news

CEO's Training Blog: April 2010

Week Three:

I’m now on my third week of training for Howards Way Walk end of April, 100 miles across 3.5 days along the South Downs Ridgeway it’s starting to get better, I’m now doing 7miles 3 times a week and then attempting a longer walk over each weekend. 

My first long walk was an 18mile circuit around Richmond park, my personal trainer, Jarrod Bischoff from Gallowglass arranged to pick me up at 7.30am on Sunday morning.  I’d been briefed to bring ‘power gels’ waterproof’s, ‘protein bars’ all of which were packed in to my brand new aerodynamic back pack that Tess, my new best friend - Aussie girl at Snow & Rock in Covent garden had selected for me.  So we set off half asleep (me) to Richmond park, by the time we found the park and he transferred all my items into his pack – he didn’t want me to carry any additional weight during this walk, such a gentleman, we quickly realized that I had very cleverly forgotten to bring water!!  So much to remember, I’m  really not used to this outdoors lifestyle!  After chuckling away to himself, Jarrod took great pleasure in offering me a share of his camel pack, a strange but handy device which consists of a water bladder that sits inside a back pack with a tube coming out of the side that you can simply suck the water out while on the go!  Amazing these handy things you learn about…

So adorned in my new North Face jacket (it’s all about the brand and weight - mine is super light and hot pink) with a thermal top, yoga pants and hiking boots we headed off on our journey.  The time went fairly quickly with a few slight rises but mostly flat surfaces and we managed the distance in a little over 5.5hrs.  My feet and legs were definitely starting to throb towards the last few miles but thankfully we were heading for a café to enjoy some well deserved lunch.  When asked what I would like to eat the words ‘burger and chips’ just flew out of my mouth before I could even think!  Well if I can’t have a burger after walking all that distance then life is completely unfair.  The café only served quiche and salad so that had to do, but we did manage to wash it down with a lovely gooey slice of chocolate brownie.

I felt pretty good all things considered, a bit tired but not as bad as I thought I would be. So Jarrod dropped me home with a final motivational speech about keeping up the good work. I just really need to focus and keep up the practice to pick up my pace a bit.  Feeling rather proud of my achievement I went inside and made scrambled eggs on toast for dinner.  However less than an hour later I had a thumping headache and wasn’t able to even articulate my words correctly so fell into bed around 8pm after downing 4 large glasses of water and some panadol. 

Monday morning:  oh god, what truck just rolled over me, I hurt everywhere! And so thirsty….must drink anything in sight!

Monday afternoon:  Members induction followed by networking evening, got to be in top form to meet the members, must dazzle in my presentation, oh god everything hurts and I can’t walk properly.

Monday evening: Networking finishes around 9pm, the lovely Mark Flashman takes me and Claire Lewellyn out for a bite to eat, I devour a steak and chips, 3 diet cokes and an entire bottle of water.

Tuesday: still tired and starving hungry, I learn today that we burnt around 3,000 calories yesterday! Woo hoo, when do I come out as a size 8 then??

Wednesday: still tired, still hungry, still haven’t walked again…..still falling asleep around 9pm…

Thursday: I wake up feeling great, so much energy don’t know what to do!  Bouncing around like Tigger on speed, I’ve been up since 6am, flying through emails, done all the housework (at this point flatmate is really worried, who is this person who has replaced my normally ‘don’t do mornings, grumpy friend’??)

Have a fantastic day, really motivated, lot’s of ideas buzzing around, aside from a small dip in the afternoon I’m feeling on top of the world!

Friday:  I wake up 5am, feeling so full of energy, not sure I even slept last night but don’t feel tired, bounce, buzz and fly through my meetings, a quick afternoon cat nap and ready to party the night away at the IVCA awards, courtesy of Dale Parmenter at DRP Group.  We are the rowdy table with yours truly leading the charge, cheering and whooping for the winners then straight on to the dance floor to boogie away till the wee small hours.  This is great, if this is what walking 18 miles does to you then I’m up for it!

Saturday:  A kind friend gives me a camel pack all of my own, it’s even pink to match my waterproof jacket, I’m resting up and carb loading for tomorrows 25 mile training walk in Wiltshire.

Sunday:  This time it’s a 7am pick up and we head straight out to meet the others in a small village hall near Wyle.  Nick Grecian and the team are all kitted out and ready to go when we arrive.  Ok I know I haven’t trained this week but the pace that the group starts out on is so fast I practically have to run to keep up!  This is not a good start I think as I struggle along, using my walking sticks for the very first time.  I am lagging behind the group the entire day and realize that actually not only am I holding them up, but I’m also pushing myself far too hard and have hurt my hip flexor and calf muscle.  After 15miles I accept the offer to be collected by Paul Grecian and spend the afternoon recovering while the team finish the final 10miles.  I feel exhausted and pretty upset that I couldn’t complete the day.  Walking through the mud, over tree branches, up hills and trying to keep pace has just taken it’s toll.

Monday:  Right I need to get a proper training programme in place so head down to Snow & Rock to the personal training centre to get some expert advice.  I have 5 weeks to go and so far it’s looking pretty tough going.  Although I don’t feel as bad today as I did last week, and no headache this time so maybe something is working….I can only hope!

For those who have already donated funds to support us I thank you sincerely, but please to all those out there we need your help and support, every little bit counts and this cause is directly related to the events industry, for more information and a full itinerary of the walk click here.   

Yours,

Izania

To find out why we are doing this watch the film here.