My walking year seems to have kicked off in reasonably good style. I've done a couple of walks here and there during 2011 before this week, one with my folks and a few shorter ones with Tess. This past week, I did 26.2 miles in four walks over six days. I'm very, very pleased with myself.
I've been so utterly rubbish at updating my walking log, so I've been through my Facebook status updates and picked out walks I've mentioned. I think there's one or two missing, and the average weekly mileage is quite low because of the shorter winter days and things like Christmas and holidays and house moves getting in the way of regular walking. However, I'm pleased to finally get this updated and get my mileage count relatively up-to-date.
I also regularly walk 1km to work and 1km back again, probably seven to ten kilometres a week. I love this little walk, it's simple, uphill in the afternoon, I get to listen to two or three songs on my phone and it's a good way of winding-down after work. As the weather improves I'll be increasing this to nine or ten kilometres a week.
I'm determined to lose all my body fat this year. By October, I'll not have a gut. Mark my words. I've not really got one now, but I'm aware there's some fat on my belly and above my hips and I want to shift it. I've got no means of weighing myself any more - my brother took his Wii back and Wii Fit was how I tracked my weight loss last year - so my target is to shift my fat and see what's underneath. If I manage to get a flat stomach, I'll start doing stomach exercises to increase my muscle a little, get my weight to a more reasonable level because I know fundamentally I'm a bit skinny under all this belly.
So, to the walks.
Shalstone, Wood Green, Dadford, Stowe, Chackmore, Buckingham linear, 7.7 miles, 3.5mph
A post-work walk, the aim was to get as many miles under my belt and get home before it got dark. I got in at exactly 6pm and there was still a glimmer of light blue from the sunset as I approached the flat. It was lovely out, beautifully sunny after a few weeks of almost complete grey, not windy generally but quite cold. I saw a large fallen branch from the recent winds and noted that some of the buds had started to split and furry little leaf edges were apparent. I pulled off a twig of sprouting buds and it's currently on the windowsill at home in a glass of water, starting to sprout. So, Feb 8, Sophie's birthday, the first signs of trees leafing in 2010.
The Astons and Upper Heyford circular, 7.2 miles, 2.8mph
A very windy day, my first flowered flowers of 2011 in the form of snowdrops. A nice walk along the canal and rivers near the Upper Heyford disused air force base, spoiled only by a howling wind.
Buckingham, Chackmore, Radclive, Gawcott, Buckingham circular, 6.1 miles, 3.7mph
Another post-work walk, battery ran out on my phone so no music, just dark getting to ind est
Buckingham, Akeley, Foscote, Maids Moreton circular, 5.2 miles, 3.7mph
My staple walk, a good one to get my walking year underway. This was my first solo walk in 2011 and my first solo walk since about October I believe.
Oakridge in the Frome Valley near Stroud and Cirencester, 1.5 miles
An exploratory walk with Tess because the area looked good on the map. Man, it was hilly! Wonderful countryside, up and down all along the valley with the river following the vallet floor. I'm definitely coming back here for walking one day, it's purely gorgeous.
Thames Source walk, 2.5 miles
A fantastic walk to the source of the Thames from a bridge just outside the village of Kemble. Walking there and back along the river gives you a real sense of what's to come. Tess and I followed the river all the way out to the sea, and paddled in both the source and the sea. This was a fantastic adventure and one I'd repeat in an instant, possibly programming-in more walks along the way.
Buckingham, Maids Moreton, Foscote, Akeley circular, 5.1 miles
Tess and I did my staple route in the crisp sunshine. The long downhill field from Akeley towards Maids Moreton was perhaps the muddiest I've ever seen it and we were caked when we stopped for a rest at the bottom.
Blenheim Palace circular, 7.5 miles
A lovely, very windy walk with my parents. The grounds of Blenheim Palace itself are spectacular, much like Stowe Landscape Gardens but on a bigger scale. Next time I'd like an opportunity to wander up to the Palace itself, as from afar it looks intriguing but a little underwhemling.
Long Compton circular, 9 miles
Big, hilly walk into dusk with my folks. I think it included a section of the hills I did with Tracey early last year. This one was a cracker!
Glyme Valley circular, 7.8 miles
A lovely walk up, down and along a valley, visiting the source of the river Glyme along the way. This walk was the inspiration for the Thames Source-to-Sea adventure Tess and I did in January.
Whiteleaf Hill circular, 7 miles
Spectacular views from two points on this one, and a few brilliant hills. Loved it.
Whychwood circular, 9 miles
This was a gorgeous autumnal walk, proper deep autumn colours with leaves everywhere and still some greenery. Plenty of fungi too.
Adstock, Steeple Claydon, Hillesden, Lenborough and Buckingham linear, 8.75 miles at a steady 3mph, Walking for Wellbeing client catch-up walk
A beautiful day, it was completely dark by the time we got in, but what an orange moon!
Shalstone, Wood Green, Dadford, Stowe, Chackmore, Maids Moreton, Buckingham linear, 10.4 miles, 3.4mph
A big one to round off a summer of long walks. I fully intend on getting these kinds of miles under my belt once the days get a little longer.
Now, I wonder if I can keep this updated with my walks from now on...?
