As I hoped (well begged the gods more like), this morning was MUCH BETTER than yesterday. High spirits all the way. iPhone music shuffles, Facebook pics and updates, the lot. Well to be perfectly honest, couldn't really have been worse than yesterday's tragic episode, could it?
Wondering what on earth is Working Girl about? Read the story here
As Cheryl would have said, 'me legs got their mojo back' this morning (ok not my best joke but you get my vibe). I also tried a diffferent walking technique (which looks slightly odd to the non initiated eye) by making longer steps to give the old shins a rest. I might have sore sighs tomorrow though. Oh dear.
A few facts I found doing some scientific research - well I am a medical journalist after all - this morning I walked 8.7 miles, which is the same as walking around Wembley Stadium 14.5 times, burned 600 calories = 2 muffins. By walking rather than driving or using public transport I have also saved 1.4 kg of C02. If that doesn't impress you all, I am not sure what will.
I have learned a few things about myself today. I do LOVE a routine. I noticed that I arrive in the kitchen to get my breakfast after packing and getting ready at EXACTLY 6.17am every morning. It's spooky but true. So I must make the same moves and preparation in a perfectly orchestrated sequence from the moment I wake up at 5.40am up until I leave the house at 6.28am. Some might call it being a control freak, I myself prefer the term smooth operator...
No major events this morning. One tiny negative perhaps on the outfit. Bad judgement, too many layers today. I got mislead by the 6am chill and got to pessimistic and I started boiling 20 mins in. Also a bit of disappointment when I took Savoy Street to connect from the embankment to the Strand and prepared for my daily wave and 'good morning' to my new builders buddies who have their morning coffee there each morning at 7.45am on the dot before they start their day. They weren't there! No waving! no builders! I got so enthusiastic on the embanikment that I think I was a few minutes too early and acutally only met them on the Strand. All very disturbing to the old routine. I recovered in St James park don't worry.
Peak of the morning was the 20mins phone chat with my cousin who lives in Thailand as 7am is one of the only slots we can actually catch each other due to the 8-hour time difference. Made the bit through Cable St before Tower Hill fast-forward.
I thought I had broken my record this morning as I saw 2h31min44sec on my stopwatch but Actually it's a few seconds more than Tuesday. Need to go under the 2h30 tomorrow if I really want to impress you right?
I am trying to keep optimistic about tomorrow's weather as different forecast platforms are giving me different scenarios. Will it be "mostly cloudy", "light rain", "sunny intervals", "mostly cloudy", "showers"...? I guess I just have to be prepared for any eventuality. Which means a more elaborate packing strategy tonight with a focus on headwear.
So tune in tomorrow for Working Girl's 5th and FINAL episode.
Finally, thanks again for all generous donations on the justgivingpage, makes such a difference and keeps me going. I have raised my target now so it's all bonus from now on.
Love from me Mel G
Wednesday - Day 3 aka HELL
"Day 3 will be the worst, you know that" is what I have been telling myself all week until this morning while I packed my outfits for today. And boy I wish I had been wrong. It was worse than the worst. It was hell, from the start. It's down to a very simple biological fact: when you exercise too much too fast your muscles hurt. Right Vikki? Because my legs hurt. well more specifically my shins hurt. I feel like I am 80-years-old today. Thanks to Pedro for leaving me a lovely encouraging note EVERY MORNING with a different message on the kitchen counter - it does keep the motivation going.
I also found an obvious yet annoying fact with walking. there is no getting away from it. When you run and you can't go on anymore you walk. When you walk and you can't go anymore you can only just stop. And stopping is not good, I tell you, it just makes the journey longer.
Those following me on Facebook must have noticed I went slightly quiet - getting logged in and uploading pics was an effort in itself. I kept playing Black Eyed Peas' album in a loop I was so lazy to even get my phone out of my fannypack (that's what they call it in the US apparently I prefer that than bumbag). I know ALL THE LYRICS of every song on their latest album. I was on slow motion most of the riverside walk, the Strand was a pain, and felt like The Mall (between Trafalgar Sq and Green Park) had no end.
No Mr Fox or nice entertaining squirrels in sight either. So a fairly painful lengthy walk this morning.
BUT enough of the lows, and let me tell you that despite the fatigue, I didnt' give up. I thought of the charity, all the ££ I have already raised, my Lilie (watching from above thinking what the hell are you doing, go buy yourself a MiuMiu bag instead), all the lovely messages and feedback I have had so far, I thought about that great feeling when you get fit, the amazing city I live in.... I thought of all the brilliant comments I have had from people at work every morning when I get in around 9am... I thought of my reward latte + croissant at the cafe next to the office, etc etc. Only kidding, I just thought of the shame I would bring on myself if I didnt' finish the 2hours and 45 minutes this morning!!!! And I did.
Click here to check out my fundraising page
There were some positive things this morning. I did change slightly the route. Well I acutally walked on the other side of each road I took yesterday. And it makes a hell of a difference! It's liek a different itinerary all together. Did you know that the south side of High Street Ken has got much better shops thant he north side of example?! Same with Hyde park. Totally different experience by walkign along the serpentine...
So fear not people I am far from giving up and I am hoping another stretching session + bath tonight will sort me out so I can get back on the good spirits track tomorrow at 6am.
Tuesday - Day 2 aka 'well that's nice and easy'
Well well well, wasn't this morning the PERFECT day for me to walk 9 miles on river?! I am sure you can picture my face when I woke up and checked the the sky... This morning was absolute bliss and I forgot the pain, the length of the journey, the horrendously long red lights and whizzed my way through the city in... 2 hours and 31 mins people. Yes, a whole 14 minutes shorter than yesterday and what I call a record. Pressure is on for tomorrow. couple of pics attached here, my pictorial walking kit which was requested and a proof of my record!
No sign of Mr Fox this morning which was slightly disappointing. I left the house at 6.28 am and got in just after 9am. LOTS of runners this morning, even more than yesterday, which means LOTS of guilt and need to scream "I am walking to work, ok! 9 miles so I can't just run like you for 100 yards to your office on the next block..."
Thank god my friend Gabby called and cycled to meet me on the river walk on her way to work. Made it a bit more sociable as I dont' have anyone to share anything for 3 hours you see. I caught myself smiling a the view from the millenium bridge onto the Tate Modern and mumbling to myself how gorgeous it was at some point and even turned around to check someone was there to share the moment. Very self centered this experience let me tell you.
But I was so exhilarated and in good spirits that everything went really quickly. I had a brief encounter with a really friendly squirrel who followed me for a good 3 minutes in Green park. I mean creepy following me really. I kept stopping and turned around and he kept stopping too and stared at me. Very intriguing. I almost jogged away as wasn't sure he would bite.
So a very smooth day today - sunny, warm, and painless. I am hoping tomorrow will be as smooth as this morning.
I haven't updated my blog yet but will do asap with all the daily updates if you have missed anything and can't get enough of Working Girl's silly diaries.
Thanks also again to all sponsors for your precious $$ it's much appreciated - and thanks to all the messages, calls, texts and facebook 'likes', it really makes a difference
Over and out
Monday - Day 1 aka BLISS
I have completed the first installment of my Walk To Work challenge. Yes, as announced previously Working Girl is back with a brand new route and brand new equipment, courtesy of Pedro aka my own Harrison Ford. Thanks to my early sponsors by the way much appreciated. This year again I am raising ££ for the breast cancer campaign - little homage to my beloved Lilie who left me too early. Check my fundraising page at http://www.justgiving.com/working-girl.
So just in case you havent' heard of my Working Girl challenge yet, well it's quite simple, it's Walk To Work this week and I have decided to... walk to work just like last year. Just a few facts in case you're considering stopping reading because well you've watched (or even run!) the marathon yesterday and probably think I chose an easy option just to show off my shiny trainers.
This morning the 8.7miles that separate my house in Limehouse from my office in hammersmith took me 2hours and 44 mins. This means 5.30am wake up, and 6.25am departure. And most of you know I am NOT a morning person. The key was to get everything ready last night as you can see in the pic attached.
The route is completely different from last year, and it's got pros and cons as I have discovered...
- Pros: new route = no deja vu, nice walk along the river, and through 3 different parks, not boring
- Cons: new route = got wrong roads a few times (that's what happens when you try to go off iphone google map!), lost feeling, riverpath = no WC for over an hour as I have annoyingly discovered this morning, and also waste of time looking at iphone google map!
I blame the neighbours who've just adopted a couple of chicken and Mr Fox probably ended up in our garden scaring the hell out of me by mistake. Anyway he left quickly when he realised his error and I could finally finish my snack and leave - 10 mins later than scheduled! If he comes back tomorrow I promise you a HD photographic evidence.
Limehouse at 6.30am is... how can I put this. DEAD.. no cars, no human beings. Just me and my thoughts. Had to wait for 30mins to start seeing people. Lots of runners, kept meaning to shout, I am NOT lazy, I am walking to work! 9 miles!
The walk along the river was stunning, from Tower Bridge to Embankment, highly enjoyable despite the lack of DoubleYouSee which means I had to slow down until I finally found a Starbucks on the Strand...Then it was park galore as I walked through St James Park, Green Park and Hyde Park for the second half of the route. No sign of Fluffy the Dog am afriad for those of you who remember last year's encounter.
The boring bit was walking all the way on High Street Ken to Hammersmith. I still managed to find a few ideas for the new house by looking at the windows.
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