London is my training ground.
Most days throughout the year I am walking but maybe for only an hour or two. I miss days if it's cold. And I definitely slow down between November and March. But if I need to go anywhere I will walk if I can.
I do 2 long distance walks a year, one at the end of May and one in September, walking, on average, 20 miles a day which takes 7-8 hours, starting at 7.30 am and finishing around 3.30 pm.
Come April, I start walking every day building up the amount of time.
Into May, and I am doing one long walk a week of 5-6 hours. I try and do one 7 hour walk a couple of weeks before I leave, just so, psychologically, I know I can do it!
When I began this walking malarkey back in 2012, I thought if I just walked for longer and longer I would get fitter and fitter. But it didn't work out like that. My legs just got more tired and achy.
I realised that I needed to walk consistently with occasional long walks to test mental stamina and I needed to include leg strengthening exercises in my morning exercise regime.
To keep going is much more a mental exercise. It takes about 4 hours for my legs to get into a rhythm without aches and pains. Then they are happy to keep going. It is the mind that has to be conquered.
Walks around London
I have various favourites of 3-4 hours long -
Vauxhall to Tower Bridge along south embankment returning via north embankment;
Vauxhall to Dulwich and Crystal Palace via South London Parks;
Vauxhall to Tower Bridge to Limehouse to Regent's Canal to Victoria Park to London Fields to Old Street;
Vauxhall to Regent's Park, Primrose Hill and return;
Vauxhall to Burgess Park to Southwark Park and return along Thames embankment southside;
Tube to Angel, walk along Regent's Canal to Limehouse to Tower Bridge to Vauxhall;
Long Training Walks:-
Vauxhall to Richmond via Clapham Common, Wandsworth Common, Wimbledon Park, Wimbledon Common and return to Vauxhall via Thames Path 10 hours 28.18 miles
Train to Waltham Cross, walk south down the River Lee to Limehouse via Hertford Union Canal and Regent's Canal, tube home from Tower Bridge 7.30 hours 20 miles(confirm)
Train out to Shepperton and walk back along the Thames to Richmond - train hime. 5.30 hours 15+miles
Train to Guildford and walk north up the River Wey and along the Thames to East Molesey, train home 9.30 hours 25 miles
Train to Crayford, Kent and walk north along the rivers Cray and Darent to the Thames, walk Thames Path to Camberwell
8 hours 24 miles
Exercise Regime Each Morning 45 minutes
Warm ups, leg work, arm and upper back work with weights/band, spine work - roll downs/roll ups/cat, core and leg floor work. Lunges and squats and inner thigh work for leg strengthening. Also I don't forget the feet and ankle exercises - very important as they tend to get forgotten.
Most days throughout the year I am walking but maybe for only an hour or two. I miss days if it's cold. And I definitely slow down between November and March. But if I need to go anywhere I will walk if I can.
I do 2 long distance walks a year, one at the end of May and one in September, walking, on average, 20 miles a day which takes 7-8 hours, starting at 7.30 am and finishing around 3.30 pm.
Come April, I start walking every day building up the amount of time.
Into May, and I am doing one long walk a week of 5-6 hours. I try and do one 7 hour walk a couple of weeks before I leave, just so, psychologically, I know I can do it!
When I began this walking malarkey back in 2012, I thought if I just walked for longer and longer I would get fitter and fitter. But it didn't work out like that. My legs just got more tired and achy.
I realised that I needed to walk consistently with occasional long walks to test mental stamina and I needed to include leg strengthening exercises in my morning exercise regime.
To keep going is much more a mental exercise. It takes about 4 hours for my legs to get into a rhythm without aches and pains. Then they are happy to keep going. It is the mind that has to be conquered.
Walks around London
I have various favourites of 3-4 hours long -
Vauxhall to Tower Bridge along south embankment returning via north embankment;
Vauxhall to Dulwich and Crystal Palace via South London Parks;
Vauxhall to Tower Bridge to Limehouse to Regent's Canal to Victoria Park to London Fields to Old Street;
Vauxhall to Regent's Park, Primrose Hill and return;
Vauxhall to Burgess Park to Southwark Park and return along Thames embankment southside;
Tube to Angel, walk along Regent's Canal to Limehouse to Tower Bridge to Vauxhall;
Long Training Walks:-
Vauxhall to Richmond via Clapham Common, Wandsworth Common, Wimbledon Park, Wimbledon Common and return to Vauxhall via Thames Path 10 hours 28.18 miles
Train to Waltham Cross, walk south down the River Lee to Limehouse via Hertford Union Canal and Regent's Canal, tube home from Tower Bridge 7.30 hours 20 miles(confirm)
Train out to Shepperton and walk back along the Thames to Richmond - train hime. 5.30 hours 15+miles
Train to Guildford and walk north up the River Wey and along the Thames to East Molesey, train home 9.30 hours 25 miles
Train to Crayford, Kent and walk north along the rivers Cray and Darent to the Thames, walk Thames Path to Camberwell
8 hours 24 miles
Exercise Regime Each Morning 45 minutes
Warm ups, leg work, arm and upper back work with weights/band, spine work - roll downs/roll ups/cat, core and leg floor work. Lunges and squats and inner thigh work for leg strengthening. Also I don't forget the feet and ankle exercises - very important as they tend to get forgotten.