Lighter on my feet

I hoped that one of the blessings of an active sabbatical would be improvement in my health and fitness. Ten months of training have amounted to not much more than a long walk every week or two and a few more twenty-minute dashes in my busy weekly work schedule. But there have been results already. Nothing much happened to begin with but in the last six months I've shed about thirteen pounds and dropped a waist size.

With a few days to go, I'm at 12st 2lbs and wondering what the next fifty days will deliver, if I can resist the cream and cheeses of Normandy and the real ales of England.

Update: At the end of my walk I weighed myself on the same set of bathroom scales and found I am 11st 13lbs. A three pound loss seems insignificant but I'm noticeably thinner around the face and I've lost some fat from my upper body. My legs are definitely stronger and more muscular.

I've a feeling that I lost quite a bit of weight in France but that the combination of cooked breakfasts and real ale in England has had an impact.

Three day walking practice - day two

Yesterday's walk was quiet, on very familiar roads and under a flat grey sky. It was cold, lunch was disappointing and owing to Lenten commitment, beer-free.
I woke this morning not knowing where I wanted to walk today but sure that I wanted to go somewhere new.

I've taken my time getting ready, perhaps there's a bit of subconscious procrastination going on, my tired limbs finding ways of keeping me in the warm indoors. But with a little time for reflection and prayer I've decided to walk yesterday's exact route again, to see if the route can be redeemed.

Update at 16:45. I'm back home, showered and changed. It's been a great day! Funny how walking the same route in the same weather on two consecutive days can produce such contrasting feelings. I must remember this. We tend to creative narratives to explain our moods drawing on what's happened to us and from our environment. The truth is that much of yesterday's experience and environment was identical to today's. If I were scoring, I'd give yesterday a five out of ten and today an eight.

One significant difference is that my left foot is pain-free for the first time in a month. I've been advised to rest it, so was anxious about walking so far yesterday. I've massaged it regularly but I reckon the three biggest factors have been:

• last night moving my computer monitor directly in front of me, so that I've sat with both feet flat on the floor.
• walking as far from verge of the road as I dare. Of course, I have to dodge back to the gutter when an oncoming car appears but the camber of the road is much less nearer the centre and I think this has made a difference.
• And I and good friends have prayed.
  

My left foot

The foot pain has subsided in the week since my last long walk but today a doctor (NHS:free) and a physiotherapist (£40) took a look at it this morning. The verdict is that I have 'biomechanical issues'. This apparently means that I'm prone to this injury recurring and that a consulation with a podiatrist is necessary.

So I'm booked up to see Steve the Podiatrist (£50) next Tuesday. I have the feeling that this is one of those things that gets more complicated the more I get into it...

Shame, it's a gorgeous day for a walk

It looks like a fabulous morning. The sky is mostly blue and there's enough sunshine to warm the earth that's finally ice-free after a long cold spell. Even better, I'm just beginning a few days holiday.

But my injured foot still hurts and I've decided to rest it for longer. It wasn't right when I began the long trek around Rutland Water on Monday and I was probably foolish for pushing it hard for such a long time.

I drove to Leeds yesterday and walked the campus of the University during an open day (it's one of my son's preferred choices). The foot held up reasonably well but the dull ache didn't go away. I don't think I did much further damage but it probably didn't help in the recovery. It's still slightly swollen and the pain hasn't really diminished.

So today I've put a call into the doctor and booked an appointment for Monday. I haven't yet bothered my GP with my plans but a friend did suggest that a check-up would have been wise. Never mind, now I'm injured and I need some advice.

I really want to be fit in a week's time, when I'll be setting off for a three-day walking spree. The idea is to take all my kit and to see what it's like to walk day after day. I have noticed that my recovery time from long walks is improving; just a couple of months ago it would take me a week to get over a ten mile hike and now I can feel recovered from 15 miles in a couple of days. Still, that's a long way short of the stamina that I'll be needing in a few week's time.

A pain in the foot

Aches and pains are all part of walking long distances. I tend to get the usual soreness and stiffness after a long time on my pins but I count myself lucky that I remain blister-free and in pretty good health. But now my foot hurts. It's a dull, bruise-like pain (though there's nothing visible) which extends across the top of my left foot. I've had it for a couple of weeks now. It's something that I'm used to - I remember that it's happened before when I've overtightened the laces on my shoe and that the left foot is more prone than the right.

I set off yesterday for a long walk with a full pack (post to follow), hoping that the pain would improve with exercise. Actually, it wasn't too bad. But in the last couple of hours the pain grew and I thought today that I should take a look on the web to see what it might be. Apparently, it's a common enough injury, caused by overuse of the tendons which pull up the toes. It's called extensor tendonitis.


What's a little more troubling is that although basic recovery takes 2-4 days, full recovery can require 4 to 6 weeks.

It's eight weeks until I begin the walk, which means I should be fully fit. But I have planned a three-day practice walk next week - plans might have to change. And what would happen if I pick up an injury like this while away? Ibuprofen and ice packs seem to be the best options.