On Target

Tonight I have achieved my target of raising £1500 for BLESMA. Very many thanks to everyone who has contributed, it really is appreciated.

Last weekend training walk

Well, that's it! The last weekend training walk is over. 30 miles spent walking from home to Tile Cross, a quick cup of coffee with the in-laws, then back home off to King's Heath and then home again. The full 30 miles as well. what a relief.

This week I'll walk home from work on Monday, walk in on Tuesday (repeated on Thursday/Friday) with a little jaunt up to the top of Snowdon with Philip on Wednesday. That will bring the total training mileage up to 400. Not bad really.

Yesterday I did just 21 miles as Izzy was not feeling too well and is starting to get a bit fed up with all the time the training for this is taking. To make up for it I walked home from work today and will walk in again in the morning. Feet seem to be holding up quite well.

More importantly, the sponsorship keeps creeping up and I've now hit £1265, only £235 to go. I think I'll certainly make £1300 but am not so sure about the last £200.

After my now world famous appearance on 'Tonight's The Night' on BBC1 I was contacted by the uncle and father of a British soldier killed in Afghanistan. Capt Alex Eida was killed in August 2006 and I shall be walking to honour his memory. Thanks to his father I have been in touch with his unit, 7 (Para) Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery. They are going to send me a couple of t-shirts and I shall wear them on at least two days of the walk. This makes my efforts seem even more worthwhile.

Getting There

A week ago last Saturday I had to work so I didn't go out for a walk at all last weekend, instead I had a nice lazy Sunday. On the Monday I did walk to work but at going home time the airport was hit by a terrific thunderstorm and torrential rain. So, I wimped out, got a lift part way home and walked the rest.

Sunday I did go out having celebrated Father's Day a day early! I walked 27 miles to my parent's and back and then into King's Heath and back again. A good walk, out for 9 hours so a long day.

Today I drove into work and then walked home. Tomorrow I shall walk in and drive back, repeating the process on Thursday and Friday.

Only 3 more weekend walks to go, though on 15 July I shall be going up to the top of Snowdon with Philip. Just cos it's there!

My first wet day

It had to happen, my first walk in the pouring rain. The 4 Days website recommends you walk in all conditions, in wasn't my fault that it didn't choose to rain properly on any of my earlier walks, even in the winter. Today it was raining as I left and did so for the first 13 miles. After lunch it brightened up considerably. Once again, especially with the rain, the hardest part was keeping my pace down. Still, another 25 miles logged. 6 weeks to go. I should put in about another 250 miles, giving me 500 in all, not bad really.

2 June

Today I walked into walk, thereby ensuring a 5.30 alarm call, not good fun. The walk however was well worth the effort.

29 May

This was a good walk on a lovely very warm day. 24 miles in all at a slow p-ace. In fact, this was the hardest part of the day, keeping my pace down. I've a couple of episodes of shin splints and so walked decidedly slower and did not suffer at all. The sun made sure that after lunch the sweat was pouring down my brow and I had to wipe my face every few minutes. All in all an excellent day