Lisa Z - Acorns Sahara Desert Trek 2010: August 2010

Thursday, 26 August 2010

Gracious Gratitude

The Narnia lampost, located at my starting point by Malvern Hills.
It always makes me think of the Chronicals of Narnia - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

My magic trekking boots, they will do all the walking for me leaving me striding effiortlessly, blister free and feeling like I'm walking on air

Malverns

Since my last diary date I have completed another Malvern Hills visit. Sunday 22 August I attempted my second 20 miles walk, as suggested on the trek training programme provided by Jim. I'd worked out ideally I needed to achieve 50000 steps on my pedometer, when I got home it had recorded I'd done 48775. As always I gave myself a hard time about this. Eventually I had to remind myself not to have the 'half empty glass' attitude and be pleased with the work I have put in to date. For 15 weeks I have gone out every single Sunday and walked for hours amd hours.

I haven't been overly keen on the hills walk, although I can feel some improvement, and when I arrive at the top of the hills the views and space is amazing. I love my towpath walks, getting away from the city and sometimes forgetting how close the hustle and bustle is. It has been quite a change this summer for me. Not long now and I will be trekking the Sahara sands :o)...I'm still a little nervous about my fitness level, but I'm starting to look forward now to this once in a life time mini adventure :oD...

I think after the trek it will also make working with the children at Acorns Hospice feel even more special. Some of those children teach quite a few of us adults to have gracious gratitude, and enjoy some of the simplest things in life. My Sunday walks have also been a blessing to me, getting out and about, time to slow down somewhat and let all the busy chatter in my head calm down. It been a very difficult year watching my stepmom and dad go through a horrible time. As for Stuart, my step brother, I cannot even image how difficult it has been since last July to date. Finding out his mother (my step mom, Nicola) has a brain tumor, told 6-12months to live. July his grandmother has passed away in her sleep after becoming so over whelmed seeing her daughter Nicola, taken into St Mary's Hospice the day before. He had to plan the funeral, go through the funeral and visit his mom everyday watching her fading and not even knowing who he is. I wish I could make ths all go away for him.

This trek feels even more worth while since I've been visiting a hospice in a totally different way to my normal routine. Never did I image during the times I spent volunteering and working at Acorns with the children, I would be visiting a relative and on the receiving side of feeling so thankful for the wonderful nurses, volunteers and all at St Mary's taking care of Nicola. Those people are angels walking the earth, and it's made me realise I should accept the little pats on the back given when I play my part at Acorns again.

Monday, 9 August 2010

Towpath Walks

I am starting to really love my long walks, in particular when nobody is around. There are times when I get lost in the music on my MP3 and no distractions from other people. I also love to capture a photo of an advance long route and not a soul in sight.

The section of canal near to our old Snowhill offices when we worked on St Chads/Snowhill road infrastructure. Brings back some good memories of working with a great team.

Spooky tunnels :o$

AAaaaagggrrrhhhhh - That is me in pain and extremely annoyed with myself *boo hiss - bad Lisa.*

Two weeks ago, when planning my Malvern Hills walk, I thought how I could make the walk more challenging to prepare for the Sahara trek. I think I've tried to push myself over the past months, and certainly have followed the trainning programme provided by a trek expert. However, a heavy concern has been the fact it is impossible to prepare for the heat and sand that awaits. We all know heat and trudging through sand can zap energy levels extremely quickly. I mulled over with humour asking if my Fitness First trainer Adrain, could organise a treadmill in the sauna for me, but we all know what the answer to that one would be!

Anyway, the only way I thought would toughen up the training was to carry 8litres of water filled in 2litre bottles I've saved in my rucksack, and then attempt to find and walk as many steep points as possible. MISSION ACHIEVED!!!! I walked continously for 4hours, it was tough and two weeks later I am still suffering. I've had three visits to my osteopath due to damaging my back. I AM SOOOOOO STOOOOPID!! Why, oh why, I over do things to the point of injury I do not know, and I never seem to learn.

I have had weeks of very disturbed sleep due to pain. I've walked around my flat at early hours crying with it, rolled on my lounge floor trying to get rid of the pain (why I thought this would help I question myself!?). It would not be so bad if it was on and off providing a temporary break and relief from pain, but this pain is constant, runs from my neck, to shoulder, down to my elbow and finger tips. It also can make one feel a little nauseous.

I have missed quiet a few of my week day gym sessions which worries me. Although I have managed to continue my one to one two weekly sessions with my personal trainer, and my long distance weekend walks.

Sunday 8 August, I reduced the ridiculous weight to my backpack and set out on my programmed instructions to complete a 20miles walk in 8hrs. Another tip told was to allow myself some breaks and not think I need to walk non-stop for 8hrs. I set out from Digbeth walking a very unattractive route to Fort Dunlop. When I arrived at the Fort I had a short coffee break and quick review of my Sunday paper before trekking back to Birmingham. At Satley junction I joined the towpath, this canal is not very pleasant infact I find it a little creepy. Eventually I arrived at Fazely Street which takes me to either leave the towpath and join the highway to Digbeth, or continue on the towpath to Gas Street Basin. For a preferred senic route and to extend the journey. I had another quick break and then joined the Worcester and Birmingham Canal route leaving at Bournville and walking from here to St Mary's Hospice to spend some time with my stepmom. I stayed for a while with my stepmom and then walked from the hospice back to Digbeth. Deducting my 3 breaks I had walked for 8hrs 10mins and according to my pedometer had walked 51014 steps, a total of 20.28miles......YAY!!!!!!!!