Bats in the Belfrey!!

Well ... tomorrow is 16th May 2009 - the day of the Moonwalk and I'm sitting here thinking that I must be completely and utterly bonkers!!

I'm going down to London to walk 26.2 miles in a decorated bra in the dark with approximately 15,000 other women!!!!

It will be no lazy wander I can asure you (far from the 'stroll' suggested by this weeks edition of the Pocklington Post!!) 4mph is rather a hasty pace, best described as charging around in a mad rush for - ooh probably 7-8 hours!!!!

In January when I started my training I relished the thought of taking a three mile walk up to Cliffe and back. Even as the walks grew longer they were still enjoyable -- offering an escape from hustle and bustle and a chance to settle my mind to things still needing my attention when I got back...

I must admit that there were times when the walking became rather a chore. It wasn't easy trying to find time to fit in 'a cheeky 8-miler' when you knew that it would take you at least 2 hours and that when you got back you'd be fit for nothing but a hot bath and a cuppa!!

There was a point a couple of months ago when I didn't seem able to find the time or the motivation to get beyond 13 miles ... but I did it!!

Who'd have thought that I would even look back on a very wet 16 mile walk and laugh at the thought of being soaked to the skin, with wet clothing, wet feet and hair in rats tails... especially as the weather forecast for tomorrows big day varies hugely depending on which weather channel you watch...

But here I am ... bats in my belfrey there may be but I am excited and raring to go...wish me luck :-)

...and not a Pina Colada in sight!!

Last Thursday afternoon and I had arranged to do a training walk with my friend, Val. The mid-week walks are only 3-4 miles and the once-a-week long walk is (supposed to be) getting longer but it is also getting harder to fit in as they take longer as the mileage increases...

We are averaging 4mph so the 14 mile walk we had planned for this afternoon was due to take us 3.5hours ... trouble was that we hadn't planned for it to rain!

The walk was good to start with, although pace was a little slower than anticipated we did get into a rhythm and set off.

About half-way through the walk it started to spot with rain but this was soon replaced by a definite shower and then a much heavier rain which certainly qualified as a downpour!

We had no choice but to soldier on ... cars passed us and looked at us as though we were totally mad! The rain persisted and Val found her glasses nigh on impossible to see through!

We strode on with our clothing soaked right through, our joggers were so wet they were plastered to our legs and it made the walk hard going! The rain was stinging our faces and the wind was howling round our soaking wet clothes - good job we were active otherwise it would have been seriously cold!

As we followed our chosen route the rain eventually slowed and stopped. For three miles we had walked in the rain, about 50 minutes! But now the sun was trying to shine and our joggers, although still moulded to the shape of our legs, even started to dry a little!

We walked the final stretch of the walk, alongside the main road, turning away from the big trucks who thundered past with a strong side-draught and showered us in muddy water from the roadside!

Eventually we arrived back at mine where my thoughtful boy found us each a big bath sheet and handed us each a steaming hot drink!

We removed our squelching wet trainers and sat down wrapped in our towels and felt the heat from our drinks as it ran down inside us...

Energy was distinctly lacking and so I was very thankful that I'd had the forethought to buy a pack of pink iced doughnuts that morning - they absolutely hit the spot and gave us the boost we needed!

Training is fabulous on hot sunny days but we needed a day like this one to remind us that it is possible that it may rain for the big event and it was good that we have had the experience - but it also made us add 'spare set of clothes' to our list of stuff to take ... just in case :-)

I have now set up my Justgiving page for donations and so if you would like to sponsor me for this event then please visit www.justgiving.com/dianewass

P.S. Yes I did have a white T-shirt on and yes it was very wet but no - it didn't qualify as a wet t-shirt competition (sorry guys!)!