2 January: Training

It’s the evening of 2^nd January and I’m taking the opportunity between work and dinner to do another training walk. I’ve not really got into much of a routine yet but my basic aim is to walk most days between now and the start of my Coast to Coast.

Coming up with a training plan is something I felt I should do based on my past experience of preparing for long distance running (in my case, jogging) events – the closest point of reference I have to what I’m planning to do. In the world of running you’re taught that training is everything, and there is wealth of material to support you in this. Training philosophies; strategies for all ages, abilities and ambitions; and sample training plans abound, along with warnings of the dire consequences of not training properly.

Having successfully completed a number of events from 10km up to marathon I also have some solid experience in following a training plan for running (in my case, jogging). I know what suits me, how to find the balance between under and over training, and I’ve experienced the dire consequences of not training properly.

By contrast I have found very little useful material on long-distance multi-day walking, and have limited relevant personal experience. I don’t know how to go about it, and I don’t understand the consequences of not training properly, dire or otherwise.

So, I’ve had a go at putting a schedule together based on the material I did find along with my own experiences with running (in my case, jogging). The basic principle I’ve followed is the one that’s worked for me in the past, and that is to train specifically for the event. In other words, most of your training time should be spent doing the thing you are training to do rather than training generally across a range of disciplines. Cross-training should be supplementary and not core.

Applying this to my Coast to Coast this means: To train to walk a long way every day, walk a long way every day.

I am going to have to compromise though and make the best of what I have. For instance replicating the terrain and conditions of the Lakes, or even the Dales or the Moors in leafy Warwickshire isn’t feasible. In particular I find the burn of that first ascent after several weeks away from the mountains always catches me off-guard. No number of repetitions up and down the stairs, or up and down the local hill, or time on the stair-climber in the gym can prepare you for this. I may get to walk up some proper hills a couple of times between now and March, but this can’t form a core part of my training. I also work for a living, and walking long distances takes a lot of time. I will have to use my weekends to do the longer distances and be satisfied with shorter walks during the week.

I did in fact start training in the autumn. My plan was to use running (in my case, jogging) to build my basic fitness and then transition to walking at the turn of the year. I set myself the target of reaching half-marathon distance by Christmas, and initially this went well such that I reached 11 miles (in one run, not cumulatively) by November. I’ve not passed this high water mark since, with work commitments, poor weather and Christmas preparations being my prepared excuses. So I’m a bit behind where I wanted to be but I don’t think it’s a major problem, and I’ve now switched phase. From now on my training objective is to get used to walking most days.

Home already. The route tonight was a bit short and after an hour I don’t really feel like it’s been much of a test. Maybe I should switch to early mornings to increase the pain and misery?