This morning I went out for a long walk and whilst I was enjoying the countryside around Braddan I took my eye off the pavement for a split second and 'squelch' - I can't tell you what words came out of my mouth next! Good job no one was around me, but I could be seen scraping my trainer on the patches of grassy areas at the side of the road!
Okay- not a nice subject, but then neither is Dudley's Flaky Feet and Slimy Snot or my Drop off Toenails! But I can't tell you how annoyed I was!! I bet most of you have had this happen! Don't you always have to check your feet before you walk in through your front door, particularly after a dark evening walk. Why is it just a few irresponsible dog owners let the side down of all dog lovers.
I had a couple of 'walk home' walks from work (Douglas to Onchan) last week and whilst this isn't far it's keeping me motivated.
Looking ahead to the back end of this year I have some serious training to get down to for my next charity challenge, but more about that next time-
Have a great week - Angie
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
DO IT FOR CHARITY .................
There must be many thousands of pounds raised for various charities across the Island every year from participants in the Parish, I too have raised for many different worthwhile organisations. The people of the Isle of Man are so generous when it comes to putting their hands in their pockets for charity- there are over 600 registered charities here in the Isle of Man.
Remember the year 2008, that very wet Parish ?? My employers, The Bank of Scotland Int. (HBOS) challenged 80 of their UK workers to come to the island and attempt the 'Parish'. Each had to raise a minimum sum of money for the Bank's Charity of the Year, Clic Sergent (a UK children's cancer charity). The day before the Parish, we collected them from the airport and sea terminal on a bright and sunny Friday and settled them into their hotel, with a free afternoon to enjoy the sights and sea views of our capital, Douglas. In the evening we shared a meal and a welcome presentation from our bosses to our walking guests. Parish walk officials attended and registered our visitors giving them an overview of what they should expect the following day. They made our guests very welcome and wished them luck for the following day.
I wasn't walking that year as I was one of the organisers bringing the walkers to our shores - I drove a 10 seater mini bus following our teams around the course. We ferried them all to the NSC on what started out as a dry and calm morning, we had over 100 packed lunches, water, juice, fruit and energy bars for our teams, enough to feed an army and enough bananas to feed a Zoo.
We divided the walkers into 3 groups -
1.those walking to Rushen 2. those walking to Peel 3. and those attempting the full Parish.
We had 20 HBOS walkers all signed up to continue past Peel and so we provided 20 support drivers from the Bank all prepared for a long evening ahead.
Of course as we all know the dry, calm day did not continue for long- I was in the mini bus at Santon when the rains came down and the wind got up. We were trying to find 80 walkers' rain coats and hats in tons of bags and back packs in the 3 mini buses- we had named and colour coded their bags but of course the walkers were well spread out even after 10 miles of walking! I guess we hadn't quite planned for 80 of them requiring items of clothing from their bags at the same time but the biggest difficulty was the traffic on the roads and having a large mini bus to manoeuvre!
Most of the first group of walkers had reached Rushen , soaking wet, cold and hungry- the plan to coach them to Peel to see their colleagues reach the second part would have been great on a fine day- so the coach took them straight back to the Sefton for a hot bath and some rest.
Driving up the Sloc desperately trying to identify 'our' guys, (they had been issued with fluorescent armbands for ease of us locating them) but was made more tricky as they had donned their coats and fleeces over their armbands and numbers in order to take protection from the driving wind and rain or should I say sleet. A gentleman from Douglas was knocking on the window of my side pleading to be rescued, he dragged himself onto our mini bus, so glad to get out of the appalling weather. (I received a phone call from him on Monday morning thanking me for 'saving' him on the Sloc!!) Once we got many of them to the Round Table we phoned ahead for our local colleagues to come and return them to their hotel - They were exhausted, soaked and pretty miserable. It was so unfortunate for these guys to experience this awful weather in their 1st Parish Walk as most of us know it's a wonderful friendly occasion where everyone is happy to be taking part and being a part of this fantastic event !
Well all of our walkers finished either before or at Peel except for one of the HBOS team member and that was Martin Malone - Manx resident and CMI employee (part of the HBOS Group). Well done Martin for being our only finisher, I am quite sure I would not have been able to continue had I been walking, although there were over 100 finishers which was amazing!
Later that evening I went down to watch the winners walk the Prom to the finish line and many of the HBOS guys were there to watch this amazing race come to an end - for some!
The next day we hosted a Gala Celebration lunch and many of them were presented with awards for various categories we had defined. They returned home later that day having had a wonderful weekend (despite the weather) and some vowed to return to 'tackle the Parish' again.
They did too, 3 people came back for more in 2009, one got to Andreas, one to Maughold and one actually finished 'The Parish' in drier and calmer conditions than the year before.
As ever the organisers did a brilliant job ensuring everyone arrived back safely despite everyones struggle with the elements!
Over £80,000 was raised that year by all our HBOS walkers for the children's cancer unit which was just magnificent and a real purpose to their eventful weekend in the usually beautiful Isle of Man.
If you are 'tackling' the Parish this year maybe you can raise a few pounds for a charity close to your heart, they will be extremely grateful for your efforts and every little helps. Get a team together, ask for sponsorship, people from the Isle of Man are so very generous and above all have some fun going out for walks and keeping fit. Have a good week- Angie
PS: Did I say I had been training? I have honestly, not very long walks but little and often is my motto - for now!
Remember the year 2008, that very wet Parish ?? My employers, The Bank of Scotland Int. (HBOS) challenged 80 of their UK workers to come to the island and attempt the 'Parish'. Each had to raise a minimum sum of money for the Bank's Charity of the Year, Clic Sergent (a UK children's cancer charity). The day before the Parish, we collected them from the airport and sea terminal on a bright and sunny Friday and settled them into their hotel, with a free afternoon to enjoy the sights and sea views of our capital, Douglas. In the evening we shared a meal and a welcome presentation from our bosses to our walking guests. Parish walk officials attended and registered our visitors giving them an overview of what they should expect the following day. They made our guests very welcome and wished them luck for the following day.
I wasn't walking that year as I was one of the organisers bringing the walkers to our shores - I drove a 10 seater mini bus following our teams around the course. We ferried them all to the NSC on what started out as a dry and calm morning, we had over 100 packed lunches, water, juice, fruit and energy bars for our teams, enough to feed an army and enough bananas to feed a Zoo.
We divided the walkers into 3 groups -
1.those walking to Rushen 2. those walking to Peel 3. and those attempting the full Parish.
We had 20 HBOS walkers all signed up to continue past Peel and so we provided 20 support drivers from the Bank all prepared for a long evening ahead.
Of course as we all know the dry, calm day did not continue for long- I was in the mini bus at Santon when the rains came down and the wind got up. We were trying to find 80 walkers' rain coats and hats in tons of bags and back packs in the 3 mini buses- we had named and colour coded their bags but of course the walkers were well spread out even after 10 miles of walking! I guess we hadn't quite planned for 80 of them requiring items of clothing from their bags at the same time but the biggest difficulty was the traffic on the roads and having a large mini bus to manoeuvre!
Most of the first group of walkers had reached Rushen , soaking wet, cold and hungry- the plan to coach them to Peel to see their colleagues reach the second part would have been great on a fine day- so the coach took them straight back to the Sefton for a hot bath and some rest.
Driving up the Sloc desperately trying to identify 'our' guys, (they had been issued with fluorescent armbands for ease of us locating them) but was made more tricky as they had donned their coats and fleeces over their armbands and numbers in order to take protection from the driving wind and rain or should I say sleet. A gentleman from Douglas was knocking on the window of my side pleading to be rescued, he dragged himself onto our mini bus, so glad to get out of the appalling weather. (I received a phone call from him on Monday morning thanking me for 'saving' him on the Sloc!!) Once we got many of them to the Round Table we phoned ahead for our local colleagues to come and return them to their hotel - They were exhausted, soaked and pretty miserable. It was so unfortunate for these guys to experience this awful weather in their 1st Parish Walk as most of us know it's a wonderful friendly occasion where everyone is happy to be taking part and being a part of this fantastic event !
Well all of our walkers finished either before or at Peel except for one of the HBOS team member and that was Martin Malone - Manx resident and CMI employee (part of the HBOS Group). Well done Martin for being our only finisher, I am quite sure I would not have been able to continue had I been walking, although there were over 100 finishers which was amazing!
Later that evening I went down to watch the winners walk the Prom to the finish line and many of the HBOS guys were there to watch this amazing race come to an end - for some!
The next day we hosted a Gala Celebration lunch and many of them were presented with awards for various categories we had defined. They returned home later that day having had a wonderful weekend (despite the weather) and some vowed to return to 'tackle the Parish' again.
They did too, 3 people came back for more in 2009, one got to Andreas, one to Maughold and one actually finished 'The Parish' in drier and calmer conditions than the year before.
As ever the organisers did a brilliant job ensuring everyone arrived back safely despite everyones struggle with the elements!
Over £80,000 was raised that year by all our HBOS walkers for the children's cancer unit which was just magnificent and a real purpose to their eventful weekend in the usually beautiful Isle of Man.
If you are 'tackling' the Parish this year maybe you can raise a few pounds for a charity close to your heart, they will be extremely grateful for your efforts and every little helps. Get a team together, ask for sponsorship, people from the Isle of Man are so very generous and above all have some fun going out for walks and keeping fit. Have a good week- Angie
PS: Did I say I had been training? I have honestly, not very long walks but little and often is my motto - for now!
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Toe nails - or lack of them!
Oh my goodness where has the time gone since my last blog!! Well I have been busy with this and that! .. and I have been out training!
I didn't get out in the snow to train apart from having to walk to work on the Tuesday .. in my wellies! Which was fine going in the fresh snow in the morning but walking back home from Douglas to Onchan in the evening on the trodden snow made it very slippy for me in my farmyard footwear!
How beautiful and peaceful every where looked and sounded with out the noise of the cars all around us. As I walked home I must have seen a dozen snowmen in the gardens on route and one excellent polar bear at my neighbour's! It is so rare to get the dry and plentiful snowfall, I am sure all the children enjoyed it!
Does any other Parish Walker suffer with a loss of toe nails after/during the walk? Not just one toe nail but several! On my first finish in 1997, not sure how I was supposed to feel, look or act post Parish Walk apart from surprised, and shattered, when one day I noticed something stuck in my sock! It was a small toe nail - I hadn't anticipated this to happen - after many hours walking, your feet almost become numb from being constantly pounding the pavements and being stuck in the same trainers for so long- Mine longer than many others! Over a couple of weeks one by one of my nails dropped off and 'sadly' I kept them in a small box- I think I lost 5 or 6. One week later I went to school at 3.30pm to collect our sons and our 7 year old came out to say his teacher wanted to see me! Not again I thought, as he is the middle one he always seemed to be getting up to mischief. Mrs Q asked me if I had lost anything, no I thought, and she produced one of my 'dropped off' toenails she had confiscated earlier!! James had been scaring all the girls with this 'giant' toe nail . Each time I finish the Walk I lose between 4-6 toe nails and it takes time for them to re-grow - My big toe nail has just this last week grown to full length since June 2009.
Sorry if you are squeamish, I hope you weren't eating your lunch reading this - still it's never as bad as Dudley's foot photo!
My husband & I went out this morning and walked for over 2 hours - not sure how far it was but it felt good and we enjoyed good weather. I think this year I will have completed the most training ever, blogging makes me get out there and WALK!
Have a good week - Angie
I didn't get out in the snow to train apart from having to walk to work on the Tuesday .. in my wellies! Which was fine going in the fresh snow in the morning but walking back home from Douglas to Onchan in the evening on the trodden snow made it very slippy for me in my farmyard footwear!
How beautiful and peaceful every where looked and sounded with out the noise of the cars all around us. As I walked home I must have seen a dozen snowmen in the gardens on route and one excellent polar bear at my neighbour's! It is so rare to get the dry and plentiful snowfall, I am sure all the children enjoyed it!
Does any other Parish Walker suffer with a loss of toe nails after/during the walk? Not just one toe nail but several! On my first finish in 1997, not sure how I was supposed to feel, look or act post Parish Walk apart from surprised, and shattered, when one day I noticed something stuck in my sock! It was a small toe nail - I hadn't anticipated this to happen - after many hours walking, your feet almost become numb from being constantly pounding the pavements and being stuck in the same trainers for so long- Mine longer than many others! Over a couple of weeks one by one of my nails dropped off and 'sadly' I kept them in a small box- I think I lost 5 or 6. One week later I went to school at 3.30pm to collect our sons and our 7 year old came out to say his teacher wanted to see me! Not again I thought, as he is the middle one he always seemed to be getting up to mischief. Mrs Q asked me if I had lost anything, no I thought, and she produced one of my 'dropped off' toenails she had confiscated earlier!! James had been scaring all the girls with this 'giant' toe nail . Each time I finish the Walk I lose between 4-6 toe nails and it takes time for them to re-grow - My big toe nail has just this last week grown to full length since June 2009.
Sorry if you are squeamish, I hope you weren't eating your lunch reading this - still it's never as bad as Dudley's foot photo!
My husband & I went out this morning and walked for over 2 hours - not sure how far it was but it felt good and we enjoyed good weather. I think this year I will have completed the most training ever, blogging makes me get out there and WALK!
Have a good week - Angie
Monday, January 4, 2010
Fifth Fabulous Finish - 2009
Hi there
Hope you all had a great festive season , and getting back to some 'normality' ! Well the weather makes it harder to get out and train, or to stop eating those left overs and chocolates - but if you did make a New Years resolution, I wonder if you have stuck to it! I never make one as I don't feel it's a good time of year to make sacrifices, dark winter nights, the need for warm and hearty food, and the long wait for Spring time.
I did go out early Sunday morning and walked for 6-7 miles - it was icy but calm and I was well wrapped up, my legs are a bit stiff today (may have something to do with my ice skating fall on New Years Day ouch - it hurt!)
In my last blog I was telling you about my last years Parish Walk where I got up to the Hibernia (after Maughold) -The first year I completed the walk, my husband & support driver Ian, stopped the car at the top of the Hibernia waiting for me to get to the top of the hill and fell asleep - I remember thinking as I walked past him - should I wake him or leave him for a snooze - (he is a Postie and had been up since 5am the previous morning) it was some 40 minutes before he caught me up- was I glad to see him.
Next comes the Glen Mona and The Dhoon stretch on the way to Laxey, there were still a few walkers infront and behind , you can tell because there are more cars coming and going and voices in the darkness ahead and behind. It's a good feeling to see Lonan Church looming as it is almost a mile from the main road to get to it and the same back down again! As I walked down the Whitebridge Hill ( I really dislike walking down here because of the traffic - at any time of the day) my parents and sister drove up , horns blowing , lights flashing, boy was it good to see them, although Mum & Dad had been out the night before with me up to Andreas. I happily walked into Onchan village, my home for 27 years although there was no one around it felt good to be 'home' and take the turning into the Butt and up to my Onchan Parish Church - this Sunday I was too early for the morning communion I often attend. Peter & Bridget Kaneen were checking me in at the church gates and said to me these words of encouragement - 'Keep going there are a few ahead of you and you can catch them, go, go Angie' I was feeling great and stepped up a gear to find the walkers ahead -I passed by my own front door on Royal Avenue, where 2 of my son's were waiting for me, (the eldest was at Uni) I did pass 3 walkers on Royal Avenue and Port Jack area but the one guy on the Promenade ahead was just too strong for me! Well done Martin!
Crossing the line at the War Memorial on Douglas Promenade, with many of my family there was just fantastic, I never believed I would manage to complete the Parish again following my illness - but there you are, never say never! If you have a goal, go for it, no matter what happens to you in life, get up and live it - you only get one chance!
Thanks for reading - Angie
Hope you all had a great festive season , and getting back to some 'normality' ! Well the weather makes it harder to get out and train, or to stop eating those left overs and chocolates - but if you did make a New Years resolution, I wonder if you have stuck to it! I never make one as I don't feel it's a good time of year to make sacrifices, dark winter nights, the need for warm and hearty food, and the long wait for Spring time.
I did go out early Sunday morning and walked for 6-7 miles - it was icy but calm and I was well wrapped up, my legs are a bit stiff today (may have something to do with my ice skating fall on New Years Day ouch - it hurt!)
In my last blog I was telling you about my last years Parish Walk where I got up to the Hibernia (after Maughold) -The first year I completed the walk, my husband & support driver Ian, stopped the car at the top of the Hibernia waiting for me to get to the top of the hill and fell asleep - I remember thinking as I walked past him - should I wake him or leave him for a snooze - (he is a Postie and had been up since 5am the previous morning) it was some 40 minutes before he caught me up- was I glad to see him.
Next comes the Glen Mona and The Dhoon stretch on the way to Laxey, there were still a few walkers infront and behind , you can tell because there are more cars coming and going and voices in the darkness ahead and behind. It's a good feeling to see Lonan Church looming as it is almost a mile from the main road to get to it and the same back down again! As I walked down the Whitebridge Hill ( I really dislike walking down here because of the traffic - at any time of the day) my parents and sister drove up , horns blowing , lights flashing, boy was it good to see them, although Mum & Dad had been out the night before with me up to Andreas. I happily walked into Onchan village, my home for 27 years although there was no one around it felt good to be 'home' and take the turning into the Butt and up to my Onchan Parish Church - this Sunday I was too early for the morning communion I often attend. Peter & Bridget Kaneen were checking me in at the church gates and said to me these words of encouragement - 'Keep going there are a few ahead of you and you can catch them, go, go Angie' I was feeling great and stepped up a gear to find the walkers ahead -I passed by my own front door on Royal Avenue, where 2 of my son's were waiting for me, (the eldest was at Uni) I did pass 3 walkers on Royal Avenue and Port Jack area but the one guy on the Promenade ahead was just too strong for me! Well done Martin!
Crossing the line at the War Memorial on Douglas Promenade, with many of my family there was just fantastic, I never believed I would manage to complete the Parish again following my illness - but there you are, never say never! If you have a goal, go for it, no matter what happens to you in life, get up and live it - you only get one chance!
Thanks for reading - Angie
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Shop, shop 'til you you drop!
I hope you have all had a super Christmas - and like me eaten too much turkey & christmas pud, and in need of some serious excercise! Well my husband & I did get out on Boxing Day for a long walk, not so much of a power walk as a brisk walk, but it felt good to get some fresh air and stretch those legs!
However today was the first day of the real sales (M & S at least) so I spent many hours and did a couple of miles walking from shop to shop, I guess that doesn't count as 'training' but I got some great bargains!
Well, where was I on my 2009 PW finish ? Oh yes, having picked up my pace from Bride church, I saw my work colleague finish at Andreas with injuries which made me more determined to continue to Lezayre. Despite the fading light and the roads becoming darker, (I was still walking solo) the cars seemed to become faster and more frightening on the roads through to Lezayre and onwards! The walk into Ramsey was welcoming as the town was buzzing with Northern folk having a night out and PW supporters grabbing a drink and quick bite to eat in the Square as they cheered us on. It was shortly after this that I heard Janice Quirk (1st woman home ) had finished in Douglas - I was still in the North of the island and some five hours away from finishing! I remember thinking 'that's amazing' and I still had all those miles left to walk.
The walk to Maughold Church was a very lonely one and particularly dark, however after the Church check in I started to pass more and more walkers, one by one - these were the walkers that sprightly passed me in the first half of the race, it was my turn now to show them how to do it! I had to use a torch on the journey from the Church to the Hibernia as it was so dark. My sister Heather was following me on the internet and texting me, whilst I was texting her back I was stunmbling into the hedge a couple of times and almost lost my balance whilst chuckling to myself. My husband and support driver for the night was ahead as there were many cars on that narrow road following a group of walkers.
So, how was I feeling at this point? Well it's something like 1.30am and you have been walking for 17 hours plus, feeling very tired with hot feet, aching shoulders and thinking "What am I doing out here?" "What's happening at home? " Lot's of strange things go through your head when you have time to think - like what will I eat when I finish , as it's really very difficult to eat whilst walking and you don't actually taste anything, you eat because you know you have to, to keep up your stamina -Ian my hubby & night support, cooked me pasta tubes and dressed it in a little olive oil and a some finely grated cheese for me to nibble on from time to time and I truly believe this got me through the second half when he took over the night shift. I would eat this again as it was small bites & easy to eat with your fingers. More about this next ....year ....
Have a safe and fun New Years eve and I wish you all a healthy & happy New Year ! Here's to the Parish Walk 2010!
Warmest regards, Angie x
However today was the first day of the real sales (M & S at least) so I spent many hours and did a couple of miles walking from shop to shop, I guess that doesn't count as 'training' but I got some great bargains!
Well, where was I on my 2009 PW finish ? Oh yes, having picked up my pace from Bride church, I saw my work colleague finish at Andreas with injuries which made me more determined to continue to Lezayre. Despite the fading light and the roads becoming darker, (I was still walking solo) the cars seemed to become faster and more frightening on the roads through to Lezayre and onwards! The walk into Ramsey was welcoming as the town was buzzing with Northern folk having a night out and PW supporters grabbing a drink and quick bite to eat in the Square as they cheered us on. It was shortly after this that I heard Janice Quirk (1st woman home ) had finished in Douglas - I was still in the North of the island and some five hours away from finishing! I remember thinking 'that's amazing' and I still had all those miles left to walk.
The walk to Maughold Church was a very lonely one and particularly dark, however after the Church check in I started to pass more and more walkers, one by one - these were the walkers that sprightly passed me in the first half of the race, it was my turn now to show them how to do it! I had to use a torch on the journey from the Church to the Hibernia as it was so dark. My sister Heather was following me on the internet and texting me, whilst I was texting her back I was stunmbling into the hedge a couple of times and almost lost my balance whilst chuckling to myself. My husband and support driver for the night was ahead as there were many cars on that narrow road following a group of walkers.
So, how was I feeling at this point? Well it's something like 1.30am and you have been walking for 17 hours plus, feeling very tired with hot feet, aching shoulders and thinking "What am I doing out here?" "What's happening at home? " Lot's of strange things go through your head when you have time to think - like what will I eat when I finish , as it's really very difficult to eat whilst walking and you don't actually taste anything, you eat because you know you have to, to keep up your stamina -Ian my hubby & night support, cooked me pasta tubes and dressed it in a little olive oil and a some finely grated cheese for me to nibble on from time to time and I truly believe this got me through the second half when he took over the night shift. I would eat this again as it was small bites & easy to eat with your fingers. More about this next ....year ....
Have a safe and fun New Years eve and I wish you all a healthy & happy New Year ! Here's to the Parish Walk 2010!
Warmest regards, Angie x
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Christmas is coming & the geese are getting fat....
.....and so will I if I don't get out and do some training!! Well here come the excuses..
If I don't 'blog' before the 25th I wish you all a Happy Christmas and a very Healthy New Year and I aim to get some miles in over the 4 days off (but it just may be Strand Street, Castle Street, Duke Street and a skinny latte to quench the shopping thirst!)
Have a great time. Angie
- I have been off the island for work purposes
- I have been lazy
- I was working on a lot of charity projects on the run up to Christmas
- Unexpectedly I am suffering with sciatica
- I am now trying to catch up with Christmas preparations - I know late as usual
- It's far too cold and slipery out there!
If I don't 'blog' before the 25th I wish you all a Happy Christmas and a very Healthy New Year and I aim to get some miles in over the 4 days off (but it just may be Strand Street, Castle Street, Duke Street and a skinny latte to quench the shopping thirst!)
Have a great time. Angie
Monday, December 7, 2009
"Doing the Lambden Walk "
When Murray asked me 2 weeks ago if I was entering the 2010 Parish Walk, I immediately said 'yes' - next question was "would you like to be one of our bloggers ?" Always ready for a challenge I agreed, then I asked Murray how often I was expected to blog - he replied about once a week! Oh heck I thought I usually have plenty to say but what if I dry up and I receive comments of "Boo -Get off" - oh well here goes - be nice to me!
I looked on the website on December 1st to see if anyone had already signed up for the 2010 Parish Walk and about 6 or so had done so soon after midnight - that's a great start - I had better get my entry in to show my support and committment to fellow walkers. Today there are 57 (varieties) of you.
So continuing from where I left off from Blog 1....... after 4 full finishes from 1997 to 2001 why did it take me so long to attempt the full distance again? In 2002 (just turned 40) I was diagnosed with breast cancer - shock, horror, disbelief - I had always led an active, healthy life - how come? why me? what next? what if ..........?
Following excellent treatment and care at Nobles Hospital, more treatment at Clatterbridge Hospital, total love and support from my family & friends I survived to spread the word that people can survive the big 'C' and get their lives back on track. I walked into Peel the following year to a huge cheer from the Parish Walk supporters in Peel, with a huge tear in my eye.
This years Parish Walk, without confirming I was intending to walk the distance, I set off with everyone else wondering just where my finish would be......... more next time!
Twice a week my friend, Karen & I walk for about an hour - well its more talk than walk - but it's great to get out in the fresh air and take the excercise -we will try to increase the distance in the New Year- for those who know me will remember I don't put in too much mileage for The Parish - hence the 20 plus hours!! But for me it's about the camaraderie, the lovely scenery, the friendly, encouraging banter from other walkers' supporters and that great experience crossing the FINISH line no matter what time!
I looked on the website on December 1st to see if anyone had already signed up for the 2010 Parish Walk and about 6 or so had done so soon after midnight - that's a great start - I had better get my entry in to show my support and committment to fellow walkers. Today there are 57 (varieties) of you.
So continuing from where I left off from Blog 1....... after 4 full finishes from 1997 to 2001 why did it take me so long to attempt the full distance again? In 2002 (just turned 40) I was diagnosed with breast cancer - shock, horror, disbelief - I had always led an active, healthy life - how come? why me? what next? what if ..........?
Following excellent treatment and care at Nobles Hospital, more treatment at Clatterbridge Hospital, total love and support from my family & friends I survived to spread the word that people can survive the big 'C' and get their lives back on track. I walked into Peel the following year to a huge cheer from the Parish Walk supporters in Peel, with a huge tear in my eye.
This years Parish Walk, without confirming I was intending to walk the distance, I set off with everyone else wondering just where my finish would be......... more next time!
Twice a week my friend, Karen & I walk for about an hour - well its more talk than walk - but it's great to get out in the fresh air and take the excercise -we will try to increase the distance in the New Year- for those who know me will remember I don't put in too much mileage for The Parish - hence the 20 plus hours!! But for me it's about the camaraderie, the lovely scenery, the friendly, encouraging banter from other walkers' supporters and that great experience crossing the FINISH line no matter what time!
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