Hilly Commute

Gotta Jump!

I normally cycle to work every morning – 4 or 5 miles usually, depending on which route I take. And that seems like the perfect distance to walk every few days instead of taking the bike, fitting in some training just into the normal working day. And to make that training a bit more purposeful? Well… Arthur’s Seat happens to be between my house and work. Pretty much slap bang in the middle of the straight line.

I have to say though, as I left the house a little after 7, I did wonder about turning back. My feet were aching, in only the second major walk in my new boots. But I’m a stubborn sod, so pressed on with the feet easing slightly. Worse was to come, however, as I started walking up the hill from Duddingston Village. The three-quarters of a mile or so to there was enough, so I thought, to warm up properly, but my calves were screaming at me for most of the climb. Cycling fixed wheel every day might well have built up the strength in my legs, but there are still some muscles in there it can’t quite reach. So there’s nothing for it but to get some more hillwalking in.

4.7 miles in total to work, with a wee spring in my step.

Sadder news is that mel is likely going to have to pull out of the team. Back trouble is just being exacerbated at the moment by walking any distance, which puts the kybosh on any serious training, which isn’t exactly what you need before a 54 mile walk.

A first hill

Snowy Merrick Summit

My third long walk for the challenge and the first one not at sea level. Down in Galloway at my mum’s my brother and I went up The Merrick, the highest point in mainland southern Scotland. At least 10 years since I’d been up this hill, from which on a clear day you can easily see Arran (home of the non-mainland highest hill), Ireland and the Lake District.

It’s a 4 mile hike up on a good path, with penultimate mile the only really steep (painful) bit. It was a still, fairly clear day – until we got to the summit, at which point thick mist descended. Combined with the snow, this is pretty confusing and I was glad to see reassuring the tracks of others on the descent! Did get a fab view of the sunset as we came out of the mist – here is the route: www.mapmyhike.com/hike/united-kingdom/galloway/342126670714694092

The last hour or so was in increasing darkness. This was a first shot for me at using a headtorch – a bit weird, but kind of got the hang of it, despite going over on my ankle once – predictably at the point at which I thought I was getting used to it!

A Coastal 10 Miles

Cockenzie/Port Seton

Mel and I wandered out from the house for a 10 mile stroll to Port Seton today. Okay, it’s not the most scenic of routes but as we followed the John Muir Way heading off along the shore it was nice to get away from the roads and be amongst the reed buntings, cormorants, wigeons and so on…

It’s a virtually flat route, but that worked to break in the new walking shoes and just get used to walking the distance that is roughly equivalent to each Caley Challenge stage.

And naturally, on the way home, beer was bought for, erm, recuperation…

Reed Bunting

The Challenge Ahead

The Caledonian Challenge

So what exactly is this ‘Caledonian Challenge’ that we’ve got ourselves embroiled in? In basic terms, run by the Scottish Community Foundation it’s a large scale charity event, which sees more than a hundred teams of four people or more walking from Fort William, along 54 miles of the West Highland Way, to the banks of Loch Lomond. And it has to be done within 24 hours.

With support crew meeting us roughly every 10 miles, it turns into a series of very different sections of the Way, and also sees the teams walking through the night (unless, of course, you run it, in which case the record to aim for is eight and a half hours).

Each team has a minimum target of £2000 to raise, for distribution by the Scottish Community Foundation to causes all over Scotland, and various events, and news on how the money total is going, will be posted here. To find out even more, or to donate, you can click on the links over there on the right.

And with around 300 miles of training walks to get through before June we’ll also keep this blog updated with those running totals to make sure every team member is pulling their weight…

Meet the Team

Hello and welcome from Wilmington’s Cow. “Wilmington’s what?“

The name is a long story involving Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke (as well as Tony’s insatiable desire for obscure movie references), but the reason for the team’s creation is a bit more straightforward. Wilmington’s Cow will be taking part in the 2010 Caledonian Challenge – a rather mad walking event which takes in 54 miles of the West Highland Way, starting in Fort William, to be covered within 24 hours.

Two marathons, and a couple of Ben Nevises in ascent to boot. Why? Well it’s all for charity, and you can find out more by clicking on the links on the right. Tony actually took part in the event in the year 2001, falling at the hurdle of the final checkpoint, having covered a mere 42 miles. Plagued by this failure for almost a decade he’s managed to rope in three teammates, plus two members of support crew, for a 2010 attempt.

And here they are:

 

Iain Hockenhull

Melanie Golding

Mary Keane

Anthony Robson

Susan Robson

George Golding