I am not renowned for my multi-tasking. My absolute limit is a maximum of three activities at the same time, and two of those include breathing and maintaining my heartbeat. Nor am I a particularly well organised individual. For example the only reason I have a beard is that I am unable to manage any kind of regular shaving program.
So co-ordinating this Hadrian’s Walk thing has been a real challenge for me, and has very much taken me out of my comfort zone. Which is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact it’s probably been rather good for me.
I learned a lot when organising the Dales and the Cumbria walks in 2008 & 2009. but this year the scale of the walk is around six times as large, and I’ve ramped up my efforts in publicity, fundraising, and promotion to match.
And so far the results of this have been pretty damn good. In fact they have been bloody great, with the prospect of even more fantastic things to come. But all that is for another post when things are more concrete.
This post is about my ineptitude in multi-tasking.
Because whilst I’ve been going great guns on the administrative side of the walk, I’ve totally neglected the physical.
In just over three months I’m going to have to walk 85 miles over the course of 6 days. And I’m not prepared for it. Not prepared for it at all.
Granted I did the 76 mile Dales Way when I was 56lb heavier than I am now. And the Cumbria Way last year was a good deal more hilly and challenging than the Hadrians Wall footpath will be. But it’s been a winter of sofas and chocolate for me and my legs aren’t currently up to the task of hauling my carcass across the width of the country just yet.
A Landscape and an idiot
My favorite picture from last year’s Cumbria Way
So I’ve re-started my training regime. Yesterday I walked 6 miles, and today I walked 4. And I’ve learned a couple of valuable lessons. Firstly that I need a less leaky raincoat, and secondly that I had forgotten how much I enjoy a decent daily constitutional.
Oh, and that wet trousers equal unpleasant chaffing.
If you would like to make me spending my evenings waddling like a penguin then you can sponsor the Hadrian’s Walk on our justgiving site:
http://www.justgiving.com/hadrianswalkers
Every penny of every donation will go straight to support bereaved parents who have lost a child. Everyone involved in the Joseph Salmon Trust works on a voluntary basis, and all admin costs are paid for by corporate sponsorship (this year it’s TK Max)
You know I’m not going to stop pestering you about this, so you may as well do it now.
Go on. Do it now.
Well I keep seeing all these mentions of the Hadrian’s Walk on people’s sites so I can’t ignore it any longer!
My mum comes from Wallsend and I was born very close (not close to the wall itself, you understand…in a hospital!). I may live further South now but my heart is in Newcastle and you lot keep tugging at it.
The charity sounds an excellent one so I’m popping over to your JustGiving page now.
.-= Trish@ Mum’s Gone to´s last blog ..The Gallery – PINK – sunset over Lake Garda =-.
@Trish@ Mum’s Gone to, Hurrah!
I knew I’d start wearing people down eventually :)
What a great cause and a cool event! If I weren’t in The Colonies, I’d consider walking. I’ll pass this on to my Brit friends. I don’t know if I can donate though. We don’t have any of those L-with-a-squiggly-line-through-them-things in the bank. (Or the S-with-the-vertical-lines-through-them things either, truth be told.)
.-= beta dad´s last blog ..Flashback Fridays: How Twins are Made, Part III–Europe, Debauchery, Romance =-.
@beta dad, No worries. And if you can’t help financially helping promote the walk is almost as good anyhow :)
Multi-Tasking is a myth anyway. It is a physically impossibility to give accurate attention concurrently to a multitude of tasks. It is more about attention switching and ignorance, which, you, my friend, should be an Olympian. I am actually pretty good at multi-tasking, which actually means, I am easily distracted and not good at focusing on a single task through to conclusion.
Check this bad boy out http://paul-m-jones.com/archives/272
.-= Socrates´s last blog ..I don’t do cards =-.
@Socrates, the single task thing is where I excel. I can be as focused as a laser at times.
Congrats, sounds like a lovely walk for a wonderful cause. Just popped over to sponsor you. If it was taking place in June would have considered doing it with you all as my husband and I will be in the UK then. Best of luck.
.-= Kristin´s last blog ..Readers I want to do =-.
@Kristin, Thanks very much, I really appreciate your support.
And have a great time over here in June :)
The same thing struck me last week and I finally dragged myself along four miles of the train journey home on foot, if you see what I mean. More tomorrow. Finding the time to do it is going to be the real challenge. In happier news, ‘the other me’ is doing slightly better on the fundraising front than Dad Who Writes me. Not that it would take much.
.-= Dad Who Writes´s last blog ..Straight Into Darkness – Dudelet, Balka and me =-.
@Dad Who Writes, I hope you weren’t walking on the tracks.
I’ve noticed the other you is going great guns on the fundraising. Also don’t loose track of the fact that your very participation makes the event bigger, and so more attractive to corporate sponsorship (as does everyone’s obviously).
Which isn’t an excuse to slacken off on fundraising obviously :)
Yo make me want to go for a walk, minus the chafing.
.-= Mwa´s last blog ..Icky spoon, nightingales, small morons, death, Spring and bye-bye forest =-.
@Mwa, You should. I always forget how much I get out of it until I actually do it.
I’ve set up a monthly donation which will only continue while you post genuine stories of your pain and suffering in the cause. No more of this “quite enjoying it” nonsense!
.-= Steve´s last blog ..Saturday Snap =-.
You can do three activities at the same time? Mate, no one likes a showoff.
.-= Kevin Spencer´s last blog ..Trying To Settle Back In =-.
is there like a certain number of people learning to walk again round the world. if there is can anybody please tell me how many and tell me the source where you got the information
.-= Excel Tutorials´s last blog ..Showing or Hiding a data table or chart legend =-.