15 May 2016
It’s quite a few years since I ran the Race for Life to support my friend Christine following her breast cancer treatment. Thankfully today she is fit and well and enjoying life to the full.
Sadly the same can’t be said for my friends Carol and Sarah. It’s in their memory, and in celebration of all my friends who have fought off this awful disease, that Charlotte and I have decided to join Breast Cancer Care Pink Ribbonwalk on 9th July. We are going to step up and step out and see if we can raise as much money as possible to help women going through breast cancer treatment get the best possible support and help from the moment they are diagnosed.
When I mentioned to Charlotte that I wanted to take part in a 20 mile walk through London, through the night, I’m not really sure I had fully anticipated just how long the walk was going to take. As I normally walk several miles each day to and from the station, sometimes walking home instead of taking the tube and go for a walk on the Heath at the weekends, I even run a couple of times every week, I thought I would take this in my stride.
But oh my goodness walking takes so long! It takes hours and hours and 20 miles equal’s lots of hours. I’ve tried to tag on some walks after my runs and while I was in Spain I did walk 11 miles in one day, yes admittedly there was a lunch in between so I’m not sure if that really counts.
Now with 8 weeks to go I have to start taking my training seriously and increasing my weekly miles. With a Fitbit, Nike+ and Runkeeper I can accurately keep a check of how far I’m going and with the light evenings I’ve got no excuse. I just have to force myself to walk rather than run as you’re not allowed to run on the Pink Ribbonwalk – I know there’s a clue in the title!
Today I combined my run with a walk on Hampstead Heath; the gardens at Kenwood House are especially beautiful at this time of the year with the rhododendrons in full bloom. But I realised that by combining the walk with a run I don’t have any idea how long it’s going to take to walk 20 miles! I need to focus on the walking, find a good destination and head off. So, next weekend I need to set aside quite a few hours and see how far I can get without running.
If you would like to join us on the night or take part in a local Pink Ribbonwalk sign up now and please support us by visiting our JustGiving page – as they say ‘every little helps’.
