The Parish Walk Journey 2025

You’ve Been Showing Up and now It’s Time to Level Up It’s been a few weeks since my last post, and by now, I’m guessing you’ve found your groove settling into the rhythm of training, showing up, and grinding through. That’s no small feat. In a world that’s always on the move, where time feels like a luxury, making space to train is a powerful act of self-discipline. So pause for a second and give yourself some well-earned credit. You’re building something strong, one step at a time. Last time, we touched on the magic of Zone 2 training. But let’s take it up a notch! Heart Rate Zones: Your Body’s Training Gears Think of heart rate zones like gears on a bike they help you tune in to how hard your body’s working so you can train smarter, not just harder. Each zone is based on a percentage of your max heart rate (usually calculated as 220 minus your age). Here’s the breakdown: Zone 1 (50–60%): Gentle effort – ideal for warm-ups, cool-downs, and recovery days. Zone 2 (55–65%): The endurance...

Imagine this: you're about to set off on a road trip from Peel, down to Colby, and all the way up to Ramsey. Would you hit the road without checking your fuel gauge? Of course not! It's a basic step, yet so often we forget the basics when it comes to ourselves. Fueling and hydration are essential, no one wants to be calling for backup on race day and our habits are formed in training.  Think of your body as the vehicle for your journey. Treat it with care, and that means warming up properly, not pushing into the red zone right out of the gate and allowing the motor to rest,  rest is still training too. The clock’s ticking, it’s mid-March, and there are 103 days (14 weeks) until race day. Time to get moving! For the first four weeks, we’re going to ease in with three fatigue-free walks every other day. This is all about helping your body adapt smoothly to a new routine.  Fuel up with a snack (banana and oate biscuit are my fav) and an electrolyte drink around two hours bef...

Parish 2025: I love to Walk. So, the first thing you’re probably thinking is to lace up those trainers and hit the road, right? Not so fast! Before you even begin training, ask yourself this: What’s your target? Are you aiming for Rushen, making it to Peel for a pint and a crab bap, or are you bold enough to push beyond the limits of the human body and go all the way to the finish? Let me tell you about my first attempt back in 2016. I confidently said those famous last words, “How hard can it be? It’s just a walk.” I was raising money for Walton Neurological Hospital, who at the time were caring for my (now late) younger brother. I truly believed I could finish it. Oh, how wrong I was! With only a handful of walks under my belt, most of them just a month before, and no more than four hours on my feet in one go, that was the extent of my so-called "training." Unsurprisingly, I retired in Bride, left with that bittersweet feeling of regret, knowing I hadn’t fully prepared for ...