Been shopping!

I haven't been walking at all this week (very bad). My excuse is I've been letting my toes repair themselves. I've been reading a lot of advice on the http://www.mds.co.uk/ forum about feet, and, after the horrible blisters I got from my last 20 miler, I have been taking it! The skin is really dry and cracked where the blisters were, so I've been applying tonnes of Flexitol Heel Balm which is really helping. Also been attacking my feet with a file (lovely) but it is helping. Toes are nearly better. All the Moonwalk ladies are doing a 20 miler on Saturday (we're having our picture taken for the local paper too) so hopefully that will go well and I won't get any more. This will be the first long walk in the Inov8s too. I've been wearing them tho, and so far they feel really comfortable.

Anyway, back to the shopping reference. I am officially turning into a complete walking geek. I got a backpack (as need one to train with and for the Ridgeway which is only just over a week away). It's a 30 litre (so the same size as the one I'll be carrying next year) so good to get used to I suppose. Also got a Camelbak to go inside as I really don't want to be carrying water bottles once I get this on my back. A survival mirror (obviously for make-up traumas, dodgy eyebrow incidents and needing to check for bits in teeth), emergency blanket (silver foil!), spork (just because I wanted one), first aid kit, whistle (apparently the loudest one in the world), torch and compass (woo hoo!) and maps for the Ridgeway and Trailwalker.

Am thinking of asking mum if I can borrow her trekking poles for the Ridgeway just so I can check them out and learn how to use them properly.

So that's it for now. Hopefully I will actually post some exercise on here at the end of the week.

Rach

Inov8s

I got a pair of Roclite 282's today. Really hoping these are going to help, tho at the moment I'm not convinced. I know they'll ease up a bit but my feet feel very 'confined' in them! Plenty of room in the toe area which is great but I'll have to wait to walk in them to see if they do the trick. I'm convinced they'll give me blisters! Got a pair of merino wool socks too to see if that helps. Next time I go out, I'll tape my toes up, wear the socks and the shoes and see what happens. On Inov8's website, they say that these are ideal for long distance running and walking, trail walking, mountains, dry tracks, rocky ground etc etc - the girl in the shop said 'No, they're not really walking shoes, just running'. Oh joy. I'm more inclined to go with Inov8's description!

Sore feet....

Having not done a single thing for two weeks (children's Easter holidays) this morning I set off for a 20 mile walk with two friends. All on pavements (unfortunately) and a few hills it took just over 5 hours. Wasn't too bad to start with but I forgot to tape up my toes (due to trying to get the kids ready for school, and doing the usual shouting and hollering right up until the minute we left). Got about half way and I knew I had blisters on the bottom of two of my toes (one on each foot). It wasn't too bad but just emphasised the fact that I need to sort out my footwear. I can run miles in those trainers and not have any problems or rubbed bits. However, when I walk its a different matters altogether. I could feel the fluid moving about under my toe and with about a mile to go, one of the blisters popped. It felt revolting and it REALLY hurt. Oh well. Hobbled back and collapsed in a heap when I got home. Horrible bloody blisters. Popped the other one, treated it and plastered it up.

I'm off to see if I can get some Invo8s tomorrow and hope they'll suit me better for walking. I'm glad I've got a year to go, because at least I've got plenty of time to try out different things and get it right. Going to try different socks too.

Anyway, despite having horrible mangled feet and aching like a b*stard, I'm glad I went!

Only 3 weeks until the Ridgeway walk so need to get my feet into better shape before then.

Need a glass of something cold now....

And so it begins....

So this is it! The start of my blog. I will update as often as possible. After a two week break in training (due to kids being on holiday), I will be back at it on Tuesday. I can't wait!