I had an eventful week, starting on Tuesday. I set off for Sheffield, via Manchester, to see Ben Folds at the Carling Academy there. I wasn’t walking there, I should point out, but it is amazing how many steps you can rack up by taking the train (see also Week 5). There’s the walk to the station, the walking up and down the platform trying to work out the best carriage, the walking at the other end to the tube station, the steps on the escalator (yes, I am now managing to walk up these too, even those very long ones which seem to go on forever), and the walk down the platform at Euston, which also seemed to go on forever.

There was, admittedly, less walking once on the train. However, once into Manchester Piccadilly, I wandered round the station, did a bit of work, then got another train to Sheffield.

My friend Mel and I stayed at the Travelodge after the gig, and had an ‘interesting’ walk from the Academy back there after dark…. Sheffield was weirdly deserted apart from the requisite ‘suspicious characters’ who made Mel and I quicken our steps back… in the wrong direction. So more steps all round, luckily!

I have to admit the following day was less step-filled, given that we returned to Mel’s place in Wilmslow and proceeded to watch far too much Big Brother than was really necessary: I had even brought episodes on dvd with me. I think I need to get out more.

Back to Brighton on Thursday and managed to go for an evening walk to lift my spirits, even though I was feeling pretty tired after the exertions ‘oop north’.

I had to drive my car into work on Friday as it was going for its annual service, but I did manage to squeeze in an evening walk, despite the rain which came just at the wrong moment, although I am becoming keener on walking in the rain since this challenge started.

On Saturday afternoon I went for tea in Preston Park with one of my best friends, possibly one of my favourite pastimes. I used to moan when he wanted to meet in the park, rather than on my sofa. But now I embrace the chance to get out and about, and watching pigeons pecking at his date flapjack is a real bonus!

On Sunday morning I intended to get up early and go for my five mile round walk to up my step average for the week. Unfortunately for me, my alarm had other ideas, and I woke up far too late to squeeze it in before dog-walking. My friend joined me for my walk round Withdean Park with Harry, the dog I walk regularly through the Cinnamon Trust, which made for a nice change. When I started walking him last year, he had more energy than me: I think I’m giving him a run (walk?!) for his money now!

I then headed off to Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park, for a picnic with my friends. It was far too hot then to do any serious walking, so again I saved that for the evening and went for a circuit of good old Preston Park when I got back to sunny Brighton.

There is a small part of me that is looking forward to the end of this challenge, if only so I can go out without wearing the pedometer EVERY day! I can feel that the changes I have made during the challenge are ones which I can live with long term. I now think nothing of wandering down to the park, walking into town, or perambulating along the seafront, which is a vast change from just a few months ago. It has definitely instilled some discipline into my life, which can only be a good thing. As Aristotle said, ‘We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not an act, but a habit’.

Mini Challenge

I wasn’t sure how I would do with this. I managed to persuade quite a few people last time to comment on my blog, but I thought I might have exhausted their generosity if I asked again. But people have been (largely) very sweet, reacting well to being nagged and only asking for a Percy Pig in return.

I posted again on my facebook group, circulated numerous e-mails to work and ex-work colleagues and friends, pleading in a slightly pathetic way for attention. A final, very bossy, e-mail on Monday morning elicited a few more comments, but whether I win will be out of my hands come 4pm.

I’d just like to say thank you to all those who did comment on my blog, I have thoroughly enjoyed (most) of the comments, and am very grateful for the really positive response I have received.

I hope you all return regularly to the journeyon site for information, entertainment and even free stuff – what more could you ask for?!

So after last week’s highs, it was inevitable that I might get a low or two this week. And so it was, that on Monday morning I used every excuse in the book to use my car to get to work. However, apart from Friday when I needed to drive to Eastbourne, this was the only day I used it for work. The routine is settling down, and it no longer seems unusual for me to get my delightful walking outfits on every morning, pull on my (pleasingly regularly worn) trainers, and make sure my ipod and radio are suitably charged up before leaving the house each day.

The weekend was fun, too, with lots of walking, particularly on Saturday, when I made the trip up to Nyman’s Gardens near Handcross, to meet up with some old friends. We wandered round the gardens before retiring to a suitably countrified country pub for a lovely lunch. More walking round the gardens followed before I headed up to Epsom to see my brother, Andrew, his wife, Claire, and their beautiful son, James. He is a delightful young man, just 14 months old, and with an impossibly cute character. He has also started walking since I’ve been doing this challenge… coincidence? I prefer to think not.

This challenge has certainly inspired me. On Saturday morning, before all of my much more pleasant wanderings, I started Phase Two of my master plan… I went for a run. Now, I know I’m supposed to be walking, but I’ve been walking, so cannot be accused of running before I could walk. And it was only a very short run. Very short. But it needs to get longer, because I’ve signed up for an 8 mile charity run in October, which I MUST do because it’s for charidee, mate! I’m raising money for the excellent National Association for Colitis and Crohn’s Disease (nacc.org.uk), a cause close to my heart because my brother has Crohn’s Disease. I’m hoping to raise £500, so feel free to find my webpage on the justgiving site, somewhere in cyberspace. The more sponsorship I get, the more pressure I will feel to go out and ‘train’.

I would never even have contemplated doing something like this run without the 10,000 steps a day challenge. It really has changed my life. Seriously. That’s no mean feat when you’re a stubborn Taurean like myself. I feel I am moving forward, getting fitter, healthier, happier (that sounds like a cue for a song?!).

Finally, a final plea for comments on my blog. Even if you’ve already commented (for which HUGE thanks!) do it again! Go on, treat yourself!! I’m thoroughly enjoying reading all the wonderful (and sometimes weird) things people are writing for me and the other challenge-takers. It’s an inspiration.

And I’m promising free Percy Pigs to all who help along the way – bribery? Me? A lawyer?!

‘She who dares, wins’ (my friend Steve)

So what can I tell you about this week?  It’s still a tough challenge, but it’s getting slightly easier to incorporate it into my ‘normal’ life, which is obviously the key to making a long-term change. 

There have even been occasions when the need for steps has overcome bad, old habits, making me think this challenge is really starting to work! For example on Monday, despite being in great pain with new and exciting blisters, I actually walked home rather than wait 32 minutes for a bus.  On Sunday night, after a night out in town, although I did get the bus home, I spent the time waiting for the bus walking up and down to get my steps total up.  When I got home that night, I still hadn’t done enough steps, so found myself circling the living room a few times to reach my target.  But that’s normal behaviour though, isn’t it?

There were two days this week when I didn’t make the 10,000 step target, as a result of severe blisters… and a smidgen of laziness.  However, once I got over those minor issues (Compeed for the former, pride and determination overcame the latter) I managed to make the 70,000 steps over the week. 

It’s becoming more obvious to me how easy this walking thing can be.  You don’t need any equipment to get started, just a sensible pair of shoes (note to self: NEVER wear flip-flops for a long walk, no matter how hot it is) and enough time to get to places.  Given the problems with traffic and parking in Brighton and Hove, sometimes walking is quicker, and less stressful.  I’m starting to feel ashamed of how much I relied on my car.  I’m getting used to the distances into town and to work, and not even dreading hills as much as I used to.  Real progress.