See, that wasn't so hard after all...

Mark Breyley (Posted 11-May-13 06:30)

Yes, we made it!
A little sore, but very satisfied, after a warm and pleasant day for walking and running. Grace led the way, with her amazing fitness getting her through in 6hr 41min. The rest of us walked all the way (to avoid the injuries of jogging), and came in just under 3hr later, with nothing left in the tank!!!
The typical symptoms of blisters, cramps, ligament strains and aching muscles will not last long, but the achievement of doing something beyond the ordinary to benefit someone else is potentially eternal. As we continue working towards our fundraising target, we hope that more young people can benefit from Focus on the Family's youth suicide prevention program before they come to the end of themselves. We walk in hope so that they do not run out of hope... Can you support us with a donation?

OK, you're seriously going to do that?

Mark Breyley (Posted 27-Apr-13 23:59)

We are inside the last two weeks of preparation now, and despite the pain and the uncertainties there is no turning back. Yes, there is still time to fine-tune walking gear, arrange logistical details, and maybe adjust some attitudes a little...

Why am I doing this 50km walk? Yes, I want to prove to myself that I am physically up for an endurance event. Yes, I want to set an impressive speed / time for the 50km, even at my age (and after a minor heart attack). I was aiming for 8hr, spurred on by my friend who did it in 7hr last year.

However, after three full-scale practice sessions and lots of pain from pushing my body too hard, I'm now more relaxed about the time and will settle for a reduced pace with a lower risk of injury. A little attitude shift...

Here's another little attitude shift.
How often do we put expectations on our teenage kids and push and push until something snaps or the pain brings everything to a stop? What if as parents we ease off the pressure on compliance and seek more to build relationship?

Parents are unlikely to be a teenager's "best friends", but you certainly don't need to be "the enemy". Every time a parent digs in to battle over an issue, the relationship becomes a little more adversarial and less likely to build a lasting foundation for the young life that is emerging. Those without strong foundations become increasingly vulnerable to destructive patterns and people, especially in their thinking, where self-perceptions can easily turn suicidal.

The youth suicide prevention program run by Focus on the Family is designed to help parents and young people learn the patterns and indicators - and the attitude shift that makes a difference. This is why I'm seriously going to Go The Extra Mile. mb

Ouch! Don't do that! It hurts!

Mark Breyley (Posted 03-Apr-13 07:04)

Yes, it's true - I am another year older than the last time I walked 50km in one day. But I am actually fitter than I was then, and have been training over a longer period, so I should be able to go faster, right?

Well yes, so long as you warm up before each session, build up to the distance progressively, stop if you get specific pains, and don't exacerbate your old injuries...

My physio warned me that a torn calf muscle is one of the most common injuries for "older people" taking up jogging or returning to it after a long period. Torn calf muscles are also the most likely injury to recur.

So I've slightly torn my calf muscle again, and again, then triggered a groin strain, and now the other hip and knee have stopped me from jogging at all. OK, OK - I won't try to jog the first 22km of the 50km event... At least I can still walk faster than average!

Let's adjust my target time from 8hr to 9hr, and see whether I can still jog in short bursts on the downhill sections, when my physio is not looking!!!

let's talk as we walk…

Mark Breyley (Posted 07-Mar-13 15:01)

...at least, when we're not going too fast to be able to talk!

It seems we often live life in the fast lane but don't always keep up. How often do we choose to move over into the slow lane and just cruise? Or better still, turn off the freeway and take a back road to enjoy the scenery?

This principle applies to all of life, not just driving or exercise. It applies especially to relationships, where the richest relationships are formed slowly through spending quality time together, not rushing through deadlines and transactions.

How long since you have invested time in a young person, whether your own kids or those you know? Time to listen to their feelings, to see their perspectives, to feel their pressures. We don't have to agree with their views on everything, or understand their responses, but the act of listening is valuable to them. Let's "walk life" with a young person for a season.

For more of my thoughts on life and walking, my blog is at
www.life2walk.com - see you there!