Now I’m back into the walking groove, I decided that I needed to sort out my wardrobe. I used to have a number of technical base layers but can only find one plus a few technical Tees. My pull on fleeces (which I believe are now referred to as Mid Layer) are getting a bit tatty so I’ve added that to my shopping list. Sue and I took a drive down to Go Outdoors (mainly because they’ve got a sale on!) and came out with some nice new Rab kit – not the cheapest but I do like their gear. I also splashed out on a couple of pairs of 1000 mile socks. Now I’m officially “All the Gear – No idea ..read more

I had managed a few walks during the week including an almost nine miler walking home from work. To round off the week, I decided to walk to and around Coleshill, hopefully clocking up about ten miles. So after a couple of miles with the dogs, I headed back out. A mile into my walk I spotted what, from a distance, looked like a cat sat on top of a wheelie bin. It was not until I got closer that I realised that it was a stuffed toy tiger ! I continued up to the road to Coleshill, the Birmingham Road (The Coleshillians must have named it !) and there at the roundabout were signs advising that ..read more

After a brief excursion into swimming which has not proved too fruitful, I have recently managed to drag myself out for a few walks. Primarily, I have tried to take the dogs out every day. Getting used to going out daily, they are a lot calmer generally and specifically don’t go berserk when I go anywhere near their leads. I have managed a few longer solo walks but last Sunday, with Sue at work, I embarked on a twenty four miler around Birmingham. I chose to, roughly, follow the Walkathon route around the Outer Circle bus route. I parked up near Rookery Park in Erdington and proceeded in a c ..read more

Following on from Saturday’s Half Marathon, I decided to get out most days for a walk. This is most important if I am to take part in next Saturday’s Twelve Hallows Walk. After a recovery weekend, I managed to get up early enough to take the dogs out for a couple of miles before work then a mile to the pet shop to meet the other half from work. Another rest day (lazy) on Wednesday but come Thursday and I arranged to meet Sue at The Griffin to where I would walk. I picked the, almost, direct route via Coleshill Parkway and Whitacre Heath. There is a more direct route which I did a week or so ..read more

After a good night’s sleep, my headache from the night before had gone and I was ready for today’s walk. I got away early arriving at work before nine. I parked the car, checked that I had everything and walked the mile and a bit into Birmingham City Centre to catch the tram to Wolverhampton. Originally, I had intended to go by train but there were a number of replacement bus services and I didn’t want to take the chance so opted for the rattler instead. The first stretch was along the local canal just to get in the mood for a few hours of cut-side strolling later. About a quarter of an hour ..read more

One week to what ? One week to my second Birmingham Black Country Half Marathon (BBCHM). I did this last year, finishing in a time of 2:54:03. In the weeks leading up to the event, I did very little training with a longish walk a week or so before as a morale booster. When I signed up this year, I was determined to get a bit more training in but totally failed. Again, I did a longish walk the week before; a pleasant ten miler including a few miles of canal. It was a rather warm 28 ℃ but after a couple of miles I settled into the familiar rhythm completing the distance in just under two ..read more

I drove into work with the intention of catching the bus, after work, to the outskirts of Chelmsley Wood from where I’d walk to The Griffin, clocking up around seven miles. Sue had agreed to meet me at said watering hole at six. I finished work and made my way to the bus stop and awaited the arrival of the number ninety-seven. The bus was supposed to arrive at 15:09 but by twenty past there was no sign of it. I started to think that when it did turn up it was most likely be quite full. Eventually the bus came into view but stopped a little before the bus stop where a man alighted. “Hmmm”, I ..read more

After my triumphal return to the race walking scene on Wednesday, I took the rest of the week easy (very easy, actually). However, on Saturday, I got out early for a couple of dog walks totalling 3.9 miles. After breakfast (for all three of us) I made my way to the local parkrun at Babbs Mill. I arrived a little early, so took a walk around the lakes as a two mile warmup before making my way to the nine o’clock start. I started easily enough, planning on a gentle stroll around however, the pace felt good and the watch confirmed that I was clocking around 13:30 per mile so pushed it a bit to ..read more

Race day ! Sue and I climbed into the car a tad before half six and made our way to Nuneaton arriving around six. We parked up then took a leisurely stroll to The Pingles stadium. First job was to make myself known to the team leader and collect my numbers . Sue and I then found a bench on which to wait for my start at five past eight. We watched a few other events before I needed to warm up. At around eight, we were called to the start line. Because of the number of walkers taking part the race would be, in effect, four races in one. The male over thirty fives (M35); female over thirty fiv ..read more

After signing up for the Birmingham Black Country Half Marathon on 1st July, I was perusing the Nuneaton Harriers’ website when I came across a request for athletes to take part in an inter-club event on Wednesday – this week. I contacted the organiser and ask how she was fixed for the 1 Mile M50 walk (males over 50). My offer was accepted so at five past eight this evening, I shall be lining up at Pingles Stadium in Nuneaton for a few laps of the track. I did say that I wouldn’t be quick (out of practice) but at least I can earn a point (or more) for the club just by finishing. Well, it lo ..read more