Merry Christmas and happy New Year!

Last Sunday, I went for a 3 hour walk and covered about 12 Miles. I was really struggling at the beginning and I almost turned around early to head home. My back started hurting straight away. Every 20 steps, my back went and my left side of my body collapsed for a split second. It affected me worse whilst walking downhill. To stop it from happening I slowed down. I didn't walk as fast as what I would have liked, but it couldn't be helped.

I tried to ignore the pain and eventually it went away, but I deliberately didn't speed up as I was scared that the pain would come back. I walked from my house to Ard Whallin and back. I left my house at 9am and had dancing at 12 so I had to time it well.

Once I got going, the walk was really enjoyable because I wasn't sure where I was or where I was going. The route was very scenic too. When I discovered Ard Whallin, I was very surprised.

At the time, I had a suspicion that if you keep following the same path it leads to Kirk Michael.....eventually. Today, I decided to drive home from Kirk Michael this way to see if I was right and too make sure I know the route before I do it on foot. Turns out, you cannot get lost and it is hilly and very scenic. A walk in which I'll definitely look forward too.

I apologise now to everyone for my lack of direction. I have been living on the Isle of Man for 10 years and my sense of direction is awful. (Something I inherited from my dad.)

Since the 12 mile walk, I have been on a 6 mile run and a 2 hour session at the gym. Oh.....on Christmas day I walked 4 miles with my family, but we couldn't have walked slower if we tried so can't really count that.

I would have liked to have done more but I suppose because it's Christmas time, I have an excellent excuse. Today, in total, I have seen three runners and about 10 cyclists and I almost felt guilty, either that or jealous that it's not me.

Anyway, changing the subject completely, there is something that really annoys me and I have been meaning to mention this ever since starting the blog. Two things annoy me:

1) When people do not have a sense of distance. IE/ a 10 mile walk shouldn't take longer than 1 hour or how can you possibly walk from home to town? It's a 2 mile walk which takes hours?

2) When people do not have a clue how hard long distance walking can be. Some people actually think that because it's walking it must be easy. No training is needed. Then are surprised to see that my muscles are sore after a 50 mile walk? I don't understand how you can say walking such a distance is easy if you haven’t even attempted it. You should only be entitled to say such a thing if you experience walking long distance first hand. Instead, you can appreciate it, by watching the Parish walk finishers. Not the people who finish-unbelievably in 16 hours, I'm talking about the people who struggle over the line in 23 hours or longer.

In this years End to End, I started talking to a guy for company. I can't remember his name but he told me that the reason why he was taking part is because he didn't understand the 'big deal' about long distance walking on the Isle of Man. He hadn't done it before because it's 'too easy' and therefore pointless. He told me that someone persuaded him to take part in order to prove him wrong. He also said that it was a lot harder than he expected, he was in a lot of pain and that it is the 1st and last event he would take part in. He also said that he had respect for all long distance walkers. I suppose, I have respect for him for at least giving it a go and trying it out.

There, I have said it, it's out of my system and I won't mention it again.

Before I go, I'm going to say this now (and highlight it too) to make sure everyone reads it and therefore ensures it happens. I am going to walk home from Kirk Michael tomorrow morning and walk this new route I discovered. I'll let you know how it went in my next blog.