Training and Planning Jan 2020

Proper Planning and Training, January 2020

My, oh my! I did have a good Christmas and New Year. I think I hoovered every bit of food and drink in sight! So much so that I've put on a fair bit of weight. For a number of reasons that's not good news. Being overweight at my age increases the chances of contracting breast cancer and I don't need a third dose. Being overweight also puts extra pressure on my aged knees which would not be advisable.

This month's planning has not only involved catching up on the admin involved in organising the walk and advertising it in order to raise donations to my two charities but also planning some sensible eating and a variety of frequent shorter walks to build stamina and fitness.

So, no alcohol and cut out the snacks, together with a sensible and healthy diet, should sort out the weight. I've got a couple of months to loose about stone. Then its a case of walking at every opportunity: eg. into town shopping, around Worcester walks and longer walks with the ladies of Hereford Branch WRAC Association.

This year's walk is going to be just as challenging as previous years. In deference to my advancing years I'm taking a whole week to complete the challenge instead of my usual 6 days. My walk starts with some 'gentle' ambles around the Inverness area taking in Fort George, Cawdor Estate and the Culloden Battlefield to loosen up my limbs after the long drive north and also to add another 20 miles to make my walk up to its 100 mile challenge. Then it's off on the Great Glen Way traveling south to finish in Fort William.

My training walks in January have included many walks on the Malvern Hills in Worcestershire, a damp and muddy walk around Ledbury in Herefordshire, a much-loved walk around Much Marcle Ridge in Herefordshire. For the most part I've been sticking to higher ground as the soggy weather often means parts of the lower walks are under water or mud.

Much Marcle Ridge Tower

As well as the training I've been organising the admin side. Virgin Money Giving page set; emails sent out; accommodation organised; raffle prizes building up. I'm hoping to have at least three large raffles so watch this space!!

You can donate via my Virgin Money Giving page at:  http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MargaretDaviesWRAC

2020 The Planning Has Started

Marg’s 100 Mile Inverness & Great Glen Way Walk 2020

It’s that time of year again and I’ve been planning my walk for 2020. I’ve completed most of my annual 100 Mile Walks in various parts of England and one in Wales. 
I felt it was time to redress the balance so this year’s walk is in Scotland - the flattest bit of Scotland I could find - the Great Glen Way (plus an extra day’s walking to make it up to 100 miles) 

I intend to “bimble” around Inverness on Saturday 18th April 2020 visiting Fort George, Cawdor Estate and possibly Culloden which makes up the miles. My walk ‘proper’, along the Great Glen Way, will start on Sunday 19th April at Inverness. I’ll walk approximately 79 miles of the Great Glen Way via Fort Augustus and onto the finish in Fort William on Friday 24th April. 

Each year my supporters amaze and humble me with their generosity. I’m hoping to raise funds for two charities this year. The first is Cancer Research UK as I have no doubt that it is thanks to their research that I have survived two separate brushes with breast cancer and that a number of my friends have also benefited. Sadly, we all know of friends or family not as lucky who cancer has claimed or who are living with the diagnosis of a life-limiting disease. The research into the many aspects of this terrible disease must continue in order to try and give everyone the best chance possible. My second charity is the Women’s Royal Army Corps Association, the only veteran’s charity set up specifically to cater for the needs of female veterans. Females are often the forgotten ‘heroes’ - forgotten by society in general but also frequently under-resourced by ‘Veteran’ society as well. The WRAC Association gives not only financial support to female army veterans but also provides emotional support to a section of our community that often suffers from isolation and loneliness. The WRAC Association is a safe haven where female veterans can find the support and friendship that is often all that is required to overcome their difficulties.

This year, in view of the fact that I’m not getting any younger, I’ll be taking 7 days instead of the usual six. According to all the guidebooks most people start at Fort William and finish in Inverness. I contemplated that at first but, after looking at the profile of the walk I soon changed my mind. It seemed far more sensible to me to get the steep, nasty, ‘climby’ bit over and done with at the start when I’m fresher. And, when you look at the map, it strikes me that walking from north-east to south-west looks as if you’re walking downhill!! 

                         (I’m walking the green Low Route not the yellow High Route)

As usual I am hoping to raise funds through Raffles and Events but mainly via my Virgin Money Giving site at:

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MargaretDaviesWRAC

If you have any queries or comments please contact me via the comments section of this Blog. 

Thank you for reading this far!!