Elderly cat breathing difficulties when purring

[Sunshine]

As the title says basically. I volunteer for Oxfam on their online shop and my shop is doing a sponsored walk. I thought it would be a good opportunity for me to get fit and support my local Oxfam shop. Its in August but I feel i need to start my training sooner rather than later.

 

So i'm not that fit at the moment. My only exercise is walking the dog at lunchtime so my plan is to make these walks gradually longer. But i love chocolate and bad foods so it doesn't really work! The walk will be all flat as we have planned the route along canals and bridleways( I don't think i could have coped with hills!)

 

So anyone got any tips about how to motivate myself and get fit?!

 

Emma

Edited August 12, 2009 by Guest

[Space Chick]

Have you thought about buying a pedometer to track your progress in steps?

[Mrs Webmuppet]

Get yourself a decent pedometer and then gradually increase the amount you walk each time. Also make sure you have a good pair of trainers and socks (proper running socks are really good and don't go all baggy).

[Tina C]

What a great thing to do.

 

Trainers are good but proper walking boots and socks are better - but make sure you have them fitted and get used to them before you do the full distance. You don't have to pay a lot if you get them in a 'sale'.

 

Good idea to make your dog walks longer but if its your lunch hour there is a limit to how much you can do. Try and incorporate more walking generally into your life - walk before breakfast or after tea as well as the lunchtime walk. And if a journey is less than two miles - walk!

 

Also get yourself a 'daysack' - a small rucksack. You will need to get used to carrying it - for much needed snacks and water.

 

For inspiration watch Julia Bradbury in Wainwright's Walks (she is part way through a coast to coast walk on BBC4.

 

And then find a nice walk of say 5 or 6 miles, set a date with with a friend for a few weeks time. And get walking!

 

I like walking. Can you tell?

[Tina C]

Came back to say current (Spring 09) issue of Country Walking mag has a Get into Walking guide and also details of an 8 mile 'moderate' walk starting/finishing at Haslington. It says its flat and suitable for th e'reasonably fit! And there is a pub on the route...

 

No idea if its anywhere near you but it may be!

 

(If you tell me where you are I can try and find something shorter for you to start with)

[jlo]

Now that the evenings are getting lighter, if you can persuade a group of friends to do a longer walk in the evening it is quite motivating. When I was training for Kili a couple of years ago, there was a group of eight of us and we would take it in turns to work out routes to go on once a week. There would often be a visit to a local hostelry afterwards for added incentive!

 

Edited to add that I agree about the walking boots mentioned above!

[Martin B]

Best of luck with this venture.

Will hopefully be doing something similar soon.

[Mutrix Farmers]

Book the dates in the diary to ensure nothing else gets planned instead. I would recommend walking with a friend too.

 

wishing you every success

[Chucky Mama]

I am doing a 26 mile charity walk on Sunday from Avebury to Stonehenge (Neolithic Marathon). I have done it for the last 2 years with my children. My youngest son did it with me last year aged 10 and got to Stonehenge a full 45 mins ahead of me (ran the last 2 miles). It is hard work but the countryside is beautiful and my dog loves it. My advice would be to get some walking boots and 1000 mile socks. Take some blister plasters along with you just in case. Before the walk we go on a few long training walks to make sure that we are fit and that boots and socks are comfortable. We dont go any further that 13 miles on our training walks which take approx 3 hours (the full walk takes approx 8 hours). Always train in the same socks that you are intending walking in. Walking in the early evening is lovely as you can see all sorts of wildlife that you dont see during the day. If you are walking on your own then taking a MP3 or similar is good, you can even download an audio book. Good Luck!

[Sunshine]

Tomorrow is the day of the walk!

 

I've got most of my stuff organised and will do the rest in the morning. I'm looking forward to it and also nervous as to whether i will be able to complete it. My 12 year old sister should be joining me if she is in a better mood in the morning than this evening! I havn't done as much traning as i had hoped when i posted this message way back in April. I've been doing lots of walking but i've not done a really long walk so tomorrow will be a challenge i think.

 

I've just looked at the weather and both the ones i have checked say its going to be dry and quite warm. I just want it to stay dry.

 

Wish me luck and i'll update you tomorrow about how it went. I think it will be a nice soak in the bath tomorrow evening.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Best of luck for tomorrow . Hope the sun shines on you, Sunshine .

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Good luck Emma, enjoy your walk & take lots of energy nibbles & fluids

 

Sha x

[Space Chick]

Hope it goes well tomorrow. Happy Walking

[kitbag]

Good luck and have fun!

[Seagazer]

Good luck today

[Couperwife]

oooh, good luck

 

its a lovely day here today, make sure that you have lots of suntan lotion and drinks (and a hat) *good grief - I sound like my mum )

 

cathy

x

[Scramble]

Good Luck today

[Sunshine]

Well i'm back!

 

It took us about 7hours with lots of stops. We all walked in small groups and then waited at certain points for people to catch up. Everyone completed it with 3 people going part of it along Rudyard's miniture railway! It was good fun and my little sister came so it was nice to have someone to walk with all the time. A company from Stockport also sent some people and one was a very cute guy so that was my insentive to keep up with the front group!

 

The weather was lovely and i'm not burnt which is a bonus. Will definately do it next year if there is one. I'm really chuffed with myself for finishing it. The hardest part was carrying lots of water to drink! The route was lovley and i will definately go back and do parts of it again in the future.

 

I'm off to have a bath now, i start to seize up whenever i sit down for more than 10-15mins! I dread to think what i'll be like tomorrow!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Congratulations and well done, you . You deserve a nice long soak in a bath .

 

Hope you don't feel to stiff in the morning .

[Egluntyne]

Well done. You'll sleep well tonight.

[Space Chick]

Well done, a great achievement, you should feel proud of what you have done

[Seagazer]

Well done, hope you don't ache too much this morning.