Training Update - March 2009

Well, I'm probably not going to get too much done in the next couple of days, so the scores on the doors for March are overall 40 miles walking, 40 miles cycling - more cycling than I've done in a few months, and more 'proper' walking than I've ever done, I should think...

Key thing - to build on this, and make sure, month on month, the numbers go up...

First Joint Training Session

Cranham to Stonehouse - Cotswold Way

Well, I picked up some decent boots a couple of weeks ago, from the very nice people at Cotswold Outdoor, and had done a little walking round Longlevens to break 'em in, as well as a trip up Chosen Hill last Sunday morning in some rather bracing hail, but yesterday was the Full Monty - a day of walking with J, who'd come over from Herts for the occasion...

We looked round a bit for a route, and chose a slab of the Cotswold Way - south of Cheltenham, so no hassles with race traffic, and of a suitably 'introductory' length - 12 miles, Cranham - Stonehouse - we could have walked south - north, rather than north - south, but my limited understanding of the topography suggested this might be more 'up hill' - facts seem to bear this out - we climbed 1500' and dropped 2000' rather than the other way round, which at this stage I view as 'a good thing'...

So, what did we learn??

• This kind of length walk is very achievable in a day - 12 miles took us less than 5 hours


• Without more training, further (and there's a 20 mile day on the WHW!!) will be a struggle - we need more miles in our legs, over a prolonged period


• J needs some footwear which doesn't damage something on his plates of meat


• Whatever nightlife the Highlands has to offer is not under threat - bed by 9.30!!


• A portage service to move our kit from A - B - C looks like a sensible investment - life's hard enough with a day bag full of fresh air!!


• If at all possible, a sensible pace, and regular breaks help a heck of a lot...


• Sausage & onion sandwiches make a big difference


• It's fun - reasonable distance A-B walking is great, and the peace & quiet and the views are brilliant


• A hot bath / shower after walking is worth selling your soul for...

Slabs of the Cotswold Way look like representative, local, attractive training prospects - found a great site with relevant info, so will hopefully be doing more...

Proposed Itinerary

Well, we had an intensive planning session at the start of last week, and we think we're probably looking at something like this (certainly makes you aware of the scope of the task):

• Day 1 - Milngavie - Drymen - 12 miles
• Day 2 - Drymen - Rowardennan - 14 miles
• Day 3 - Rowardennan - Inverarnan - 13.5 miles
• Day 4 - Inverarnan - Tyndrum - 12.5 miles
• Day 5 - Tyndrum - Kingshouse - 20 miles
• Day 6 - Kingshouse - Kinlochleven - 8.5 miles
• Day 7 - Kinlochleven - Fort William - 14.5 miles