Exciting Developments

The most exciting development of course is that I have finally posted the Hare's Moonwalk Synopsis after being totally remiss for AGES - sorry Hare - It was really funny posting it as it seems like we completed completely different races! To appease my sense of organisation - I have had to post it alongside mine - So check it out HERE.

The Hare Enjoying the Delights of First Class a little TOO much!

Woohoo - I have two confirmed Commando troops - I literally couldn't ask for more fabulous comrades-in-arms. I also have a number of willing reserves and soon-to-be-recruits "thinking about it."

But I still need 2 more official team members - I didn't want to play this card so soon BUT the first FOUR team members to sign up will be given £200 to bequeath to a charity of your choice (check T's and C's in post below).  Best of all our WINNING fledging team covers all abilities from the fairly rubbish (Me!) to sneakily buff and capable and at the far end of the scale, the-out-of this-stratosphere FIT (If need be they will be completing the course twice to mark time whilst we mortals crawl over the finish line!) So please if you are considering joining the Commando Challenge, please don't feel at all intimidated - there is absolutely no need - just get in touch OR drop by a Hyde Park SuperChick class and meet some of team.

Excitingly yesterday for the first time EVER I completed a whole minute of Mountain Climbers at a credible pace - I have HATED this exercise for months as running whilst verticial is bad enough but on your hands and knees, it is enough to make me want to commit Hari Kari - however after MONTHS not only can I manage it - dare I say it, it feels fairly comfortable - it probably helps that my knees no longer collide with my stomach but still I am MEGA thrilled.

Generally too I feel a lot stronger, I recover from exertion quicker and my running stamina is starting to come together at LONG last- You know there's no hope for you when you start looking forward to the running segments of the class and CRAZILY want MORE!! This isn't to say that it isn't still a massive challenge and I have to play my music REALLY loud to block out my credible immitation of a steam train as I huff and puff my way to a seeming heart attack.

Monday marks my attempt at 7.5km pre-Saturday's Boutique Run - definately the furthest I've ever attempted to run and still totally daunting so wish me luck.

However though I'm finally heading in the right direction, there are still MASSES of things I want to achieve. So (assuming all goes well with the CC application), with 100 days till the next mission it's time to set some Phase 2 Mission Goals:

1. Lose 14 pounds and finally achieve a "healthy BMI" {I should state that I put on three pounds in the last two weeks munching too many giant chocolate buttons (love them FROZEN) and twister icecreams (again best FROZEN)! This week I'll be trying out Dawn Porter's TOP TIP: Frozen bananas are apparently a GREAT substitute for white chocolate icecream - I'll let you know if Dawn is really onto something here as I'm a bit dubious personaly}


2. Lose 4 inchs off my waist {I am totally horrified that I have a waist measurement of 1 Metre. So I triple checked it. Maddeningly it was still 1 Metre. Maddeningly also there is no science as to a recommended rate of inch loss (just occassionally I research my blog entries!!) The UK recommended waist measurement for women is 28 inches/ 70 cms - but somehow trying to lose 30cm off my waist in three months does not seem at all achieveable (considering that I only lost 2.5 inches off my waist over the last three months.) So I have devised my own test - yesterday I put my work skirt on without undoing the zip and I remembered that I have a denim mini skirt that hangs in my wardrobe taunting me - I have KILLER LEGS that should be on display but my stomach quashes this possibility CURRENTLY.  The waist band on my denim skirt is 90cm - so at the end of three months my goal is to get this mini skirt on without undoing the zip - Forget double blind randomised controlled trials you cannot beat this TOTALLY ROBUST, TOTALLY SCIENTIFIC test!!}                               


3. Execute 10 FULL Pressups and hold a reverse plank for 45 seconds {Currently I cannot do even 1 full press up - though I can do the 3/4 pressups no problemo and again reverse plank totally escapes me - we tried it on Thursday and I couldn't even get my butt off the ground at all :( }


4. Keep walking to and from work (or at least for as long as I still have a job - that's a whole other mission!) - shun public transport whenever possible.


5. Complete 65 SuperChick Sessions and get back into TRAMPOLINING - I want to be somersaulting in 100 days.


6. Complete Commando Challenge with my WINNING TEAM - I'm determined not to slow everyone down so this means quashing my fear of waterlogged confined spaces - EEK.


7. Accept all social invitations for the next three months. NO EXCUSES. - Time to lose this "TOO FAT" state of mind. Ridiciously, although no physical exertion is required for this goal, this is definately my toughest but I'm hoping that like those pesky mountain climbers, it gets easier with practise. Though to be honest, I'm already praying that everyone will be too busy holidaying over the next few months to want to socialise.

Phew, the next three months are going to be full on! Feel like I need a nap just at the thought BUT as per No 7. I'm off to my first social engagement (Housewarming/Engagement Party) which I'm feeling a bit anxious about - but hopefully a couple of Pimms will solve that. x

p.s. Nearly forgot my most exciting development  - I've finally found out the artist to a song I've been trying to track down for ages - there are a few benefits to a 5am wake up call. (I know I'm massively behind the curve) but how much do you love Jason Derulo in Whatcha Say?

Hare-scapades

Are you sitting comfortably, boys and girls? Because I am going to tell you a story. It is a story about a Hare and the Tortoise. It all began in 1992 when they first met... but the story I am telling you today happened 17 years later on Saturday 19th June 2010 to be exact...

I, The Hare, look out of my window in Cambridge and watch the rain pouring down. My thoughts: "Shit. This is NOT what they had forecast! Pleeeeeeeease don't let it rain in Edinburgh tonight!"

On the train and on my way up to Edinburgh, my stomach was a little jittery and full of butterflies! Have I packed everything I need? Yes. I think so: the lit of essentials specified by Walk the Walk (see previous blog entry by Tortoise), marking to do on the train (the joys of teaching never end) and UBER comfy socks for the train ride home. Check.

After a bit the rain stopped, but the temperature has dropped and a bitterly cold wind has picked up. At 5pm I was wearing 2 tops, a thick fleece and still feeling the cold! "Pleeeeeeeeeease don't let it be this cold tonight!" I text Tortoise with this news to pre-warn her; her reply: "It's so hot in Edinburgh I'm sunbathing!" THANK YOU WEATHER-GOD!!

I got to Edinburgh at 9.30pm and catch a taxi to the start point in Inverleith Park. I'm not sure whether the butterflies are from nerves or excitement at the Mission looming ever closer: This is it, weeks of preparation, feeble in comparison to Tortoise’s dedicated fitness regime... will it be enough?

Walking into the park, my eyes were attacked by a sea of pink! It was like a massive bomb has exploded pink everywhere! There was a HUGE pink tent with lots of pink people and lots of pink decor inside. There are thousands of pink people wandering around, with a general buzz of excitement in the air. "How on earth am I going to find the Tortoise?"

After a phonecall, directions, lots of waving, I finally caught her eye. We met with an excited hug & squeal, before deciding what clothes we were going to wear: is a fleece too much/not enough? How about a cardigan? Should the cape be worn? (YES!) We dropped off my bag, met up with the Tortoise’s sister (who was volunteering) and chattered excitedly.

...Then the excitement set in... for the Tortoise at least! After insisting we sparkle ourselves up, both COVERED in silver glitter, Tortoise morphed into Tigger, bouncing around insisting I take pictures of her next to big Walk the Walk feet, and join her in a 'jumping' picture. After several failed attempts at this I had to put my foot down: no more jumping shots, or poses, just a nice, normal picture please!!

Before we knew it, midnight was upon us and the moonwalking began! I knew I would feel tired, but I hadn't really considered that the first 10 miles (which normally I don't think twice about) were quite hard, as my body couldn't understand why at 2am it wasn't in bed, but walking around in a bra... I don't think it helped that we walked around Arthur's Seat in the dark: before I knew it, Tortoise had set up a 'Yawn fine" (although at 1p a yawn, I thought that was a little low!) even for me. I felt much better when we walked back through the city, all lit up in, you guessed it, PINK!

We first stopped for a loo break at the 10 mile mark: a fatal mistake. The queue took 20 minutes, and in that time our leg muscles had stiffened up and it took AGES to warm them up again. A good excuse to eat a Mars bar though :-)

By the 13 mile mark, at about 4 am, we were both feeling the tiredness, and despite walking along the coast with beautiful views, we switched on the ipods: a bit of music & a steady beat to keep us going! Our second loo break at 18 miles, this time 30 minutes! For me this was more fatal than before. When we set off to walk again my knee began to play up again after twisting it during previous training (see earlier blog for details). While I could walk, I could tell it wasn't right, and I was a little concerned that there was still another 8 miles to go.

But NO WAY was I going to give up! I was walking this marathon even if I had to limp, hop or crawl it!! We kept going and at quite a pace! By 20 miles I was really struggling. My knee still hurt, but even worse was an all-encompassing full-body exhaustion. Every step was hard work, and still 6 miles to go! Until this point I had set the pace, but now it was Tortoise who was plodding on ahead. I felt I had to keep up, as I didn't want to slow her down. Slow and steady wins the race: had I burnt out too early?

By this point we had both fallen silent. I knew the Tortoise was tired, but I was amazed at how steadily she persevered. There I was moaning away about my knee and the tiredness, struggling with every step, but Tortoise quietly and confidently just kept marching on, with little sign of exhaustion affecting her!

At the 22 mile I needed to slow down, and did for a short while, but still the Tortoise plodded on, not a single pause in her steady march, so quickly I made myself pick up the pace again.

Needless to say those final 6 miles were a killer! For me it was pure willpower that kept me going. I cannot reiterate how proud I was at how Tortoise kept going, without uttering a single complaint or showing any signs of weakening: it was only in the final mile when I felt the excitement of nearly finishing that Tortoise began to weaken. While I felt an urge to 'sprint finish', Tortoise was just not able to. Fair enough: after 25 miles of PURE AMAZINGNESS I could forgive Tortoise keeping the pace slow now.

At 8.40am two weary walkers crossed the finish line. No sense of joy or elation as you expect to see in any winner; just pure exhaustion felt by both. After a half-hearted smile at the camera, and a weary celebratory hug, we crawled our way towards the food stalls. Tortoise tucked into a sausage sandwich, but the thought of food made me feel queasy. There was only one thing I'd been craving for the last 3 hours: CAFFEINE!! I bought what can only be described as the worst cup of tea EVER, but my God it was AMAZING! Tea had never been so fully appreciated as it was then!

After sitting on the grass in the morning sun, we made one final loo stop, and caught a taxi to the train station. The journey back was hard work. I was so tired, I could no longer sleep. I ate croissants, made gentle conversation with the Tortoise, and enjoyed the comforts of 1st Class. I walked through my door at 3.30pm, having not slept since Saturday morning, and sat down on the sofa. I, somehow, stayed awake until 6.30pm, before sleeping for 15 hours straight!

I survived. Mission completed and no blisters and only minimal aching in my legs. It was a real challenge and I feel proud to have done it! One this is for sure: I could NOT have done this with anyone other than the Tortoise. While we had a few Wales-related-blips, I know that on the night if it had not been for her company and apparent strength, I strongly doubt I would have found the willpower to finish. So thank you, Tortoise. I would also like to take the opportunity to say THANK YOU for your friendship and all that comes with it (including the jumping, glitter, and crazy ideas!).

CONGRATULATIONS on completing the challenge, training so hard and losing so much weight! KEEP GOING! You may doubt at times whether your efforts have made a difference, but they truly have. YOU ARE AMAZING IN EVERY WAY!!!

Prologue:

So what’s next for the Hare and the Tortoise? Well, Tortoise is currently preparing for a 5K run, which we both agree is probably harder than walking a marathon for us! More importantly she has already started planning a second BIG mission, and I already know I will join her on it.

....but not yet, Girl On A Mission! Talk to me in a month's time when the ache in my legs has stopped, and the memories of the exhaustion have faded...

With love, Hare xxx

4 Weeks To Go.

Trying. Not. To. Panic. Too little time and too much work still to do.

Just enjoyed a fabulous weekend – where the glorious sunshine was much like the icing on the slice of chocolate cake devoured by the Hare on Sunday- DIVINE!

The blurriness is an indication of our lightning speed not my camera's inadequacies! SUPERfun SUPERchick Erin (2 parts awesome sense of humour, 1 part craziness) and I demonstrating our delight at burning off a glass of champers.

On Saturday – SUPERchicks hosted a Cardio and Cocktails event in Battersea Park for 50 SUPERchicks – (only slight snag - it was too early in the morning to indulge in a Pimms afterwards as a reward – even for me!) The aim of the game was to complete all the circuit stations and thus burn off the calories in the drink relating to the station you were at. Drinking has never been so much hard work!!

So next time I go to the bar I will be ordering:

• 3 minutes of stand up pushups (a glass of champagne – 160 kcals)


• 3 mins of planks (a tequila shot – 60 kcals)


• 3 mins of full sit ups (a cosmo – 100 kcals)


• diddlysquat (a tall glass of water – ZERO kcals)

All for me of course!

N.B. All kcals are approximations as my brain is clearly too addled from too many of these beverages over the years – though I do recall that the SUPERchick website does have an Alcohol Counter so you can check my memory (or lack of) if you so wish.

As the event was in Battersea Park and I love walking through that end of town – down along the Thames (love watching the rowers) and up through Sloane Square to Hyde Park, passing my new loves:

We have grown very fond of each other over the past few weeks and are refusing to let the small matter of a treasure trove dowry payment come between us

I managed a very promising 14 mile circuit overall.

Sunday – I headed down to Cambridge for the Hare and Tortoise joint training session. I should say that I LOVE Cambridge almost as much as Londinium (closely followed by Edinburgh) – though admittedly it has taken me eight years to go back and then only by ignoring the fact that I was wait-listed by Cambridge University eight years ago and then sent (what I have eventually managed to convince myself is) a very funny “have a nice life” letter though at the time it felt like the End of the World. Dramatic? Moi? Never.

Truth be told, I probably wouldn’t have come back to Cambridge EVER except I knew that the Hare would keep me sufficiently distracted all day – her love of the “MASSIVE” cows in Cambridge City Centre is TOO, TOO FUNNY.

Size cows should be according to the Hare 

"Heifer the Gigantor" (or regular cow to you and me)

So again I was outside in the surprisingly baking sunshine, trotting along the river, watching a) the rowers and b) the amateur punters attempting to impress their girlfriends whilst being heckled by teenage boys on the river bank.  Contrary to my riverside walk yesterday, I was longing to join the large number of bathers in the River Cam for a cool off.

One very discernable difference between the London and Cambridge – whilst swimming in the River Cam is a pleasurable afternoon pursuit, anyone swimming in the Thames would be considered mentally unstable and a suicide risk and the police would be called pronto. SERIOUSLY.

Would have loved to have put my feet up and glide along in one of these whilst the Hare gave her arms a workout!!

Overall we managed a total of 20 miles!!! – Very impressive given the heat, although it was fairly gentle (definitely not the recommended Moonwalk pace of 14 minute miles) and we did stop twice to get a break from the sun and to relieve sore legs. One of the breaks included a leisurely lunch in The Orchard at Grantchester – highly recommended – so long as you don’t personally have to wait in the epic Sunday queue – whilst other Hare-like individuals have a slumber in the cool shade!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The other break was also to refuel (interpret: consume copious CHOCOLATE) so again all good.

It was strange walking with someone else for such a distance after walking mostly to and from work solo – I’ve learnt that I need to keep a safe distance from the Hare’s flailing arms or else wear protective gear as I’m going to end up VERY bruised. I’ve also learnt that I have very short legs – fences that the Hare can leap with surprising ease, I WILL get stranded on and need to be rescued.

So now that we know we can cover the distance fairly comfortably, the priority is to pick up the pace. A LOT. - if we want a Marathon time of 7-8 hours.

So I have four weeks to perfect the 14 minute mile now that I'm back to my none-too-shabby regular London route - (if you exclude most of Maida Vale, {or what I lovingly refer to in my head as Murder Valley – as it's a bit bleak with an Estate on one side (named ironically/sardonically - can't decide - "Glasgow House") and high gated communities on the other side of my route}, and focus on the much greener, more architectural parts though Hyde Park, Green Park, St James’ Park and over Westminster Bridge)

Aside from my primary goal of achieving 14 minute miles over the next four weeks – also on my To Do list is:

1. Stop being such a Scaredee Cat and attend a Learn to Run Session


2. Lose another 6 pounds as my belly is still more flabby than fabulous (Sadly I've only lost 2 pounds over the last four weeks - due to a week's inactivity, two weeks of BootCamp which required a large calorific consumption just to give me sufficient energy to make it through the day and that box of Magnum icecreams I was powerless to resist at the weekend!) 


3. Create two AWESOME MoonWalk costumes 


4. Grow LONGER legs and arms! x

Round and Round the Garden

Hare here.                                                            

"Round and round in circles,

Like a teddy bear,

One step, two step,

Tickly under there!"

My parents use to sing this nursery rhyme to me as a child: for those of you who don't know it, they held my hand and as they chanted the first 2 lines they used to gently draw circles into the palm of my hand with one finger, then move up my arm for "one step, two steps" before tickling me under the arm!

My walk today reminded me of that... it's odd the associations we make in our mind... well, mine at least!

After giving my leg 2 weeks to recover, I've started to pick up the walking and exercise again, slightly scared that I've only done 1 substantial 10 mile walk and a few shorter walks so far!

My achievements this week:

1. On bank holiday Monday I took myself for a 6 mile walk around Cambridge. I've found a lovely route which takes me in a circle around the city, through pastures and parks, past cattle, families going for strolls, hunky university students playing football, then following the River Cam watching the rowing teams and pretty canal boats... Ok, so I ended up in a pub. Well deserved, me thinks, and I did only have an OJ & lemonade so it could've been worse!

2. On Tuesday I did aerobics for the first time in a month (can it really have been that long?!) even though every part of my body was crying out "NO!!". The mile walk, hour jumping about and mile walk back hurt. Firstly my tired body resisted every step, with any muscle memory faded in the previous month, and fully protesting that I'd not allowed it to rest on the sofa. Secondly my hurty knee did not appreciate my 9.5 stone body repeatedly jumping on it! Must be careful for a bit longer it seems.

3. Today I went for a 9.5 mile walk - which is great considering I'd only intended on doing 6 again! I did the route around Cambridge - the third time I've walked it now - hence the nursery rhyme! I got back to my road after 6 miles, and while my legs ached, I felt like doing more, so walked straight past my house to the local park and down some different footpaths for another hour. When I did get home my legs ached, but not badly. Last time I did 10 miles (stopping only for a 30 min break) I vividly remember crawling up the stars on my return and aching for a few hours. This time I was able to walk up the stairs, rotate some washing, and go and have a shower, by which time the aches had subsided. It seems I am slowly getting less unhealthy!

So progress is being made. Next weekend I'll try and do at least 12 miles, 15 if I have the time. In all honesty, I need to start making the time!

From hare to bear xxx

Update from the Hare: The teacher becomes the student!

(This is how I imagine the teenage boys reacting to Teacher Hare 

- and the similar physical attributes! Off to run and hide. x)

Ok... so it's been a while since my last post... and then it's been a while since my last decent attempt at exercise!

It seems I truly am acting 'The Hare' right now: putting in lots of effort at the start, but not following it through! I am proud of 'The Tortoise', aka 'Girl On A Mission' whose will power, stamina & determination are nothing short of amazing! I genuinely mean it when I say WELL DONE (Although given the supposed depiction of me I currently want to kill her!) Regardless, there is NO WAY you'd find me walking for 90 minutes before and after going to work - I find teaching teenagers exhausting in itself, without starting the day exhausted!

In all honesty, I've fallen out of the routine. I have been doing well at sticking to my aims. To recap:

1. Walking to & from school. Although only a mile – every little counts.

2. Going to aerobics once a week - I'd genuinely like to go twice a week, but sadly have not had the time!

3. Walking at the weekends, at least one day if not both, varying from a short 30 min walk to a shopping spree.

4. Snowdonia killer weekend away with The Tortoise is booked! Crazy? Great opportunity to get some revenge on the Tortoise? Of course!

Sadly, what I have not managed is another loooooooong training session. I am longing to go for another 5-10 mile walk, but have allowed several hurdles to stop me...

It seems I’ve slipped into the habit of telling myself the same excuses that my pupils at school try on me:

Student: "Sorry, I've been busy & not had the time"

Teacher: IT’S JUST ABOUT MANAGING YOUR TIME BETTER. I've found the time to eat, sleep, shop, go on holiday... I could have MADE the time to walk!
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Student: "I have slipped out of my normal routine: school term's over, been all over the place visiting friends in the Midlands, going home to Norfolk to see parents; going on holiday to Malta; working bar shifts at my local theatre"

Teacher: EXCUSES, EXCUSES! If anything this should have given me more time and motivation: I may have been away a lot, but I have still had at least 3 days when I could have easily spared a few hours for a long walk, and where better to do it than the beautiful, quiet, flat country lanes in Norfolk!!
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Student: "The dog ate my trainers, Miss" ... well ,seriously, they might as well have been eaten by a dog! I realised 2 weeks ago that the sole of one trainer had 80% come away from the remainder of the shoe. Embarrassingly, I discovered this whilst lying on my back in the middle of a Jazzercise class, surrounded by c.200 women whilst trying to do bizarre-leggy-abby-crunch-type-things! CRINGE! Why have I not replaced said trainers? a) completely & utterly broke b) not enough time

Teacher: COULD DO BETTER: I accept no trainers = no walking BUT that's still no excuse: The trainers will have to be replaced anyway before the Moonwalk, so, as good old Nike would say, JUST DO IT!
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In my defense, while in Norfolk I have at least still gone for a walk every day for between 1-2 hours at a time. And I can still make amends, as I still have a few days left of my school holidays, which means 3 potential walks! As long as the weather's good, my temporarily 'Bostik'ed trainers should hold out long enough for me to do a decent walk. I can then buy some new shoes when back in Cambridge next week.

On a final note, reading how much willpower, sweat & effort Girl On A Mission is putting in right now, this has shamed me and motivated me into doing more again.

Number of weeks until FINAL MISSION: 9

For now, The (Holiday-Hibernating-Heffalump) Hare xx

Hare by name, Hair by nature!!

Hello World! As previously introduced, I am Jess, aka "The Hare" (and yes god damn it I am that cute!). I have indeed agreed to walk the Moon Walk with Justine, maybe because I want to lose weight, maybe because I am mad, maybe because after 17 years of Justine's HARE-BRAINED schemes I have lost the will power to just say "NO"!!

I also received my acceptance info pack in the post from 'Walk the Walk' yesterday, so this seemed like a suitable time to write my first blog entry, now I am an official marathon-walker-to-be!
So here's what you need to know about me:

The Hare's Vital Statistics:
I'm 25; have very long hair; love ALL things chocolate very much; love animals (thank God because my mother owns 30 of the damned things!); love chocolate; love music, gigs and festivals; love chocolate; love nature/the countryside; love chocolate; love shoes; hate mushrooms & coconut; love chocolate; hate kids; love flirting; love the sun; love chocolate; hate not having any money ...oh, and did I mention I quite like chocolate?

I did a degree in Philosophy, then thought 'what the hell do I do with my life?' (oh the irony!) so I became a secondary school teacher. I'm now in my 3rd year of teaching, and while it scares me every day, and I regularly think to myself "why?"... but despite my hatred of small human beings and the British educational system, I LOVE IT! No 2 days are the same: something bad always happens, something weird always happens, and something funny always happens. Although, I have wondered if I might be some sort of masochist, as I'm always mentally, physically and emotionally exhausted; by comparison the Moon Walk should be a breeze!

So why am I doing this marathon you ask? I ask myself the very same question. Well, exercise is NOT my friend, running is NOT a word in my dictionary. But I love the countryside, and love walking! Although I'll be honest - I have lived in East Anglia all my life, where the land is either totally flat or gently undulating. Walking up a flight of stairs is hard work; the thought of walking up proper hills scares me. Does Edinburgh have many of those...?

On the plus side, I did Duke of Edinburgh at school (yes, Justine did rope me into that as well - noticing a theme yet?) and I loved it! Don't get me wrong, that week was hell, and I think everyone cried at some point, but the experience formed some of the best memories of secondary school. It was also on returning from that I was my lightest weight of 8 stone 3 pounds. FACT: You must never ask a lady her weight, but lets just say I'm not quite that small now, and my mission is to return to that weight by the end of this Moon Walk! It's also been 2 years since I last had a boyfriend, and yes lads, I am on the look out! So I'm hoping that this will be motivation enough for me to crawl my way around Edinburgh.

Training so far:

1. CARDIO: I moved to Cambridge in January, and I have been going to aerobics 'Jazzercise' once a week most weeks. (Since signing up to Moon Walk I have made it every week.)

2. LITTLE & OFTEN: I walk to and from school each day - a mile in each direction.
(This is a good start me thinks: a bit of gentle exercise to keep me toned up and not totally out of practice...)

3. MOMENTS OF INSANITY: Last weekend I went out Friday night, got drunk, then got woken up 7.30am. On Saturday night I went out again, got even more drunk, got woken up again at.7.30 am. Now a normal person at 7.30 am on Sunday morning after a weekend of much alcohol & little sleep may well think "Groan. Must sleep more....zzzzzzz....." But I thought "wow, this is such a glorious day! The sun is shining, I'm wide awake, nothing to do today... I know, lets go for a walk!" So I got myself ready, headed down the stairs to find a map to find my housemate was planning on going for a run...

So together we plan a route around Cambridge (literally a big circle!) and set off in the sunshine. 4 hours later, we stumble home, legs aching (in a good 'wow I feel toned' way, not in a 'my body is broken' way!) and ate chocolate cake! We found a great website www.gmap-pedometer.com on which you can trace your route work work out distance and calories burnt. We had walked just short of 10 miles, and burnt c.1000 calories! WOOP WOOP!!!!!

I was absolutely buzzing for the rest of the day. It's great to know that with 13 weeks before the big event, I can already comfortably walk 10 miles with a hangover and little food inside me.

Training plan from now on:

1. CARDIO: go to aerobics once a week without fail.

2. LITTLE & OFTEN: walk to & from school each day. Walk somewhere on Saturday & Sunday.

3. THE BIG PUSH: go for a longer walk each weekend of at least 5 miles, but throw in the occasional 10-miler ever few weeks.

4. TEAM TRAINING: meet with Justine 3 times for a 10/15/20mile practice. One of these will be a walking weekend on Snowdonia!

Even writing about it I feel excited, this is going to be a mission, sure, but I feel confident we can do it. I just hope I can keep up this will power, as it's so unlike me! The only way to encourage me is to sponsor me and Justine LOADS of money, so watch this space for our online sponsorship page.

I'm going to sign off now - it's Sunday, and the plan is to drag my sister out for a 5 mile walk!! mwahahahahaaaaaa....

Jess

The Hare and the Tortoise

I am thrilled to be sharing the attempt at the Edinburgh Moonwalk with my amazing and oldest friend, who has also kindly agreed to contribute to this blog as a fellow GOAMer - double whoop!

I'm really looking forward to working on this joint project together particularly as it is rapidly appearing that we have very different approaches to the task at hand.

ENTER: THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE

T: How's it going?

H: You're lucky you caught me, just catching my breath after today's 10 mile hike, got some marking to do, before solving world peace tomorrow. How 'bout you?

T: (sheepishly) Managed 2.5 miles, can no longer sit down as leg muscles cramp so much which is making trips to the ladies an interesting dilemma (we have been friends a loooooooonnnnnng time so yes we can go there). But on the plus side, I am now the owner of a capacious home from home (aka fabulous hiking rucksac appropriately named "The Land Treker") -fits nice and snug - so how about them apples?!

Simultaneously T starts researching to see if a jetpack will fit in "The Land Treker" that will enable her to keep up with H.

xx