The first training walk :)

 Well. I have to admit I have surprised myself today.  Today I decided to start training. After all, with only 4 months to go I really couldn't leave it any later! Things are finally coming together. The team is growing, the fundraising page is up, Amy has her operation date so I guess the only thing left to do is walk 100km!

I decided I'd start with 12 miles. It seemed reasonable. It's been a while since I walked that kind of distance and I knew I could do it, the question was, what kind of pace I could achieve. I hoped for 4 mph but since I haven't walked that fast for a long while, I didn't hold out much hope. 

Following the straight and narrow!

I got off to a good start and within the first couple of miles I was over 4mph and things were looking good.

An interesting look!

The weather was ideal. Not sunny but not cold, just overcast and still. Perfect walking weather. I decided to find a route on Komoot and it was fabulous, all paths, very few roads and differing terrains. Hills up and down, a bit muddy in places, but wonderful. It was good to get out there. It's amazing how a good stiff walk can clear your head.  Really for the first time since Amy got her date, which strangely seems like ages ago, despite it only being yesterday, I felt I could breathe and smile at the world.

I have to admit, since moving north I have often been amazed at my surroundings. I feel very lucky to have such wonderful scenery to walk past and despite the fact that I was pushing the pace, I could still very much enjoy the scenery.  Blessed is a word I often use, perhaps too much, but that's exactly how I feel.

Anyway, I digress slightly. The first part of my route was familiar, having walked it a few times. But very soon I was in unfamiliar territory and thankful for a good app, mobile reception, and the ability to follow instructions (though some may argue that point!).

Chesterfield Canal

Half way point along the canal

I thought I knew the route to the Chesterfield Canal but Komoot took me a different way which was lovely, good to discover new walking paths. I then followed the canal, passing the six and seven mile marks before getting to Drakeholes.  There is a very lovely pub at Drakeholes, but I was a woman with a purpose and The Duck would have to wait for another time!

Despite the sign to Bawtry (my destination) telling me to turn right, Komoot told me to turn left, so I obediently followed the route, finding new path after new path, some slightly big puddles and a couple of steep slopes. I think calling them hills would probably be an exaggeration.

And onwards I went, not having a clue where I was going, occasionally taking wrong turns, ducking and diving, wiggling and winding through paths and fields, getting attacked by hawthorns seeing miles of harvested fields and all the time not seeing another person. It was wonderful!

Just me then?

And then I went into the forest. I have no idea what the forest is called or where it is but as I was wandering through, three kids on mopeds came steaming through, breaking the silence and leaving the smell of exhaust in their wake.  

Another change of scene

Thankfully they were gone in seconds, though it was a little unnerving and I did, for a split second, realise my vulnerability, but that soon passed when I saw a few dog walkers and I went on my merry way.

I was, I admit, getting a little achy by this stage, and all thoughts of maybe going a little further than I'd planned were wiped from my mind! With just three miles to go, I picked the pace up again and tried to stop taking pictures!  The last stretch was a path at the side of a dual carriageway before I got into town, just over the Yorkshire border. 

The end!

And there it was, done. 12 miles in 3 hours, very happy with that. I'm pretty sure that's not a pace I'll be able to do for 100km but it's good to know I can still do it!  Next week I'm aiming for 18 miles which I will do slightly slower, and hopefully before then I'll be ordering some new, non-blister type socks because my feet were already telling me they'd had enough after just 12 miles!

I'm looking forward to seeing Amy on Monday. She has her pre-op at the hospital and then we will do something Monday night. It'll be the last time I get to see her before the operation. She remains the most positive person I know, carrying on as if nothing is happening. She makes me so proud, I am in awe.

Oh, and finally...

I have set up my JustGiving page. https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rebeccadecker 

I always say that any amount is wonderful and I will be grateful for any contribution to this amazing charity.  We also have a brAMYacs team page :).

We are up and running, happy days!