched and moulded to the bottom of the shoe where they were supposed to, and without any pain! The inside is totally cushioned, like one of those memory, 'tempur' type mattresses/pillows. Even the shoelaces make sense; an elasticised draw string that doesn't require tying (something else that us diabetics have trouble with sometimes is tying shoelaces, fastening buttons, zips etc). Overall they fit me like a glove, a foot glove!

My feet did hurt...
Last night my feet were incredibly sore again. The pins & needles in my toes, the shooting/stabbing pains across my toe pads and heels came back, in turn bringing back the throbbing up my shins. But, this was as soon as I took my shoes off!

So, would I buy them?
They are £90. I usually spend between £20-£30 on footwear (every 5 years or so!), and I'm no fashion guru! I am not just saying this because I know Karen, or because I have been asked or paid to do so, but I genuinely would buy a pair! The pain relief & comfort that I have experienced in just one day overrides the price of the shoes, and I think that my health is worth much more than £90. Yes, the shoes are only available in black/grey, whilst some people may prefer white or pink, but they look much better than crutches, a wheelchair or a wooden stump!

If you want to contact me to ask me any questions please feel free to email me here. If you would like more infomation about the shoes, or want to see them close up and personal, contact Barefoot Studio:

www.barefootstudio.co.uk

info@barefootstudio.co.uk

01446 775772

I'll be back again sometime to give you a follow report, see you soon - over and out...

Nordic Walking Team Challenge

2006-09-19T16:46:00.000+01:00

4 women
1 team
45 miles
1 day

That's the challenge taken on by the Barefoot Studio's Women's Nordic Walking Team. Karen Ingram, Paula Wooding, Dawn Lee and Sue McDonagh will walk the 4 Inns challenge in March 2007 to raise money for Macmillan Nurses. You can follow their journey on this Blog as they each share their training dairies.