"Have you seen the way?" I was asked. "Which way?" "It's a film about a man who went for a walk on the Camino de Santiago, you have to watch it..." Makes a change from people asking if I've seen Wild. +++ A film by Emilio Estevez starring, once again, his real life dad, Martin Sheen. This time Dad is an Ophthalmologist, who does sight tests, plays golf, doesn't speak French and above all else lives an ordered, predictable and sensible life. In between all of that, his waywa

The day of dread comes around very fast, especially when one’s training plan has slacked off considerably…aka ‘conserving energy’ which is what is suggested one does in the weeks prior to the big ‘event’, which is usually a marathon but for me is a mere traipse around the Cotswolds border for 50 kilometres or 31 or so miles. The problem with ‘conserving energy’ is that I am still shovelling in the calories as if I am walking a gazillion miles a week. ‘Bet you’re super fit’ s

Thread one: https://www.mlconaquad.com/blog/sadventure-accepted-42-50kms-to-hell I tried very hard to follow a fitness plan but there were two very serious impediments: 1. Time 2. My inability to commit to plans Not to mention the weather. That said I have managed a few walks out...and things are getting easier. Week 8 should have done... 1 x 25km 3 x 10km What I actually did: 1 x 15km, 2 x 10km It does prove something very important: that having plans is all well and good

"Walk to the top of the Broadway Tower ,"she commanded. "It's uphill?" "Yes, but if you park at the top, then walk down to the bottom, then walk up again, you'll be fine." What a jolly folly! +++ What a jolly folly. I did this ages ago but have completely forgotten to write it up. Twas a dark winter’s day in fact, in December I believe, when we had a deluge of rain and storms and precipitation and other ground-dampening events that I found myself with an unexpected spare aft

By the time one gets to middle-aged, one has usually already experienced a life-shattering event of some kind. Something that up-ends one's view of the world and how it 'should' be. The shockwaves zap around for months and years after: be that the death of a loved one: sibling, partner, spouse, parent gone to soon, a child; a life-limiting illness, bankruptcy, divorce, an industrial or car accident causing a disability. These are the things that happen to 'other people' u

Whilst moaning about my painful knee, I was told I should try that psychedelic strapping stuff that athletes use. Kinesiology tape I discovered it's called. In fact, she actually had some and I looked woefully at the package of a bare torso man covered in different strips of colour. Blimey! It's only my knee that's hurting not my entire muscular set. Looking at the image, the man is practically held together by tape. I'm middle-aged but not that bad yet. But proof, if ev

Well, isn't it just the way. You casually mention that you're training for 0to50k (as you do), and then people chime in with 'Oh, you should try...' Apparently, Nordic walking is my latest 'should try'. +++ One week later and I've ordered some poles on the internet. Only muppet me saw the advert for Nordic poles and didn't read the blurb that said: Quantity = 1 +++ Two weeks later my second pole arrived in the most inappropriately sized box: +++ So I figured that I could dr

"Why don't you train for an ultra-marathon?" she said. "Because I value life. Besides, I've walked just over 30kms twice recently in one go and it took me days to recover." "You'll need a good pair of shoes," she said. "And a hip replacement."I said. "You don't have to run it. Just walk it in 12 hours." "Still will hurt." "You'll have to train. And you'll have to use a proper distance training app. No more of your ludicrous make it up as you go along stuff." "Winter's comi

Typing up the first blog has turned my 'puter into a 1980s relic. In fact, quite frankly, it is something that is running slower than me - which is a miracle in itself. Therefore I'm starting a fresh post about my preparation for the Cotswolds Running Festivals 5k race. June 25 Sadventure Completed June 26 With a last minute cancellation, and a rare dry June day, I really had no excuses not to run. Especially, for once, my legs felt 'fine'. And pleased I did because I ran R

"Run 5 or 8 k in August at the Cotswolds running festival. It’s also a weekend of camping with a festival attached and should be fun! See how the health-nut halves live and entertain themselves" It's the Cotwolds twenty-four hour race and I am to waddle it. Apparently, going to festivals in one's middle years is a sure symptom of a mid-life crisis. The furthest I've run in recent years is from the front door to the loo: a distance of three steps. Cripes! On the plus, it's a