Tag Archives: BlindSteve

Tuner Tuesday: The Ankle Bend! πŸ‘¨πŸ»β€πŸ¦―

Today’s Pond Photo…

The small stew pond with the trail i walk along at the bottom.

Hi Fitblitzers.

It was another puffer jacket walk today as it was freezing, well 5˚C which is really cold, lol. I can’t believe it’s ‘Tuner Tuesday’ already but i’m really looking forward to the Sarah tuna stack sarnie at lunchtime. πŸ˜‹ 

I did my usual default lap today (3.5 miles) and i managed to snap a couple of photos for you. I’m starting to get back into the trail walks again after my holiday in Portugal…Although i’m not used to the freezing temperatures yet instead of sun burn, lol. 

The back straight of the loop even though it’s windy, lol.

The Ankle bend…😨 

Shortly after taking the photo above, and as i was actually enjoying being out in the fresh air joyfully walking along i approached the crater section! The craters must be 3ft wide and scattered across the trail usually filled with water. As i approached i set my legs into suspension mode and gritted my teeth as i can’t see the floor at all (not because of my belly, lol) with my blindness. I thought i’d gently slide through them until crunch…My right foot folded inside as my outer ankle bone hit the ground! I couldn’t believe it when i stood up and there was no pain or no snapped bones especially with the extra 3.5 stone i’m carrying around. I’ve always said that i have rubber ankles from my football days when i used to roll over on them all of the time, and i’m so thankful that even at my age they haven’t seized up yet, lol! 🀣 

Anyway, i’d better stop rambling on (pun intended) and check that i’m in tune as it’s ‘Tuner Tuesday’. πŸ’ͺ🏼 

EADGBE…πŸ’ͺ🏼 

  • E – Endurance – Tortoise NOT Hare, lol!Β 
  • A – Activity Rings – I use apple watch so i need to close my daily rings.
  • D – Deficit – Make sure i’m in a healthy calorie deficit each day until healthy weight.
  • G – Goals – Focus on my many lifetime goals.
  • B – Body – Listen to my body and look after it (it’s not young anymore, lol).
  • E – Edification – Pretty much help and improves everything, lol!Β 

Motivational Quote:..πŸ’ͺ🏼 

β€œI don’t stop when I’m tired, I stop when I’m DONE!”

Let’s ‘FitBlitz’ 2024 Together! πŸ’ͺ🏼

Thankful Thursday: 6.44 mile walk

Today’s Pond Photo…

Hi Fitblitzers.

Just to say this is the walk i did yesterday (Wayfaring Wednesday) but i didn’t have time to write it, so here it is. 

My plan was to walk the whole (brand new) ‘Trinity Lap’ which is around 11 miles, i’ll let you know if i actually complete it, lol. I packed my backpack with my new rain mac, plenty of water and supplies as i thought i’d be out for about 4 hours in on the trail. As you know i’ve made 3 loops in 1 big lap but never walked the whole thing in one go…And i still haven’t! 

I think my mind was still thinking my body was in full race condition (2 years since my ultra marathon walk) and not that i’m 3.5 stone heavier and not walked for ages, lol! I had taken the usual lovely photo of the pond and just finished the very noisy road section, when as it went beautifully quiet, peaceful with just the sound of the tweeting birds as i entered the woods again (see below) my body let me down…😨 

I was walking along the new section of the ‘Trinity Lap’ when embarrassingly i suddenly was bursting for the toilet! 😨 I was still about 3 miles from home as i was on the opposite side of the loop, and it was not going away…I’ll just say that i was so thankful that somehow i made it all the way home! πŸ™ πŸ˜€ 

Now it’s time to read my old posts and try and figure out how i used to do this as i’ve forgotten, lol. But i’m so thankful that even though i’m blind, i can go out and attempt these things and capture some photos for you to enjoy around the world…I don’t think i’ll ever get used to have you guys out there to love, encourage and support me in ways i didn’t even know were possible…Thanks for being a blessing! πŸ™ πŸ˜€ 

A Biblical Blessing:..πŸ™ 

I do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:9-14) 

Let’s ‘FitBlitz’ 2024 Together! πŸ’ͺ🏼

Tuner Tuesday: Loop 1 – 3.5 miles

Today’s Pond Photo…

Hi Fitblitzers.

Hope you all had a blessed Easter? It’s ‘Tuner Tuesday’ already and i can’t believe how fast the weeks simply fly by! 

I did my usual old lap today (3.5 miles) and i’ve realised it’s only 1 loop in my new 3 loop trinity lap which i’m going to attempt tomorrow, it should be over 10 miles so i’ll need your prayers again! 

My stomach is rumbling as i type this, as my lovely Wife Sarah is going to make me the tuna stack sarnie with a cup of her legendary fresh coffee! β˜• It’s been 3 weeks since i’ve started back walking and hitting the trails again and i’m feeling more in tune each time i go out there. My legs are remembering the daily pounding they have to deal with and are getting back up to speed. I’m also focusing on my EADGBE and keep it in my mind which is another helpful tool to keep me going. πŸ˜€

EADGBE…πŸ’ͺ🏼 

  • E – Endurance – Tortoise NOT Hare, lol!Β 
  • A – Activity Rings – I use apple watch so i need to close my daily rings.
  • D – Deficit – Make sure i’m in a healthy calorie deficit each day until healthy weight.
  • G – Goals – Focus on my many lifetime goals.
  • B – Body – Listen to my body and look after it (it’s not young anymore, lol).
  • E – Edification – Pretty much help and improves everything, lol!Β 

Motivational Quote:..πŸ’ͺ🏼 

β€œI don’t stop when I’m tired, I stop when I’m DONE!”

Let’s ‘FitBlitz’ 2024 Together! πŸ’ͺ🏼

Wayfaring Wednesday: The Big Pond

Hi Fitblitzers.

I went for a shorter 2.5 mile walk today to the big pond, to reflect on my huge victory yesterday on creating the ‘Trinity Lap’. I took a few photos of the pond for you but the photos don’t give the quiet, stillness and tweeting of the birds feel that ensconces you. πŸ˜€ 

I also stood on the scales this morning (Weigh-in Wednesday) and i’ve lost 7 pounds (half a stone) since i’ve been out walking in the trails again! This leaves me with 43 pounds to lose over the next 12 months. πŸ’ͺ🏼 It’s been quite a week for small victories and i’m determined to keep going no matter how hard it gets! πŸ˜€ 

Motivational Quote:..πŸ’ͺ🏼 

β€œI don’t stop when I’m tired, I stop when I’m DONE!”

Let’s ‘FitBlitz’ 2024 Together! πŸ’ͺ🏼

Tuner Tuesday: Yippee the Trinity loop complete! πŸ™

Hi Fitblitzers.

First i have to say a big thankyou to you all for your prayers, you guys were on my mind loads especially when i finally walked across the cut through to link my Trinity loop…If only you could see my gratitude! πŸ˜€ The third loop in my ‘Trinity Lap’ is the biggest of the 3 loops, and it took me 3.2 miles to eventually get to the link that i failed to do yesterday. My mission was to walk all the way around to opposite side and attack the link from the back, the photo above is the left turn from the main road and my audio beacon from yesterday was beeping loudly in my ears as i was facing it. I had set my audio beacon to the one i’d set on the other side of this cut through that i couldn’t find yesterday!

I walked down the path towards my beacon and i got to this cut through (photo above). I walked left and right trying to find a way through but i just felt fences…I was just about to give up and use the ‘Be My Eyes’ app with the video call thingy, when i thought i’d have one more go. My persistence paid off when i found a gap on the right of a fence, i stepped through as the beeping in my ears was going crazy and telling me the audio beacon is about 50 feet away!! Then once i was through and found the beacon i knew exactly where i was and couldn’t believe i’d made it and completed the loop! πŸ’ͺ🏼 

I couldn’t believe how close i was yesterday and how easy it would’ve been (if i could see) to just walk along the path like it was nothing. But then this feeling of joy and elation wouldn’t be happening right now! πŸ˜€ Once i’d calmed down and had a drink of water, i realised i was about 3 miles away from home, lol (told you it was a big loop) and now it was time to enjoy this lovely new trail. The loop was over 5.5 miles long which along with the other two loops which add up to 5 miles, it’s going to be over 10 miles to complete my fantastic ‘Trinity Lap’. 😲 

As its ‘Tuner Tuesday’ my lovely Wife Sarah made me a much needed tuna stack sarnie with a cup of her legendary fresh coffee! β˜• It’s been 3 weeks since i’ve started back walking and hitting the trails again and i’m feeling more in tune each time i go out there. My legs are remembering the daily pounding they have to deal with and are getting back up to speed. I’m also focusing on my EADGBE and keep it in my mind which is another helpful tool to keep me going. πŸ˜€ 

EADGBE…πŸ’ͺ🏼 

  • E – Endurance – Tortoise NOT Hare, lol!Β 
  • A – Activity Rings – I use apple watch so i need to close my daily rings.
  • D – Deficit – Make sure i’m in a healthy calorie deficit each day until healthy weight.
  • G – Goals – Focus on my many lifetime goals.
  • B – Body – Listen to my body and look after it (it’s not young anymore, lol).
  • E – Edification – Pretty much help and improves everything, lol!Β 

Motivational Quote:..πŸ’ͺ🏼 

β€œI don’t stop when I’m tired, I stop when I’m DONE!”

Let’s ‘FitBlitz’ 2024 Together! πŸ’ͺ🏼

Thankful Thursday: Audio beacons!

Today’s Pond Photograph…

Hi Fitblitzers.

I’m giving thanks today for creating 4 more audio beacons, and that i arrived home safely without any damage or dramas! I did 4.49 miles whilst the sun was out blitzing my eyeballs so only a small headache from my walk…Which is a painful win as it could’ve been much worse! πŸ˜€ 

I now have 37 audio beacons (31 on my 1 lap course) as i’m trying to create my ‘Figure Of 8 Scalextric’ 5 mile lap which will help mix it up a bit. I lost all of my audio beacons when the Soundscape app was canceled…But now it’s back up and running (which i’m also thankful for) i have to create all of my beacons from scratch! I only have one more section to create to complete the figure of 8 which i’ll try and finish tomorrow! πŸ’ͺ🏼 πŸ˜€ 

What are you giving thanks for today? πŸ™ 

Inspirational Lyrics: Ronbin Mark 

🎢 “Give thanks to the Lord, our God and King…His love endures forever. For He is good, He is above all things, his love endures forever. Sing praise, sing praise!” 🎢 

Let’s ‘FitBlitz’ 2024 Together! πŸ’ͺ🏼

Walking Wednesday: 4 Miles & 6 Beacons!

Hi Fitblitzers.

The photo i managed to take above is of the top bigger pond on my trail. I was adding some audio beacons when i thought i’d take this photo for you. This top pond is up some steps (or a different path) which is off my usual lap, but today i was on a mission to add more markers…Which i managed and added 6 more audio beacons to my lap for a total of 35 waypoint audio beacons! πŸ’ͺ🏼 

I didn’t want to let you down either so i took a photo of the smaller stew pond as this is the one i walk past everyday! I take a daily photo for you, as i can’t see it so i hope you can enjoy the changes through the seasons as it goes from grey to green! πŸ˜€ 

Motivational Quote:..πŸ’ͺ🏼 

β€œI don’t stop when I’m tired, I stop when I’m DONE!”

Let’s ‘FitBlitz’ 2024 Together! πŸ’ͺ🏼

Tuner Tuesday: A Speedy Lap (3.5 Miles) πŸ’ͺ🏼

Hi Fitblitzers.

Since my legs have started to get up to speed, i thought i’d try a speedy lap instead of the steady 2 laps. The grey clouds of gloom ensconced the sun which made it less headachy, and i soon found myself at the finish line, yay! Sorry still no dramas today even though i’d increased the pace! πŸ’ͺ🏼 

As it’s ‘Tuner Tuesday’ Sarah made me one of her massive ‘Tuna Tower Sandwiches’ which was amazing and filled with protein, vitamins and slow carbs! πŸ˜‹ 

Oh yes…Enough rambling on (pun intended, lol) and time to read below and make sure i’m tuning up nicely and sticking to my health and fitness goals!! 🀣 

EADGBE…πŸ’ͺ🏼 

  • E – Endurance – Tortoise NOT Hare, lol!Β 
  • A – Activity Rings – I use apple watch so i need to close my daily rings.
  • D – Deficit – Make sure i’m in a healthy calorie deficit each day until healthy weight.
  • G – Goals – Focus on my many lifetime goals.
  • B – Body – Listen to my body and look after it (it’s not young anymore, lol).
  • E – Edification – Pretty much help and improves everything, lol!Β 

Motivational Quote:..πŸ’ͺ🏼 

β€œI don’t stop when I’m tired, I stop when I’m DONE!”

Let’s ‘FitBlitz’ 2024 Together! πŸ’ͺ🏼

Support Blind Steve in the Diabetes UK – One Million Step Challenge! οΏΌ

“Diabetes is relentless and simply never stops…But neither do I!” – Blind Steve πŸ’ͺ🏼 

Hi iChristian Family!!

The blindman is off the sidelines again…And while God gives me the strength in my legs…i’ll use them for doing crazy fundraising challenges to help others! I really didn’t want to fill this blog with annoying fundraising asks, as my last fundraiser ‘Trail Marathon‘ was only in April 2022…But you know me…And when i stumbled across this ‘One Million Step Challenge’ and found it was for Diabetes UK i just had to do something! 

For the last 18 years since meeting my ‘T1D Warrior Wife Sarah’, i’ve always wanted to be a ‘Sarah’s Walking Warrior’ and raise money for Diabetes…So here is the 4th ‘Blind Steve’ fundraising challenge…πŸ’ͺ🏼 

Quick Link to my fundraising page: https://step.diabetes.org.uk/fundraising/steve270

Below is the story taken from my fundraising page…

Support Blind Steve in the Diabetes UK – One Million Step Challenge

Diabetes is relentless and simply never stops…But neither do I!

For the last 18 years i’ve seen first hand how my lovely wife Sarah battles, struggles and copes with her β€˜brittle Type 1’ diabetes. She’s such a warrior and is truly my inspiration on perseverance, determination and drive to keep fighting. 

So last week, when I heard of the β€˜One Million Step Challenge’  i had to sign up straight away. I’ve always wanted to fundraise for Diabetes UK and show Sarah how much it means to me too, and this is my chance! 

I realise this challenge has already started (running from 1st July to 30th September 2022). Requiring participants to walk a million steps over those three months. My cunning plan is to start the challenge on Monday 1st August and try and walk the one million steps in two months instead! This works out at over 16,000 steps each day, for the 61 days, without a rest

Type 1 diabetes never gives Sarah a rest, so I don’t want to have one either during my fundraising challenge…The nature reserve trail is going to get a pounding again, lol! πŸ€£ 

Quick Factoid…

Did you know someone is diagnosed with diabetes every two minutes? As many as 4.8 million people are living with diabetes in the UK right now.

So if you’re feeling inspired…Please hit the donate button and support my stepping challenge. Every step and every donation counts. Join me and let’s help everybody living with diabetes. For all the mums, dads, wives, husbands, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, grandparents, and best friends, creating a world where diabetes can do no harm.

Let’s get this party started!! πŸŽ‰ As 1 Million steps is around 500 miles, i’ve already donated 5p per mile (Β£25.00)…It’s going to be a really tough challenge and it’s the furthest i”ve ever walked…But i’ve got to do the steps now!!

Every penny given will go towards Diabetes UK care and support services, advice and guidance, and pioneering research. Together, we’re changing the world for people with diabetes.

Thank you so much, Steve! β€οΈ