Inca Trail Training

There's not been a lot of information recently on our training for the Inca Trail. Apologies for that. As we are all spread out through London and beyond and all very busy it is not always easy to keep a regular account of things.

I think it is true to say that for most of us, hills of the steepness that the Inca Trail will produce are missing from the training regime. I had hoped to arrange a weekend or at least a day down to the Seven Sisters but the time to do that is still eluding me. I am also hoping that continuing on the Pointless Odyssey Trail will introduce some steeper hills in the next month or so. It is hoped that before May I will have been up Scafell Pike and Kinder Scout. I do know that my stamina on hills is improving though as I am able to get up local ones a great deal easier and quicker.

Practice is what it is all about, starting slowly and on a small hill and building up. I know what I am capable of when fit so I am not worried. Teresa has been working out at the gym doing a lot of treadmill walking using the incline mechanism and both she and Christine have been regularly on the 'Capital Ring' Walks with me. Last week threw in quite a lot of steep streets and even yesterday I found myself tramping up steep muddy fields. The mud I was gathering on my walking boots was adding weight so that must have been good for me. We three are also doing the Big Fun Walk through a hilly north London at the end of March.

Elaine is continuing her cycling and substituting walking in some cases, she is a fit lass anyhow so will be fine. Gemma is training for the Marathon, some hills there and a lot of stamina needed so all this will serve her well.It is Helen down in Cardiff who is getting her quota of hills in and living on the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park is a great help.

We are all taking action to build on the levels we are currently at aiming for our goal and what is important is not measuring ourselves against others but against ourselves. As well as this it is my general wellbeing that I am also interested in and that means drinking lots of water and eating well so I ensure a strong immune system.

Will report on everyone again soon and in the meantime, you will get ongoing input on me.

East End Girls walking.

Just a little time before I go to catch my train to Wakefield, to tell you about our walk today. We were doing more of the Capital Ring which again covered two sections. We started at Grove Park in South East London and walked to Streatham again walking through some great places and areas.

What is interesting about London is that one moment you are in a very urban area and the next you are in wide avenues of expensive housing. We walked through woodland and parks and on this occasion around Crystal Palace Park and around the Sports Centre. Discovered lots of new places too. It's such a great way to get to know your city.

There were a fair number of hills this time too, great for those of us training for Peru although the hills here are small fry compared to what we shall be facing in May. Never mind, there are a few months to go yet to build up to higher and steeper ones.

Off now so I can attend the 'Walkers are Welcome Town' launch in Hebden Bridge tomorrow. I shall report back on Monday.