Training, Planning and Running the DW Race

Well that’s the end of April and I have done pretty much bugger all.

A holiday, a broken toe and a nasty cold have seen me out of action training wise for about 3 weeks and it has been a slippery slope of less and less motivation. This bank holiday weekend I decided to try and turn this around a little bit.

The weather was glorious and after the wife’s expression of interest of boating whilst on holiday I hired us an open canoe for the day. I have never canoed before and was pleasantly surprised with how much fun it is. I was also surprised how tiring it was. We paddled 13 miles at a leisurely pace which took about 4 hours, by the time we were done I felt fine (though the missus was bushed) but the next day, my shoulders really were achy. Good fun and I intend to do it again, I have considerably more respect for those doing the DW in an open canoe now as they are slow and heavy compared with kayaks.

Sunday was another nice day and we headed off to the beach with my sister and our dogs. The plan was to walk 15 odd miles as the girls are still preparing for their moon walk next month. Me and my dog went charging up and down the beach for a good hour or so but the mutt had lured me into the sea so I ended up with wet sandy feet. This sand then proceeded to grind away the skin on my heels to the point where they bled blood. I had to turn back having run/walked about 3 miles.

Today I have bloody heels and it is painful to walk. I am planning to be back at the swimming pool tomorrow morning and once the feet stop hurting when I have shoes on I will be back street running again.