Head for the hills

I find myself wanting to head for the hills. It must be the stage in my Inca Trail training. Perhaps I feel that my stamina on the flat is fine, which actually it is, so the next step is to add more inclines.

I think it also has to do with reading about the trek in my newest book, some of the descriptions in the book make your calves hurt by just reading them. As my philosophy is to set out on these treks fully prepared so you get maximum pleasure from them should not be ignored.

Recently I was saying that hills were getting easier and now I need to get steeper and steeper and put some of Mike's tips into play. There are a number of local hills to try it out on so be prepared to see my in Buckhurst Hill more often and it's time too to get back into Pointless Odyssey and head north.

It's a good feeling.

The East End Girls - or at least some of them.

I am aware that in my blog, I talk a fair amount about the East End Girls so here is a recent photo of some of them in all their glory.

This photo was taken on our third section of the the Capital Ring and you can see the glorious weather I mentioned in my 11/3/07 entry.

Never did I realise that when I signed up, over a year ago to do the Breakthrough Walk that this group of women would change my life so much. We range in age from 18 to mid 50 ies and include, coaches, teachers, students, PA's, swimming instructors etc. Everyone gets on really well, everyone looks out for everyone else, we get together for meals and drinks and on all walks we have fun.

The group covers on average 10-12 miles when we walk and we always aim to find nice venues for lunch and coffee. If you are up to that level of walking then please come and join us. Email me heather@walkerscoach.com. If you would like to work up to this, and some of our members had hardly walked at all when they joined originally, then also email me as I am setting up some other groups too which will start with a couple of miles.

Just think how much fun you too can have.

Capital Ring

Just had another fabulous day on the Capital Ring with the East End Girls - I love those women.

Nic and Zara made this one and I hadn't seen either of them since the Aviva Walk last September. Both are fine and Nic is also doing the Inca Trail but as part of a month long trip to South America, it sounds brilliant. She goes in September so we shall be able to feed back our experiences. As my new guide book indicates the best places in Cusco to eat for Vegetarian, Mexican etc. including the best places for hot chocolate, there will definately be info worth passing on. I want to know the best places to go for Pisco Sours!! If anyone reading this knows, please get in touch, all advice gratefully received.

Again we had fantastic weather, I believe Geraldine will have the strap marks to prove it - thankyou Universe, you never fail to deliver. It was blue skies and sunshine all round and just a lovely little breeze making sure we didn't overheat.

We did overshoot though!! Every walk so far we have managed to get so caught up in discussion and laughter - surprise, surprise, that we miss a Capital Ring sign. Today was no different, so we had to retrace our steps back down the hill and head off in another direction. Poor Kathy was distraught as she asumes all downs mean another up and she hates them. I didn't think this was going to happen though, as at this stage we were heading for the Thames at Richmond and it is definitely in the valley. However, walking to the top of the hill, even if we weren't meant to, gave us a stunning view over London. We could see everything from the Wembley Arch to the left, right over to the Gerkin and Canary Wharf. Now if we hadn't gone to far.......

Teresa and I were discussing our ability to get lost later and she came out with this great comment - 'We don't get lost we just overshoot' - how apt is that?

Apart from Cathy's comment first thing this morning that I had lost weight - tell me more of that, and I have. I was finding the hills much easier and although I am just about to jump into a hot bath, I am feeling really good.