What can walking do?
I just want to say the biggest thank you for making such a change to so many lives. Four years ago when my friend and I were approaching the dreaded 50 we decided we would get fitter and attempted the Couch to 5k challenge. But no matter how slow I tried to jog I simply could not do it for longer than a few yards and wasn’t enjoying it at all.
We then saw the #walk1000miles challenge and decided to give it a go instead. I still remember our first walk – a 6-mile round trip to the next village. We felt like champions and were so pleased with how far we had walked.
Four years later and we walk every weekend, reaching 2000 miles last year and aiming for 2000 miles this year! We’ve enlisted my friend’s sister and are now known as Team Intrepidus and take part in 50km ultra challenges each year. My friend and I have just returned from our second walking holiday in Yorkshire and have already booked up for next year.
None of this would have started without Country Walking. Not only do we appreciate the changing seasons and have great admiration for nature but it’s sparked new interests as we look up wild flowers or try to identify a bird we’ve heard. We all love the chilled-out feeling a walk gives us and all return happier, calmer and fitter. When we finish our walk we usually end up in our local and as soon as we enter we are immediately greeted with “How far today ladies and where did you walk?”. Everyone has taken an interest.
Most importantly, walking has given me the best friend I could ever ask for as we walk for miles talking nonstop, laughing and taking photos. Each week once the walk has finished we sit in the pub and hold our pints aloft saying “Cheers what a great walk bestie!”.
The difference walking has made to our lives is immeasurable and we could not be without it – in fact we get a little manic if we are unable to walk! Keep up the amazing work you do and thank you again!
Karen Ley, by email