#trailwalkerstrong

Breaking up my #silentauction feed to share this. Facebook told me earlier that this was 3 years ago. This was the moment that I climbed Snowdon via the Miner’s Track, sat down and immediately found a smiley face-painted rock. I’d a few days before been left alone in Snowdonia - alone in life - but adjusted to the situation in order to make the most of it. I’d gone there to climb Snowdon, and it was to be the first mountain I solo hiked. It was so invigorating getting up there, and then running down (my first bit of trail running). I looked across to Crib Goch and thought yeah I can do that, and I did, 2 years later. I wasn’t fit then at all in comparison, not very strong, and in fact I was suffering from major gallstone pain, but somehow became stronger once the tumour of him had been removed. Given the opportunity to be alone, given mental space and breathing space in the hills I was able to do something for me - and it turned out that it was just what I needed, and actually in fact what I’m good at. I’m sharing this now because it’s a reminder of how you can overcome things either with some time away or by acceptance, I guess, acceptance of yourself. I’m now 9 days away from walking 100km non-stop again, and although it will be mentally and physically exhausting, it’s a fun challenge, it’s what I do. The moment in Porthmadog where the temper tantrum turned into a break up was most definitely a life changer, and I’m thankful for it, as annoying as it was at the time. The walking boots have been switched for trail shoes, I’m definitely fitter and stronger and my endurance is constantly building. I use hiking, running and walking as my time away, a mental flush - I had that before this mountain moment, but I think it solidified the feeling that it’s my happy place. So even though those 62 miles are going to be bloody hard, it’s gonna feel so good when it’s done and I’m reminded how resilient I am. I’d say fingers crossed, but there’s no luck involved...just a lot of nutrition planning to do and nice team work. ••• #trailwalkerstrong #trailwalkergb #snowdon #snowdonia #tbt #hiker #hiking #womenwhohike #outdoortherapy #mountainsofthemind

Bloody hell @salomontrailrunfest you put on a mental route. Today I ran 20k for fun - with 2300ft of elevation gain. In 3 weeks I’ll be doing that x5 in one go for two charities. I’d say it was for fun - it partly is - but it’s a lot to put your body through. It ends up being more like appreciation at the end and a major sense of accomplishment. Rich in that photo there is recovering from a stress fracture and he ran the 10k timed race for fun, but he’ll be with me on 14th July walking back to Brighton (for his 8th year 🙄). . . . What I mean to say, is that even if you don’t care about the charities Trailwalker is for, maybe you care about the absolute mind and leg fuck I will be enduring - some stomach cramps, maybe mild dehydration, sleep deprivation, probably sunburn even with cream (a whole day walking), probably more dead toe nails, nettle stings, (hopefully not) blisters, battling weather, battling the urge to stop, having to keep going because you don’t want to let anyone down. That’s what Trailwalker is. . . . But those downhill bits are fun eh. ••• #TimeToPlay #TrailwalkerStrong #run1000miles #boxhill #surrey #salomonrunning #salomontrailrunfest #salomonspeedcross #timeforacupoftea #pleasesponsorme #charityfundraising #fundraising #oxfamgb #gurkhawelfaretrust #saltyface #muddyankles #trailrunner #trailrunning (at Box Hill, Surrey)

When I was a member of the @oxfamgb Youth Board way back when I was 17, one of the first meetings explained Oxfam’s infrastructure and where money goes. So I already know this distribution, for some reason it stuck with me - and then from then on whenever I saw a street fundraiser from any charity, I understood how necessary they were, or should I say still understand. But perhaps you aren’t aware how your donations will be spent. Even though £1 could get you something really tasty to eat, or 2/3 a bus fare, that £1 will be put to great use with Oxfam - or the Gurkhas. And you’ll also make me feel like the pain I’m going to put myself through will be worth a little bit more. . . . #TrailwalkerStrong #trailwalker2018 #sponsorme #fundraising #charityfundraising #onepound #donate

Not much fun anymore really ... 60km still to go and it stayed like this for 50km of it. ••• #bitwetthat #soggyfeet #walkinginthemist #southdownsway #southeastengland #alrightjuly #trailwalkeruk #trailwalkerstrong

Bit breezy at registration. Got my time chip. Had my pasta party. ••• #trailwalkeruk #trailwalkerstrong #fridayfeeling #letsdothis #100km #oxfamgb #somewhereinsouthernengland (at Queen Elizabeth Country Park)