Selecting first gear!

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 before - you can water down orange juice 50/50 and add a pinch of salt too.

Warm up with this simple but effective routine: Warm-up

Choose routes you love, the railway line, promenade, or wherever you can take in the scenery without too much stress. 

Be mindful of road users as they don't always appreciate the safety of walkers, so stick to the highway code!

Hills are inevitable but treat these with a relaxed Sunday strolls vibe. 

Safety is in numbers (and walking-fun too), so grab a friend or two and walk together! There’s no better motivation than encouraging each other along the way. If you see me, or any others out give them a friendly hello, building a supportive community makes every walk that much more enjoyable.

Track your progress with the free app Strava too: Strava

Here you can watch your improvements and celebrate just how far you’ve come, literally. 

(If you’ve got a smartwatch, keep these walks to Zone 2 (heart rate),  that is your best friend at the moment!).

Zone what you ask?   I'll dive deeper into heart rate zones and when to use them in the next post, so stay tuned!

Keep the walks to slightly faster than conversational pace. Lace up, throw on your hi-viz gear, and get ready for this week’s walks:

Walk 1: 60 minutes

Walk 2: 80 minutes

Walk 3: 80 minutes

For those wanting a cool down, here's a great yoga routine to unwind after each session: Yoga Cool Down

Enjoy the journey and remember to support each other along the way!