Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 11/12 – Day 4…21.56 Miles…😲

Hi friends. Yay, yay, yay and another yay…I can’t tell you how happy i am right now, after completing my longest walk ever – 21.56 miles in 6 hours 3 minutes!!! 😀

As you can imagine my legs are tight, stiff and slightly painful as i’m typing this…But wow was it worth it! 💪🏼

After this long walk this will be a short post, as i just wanted to let you all know ‘I DID IT’ without any dramas too! I stomped around the trail at 3.6 mph eating 16 Oaties (Lidl’s version of Hob Nobs) and when i returned with a huge grin on my exhausted face…I was greeted with lots of bings from my apple watch as i was awarded lots of new records, yay!! 💪🏼 I’m off to rest now! 😀

New Records…

No Retreat, No…

Hi friends! Wow we’ve hit 72%!! I can’t believe there’s only 30 days until all of my hard work will be put to the test!!! 😰

Thanks to 3 more donations this week from My lovely wife Sarah, auntie Linda & Charlie and Barnabus…I’ve now reached £728! 😲 💪🏼

The Donations…

My lovely wife Sarah: “I emptied my spare change jar. Amazed at the amount I’d collected I decided to donate it to Steve’s challenge. MS Society does some fantastic work and are so close to stopping MS. I see how hard Steve is working to train for this colossal challenge in memory of his lovely mum and I am so pleased to find a way to be able to motivate him and keep him going…Go Steve!” 💪🏼 😀

Yay…Thanks to Sarah’s auntie Linda & Charlie’s amazing donation this morning, we’ve hit £702! Thank you so, so much for…

Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 11/12 – Day 4…16.4 Miles…💪🏼

Hi friends. Well that was a complete surprise…I knew i had a massive 6 laps today and i was filled with trepidation…But once i got my swift walk (for me anyway) of 3.9mph (awww just under the magic 4mph) and i felt good, i kept this pace for the whole 4 hours 15 minutes! I was like a machine, lol! 🤣

Walking Stats…

I am happy to report there were no feral dogs out today, only well behaved ones so no dramas sorry! 😭 After a brief 10 minute collapse when i arrived home, i felt better than ever and was pleased to be greeted with a fresh coffee and a Manwich by my lovely wife Sarah! ❤️

Awards & Badges…

Happy to have achieved another award this week especially after the long walk today! I have 1 more…

Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 10/12 – Day 1…6 Miles…💪🏼

Hi all. I certainly had some more motivation this morning doing the 2 laps for Monday’s training. The 12Oz Sarah Sizzling sirloin steak (every Sunday lunch) yesterday, closing all 7 day’s activity rings, another 2 donations and knowing i have to do 46 exercise minutes a day for the rest of the month to achieve the ‘March Challenge’ badge really got me ready for another week’s training! 💪🏼

“You do not rise to the occasion, you simply fall back to your level of training.”

The Donations…❤️

My lovely wife Sarah: “I emptied my spare change jar. Amazed at the amount I’d collected I decided to donate it to Steve’s challenge. MS Society does some fantastic work and are so close to stopping MS. I see how hard Steve is working to train for this colossal challenge in memory of his…

I can’t believe there’s only 37 days until all of my hard work will be put to the test!!! 😰

Don’t underestimate the impact of the money you are donating! It’s so important and it really does make a difference; today, tomorrow and for generations to come…❤️

Let’s stop MS together! 💪🏼

Thanks to another donation last Friday from Kay (Blood Pressure UK)…I still can’t believe it) i’ve now reached 60% of my target! 😲 💪🏼

The Donation…

Wow…A huge thanks to Kay for her stupendous donation! Kay was the lady who interviewed me for Blood Pressure UK’s ‘Positive Pressure’ magazine about my last charity fundraiser – The Advent Challenge‘. She not only supported me all of the way through the challenge…But she donated too! And she’s back!! Thank you so much! I simply can’t believe how…

Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 9/12 – Day 5…6 Miles…💪🏼

Hi Friends. Well at least i now know why lots of blind people stay (trapped) indoors…Not 1 but 2 attempts of stopping my charity challenge through dog attacks!

The first one came at around the 1.5 mile mark, the yapping and growling made me jump. At least it was a yapper which meant it was a small dog so i stood a chance of surviving. I felt the thud from my right side as the dogs paws clamped the front and the back of my knee, trying to hold me in a death grip so it could sink it’s teeth in…But the momentum of me continuing to walk threw it off before the hungry, gaping, growling muzzle could do it’s damage. I’ve learned to keep walking as if i stop the dog can get a proper hold before the…

Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 9/12 – Day 4…13.29 Miles…💪🏼

Hi all. Now i can safely say…That was the worst walk i’ve ever done, and if the event day is anything like this one i’m not sure i can do it! 😭 The sun was so bright this morning i couldn’t even stay on the trail. I spent so much time ankle deep in disgustingly muddy puddles and bogs my feet felt like wet bricks. So even though i’d managed a half marathon…My celebration is short lived as i think i’m off to bed to recover! 😨

I’ll try and described my sight for you whilst on the walk this morning with the amazingly bright sun (not joking this time)…It was like smearing vaseline in both eyes whilst shining a 12,000 lumin torch directly into my face. The trail was also a complete white out, yet not quite white…

Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 9/12 – Day 3…6 Miles…💪🏼

Hi friends. Yay it’s a super grey day with no sunshine!! I know it sounds a little depressive for everyone else…But it’s the best conditions for me and my super duper sight loss. I managed to fly around the trail with new found power without the sun melting my eyeballs! I normally moan about obstacles i encounter on my way round the trail e.g dog walkers, dogs, runners, cyclists, fallen trees…And on and on, lol! But i have forgotten to mention the extra mountains i have to battle through…??? 🤔

Yes…The horse poop!! As the trail is a local nature reserve it has a horse training centre nearby, which often has horse riders coming along the trails and making little castles, lol! 🤣 On rare occasions (like today) i can narrowly miss one of these smelly obstacles…But often i…

Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 9/12 – Day 1…6 Miles…💪🏼

Hi all. I certainly had some motivation this morning doing the 2 laps for Monday’s training. The 12Oz Sarah Sizzling sirloin steak yesterday, closing all 7 day’s activity rings, another donation and knowing i have to do 88 exercise minutes a day for the rest of the month to achieve the ‘March Challenge’ badge really got me ready for another week’s training! 💪🏼

Thankfully i had to try and walk really slow for today’s training, so when the blazing sun was out again (i thought England was meant to be cloudy and rainy all the time, lol) walking slow was all i could manage. Unlike ‘Flesh Ripping Friday’ today went well with (can you believe it?) no dramas!! 😀

“You do not rise to the occasion, you simply fall back to your level of training.”

The Donation…

I’d like…

I can’t believe there’s only 6 weeks to go until all of my hard work will be put to the test!!! 😰

Don’t underestimate the impact of the money you are donating! It’s so important and it really does make a difference; today, tomorrow and for generations to come…❤️

Let’s stop MS together! 💪🏼

Thanks to a donation last friday from Canada (yes Canada…I still can’t believe it) i’ve managed to reach 55% of my target! 😲 💪🏼

The Donation…

Wow, I was just playing my guitar last night whilst Sarah was on the phone to her mum when…🎶The Muppets theme tune blasted out of my iPhone (next to me) and i started doing the dance (once i’d put my guitar down, lol) Once the music had stopped and i’d stopped waving my arms around…The donation was from…

Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 8/12 – Day 5…6 Miles (9.66Km)…💪🏼

Hi all. Well at least it wasn’t the weather that crippled me today…It was the other obstacles on the trail! As i’m typing this the shin of my left leg is still stinging, after i got forced off the trail by a wall (about 4 ladies) simply wouldn’t move, so i veered off the trail right into a thorn bush! I knew it was a thorn bush of some kind when i continued to walk as the flesh was ripped off my shin as though a zombie had hold of it. The pain continued for the rest of my walk (about 4 miles)…And when i got home my lovely wife Sarah instantly put some Germolene (‘Germo-scream’ as i call it) so it’s still hurting now. 😨

It could’ve been worse though…As just before my shin ripper a dog…

Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 8/12 – Day 4…11 Miles (17.7Km)…💪🏼

Hi all. Yay 4 laps walked today with only 6 Hob Nobs eaten, it was also shorts on again as it was 10˚C which is boiling for England, lol. After a crazy week so far i was really pleased to make 11 miles without dying. I was also happy with my pace as i did it sub 3 hours as i was 2 minutes under! 💪🏼

Then as i arrived home for lunchtime Sarah asked if i’d like to go to the bakers and get some flapjacks as i had run out? Does the question really need an answer?!! 🤣 I quickly changed my dirty trail shoes and hoped i had enough beans to make it to town and back…I did! 😀

The image (at the top) is from my sister’s facebook page, and when Sarah described it…

Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 8/12 – Day 3…6 Miles…💪🏼

Hi all. Well it was nearly double figures in ˚C this morning…So it was shorts on, toast eaten and hob nobs if i needed them (when don’t i need them, lol!) It was also cloudy which was fantastic for me, and after yesterday’s walk i just wanted to know how i would do on the trail today?! 🤔

The walk went really well and i was back on form, i really don’t know what happened as i’ve done and eaten everything the same as usual…But i’m so glad it’s not just me getting too old to do crazy challenges like this, lol! 🤣

My lovely wife Sarah greeted me with a monumental fresh coffee when i arrived home in a better state than yesterday.No let’s hope i’m ready for a longer walk tomorrow!! 💪🏼 😀

Let’s ‘FitBlitz’ 2022 together!!…

Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 8/12 – Day 2…6 Miles…💪🏼

Hi all. Well that was easily the worst walk of my training so far! After yesterday’s blitzing laps, today couldn’t have been more opposite. I knew it was going to be bad when the laser beam sun was trying to kill me and i hadn’t left the house yet! 😨 I would love to be able to describe my eye sight to you when i’m on the trail and it’s a white out with the sun, my eyes are constantly streaming and it’s ice cold too…But i’ve never seen anything like it (never mind experience it) even when i was fully sighted so i can’t!! 😭

Even though i only had 2 laps to do this morning it was the hardest, slowest and most exhausting walk so far. I was staggering along the trail like a 1980’s Zombie as…

Hi friends. Wow…After another donation from Canada on Friday (yes Canada, blows my mind!!), i’ve now reached over 50% of my fundraising target!! I thought i’d share this huge milestone with all of you fantastic friends on here! Thank you all so much for donating, supporting and sharing…You guys are the best!! ❤️💪🏼 😲

Please can you help me reach my fundraising target, can’t believe there’s only 7 weeks to go! 😰

Don’t underestimate the impact of the money you are donating! It’s so important and it really does make a difference; today, tomorrow and for generations to come…❤️

Let’s stop MS together! 💪🏼

Thanks to 3 donations last week (Harry, Daniel & Heather) i’m only £2 away from hitting 50% of my target! 😲 💪🏼

Here is the message i received from Heather taken from the FitBlitz facebook page and my reply…

Heather Mertens
Since we met… wow back about a decade ago now!… on our blogs, I was just impressed with your journey and your praise to God! It was my honor to donate to this worthy cause. As you know both my daughter and I suffer from chronic disease…

Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 7/12 – Day 5…3.27 Miles…💪🏼

Hi all. I’m not entirely sure how i managed to feel exhausted before i even left the house…But it seems to be harder to get going when i only have to do 1 lap, than when i do lots of miles over multiple laps! 😕 My lovely wife Sarah (my personal drill sargent) helps lots when she says “No lap…No flapjack”, not only does she use my own quote against me, lol…But it really gets me motivated and quickly out on the trail! 🤣

The sun appeared to be ensconced in cotton wool which made the trail as dull and miserable as an empty flapjack container! 😨 The bonus was there were hardly any people out so it was nice and quiet and a lot less taxing on my brain, lol! 🤣

FLOCCINAUCINIHILIPILIFICATION… 🤣

I seriously wanted to use…

I’ll never get bored of this photo of my lovely wife Sarah relaxing in her fave seat in the world. Sarah sat here every night watching the Bajan sunset during our 2 week long stays at ‘Southern Palms’ in Barbados, and to say that we miss being there is an understatement. ☀️

The Blind Sightseers 🛳

Hi friends. I was checking my notifications this morning and I was stunned to have found this badge! As you may have guessed…I like to celebrate achievements and goals no matter how big or small! 💪🏼 😀 

A little section from my ‘About’ page…

People who already know me (from my other blogs ‘Rebus Photography‘ & ’iChristian‘) know I’ve been struggling to beat all kinds of obstacles since I was registered blind 20 years ago, at age 24….. BUT now it’s time to face my nemesis… Health & Fitness and it’s many enemies – overeating, obesity, excuses not to exercise and many more…😨 

I’m now trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and learning even more about health, fitness, weight training, nutrition and If you want to follow my blog, I’d like to share my adventures with you – So that we can lose weight and get…

Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 6/12 – Day 5…3.2 Miles…

Hi all. After the torrential rain yesterday i headed out in to the ultra bright sunshine again. My body felt good and energised (well as much as it can be, whilst being dragged out early morning, lol) BUT…After half way around my first lap i’d just had enough! My brain, eyes and head had simply had enough of the pain of struggling through the blinding sun. If i could’ve teleported home i would, but i had to stumble the rest of the way homeme! 😭

After receiving 2 more amazing donations yesterday…That’s nearly half way towards my target! 😲 Thank you all, and after jumping around and celebrating i felt good! 😀 I thought my down week next week would give my body chance to rest and repair itself for my next personal best in March…But it will be…

Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 6/12 – Day 3…6 Miles…

Hi all. Once i’d dragged myself out of bed i saw the sun blitzing through the windows, i checked my weather app to see how cold it was outside so i could choose my layers…The app said exactly what i was thinking as i thought about walking for 6 miles in the blinding sun! 😨

After the fallen tree drama yesterday i was happy to find it gone this morning, yay. But for some reason my legs and energy levels were just not happening and i almost gave up half way round, but realised i still have to get home and i’m miles away, lol…So i gave it as much as i could to make it back home! 😰

In the middle of fighting myself not to give up i took this photo of the stew pond to remind…

Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 6/12 – Day 2…6 Miles…

Hi all. After 3 storms last week i’d not managed to walk out to the trail until today…And as i was making my way to the start of my trail lap i hit the brakes (a full emergency stop, lol) as i kicked this treacherous obstacle. To most of you guys this isn’t treacherous at all, but once i’d told myself i wasn’t turning around and going home…I felt around it with my feet to make sure there wasn’t any branches sticking up etc…And simply stepped over it, yay! 😀

I then thought “If this has happened on the path before i even start the trail…Then what is the actual trail going to be like?” I had 2 laps (6 miles) to walk today and i was on high alert for the first lap making sure i didn’t hit…

Hi all. Since we couldn’t walk to the local butchers on Saturday as the storm was giving it the beans…We had to settle for some old M&S sirloin steaks from the freezer, lol! After Sarah had cut the disgusting fat off (Me and Sarah don’t like the elastic rubber stuff) we only had 6oz steaks. 😭 They were super soft once Sarah had done her secret magic to them and i’d already baked 4 jacket potatoes yesterday (we share 1 between us per meal) which had the carbs sorted…But then Sarah did carrots, swede, garden peas, green beans, broccoli, onions, mushrooms and best of all brussels sprouts!! 😲 Wow i love recovering over the weekend after training Monday to Friday! 💪🏼

I don’t have the hyperbole to tell you how tasty this meal was…And how jam packed full of protein it was. Protein…

Hi all. Just a quick post to let you know even the heavy rain storms and gale-force winds can’t keep me from collecting my flapjacks from the bakery, lol…Yes making sure we have the adequate amount of fuel for our long walks is really that important! 💪🏼

After the British Gas man had been this morning to finally repair our boiler so we could have some lovely heating, i armed myself with my waterproof clothes and headed out. It was nice and cosy inside my lovely warm clothes and returned (without accident) with my supply of the amazingly tasty flapjacks! 😋

Let’s ‘Fitblitz’ our goals together…No matter the weather! 💪🏼 🤣

Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 5/12 – Day 4…18.13 Miles…😲

Hi all. I seriously didn’t think i was going to smash these personal best times yesterday, as i kicked a fallen tree and nearly went flying…But i managed to land ok without doing a triple forward somersault. The sun was so bright it was almost impossible to navigate a trail i couldn’t see at all and the muddy sludge was simply sapping my energy…And this was just the first lap! 😨

As usual i was telling myself not to be mardy and to stop making every excuse on why i was going to quit after 1 lap and go home…I think it was knowing that after i’d done 2 laps i could break out the chocolate hob nobs! 💪🏼

I always message Sarah after each lap and she was fantastic at motivating me with her mighty messages. I really…

Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 5/12 – Day 3…6 Miles…

Hi all. It was a whopping 12˚C, overcast and super splashy wet after yesterday’s heavy rain, but that is no match for my new super trail shoes my lovely wife Sarah gave me on valentine’s day. It was even warm enough to put my shorts on so i was ready and excited to try out my new shoes again.

I had my usual 2 laps (6 miles) to do today and i spent the first lap hoping i wouldn’t crash in to any fallen trees etc after the storm yesterday. Thankfully i didn’t hit anything unlike last time i steamed in to a fallen tree, lol! 🤣 My new shoes felt amazing again and just splashed through everything and stayed super grippy…So after a clear trail and the weather…

Hi all. As you may know by now me and Sarah love steak. It’s great for the obvious protein, iron and micronutrients, but also as it has no carbs it’s fantastic for Sarah as a T1D…Win win! 💪🏼Tonight as it’s valentine’s day and we saw the local butchers were selling something called a ‘Dexter’ steak (no not Dexter the allusive serial killer aka the ‘Bay Harbour Butcher’), although that’s why we wanted to try it (although not too rare it’s dripping in blood)…But beef from the Dexter cattle, lol. 🤣

We opted for the sirloin as always as it’s the leaner cut, and as always Sarah does dissect it and cut off the existing fat. But as we’d never had this kind of steak we didn’t know what to expect…And it was unbelievable!! The combination of the…

Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 5/12 – Day 1…6 Miles…

Hi all. I hope you are as stunned as me this morning, as i opened this valentine’s gift from my lovely wife Sarah?! Now these bad boys really put the ‘Motivation’ in to Monday, lol! 🤣 My photos really don’t show just how bright the orange is on these super duper trail shoes, as when i walked outside of the house they seemed to have LED’s in them! Anyway let’s take them for a test drive. 💪🏼

The INOV8 Terraultra G270 Trail Shoes…

As soon as i walked on to the hard tarmac of the road i knew these were going to be good. I thought the 4mm lugs, zero heel drop and…

Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 4/12 – Day 6…Cup Cake! 😋

Hi all. As i do my 5 days of walking on Monday – Friday, i have the weekend to actively rest with my lovely wife Sarah. I still make sure i get my 10,000 steps in each day but take it easy and enjoy my time off from the trail. And what better way to enjoy this time than a trip to our local bakers…Not only to get my flapjack fuel for next week but…Just look at this pre-valentine love heart cup cake Sarah spotted for us to share…Well i obviously have to eat more of it as i always like to help her out, lol! 🤣 ❤️

The Cup Cake…

Hope you’ve started this new month smashing your health and fitness goals too? Let’s ‘FitBlitz’ February together!! 💪🏼 😀

Motivational Quote:

“Obsessed is just a…

Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 4/12 – Day 5 – 5.33 Miles…

Hi all. Wow what a morning! It was ultra bright, ultra cold -1˚C and time to break out the puffer jacket! I don’t know how but i still managed 1 lap (3.33 miles) this morning, not the 2 laps i had planned but i needed time on feet to reach over 30 miles this week again. I simply couldn’t have done 2 laps if i tried, the sun was so bright it burnt my eyes and they were finished, even the peak on my cap did very little to help so i call this a recovery day after my personal best walk on wednesday!

As i was going at a snails pace i managed to stop and take some photos. I thought the images would show a little of how bad the sun was as i pointed…

Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 4 – Day 4 – 6 Miles…

Hi all. After smashing my personal best walk of 16.21 miles yesterday, i went out on a slow (really hard to go slow now) sauntering pace this morning. As i was shuffling round i thought i’d use this time to take lots of photos of the trail. I don’t normally take photos on my walks as i don’t normally have time as i’m concentrating on form, speed and trying my hardest not to get lost. Also my iPhone is 4 and a half years old and i’m trying to conserve as much battery as i can just to time my long walks, and i don’t want to use it for anything else that’ll drain my battery, lol! 🤣

Having said all that…I didn’t want to bore you to death with lots of images of boring trails, lol…

Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 4 – Day 3 – 16.21 Miles…

Hi all. Yay i’ve managed to finally smash through the 16 mile marker this morning, and manage 16.21 miles, and wow was it hard! I knew i had to pull a little bit more out of my legs to beat last walking wednesday’s record of 15.85 miles…But i somehow managed it even though the blinding sun was doing it’s best to end my walk. Sorry i can’t write too much today as i’m dying here! 🤣

Today’s Walking Stats…

Although it doesn’t seem like much to beat last weeks record by just under half a mile…I managed to walk a little faster and do the walk in 4 hours 15 minutes at around 3.9mph. All this was non stop walking (incredibly without a toilet break) and i’m…

Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 4 – Day 2 – Tough Mudder Motivation…

Hi all. I thought you’d like to look back with me on the day this blindman tackled the Tough Mudder…And survived…Just! Looking back on this post has given me some more motivation to keep smashing aways at my current fundraising challenge…The Trail Marathon! 💪🏼 😝

Tough Mudder

Yay…..We did it!

⇧From left: Adie, Vini, Me, Josie & Ashley⇧

Tough Mudder 5K – Saturday 13th October 2018…….Here Goes!

⇧ From left: Adie, Me & Josie ⇧

⇧ Me carrying Adie on the “Hero Carry” ⇧

It was amazing to have my friend of nearly 30 years Adie Monk join our “Hard As Nails” team. I thought we’d sit and catch up over a coffee….I didn’t have this in mind, lol!

Thanks John Atherton for taking another great photo. I can’t thank you and Sarah Atherton enough for…

Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 4 – Day 1 – 6 Miles…

Hi all. Wow ‘Motivational Monday’ has come around quickly once again, and i think i’ve spent the weekend thinking up every excuse possible so i don’t have to go for my walk today, lol. It really is true when they say the hardest step is getting to (and out) of the front door! After my lovely wife Sarah had demolished every excuse i could think up…I slowly dragged myself outside.

I think i need to read (and listen to) some of my older ‘Motivational Monday’ posts…I need some motivation this morning!! 💪🏼 It’s week 4 of 12 of my trail marathon training…That’s already a third of the way through! 😨

The sun was unbelievably bright this morning and my cap didn’t make things any better, so it was time to…

Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 3 – Day 6&7 – Total: 36 Miles This Week…

The Brobdingnagian VEGETABLES…

Hi all. As part of my 2 day rest from endless walking Monday to Friday, Sarah * i like to go shopping at our local market on Saturday to get some FAT vegetables as we both like really chunky veg. My lovely wife Sarah peels and chops them into monstrous sizes and then cooks them ready for the week. Sarah wanted to get Brussels Sprout stalks this week as they seem to last longer and are much bigger sprouts…As you may or may not notice in the image below…They are like tennis balls and tasted amazing, i’m looking forward to chomping on the rest this week, lol! 🤣

I also took a photo of the carrots Sarah was preparing…

Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 3 – Day 5 – 6 Miles…Total: 36 Miles This Week…

Hi all. Now that was a freezing, soaking and horrific 6 miles today! The weather app only gave out light showers this morning, so i really wasn’t prepared for the absolute drenching that battered me 10 minutes into my walk. At this point there was no time to turn back as i was already soaked…So i put on my 4mph pace playlist and charged around 2 laps for 6 miles!

It wasn’t all negative though as it was like the wasteland from the video game Fallout 4. There were no dog walkers blocking my path, cyclists flying past…Actually there were no other people out at a all which was amazing for me. Once i’d left the thought of it being a radiation rain storm (Fallout 4) behind i realised there was no glare…

Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 3 – Day 4 – 6 Miles…

Hi all. Since when has the phrase “I’m only doing 2 laps (6 miles) today’ ever been a standard by me in this house, or even been uttered, lol 🤣 I need to stop, get back in bed and go to sleep instead!

Wow that was hard…

I felt like i was in the movie ‘The Wrong Trousers – Wallace & Gromit’ this morning, as no matter what my instructions were to my legs…They just kept plodding on and ignoring my command to stop…My mind was writing cheques my body wouldn’t cash. When i did eventually squeek to a halt i managed to take this photo of the stew pond…

It took me a minute to get going again as my lower legs felt like heavy blocks…Well they felt like…

Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 3 – Day 3 – 15.85 Miles…

Hi all. I can’t tell you how happy i am to have made it around 6 laps (15.85 miles) today. This is a life long personal record for non stop walking for me…Yet i’m so glad it’s over, lol! 🤣

Beta Blockers & Bendroflumethiazide…

I was a little worried about today’s attempt as not only do i have to fight ‘Beta Blocker’ medication but also ‘Bendroflumethiazide’ too. This is a diuretic which makes you want to pee to help lower blood pressure…But doesn’t help when you want to go for a long walk through the woods, lol! 🤣 Sorry to talk about this but i still can’t believe i made it for 15.85 miles for 4 hours 13 minutes non stop without needing to pee…Another victory for me and is just one more obstacle on this epic…

Blindman Trail Marathon Training – Week 3 – Day 2 – 6 Miles…

Hi all. I decided to do today’s 6 miles at a faster pace of 4 miles per hour, this is apparently ‘Speed Walking’ but only just, lol. 🤣 It certainly felt like it to me, as being blind this feels like warp speed…I’m just glad i didn’t hit anything!

Walking at this pace helps improve fitness, endurance and strengthens legs and abdominal muscles…Who doesn’t need that, lol! 🤣

When i arrived home i heard an extra bing from my apple watch to say i’d won yet another award. Although it wasn’t much of a challenge this time, as i only had to complete a 20 minute walk and had 2 weeks to do it (my walk today was a 90 minute one)…But it still feels good to get another award for all of my efforts and muscle…

Week 3 – Day 1 – Blindman Trail Marathon Training…

Hi all, After spending all morning and most of the afternoon with Sarah up in London at the diabetic eye hospital…Just checking up on the not so good laser treatment they did in December (don’t get me started), there isn’t enough hours of daylight for me to get some mileage done today…But i do have a 6 mile walk tomorrow, Thurs & Friday…And a personal best 15 miles on Wednesday if i can manage it which should help put the miles back up this week. 🤣

But as today is ‘Motivational Monday’ i’d better give a little something to help motivate you, lol…So here are a couple of badges/awards my fitness app sounded to tell me i’d achieved them over the weekend!! 🎉Do you have a fitness tracker etc to help you? I’d love to know if you do and…

Hi all. After walking to the local butchers yesterday and getting 2 9oz sirloin steaks, my lovely wife Sarah prepared them and did her secret, special and tasty steak lunch with potatoes, 7 vegetables and her super secret mushroom sauce! Sorry i can’t get her to release any information on her secret recipes, lol! 🤣

I don’t have the hyperbole to tell you how tasty this meal was…And how jam packed full of protein it was. Protein is essential for keeping our hair, nails, skin, bones, cartilage and blood in good shape. It’s an important building block for increasing muscle mass and repairing tissues, and is also needed to create hormones, enzymes and other chemicals within the human body. It also has lots of iron and other micro nutrients too…Perfect! 💪🏼

A huge thanks to my lovely wife Sarah for this amazing meal!

Hope…

Week 2 – Day 5 – Trail Marathon Training…

Hi all, after yesterday’s trail closure setback i was a little hesitant to venture out this morning…Well as i held a hot fresh coffee (made by my lovely wife Sarah), it was 1˚C and i didn’t know if the trail would be open again, these were just some of the reasons i didn’t want to go out again this morning, lol! 🤣

When i did finally drag my lazy self out onto the trail…Yes you’ve guessed it…The dreaded barrier was still there!! 😨

I turned around again thinking i could do the trail backwards until i reach the other side of this barrier, then turn around and come back to get my mileage up for the day. Well i thought it sounded like a good idea until…The sun came out really bright with a nasty glare and i simply couldn’t stay…

Week 2 – Day 4 – Trail Marathon Training…

Hi all. After yesterday’s 13.5 miles my legs were still a little sore, so i wanted to just do a normal 6 miles today but at a really slow stroll to take care of my legs microtears. I was keeping a really slow pace (it’s really hard not to speed up) and i was walking around the first quarter of my route when…

I bumped straight into the road block (well path, lol) as i don’t notice anything is different until my nose is on it…But when i do i can stop very quickly…Thankfully, lol. I stopped for a moment and thought how i could get past it without damaging anything, then when i was satisfied that i just had to turn back and go home, i did just that…And then…

How on earth did this barrier get here i thought…

Week 2 – Day 3 – Trail Marathon Training…

Hi all. Wow that was hard…But i managed 5laps non stop in 3 hours 45minutes…That’s 13.5 miles which is just over a half marathon!! Yay i’m happy…Well now it’s over anyway, lol! 🤣

I bought a SIS (science in sport) energy gel for the first time last Saturday to try on my walks, it was orange flavour and was very tasty…It tasted like a orange lucozade but with a viscosity of thick custard…MMMM perfect for me as i love custard! I also had my fave – chocolate hob nobs with me too as they are simply delicious and work really well for me. I love all of this walking as i can eat and burn off my fave biscuits, cake and gels as i’m going round the laps…Win win, lol! 🤣

When i eventually arrived home i was greeted with another…

Week 2 – Day 2 – Trail Marathon Training…

Hi all. I don’t know if it was my beta blockers crushing my adrenal glands to the point of feeling comatose…Or the -1˚C freezing tempurature that was making me feel like staying in bed…Or am i just making excuses for not wanting to do another 6 miles today!

I did eventually ‘man up’ and drag myself out there, and once i did i started to feel better…Well after a few miles anyway once i’d warmed up, lol!

I finished my 6 miles in 1hour 34mins and was totally ready for my lovely warm fresh coffee made by my lovely wife Sarah. 💪🏼 😀

As it’s WEEK 2, DAY 2 of my 12 week trail marathon training plan, i’ll be increasing tomorrows walk to 14 miles from 12 miles last wee! I hope i feel much more lively tomorrow morning…I’m really not…

Hi all. Yay it’s a blistering 1˚C this morning, that’s almost tropical temperatures, lol! 🤣 It was also cloudy which is perfect conditions for me as there is no blinding (pun intended) sun to slow me right down…And it didn’t. I did the 6 miles and was 10 minutes faster getting home to my lovely coffee freshly made by my stupendous wife Sarah!

It was eerily quiet on the trail this morning so not too many people to crash into! I hope it doesn’t mean all of the “New Year Resolutioners” havn’t quit already?! Don’t get me started on how health and fitness is for life…Not something you start and stop Yoyo etc…Sorry rant over, lol! 🤣

And Then…A Donation…!

I was about 5.5 miles into my walk when the happy muppets theme tune started playing over my audiobook. I thought “No way it…

Hi all. i really didn’t want to let go o my lovely warm coffee this morning after checking the weather app…It said it was -2˚C but feels like -5˚C! 😨 I dragged myself towards the front door wearing my puffer jacket and bobble hat…My ears were not going to freeze off today, lol! 🤣 I managed the 6 freezing miles today which made a total of 35 training miles this week which was my goal of this 3 month marathon training plan!!! 🙌

I was out for around 1h 40mins and averaged 3.5 mph. This pace is good for me and also enables me to take a few photos on route, so you can hopefully enjoy some of this beautiful scenery too! 😲 😀

Oh i forgot to say…When…

Hi all. After checking the weather app yesterday it said there was a cold snap moving in until Sunday…It wasn’t joking, lol! 🤣 My lovely wife Sarah had made me another one of her fresh coffees and a slice of wholemeal toast with Grenade chocolate spread to fuel me on my journey…Mmmmmm! 😋 I knew i had 11 miles (4 laps of my trail marathon route) to complete today and i really didn’t want to go out…But i did and i nailed it and feel much better now i’ve done it! 💪🏼 😀

I was out for a little over 3 hours and didn’t have any dramas this time, only the amazingly bright sun again which melted my brains (drained so much of my mental strength just trying to figure out where i was going). Looking forwards to…

Hi all. Wow it’s 0˚C again this morning and i really wished i’d done a summer trail marathon, lol…But where is the challenge in that! 🤣After a tasty slice of wholemeal toast with Grenade chocolate spread on top and a fantastic warm coffee…I managed to do another 6 miles again today, yay! I won’t be laughing for long though as i’ve got a 12 mile one to do tomorrow! 😨

Hope you have had a great time so far this year and you are either starting to set goals? Or you’re already smashing them?! 💪🏼 😀

“You do not rise to the occasion, you simply fall back to your level of training.”

Hi all. “Awww that’s better” i say whilst drinking a soothing hot fresh coffee made by my lovely wife Sarah. Even though it was -1˚C, white and frosty ground which was also slippy and blazingly bright sunshine burning my eyes…I still somehow managed to drag myself out of the front door and do my 6 miles today! 💪🏼 😀

I have 2 hats to choose from when i go out – A baseball cap with a nice long peak to stop the incredible sun, or a beanie hat that keeps my ears and head warm. I chose the baseball cap today as i needed to stop some of that intense glare…But my ears got frozen off! 😨 Which one would you have chosen? 🤔

Reading the messages you guys have written on my fundraising page always inspires and motivates me…And having to write one of these blog posts each time…