Walking a Marathon (in a day)

Yesterday was absolutely wonderful - so inspirational. I am currently watching the men's tennis final - fingers crossed for Murray!

Dear GillieB, I am so sorry you are having double knee troubles, it must be very tiring and wearing-down to have pain on movement we take forgranted for so many years. I admit I have been fortunate to have good genes that allow me to move ok (not fast, but ok) up to and just beyond my 3 score years and ten. I have had hip twinges for several years, but I started taking glucosamine and chondroitin fairly regularly and, touch wood, they have diminished.
But it is one of the reasons I decided to take up this challenge now, while I still hope I can do it.
Wasn't today exciting and inspirational?! I am no sportsperson, but I have watched more sport today--and enjoyed it--than I have ever done in my life before! SIX gold medals in one day. I find all the medalists quite wonderful, knowing just how hard they have worked and pushed themselves, but they all seem to have retained a degree of humility--and are so grateful for all the support they have received.
The last bit is true for me, too--especially from Gransnet forum members.

I only wish I could, GrandmaMiney, unfortunately I have had one knee replacement and the other one wants doing now (but I am putting it off for as long as possible). I have my good days and bad days, I am afraid. I do envy you being able to do this.

Thank you GillieB --Just the encouraging words I needed. And does it matter if you were 'in your early 20s' at the time. I'm sure you could still do it now, and we all still feel that's where we are!
Interesting that in the UK and Europe walking boots seem the norm, whereas in the US they wear running shoes for walking a marathon.(accordion to a US 'walking a marathon' website. Just as well as walking boots now rub my ankle bone, so lighter weight shoes it is for me. Any views on this?
I did my 3 ups and downs of the hilly bit in Richmond Park today--very invigorating, and my huff 'n puff lasted ok. But the muscles at back of my legs (?gastrocnemius) certainly let me know of their existence!

Well done, GrandmaMiney. I have only ever walked a marathon once and I was in my early 20s. I don't even remember now what charity we were supporting; I know I was quite amused as my BF (now DH) was a great walker and insisted on wearing his proper walking boots - he had some enormous blisters. I, on the other hand, never walked anywhere, did no practising, wore my pumps (this was well before trainers) and had not one mark on my feet. I think I did ache the following day, but not too much. Oh the arrogance of youth!

I met up with 3 other 'grans' this week. We all started training to be nurses (at Westminster Hospital, London) back in 1959. Lovely to catch up with them, and their support of my trekathon for music therapy for vulnerable children now means I am closer to my fundraising target.
Off to Richmond Park again today.
Encouragement NEEDED:
I have discovered a hill there that I find 'challenging', so rather than walk my 8 miles around the park, I have decided to try to walk up this hill 3 times today. Greatnan, I need your mountaineering experience in words of support!
And anyone else who is good at hill walking. My huff and puff is evident at the top of this hill! I know the route of the trekathon is over 'rolling' downs, so I guess I need to be well prepared for the ups.

A big thank you from me to another unknown donor. 'Classical gran' wherever you are--thank you. It is more encouragement for me to train harder as I'm now only £200 short of my target. Onward I shall go! And the children will benefit.

And more inspiration from the women cyclists today. I happened upon them just down the road from my allotment in Fulham Palace Meadows. It was pouring with rain when the first three came through, including Lizzie Armistead who
went on to be Team GBs first medal winner--getting the Silver for her cycling.

With the support from gransnet forum members I really do believe I'll never walk alone!!

I wish you sunshine. We have thunder and rain. My niece and family at the Olympic Eventing in Greenwich took a real soaking so I hope Richmond is fine. Last time I was there it was pouring down - but that was in December! Walk on through the wind, walk on through the rain ...

A huge thank you to Greatnan for your contribution to music therapy for sick and vulnerable children via my Justgiving webpage Members of this forum must know by now just how every donation encourages me to go on with the trekathon training. Less than 6 weeks to go now, so I'm aiming for a double Richmond Park again this week.
The Olympics is another source of inspiration now, as London is abuzz! I happened upon the penultimate stage of the Olympic cycle race yesterday afternoon as I was going to Cotswold Outdoor to change a walking pole! The cyclists were just about to go along the Brompton Road towards Hyde Park Corner en route to the Mall for the finish. It was very exciting, even though Cavendish, Wiggins et al. failed to gain Olympic glory. But at least they finished. And that is all I am hoping to do on 8 September plus help provide music therapy sessions for more children.
Please keep on encouraging me and passing on useful tips, I really appreciate it

I've just come back from today's shorter training walk--only 2 miles--to my allotment (I live in a flat in central London with no outside space!) to water the beans and tomatoes! And I had the wonderful surprise of finding a donation for my charity on my justgiving web page--from 'A Grandad' (who may or may not be called Rod). Whoever you are--thank you SO much. You have made my boots walk even more determinedly.

Thank you, Greatnan. But I take my hat off to you, I don't think I could walk up and down mountains like you, despite being a Capricorn! (There aren't any between Winchester and Salisbury, are there?!!)

I've just watched 'Bert and Dick' on BBC1--a play about the British double sculls gold medal winners in the 1948 London Olympics. Not quite as inspirational as Chariots of Fire, but it all helps me appreciate the enormous effort, commitment and dedicated training that any sportsman or woman has to make. In its own way, preparing for this trekathon has increased my understanding of many things...quite humbling in fact.

You are an inspiration to us all - I have nothing but admiration for your wonderful effort.

To all the wonderful gransnet exercisers who keep me going with such encouraging words--Thank You,
And a huge thank you to Shysal for your kind donation via my Justgiving webpage (which goes directly to the charity I am doing the trekathon for). I have now reached 60% of my target, so that also encourages me.
I was a nurse and a Health Visitor, and could see the benefit of music therapy for babies and children (and their families) who sometimes had huge physical and other problems. For more details of the charity, please see my webpage (address on my 23 July entry above--and yes, Shysal is right about my age!)

Miney, congratulations on doing 22miles. That's so impressive especially n the heat. Good luck

Well done miney, seems you are well on the right track. I don't think you need to have actually walked the full distance leading up to the day. 22 miles sounds great. I admire you for your determination, you are fantastic. Your name on Just Giving suggests you are 71, is that so? - I doubt whether I could manage it at 66.
I will make a donation via Just Giving,it is for a great cause. It is so easy and you won't have to chase people for the money afterwards, which is the worst part of any sponsored activity.
Good luck!

Good that you slept well and have no aches and pains, miney. I used to find after a long hill walk that sometimes the muscle tiredness would kick in more than twenty-four hours later, so don't be surprised if that happens a bit. It sounds as if you're feeling fit and strong and ready for the challenge. When is your next training walk?

Thank you Greatnan, Bags and Frankel for your support and encouraging & helpful comments. Unfortunately none of my friends here in London are quite as 'mad' as me when it comes to the draw of a new challenge! So it really does help enormously to get online support.
I just missed seeing the Olympic flame on its way through Richmond yesterday. I took a detour from my in-park route to try to catch it about half a mile away, but missed it by 3 minutes! However the sight of deer (stags showing off their new antlers), heron, some Shetland ponies and the lovely grass and massive trees of the Park were reward enough. For a city-dweller!
Re the 1000 mile socks. The size was fine, but it is the in-built lycra content that made them feel constricting. A pity as they felt very smooth and comfortable apart from squeezing my foot (and it is a slim foot!). But as Frankel said, if I've found a combination that works for that distance, I think I'll stick with it. Amazingly no aches and pains today after a really good night's sleep!

Very well done from me, too - as you've found, 22.5 miles in training prepares body and mind and the confidence you now have is very important. I wear 1000 mile socks running and they work well - I don't remember having had a blister. I guess the obvious answer to your question is that, with 1000 mile socks, you need slightly larger boots but, if your boot/sock combination works for 22.5 miles, perhaps stick with that. Otherwise, maybe ring a stockist like 'The Runners Shop' and ask your question or, if there's the walkers equivalent of the free website 'Runners World', see if there's a forum to pose your question there. In any case, well done and good luck.

Glad it's going well, Miney. It looks as if you will walk your marathon easily. Bridgedale socks are great. I wear them all the time. About the lycra ones being too tight – could you get the same style in a large size?

Well done, that is very impressive, you are well on target now.

I did it! I achieved my training goal for the month--and walked twice around Richmond Park. My distance walked for today is 46.08Km, or 22.5 miles. As it was about the hottest day of the year so far, it was not fast--but at least I am more confident that I'll complete the 26 miles on 8 September.
Meindl walking shoes stood up well. Today I wore Bridgedale socks. I tried the 1000mile socks, but the lycra made them too tight a fit. Any clues as to how to overcome this?

Last week I had a wonderful surprise. My charity (Nordoff Robbins music therapy for children via the Classic FM foundation) received a donation from someone I do not know. There is no e-mail address, so I can't thank them personally. I wondered if it was from a Gransnet member who had seen this forum page.
If it is--thank you so much, whoever you are, for visiting my www.justgiving.com/SueBSmith71 web page and making this donation. It has really spurred me on.

Before I took up mountain walking seriously, I used to use an ordinary crook-handled walking stick for my strolls. However, I find it is much better to use two poles - you can get into a really good rhythm and you get very toned upper-arms
Granjura likes to use exactly matching poles, but I find it helpful to use poles of slightly different diameter, because you can swap them over if your fingers get a bit stiff in one position.!