The same thought keeps running (not walking) through my mind “am I mad?” Quite possibly, yes. Last year I pledged to complete the Moonwalk marathon. Now I have gone and added to that because just over a month after the Moonwalk I will be attempting the Island walk - all 48 miles of it.
I am doing it because I can. I am doing it because I have the luxury of choice.
I’m doing it because I need to stop wallowing. I am doing it because I need to do something positive. I am walking for the people that can’t. The people that cruelly had their lives cut short. For the friends I have lost. I need to do it because I can.
I probably won’t enjoy it. I am not naturally athletic and I will probably curse myself for ever thinking that it was a good idea. However, I need something to focus on. I will be doing the 48 mile walk with Mr C. He will be my training buddy and walking partner. We will walk the 48 miles together. The only small (or large) issue is our height difference. He is a strapping 6ft4 (nearly 6ft5 he assures me) with a stride that would give any giant a run for its money. I am an average 5ft6 with a rather small stride. I will probably have to jog to keep up with him on the walk, and jog I will, because there will be no way that I want to let him cross that finish line before me. Competitive, me? Never.
I will probably swear quite a lot between now and then but I am doing it because I can. I need to challenge myself and this will do that! I don’t know what to expect, I don’t know if I will be able to complete them both but I have to try. I want to push myself, I want to see what I am capable of. I am hoping that in the process I will learn about myself. I am hoping that I will learn to actually like me, that I will be able to stop the self-loathing. That’s probably asking for the impossible but I can try. I am fed-up of not liking myself. I want to be a different me. I want to be the best me. I want to make my girls proud, I want to make my husband proud.
It won’t be easy and I will have to battle self-doubt constantly. I will have to learn to ignore the voice that whispers “you can’t do it”. I will have to push forward. I will have to shout “I can do this”. Perhaps I am going through an early mid-life crisis. Maybe this is just another way I have found of punishing myself, because it will be torture. There will be the early mornings when I will have to drag myself out of bed, when my body is screaming for sleep. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t because I am doing an Eddie Izzard and attempting 27 months in 27 days. No, it is because my body will be attempting the equivalent of three marathons in a just over a month. I don’t do exercise like this. I am more like a sloth. My body likes sleep. I am no Maggie Thatcher, I need at least 8 hours sleep. There will be the days that I don’t want to feel the pain of walking another mile, but I will do it, because I can.
I will do it.
Ps - I might not have realised that the walk would be 48 miles. I thought Jersey was the size of a postage stamp. Apparently not. The whole way round is 48 miles. End to end is 9 miles. I wonder if I could suggest the “across Jersey walk”. What do you think? I’m joking, 2017 is going to be known as the year I walked, A LOT! Wish me luck.
Moonwalk Marathon 26.2 miles + The Island Walk 48 miles = am I out of my mind?! Yes, I have started the post questioning my sanity and after writing this post I am still no wiser.
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Well if every step is a step towards seeing yourself as others see you, it’ll be worth the agony! Plus, you might get extra bonus points for carrying a passenger (Gary). #IMREALLYGOINGTOBEDSOON
Ooh, good luck on your goals. I applaud your reasons for attempting.
#familyfun
PS Hope you have some comfortable walking shoes.
I love your reason for doing this: ‘Because I can.’ Best of luck - you’re a braver woman than I am! The ‘across Jersey walk’ is more my speed. #FamilyFun
haha, thanks lovely!
Oh I did giggle at the cross Jersey idea! But seriously I have total admiration for you because you can do it and will do it and it is something so wonderful positive after the year you had last year. I reckon you are going to secretly love it because of that sense of achievement and I really do wish you all the best lovely! #BloggerClubUK
oops wrong linky! #FamilyFun !!
Thank you! 🙂
Are you stark raving MAD?!? Seriously, though, good on you - and how fab that you will be doing the Island Walk together. (Obviously, you’ll beat him.) Puts me to shame - in between work and kids I’ve sent myself the rather more modest target of walking at least 25km every month. I managed it 10 out of 12 months last year, so I’m going for the full house this year.
Haha, yes I am mad. The things me and Mr C will do to get some alone time. It will be a romantic stroll, that’s what I keep telling myself anyway! Good luck to you too! I hope that you make it a full house this year. 🙂
How exciting! I do love that you thoughT Jersey was a tad smaller..oops. It can be so helpful in hard times to have something to focus on, something positive…a real goal. Look forward to hearing how you get on. Oh and I like you…come and join me! #familyfun
Awww, thanks lovely xxx
Wow! Thats a long walk … loooong! Best of luck!
#ablogginggoodtime
Thank you
WOW best of luck to you but you certainly have the determination. I think it is an amazing thing and you are amazing for doing it. Huge respect to you. I look forward to hearing all about it. Good luck again!! Thanks for joining us at #familyfun xx
Hi Emma, you could suggest an across the island walk, but I promise you, you won’t get the same buzz on completion and you will finish both events. My husband is eight inches taller than me which is why I will never run with him. The extra few inches does add to their stride length and is infuriating. I wish you ‘happy training’ and just think this time next year you may not be a millionaire (or maybe you will), but you will have a couple of achievements that you will be proud of, under your belt.
#ablogginggoodtime
Ahhh, that’s a lovely way of looking at it. Thank you xx
Oh wow good luck! I’ve never done the moonwalk but a friend has and without much training (not that i’m recommending it) but she coped. So good luck!! keep reminding yourself why you’re doing it xx #familyfun
Mummy in a TuTu (@mummyinatutu) says
Well done you. So many people say they’re going to do something and never do. So the fact you are even doing something is great. It is sometimes so hard to get out of the funks we get ourselves into, so well done for signing up and good luck. I’ll be cheering you on all the way!
Thanks for linking to #ablogginggoodtime
Thanks lovely x