Training for the three peaks challenge in Yorkshire has been going very well this week! Raising money for breastfeeding support groups is really important to me, and I really need to ensure that I train well and complete the whole walk to raise as much money as possible! My friend (Orla's godmother) is getting married the day after the walk, so I really have to be in great shape so I can enjoy the day at her wedding, rather than creaking there in pain!)
On Sunday I walked up to White Nancy in Bollington. White Nancy is a 15-foot high stone landmark that stands proudly at the top of Kerridge Hill, overlooking the village of Bollington. It was built in around 1815 as a summerhouse for the Gaskell family, who lived at the nearby Ingersley Hall, possibly to commemorate the Battle of Waterloo. The walk up is lovely, made all the better by the great walkway and steps that are there. Still very testing on the legs!
My parents came with us, Finn ran up most of the way and hubby took Orla up in a backpack, which she was thrilled with! After the walk, feeling we'd clearly earned a lovely lunch, we went to check out a fabulous fish restaurant "The Place" in Bollington - for fish, chips and mushy peas all round. Lovely!
On Tuesday hubby dropped me in town to pick up some books, and I walked back the 2 miles to Sutton.Was a gorgeous day, and was lovely to spend time outdoors in the sunshine!
Thursday hubby and I went for a 5km walk around the lovely Macclesfield Forest. The weather was beautiful, and a massive change from the drizzly damp conditions my friend Hayley and I had tramped around in last Thursday. The views from the top were spectacular, and we could see all the way over Cheshire to the Welsh mountains (hello to Orla's godmother Claire!!). Naturally we had to stop for a bite to eat at the Leather Smithy pub afterwards!!! I am seriously beginning to doubt whether I can complete the 24 mile hike in May without a pub lunch en-route!!
Today I was all set to do my workout DVD after dropping the kiddos off at school/pre-school, when Hayley (my friend who is doing the walk with me in May) stopped by on the school run, and suggested a quick hike around the hills just around the village. Well, I quickly shoved my hiking boots on and we were off! We had a walk up into the hills above the village, and down into the neighbouring village when we were passed by a runner and her dog.
The next thing we knew, the lady runner had tripped over her dog and landed with a thump on the road. So we did our good Samaritan bit and went to help her. Not being medically inclined, we couldn't tell what she'd done but she had damaged her wrist, was clearly in pain and a little shocked.
Turned out she was on her first training run for the Manchester 10k this morning, and oops! it didn't quite work out as planned. Hayley and I walked her and her dog back up the hill to the farmhouse to ensure her doggy was safely home and her neighbour obligingly whisked her off to A&E! So we got a far longer training walk this morning than we intended!!!
Feel very good about training this week, and am planning more walks this weekend, and through next week. Am so lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the world with fabulous walks right on my doorstep!!
So this evening, I am relaxing with pizza and a bottle of wine - hey, I've earned it!
