Walking a Marathon (in a day)

Gosh, is marathon walking back in? I used to walk marathons when they became fashionable not long after London marathon and others became more mainstream.

I found them relatively easy as used to walk ten to fifteen miles twice a week with friends and dogs. That was built up over time of course but we were very dogged about the walking and used to egg each other on. The weather was sometimes atrocious , bit like today, and we would be be sliding all over the place down wooded valleys etc. think we were a bit daft sometimes but as we were all in our forties and fifties I think we did pretty well. Really enjoyed the adrenalin rush on the shorter walks but those marathons are just a slog! No matter who you are with. We Never thought about training, nutrition Etc. but things have changed a lot in that direction so I don't suppose our cheese sandwiches and beer would be considered very p.c. Nowadays.

Think I did four of five then the craze petered out and I had an accident, while out walking, and have never been able do long distances since but am building up again and would love to do another at some point if I possibly could.

Perhaps I shall try for one when I am seventy. Got four years to train up.

I'm full of admiration for your determination. Such a good cause too.

Well done from me, too. I've been away on a family holiday so I have only just caught up with your exploits. I know that feeling at the end of 26 miles and you just want to get to the finish, anyway you can. But once across the line, you start to recover and it's wonderful - at least for a few days until you come down to earth and things return to normal. Next year?

Well done to you Sue, that was a marvellous achievement!
I'm sure all your family are very proud of you!

Thanks Butternut and Shysal,

So far, I've raised £842 which includes the precious donations, via my charity web page, from some of you wonderful gransnet readers of this forum--thank you all, again. Your kindness really helped spur me on during the tough bits.

When I reached the Salisbury streets, I realise I was a bit mind-numb and I didn't really clock what I'd done. The next day I woke up and remembered the welcome hugs of my 3 grandsons--and my daughter, 200 yards from the finishing line--and could hear my middle grandson, Finn (8) saying--"G'ma we came to escort you to the finishing line--just like we did with Mummy when she ran the Marathon".

And I remembered the lone clapping on a deserted Salisbury street at 6.10pm. I turned to see who was being clapped--but no one else was there. I was a bit 'gone out' as they say, but on the other side of the street stood my partner, Nigel--clapping Me. I thought he was in North Lincolnshire--watching his team play football and seeing his daughters. He had not even told my daughter he was coming to Salisbury!

When these images came flooding into my mind the next morning, tears just fell. The fact that they had all bothered to drive for a couple of hours to 'see me home'--and the boys had told the lady in Waterstone's "we're not tourists, we've come to meet our grandma who is walking a marathon". Well, it still brings tears to my eyes. After all, it's only me! But then I thought "how could I not feel proud?", because they were all so proud of me and what I had achieved.

I set myself a target of £771 (the required amount for donations to the ClassicFM Foundation, for Nordoff Robbins music therapy for sick, disabled and vulnerable children, was a minimum of £260) as I really believe in the good that music therapy can do for these children.

And just in case anyone else would like to help me reach my revised target of £1000, donations are still accepted until 7th October! www.justgiving.com/SueBSmith71

Oh the cheek of the woman!--please forgive, but as a Health Visitor I worked with families for whom music therapy was the key not only to helping the child, but to keeping the family together, and it is inevitably a very underfunded service. More tomorrow--I hope it might help any insomniacs!
Good grannying everyone
Sue

Great pics, the terrain looks mixed!
You must be so proud of yourself, hope you raised a large sum of money.

Miney Great to see your pics. . What an achievement.

Hello again,
I'm just home--after a wild, wet and windy welcome back to the UK.
I've uploaded a few pix of my Adventure on to the photo gallery on my profile page, so I think that if you click on my name, you should be able to access them. Watch this space tomorrow for the words to go with the pix!

The bit in my profile that says I don't have grandchildren is NOT true-- you can see three of the younger ones who welcomed me at the end of my marathon in the top pic! I just couldn't get the box on the profile page to accept the number for grandchildren!
More tomorrow...

Glad you are ok, I have been worried!

Have a great time, you have certainly deserved it!

Dear all,
Forgive me for not telling you about my Great Adventure. My partner just whisked me away to Cyprus before I could get my thoughts together! He had this big birthday to celebrate, and that took precedence. I have just managed to log on (in Paphos)but I promise to tell you about 'my marathon in a day' next Tuesday as soon as I get home. Please join me then.
Sue Big smile x

I have only just caught up with your news GrandmaMiney - congratulations and well done!! I would love to hear all about it

Congratulations GrandmaMiney

GrandmaMiney . Well done! Tell us! xxx

I would love to hear all about it - well done!

Congrats and very well done GrandmaMiney! Tell us all about it please

A gold medal and huge cheers, GrandmaMiney...hip, hip, hooray!

Yes GrandmaMiney, please tell us all about it, the good and the bad bits!
Congratulations!

Grandmaminey , well done you . 3 cheers , bet you a bit puffed now

I DID IT!!!
Let me know if anyone is interested and I'll tell you a bit about my 26 mile walk from Winchester to Salisbury Cathedral--the Spire to Spire trekathon--yesterday. It was tough...but so glad I did it!

Just about to try to get some sleep in my B&B in Salisbury. Up at 5am for transport to Winchester Cathedral for the start. Then my boots and I begin our walking!

Thank you all, again, for your encouraging words--I was telling a fellow (a mere slip of a girl!) trekathoner over supper tonight, just how moved by (your donations) and supported I have been by such great Gransnet supporters.

You are all stars, and will light any darker moments I may have (especially up hills!) tomorrow.
When I get my feet and back back, I'll let you know how it went. Really quite excited now.....

We've had Team GB for the amazing Olympics and Paralympics, and they have been another inspiration to me.

Now let's hear a mini-cheer for Team GM. GrandmaMiney is walking on behalf of all of you on this forum.

Sue x

I wish you all the best for tomorrow! I know you have an early start, so probably won't be logging in before you go. It looks like the weather will be good, not too hot I hope - don't forget the sun screen! I am sure your preparation will pay off, resulting in a great experience.

Might not have time tomorrow, but just want to wish you all the best for Saturday - I am full of admiration, Miney. Be sure to tell us all about it.

You've done the training so now is the time to relax, make sure everything is ready and get to the start on time. Then, walk your own pace, enjoy the experience and when you finish, bask in the glory - it doesn't last long . All the very best for your walk.