Monday 28 December 2020

The last one of the year

This morning I put on my walking gear once more. I was not going to drive for a long time trying to find a nice woodland walk. This time I was going to stay local. Ish. Yes I was staying in my home town, but I was going to a different area than what I know. 

It was a lovely walk, very much helped by good weather. I started in one of the suburbs, but pretty soon I was out of town and walking alongside fields and farms. I met a fair few dogs guarding their homes, saw some cattle, one sheep, a few horses and ponies. And trains. Plenty of them as there were two different lines running through the area I walked in.

I must admit I prefer walking in woods (softer on the legs), but this was a really nice walk. Longer than normal and that was on purpose. I felt that if my knee would hurt for 5 km and for 8 km, I might as well do the 8 km. So I did. 

Some of the farmhouses were gorgeous and I was quite jealous of whoever lived in them. I would put up with the trains if I could live there! Most of the farms were still working farms. I saw cattle farms and a flower farm. And several others, but I didn't always look too closely.

When I got home I decided to enter all my kilometers in a spread sheet. See how well I have done this year. Which wasn't that good to be honest. Especially the first Corona wave had me sitting on my bum all day it seemed: April saw me log a total of 4,24 kms. That is just over 2 miles. For the whole month! Very very bad.

As you know I always have a goal for the new year. In 2019 I listed all the things I was grateful for on a weekly basis. This year I saved money by putting money aside every day (1 cent for day 1 of the year, 2 cents for day 2 of the year, etc. I now have a fair amount of money I will find a nice cause for soon). For next year?

Well, seeing as I have really started to like all this walking about and it does me good physically and mentally, I decided to put out a goal. Over 2019 my best month was October with a total of just over 67 kms. This year's best is November with a total of close to 65 kms. I added those two up and divided them by 2. Then I multiplied by 12. My goal for 2021 will be a year total of just under 791 kms. Or 491.7 miles if you are of the imperial mind.

It means I have to get out and walk. I will take my camera along and take photos of winter, spring, summer and autumn again. Anybody wanting to join me (not necessarily for the whole distance): welcome! Let's make it the 2021 Challenge!

12 comments:

  1. It looks like you have a lovely area to walk close to home. Good luck on your personal walking challenge. I should do the same but probably on a treadmill since there aren't many places to walk right out our door (especially in the winter).

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  2. Oh Mara such beauty right under our noses here too. We always (B.Covid) thought we had to 'go' somewhere to walk. But goodness me our neighborhood is full of beauty, and H I L L S,,,,did I mention Hills. Quite a work out
    Hugs cecilia

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  3. Hari OM
    Brava Mara mate!!! On the saving challenge and on setting the walking challenge (I did for a moment hold my breath in case it was 1km first day, 2kms second day... 8~O)

    The challenge for me is getting outside my door at all - firstly due to shielding and our being again in a virtual lockdown, but secondly because of the climate. I am not prepared to put on scuba gear just for a jaunt around the block! That said, on any dry day - and regs permitting - I do plan to get back to my toddle down to the shore and along the promenade then up the back of the hill and round again. I was just thinking yesteday about that - and also that on the days I can't do that, I must remember to get out my 'chair pedals' and at least work the legs and lungs for 20 minutes. I need to build up slowly again, after a year of being housebound. YAM xx

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    1. I could have done that the first week, but by the time I would come to day 31, I would have been struggling deeply. Let alone day 365!

      I have a rain suit in my back pack at all times, but I do admit I don't really go out that much when it's really wet. But, just in case it starts to bucket down while on my walk...

      Good luck with all the 'new' exercise again. I notice a difference already now, as distances are easier to conquer and my knee gets back to painless in a shorter period after a walk. Hopefully you will find an equal or even better improvement.

      Klem

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  4. You have done well this year and that is quite a challenge for 2021. Keep walking.

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    1. Well, I have done okay this year. March (7 km) and April (4 km) were atrocious, but I have done good during the past few months.

      How many miles do you clock during a year or don't you keep track?

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  5. Good for you on your walking! Hope you have a Happy New Year!

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  6. You're doing well, and that seems like an achievable goal.

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  7. Een hele uitdaging. 15 kilometer per week! Succes.

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    1. Dat is nog wel veel, maar als ik nu elke dag een kilometer of twee en dan in ieder geval 1 keer in de week een langere wandeling doe... Duimen maar.

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  8. You have done such a wonderful job walking. I'm so proud of you. I enjoyed all of your photos. Wishing you a Happy and Healthy New Year!

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  9. Now I am really tired from reading all your walking ! I liked to walk and take pictures but this lockdown has made me soooo lazy and without any energy that I prefer to sit !

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Any weighty (and not so weighty) comments are welcome!