How to walk

Last night on BBC Two there was a show about that most English of topics: rain. In it they discussed the wettest point in the UK, the place that gets the heaviest, longest, and most frequent amount of rainfall in the entire of this already pretty sodden country. A place called Seatoller in the Lake District. The same Seatoller in fact where we will be staying on the first night of our walk of the Cumbria Way.

Oh arse.

What’s more a quick explore of the mighty wikipedia has just revealed that the youth hostel we are staying at is at the peak of Honister Pass, which I quote:

The Honister Pass reaches an altitude of 356 metres (1167 feet), making it one of the highest in the region, and also one of the steepest, with gradients of up to 1-in-4 (25%)

Oh arse.

I have a funny feeling that first day is going to be a bit of a bastard.

Greg has been pestering me with requests to share my training tips here on the blog. Normally I’m pretty desperate for blog fodder, and so would have complied in an instant. However I am slightly handicapped by the fact that I don’t really have any training tips.

Certainly I was woefully under-prepared for the Dales Way last year. Sure I made it to the end, but I did so in a lot more discomfort than a more able man would have. Of course I knew the theory: walk short distances initially and then longer ones, not attempting a long distance footpath until you can walk for 10-15 miles two days in a row without aching too much.

But I ask you, which parent of two kids under five who’s also in full time employment has enough time or energy to dedicate to that kind of regime? I barely have time to go to the toilet, never mind go for four hour walks three times a week. Even now that I’ve gone part-time at work I’m still struggling; having to get up at 6am in order to get a couple of miles in.

Which isn’t to say I’m not able to sneak a longer walk every now and again. Today for example my friend Dave and I stole a very pleasant 7 mile trudge in the hills surrounding our valley. I didn’t take my camera with me unfortunately, but here’s a shot I took last summer when doing that particular walk:

I’m pretty sure I handled todays walk better than I did when I did it back in 2008. I certainly did it at a faster speed, but that had a lot to do with walking with Dave who was a founding member of the fast group during the Dales Way (or “The Super Elite Warrior Eagle Squadron” as I’m convinced those macho pace setters secretly dubbed themselves). I certainly didn’t have to stop due to imminently collapsing lungs, which was a bonus; so maybe my training is working after all. I shall learn for sure after the 17 mile walk I’m planning on doing on Monday. Especially as I have to work on Tuesday too.

So here’s my tips based on my own experience for any would be long distance walkers. The usual caveats about taking the advice of a blundering oaf over that of people who might actually know what they are talking about apply:

• Lose weight, both from your backpack and from your big blubbery belly. The more you carry the harder it will be.
• Get some proper walking boots and some proper walking socks. Lets face it, your feet are going to hurt no matter what you do, but it’s probably best to try and avoid them bleeding too.
• Stretch before and after you set off walking for the day, especially after.
• The day after you have done a long walk your muscles are probably going to hurt like a bastard. You’ll be surprised how quickly that wears off once you get walking again.
• Swearing and cursing under your breath as you walk up hills feels like it makes things easier.
• Swearing and cursing under your breath as you walk down hills feels like it makes things easier.
• Swearing and cursing under your breath as you walk along the flat feels like it makes things easier.
• Walking through a river might seem like a good idea at the time but trust me, you really don’t want to be walking for any distance with water in your boots.
• No matter how much you wish it were the contrary, everyone carrying hiking gear looks like a pillock. Just accept it and wear the silly hat.

I’ve got vague ideas rumbling in the back of my head about organizing another charity walk in the summer of 2010. This time 81 miles from the West coast of England to the East coast, following the path of Hadrian’s Wall (the Roman wall built by Emperor Hadrian in AD 122 in order to defend against the marauding Scots, significant portions of which are still visible).

I’ve also got vague ideas of trying to open this up to even more walkers, possibly even bloggers both local and international if they are up for it. And even have some high falutin’ notions about possibly attempting to squeeze a book out of the affair, but that is very much tentative.

Would anyone out there be vaguely tempted by a constant barrage of requests for walking companions? Anyone?

It’s possible that you might hear a lot more about this from me. But it’s also possible that like many of my ideas it will sink without a trace. We shall see.

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Related posts:

1. A walk in the park
2. Walk(ie) the talk(ie)
3. Learning to walk again
4. The Dales Walk
5. Walk this way, stork this way