Parish Walk Training Diary

Went to the Lakes for a couple of days last week and ended up at Go Ape, a kind of Krypton Factor assault course but at 60 foot above ground, between trees. You're in a harness, so you can't fall off but the death slides and various air-bourne challenges are still quite scary. It wasn't Parish Walk training in a physical sense (although hauling yourself up the Tarzan nets is a good work-out for the arms) but psychologically, I think it was useful training. There were quite a few puzzles which you couldn't work out just be looking at them. You had to just launch yourself off your tree platform and hang on for grim death to whatever ropes were around while you found a way to complete that challenge. Yes, useful.

These past two weekends,  I've had what I'd call two "proper" walks, both from Old Laxey to the Dhoon via the main road then back over Ballaraugh. The first time took 1 hour 30 mins and the second time took 1 hour 25 mins. The wind was so strong around the Bulgham Rocks that I was nearly blown over each time. I'd felt that I really didn't have time to go out for these walks but the feeling on coming home again was brilliant. Getting buffeted by the wind, trying to force yourself to go that bit faster makes you whizz along when it comes to the flat and the downhills. Really, I think I should be doing these walks (about 5 miles) mid-week with a longer one at the weekend but as I said at the begining, I'll just do what I can.

It was a nice evening so when I got in from work, I changed into my gear and shot out of the house, leaving Husband with two defrosted chicken kievs and instructions for the oven settings. It felt so good to walk at a decent pace without a pram for the first time in ages. I found that I didn't know what to do with my arms. I experimented with keeping them at chest height (that seemed the most comfortable). Having your arms free definitely helps on steep up-hills, though I felt that all this pram pushing has strengthened my leg muscles. I could still feel the knot of muscle in the back of my neck that I've had since breast feeding. I tried to consciously relax my shoulders down as I walked. Only a 40 minute walk around Laxey and still back in time for Corrie. About 2 miles. But better than nothing.

I decided that my old trainers were too decrepit for training and went to the sports shop in town. Whilst I took my shoes and socks off, I explained to the assistant that I'd like to go on the treadmill in order to be properly fitted for a decent pair of trainers. "You don't need to go on the treadmill," she looked at me standing in bare feet, "you definitely pronnate." I looked at her blankly. "Your arches have completely gone," she told me. Does that make me a Viking or a Celt? I can never remember which nationality's arch you're supposed to be able to fit a mouse under...

This won't have occured to male walkers, I'm sure - however, if you're a well-endowed woman, a decent sports bra is the first purchase you need to make when kitting yourself out for Parish Walk training. Being in a post-pregnancy state can leave you with a breast size which defies the resources of every lingerie outlet in the island. If, like me, you find youself in this position, I can thoroughly recommend the on-line company, Bravissimo. They have every size - some you've never even heard of.  Better still: go across to one of their shops and be properly fitted. The sports bra they found for me works well. But this is because the bit that goes around the rib cage (where you need the support) is as tightly fitted as a whale bone corset. There are three hooks to struggle with and because it's so tight, it takes 10 minutes to get into the thing. Needless to say, I have not yet managed to get changed and get out for a training walk during the lunch hour. I wonder if there are any handicaps available for those walkers with a HH size or more?