The boots are back, the body isn't

 BOOTS BACK

I may not be pestering people for money this year.  Kiltwalk remains hit by the pandemic and the unknowns it continues to bring into our lives.  There was a virtual Kiltwalk at the end of April, much like the one I took part in last September (https://baclitter.blogspot.com/2020/09/i-did-it-honest-post-with-evidential.html), but that was too early in the year for me.  I'd done no serious walking since that trek down the Water of Leith Walkway so I was in no shape to tackle anything beyond going to the shops.

There is still a plan to hold a 'proper' Kiltwalk, with a large crowd of kilties assembled.  That's set for late August.  But in Glasgow only.  At the moment they haven't even opened registration as there's still a high likelihood that it won't be able to take place.  But if it does, and logistics of travelling through in time can work for me, then I'd be tempted to give it a go.  Or perhaps, given that the covid situation is going a bit better at this end of the M8, it might even be switched to Edinburgh.  The final option would be another virtual walk.  Whichever it might be, if any of these variations do end up taking place, I want to be ready for the possibility.  Which means getting the boots on and doing some miles.

I'm late starting out, at least compared to last year,and the end target date is nearer as well, so I need to get on with it.  I began last week with an easy route of less than ten kilometres, which took just over ninety minutes.  A reasonable time, but I was pushing myself.  Too early is it turned out.  The next day I felt not exactly ill, but a bit shaky, a bit achey and a bit slow.  I felt... old.  Which is hardly surprising - I'll be sixty five next week. Today I walked a fourteen kilometre route that I've used as practice a few times in the past coupe of years, so I know what a good time over the distance looks like.  But I took my time today, hoping not to feel quite so old tomorrow.  The end time was over fifteen minutes slower than my best time over the same route last year.  Oh well.

I'll keep on getting the boots out regularly over the coming months.  Even if there's no end purpose it's still an activity I enjoy, and should be doing me good.  But I think I also need to recognise the effects of the ageing process, the general slowing down and steady erosion my physical abilities.  Maybe comparing my efforts with previous times I've set isn't the best approach for a pensioner...