On fire.........

Waking up on Monday morning following the previous day’s walk I spent another day staggering about like I’d wet myself. Luckily my blister has disappeared as quickly as it arrived but I do need to think about everything I can do to minimise the risk and increase the manageability of blisters on the day, as they are unfortunately an inescapable inevitability (try saying that fast!).

The hardest part of spinning on Monday was getting to it. I felt that I could well injure myself if I pushed it too far with my legs as tight as they were, but in hindsight it turned out to be the complete opposite! I don’t know if spinning the legs burns off all the lactic acid that may have built up in my legs but the difference it made was amazing, my legs felt back to some sort of normality straight after! Did the Monday weights session and by my kayaking on Tuesday I was worrying that I would get straight into the kayak and cramp up! My whole body felt like a wreck with both arms and legs aching and I couldn’t wait to curl up in bed!

Footy as per usual on Wednesday but I think the weekend had taken it out of me as I played even worse than usual! Missed hockey training on Thursday as I went to a random quiz night in Braaid with the island’s Rotarians! I had randomly turned up at the previous one and our team had won so we had a trophy to defend! That and I thought it would be a good opportunity to drum up some support for the events, as the Rotary clubs are renowned for raising funds for charitable causes. After a bit of networking and some slightly less successful question answering, we came a disappointing second but it was a good laugh and hopefully beneficial to our events!

Standard Friday with gym session and even more standard poker night that night with me losing my money! As the hockey season has finished for our team I was at a bit of a loss on Saturday, but luckily before I bit the bullet and cleaned the flat the second team were short of players so I was able to play in their game. Recovered from 2 goals down to win 4-2 in a mad game, not too much composure (especially on my part) but we got the result! But for some horrendous refereeing (no names mentioned) it could have been 5 and I would have had my name on the scoresheet!

During the week we had enrolled ourselves in the Fireman’s racewalk from Peel to Ramsey along the Parish Walk route through Jurby, Bride & Andreas. Therefore a quiet night was in order to prepare thoroughly for the walk…unfortunately it didn’t materialise as the next round of beer pong was being hosted in Castletown. After a few beers, then a few more, it was going to be a struggle to make the start line for 8:30am the next morning!

Somehow after waking at 8 this morning and a frantic phonecall and drive to Peel we managed to make the start of the race. As this was an official race (with numbers and everything!) rather than just training everyone set off at a pretty decent pace…except us! Still, it was a good session to ensure that we knew the Parish Walk route. Who knows our time may have improved significantly if we didn’t make any shop stops en route! Not sure that’s too advisable in the Parish! After 45km I was feeling fine but the last 5km really took it out of me and it’s the mental hurdle again of being close to the finish and my legs just giving up! Although it wasn’t as hard a route as we’d managed up and over the sloc the previous week and I think we were going slower than the previous week, by the end of the race I was shattered! We walked with a couple of hockey guys, Pasty and Steve and their company was a blessing because you find the roads around Jurby, Andreas and Bride are just endless with only hedges for a view! Also the roads are very flat and it is also another mental hurdle as you don’t even get to go up and down hills, it really drains you heading straight for miles and miles!

Another full week of training did feel good but some of the confidence of the previous week disappeared and the shock factor is back. There’s no doubt the Parish Walk is a massive massive challenge, and I now need to start thinking about Kilimanjaro too as it’s getting closer and closer! Some uphill needed!

Dave.