Shoes for PW Virgins

With thanks to Paul for following the blog thus far - and with apologies to everyone about the complete lack of formal training 'notes'  - it's not that they are top secret - there just aren't any. Training walks completed since last blog = O. Plans for training walks with Mr Dunn, PW virgin = O. Opportunity for serious walks = O - just too busy. And what's more annoying - my treadmill thingy I run on is broken - serious undermining of attempts to stay in shape - and unlike MrTaggart (no not the famous one who wins running fell races - the other one from Laxey) I'm not partial to running up, and rolling down Snaefell - ok so it may have only happened once but it still a great chance for me to get my own back... allowing me to finish 2 mins slower than his PW PB last year - and not telling me in time to speed up.

But I digress...(just like Mr T did one year in the mist and ended up... no that would be too cruel). I've been asked about footwear. Again nothing scientific just how it is for us. It's something I took a couple of years to get sorted and as with many things it is personal preference - try a few different types early on  - and then choose a pair and train in them for a few hundred miles! Dad uses good walker/trainers - I use RBK's road plus running because I have such broad feet, and they give really good support. On the day I get blisters - which pop and I walk them in. Try never to remove shoes unless its an emergency - and good socks are essential! All of which probably isn't tremendously helpful....but it has worked for us. Now I did see one person in multi-coloured flip flops at Santon one year......

171 days (or thereabouts) and counting....

The trouble with numbers is just that - they make everything sound much more definitive. 171 doesn't sound a lot when you say it in the context of  - for example - the global population or distance to Mars... but it's only 5 more turns of the calendar til June and that makes PW2011 just that little bit more real. So time for some serious stuff... Well update from last blog in December. Walking on ice - now that is a skill I have yet to master. A thick layer of glass like shiny stuff all over the pavements and two Springer Spaniels to walk is just the scenario you need for a comedy sketch. The dogs won by several paws. However the discovery of ice grippers not only transformed what was becoming a daily creep along railings to work into the normal aerobic blast past the traffic - it also meant the canine steam trains could be controlled. Thankfully by the time we hit County Clare on Boxing Day the ice was no more. Saw the local Rugby team training on the beach at Lahinch....it looked such a good idea... a run along the beach...into the wind  - in soft sand  - air temp about 2 degrees..... still have a sore knee. However onwards and upwards. The 'Parish Virgin' has finally agreed to come out of the closet. Mr Robert Dunn you have been called by name. Have discussed with Dad (very briefly as we had both just come out of the Irish Sea on NY day and at this point were turning a delicate shade cornflower blue) our training programme. Given Rob is relatively fit & healthy and can do the physical cardio vascular stuff himself - we agreed we needed to concentrate on the psychological side. Walking the full route, getting to know and hate the hills  - both up and down - dealing with the monotony of long hauls (Andreas to Lonan) etc. Although we need to finalise this with Rob - we are confident it is a good strategy for a first timer. I left Dad at home tonight working on his training - a box of 24 posh chocs and a bottle of 2001 Shiraz. It's only numbers...