KILT WILL
Last year I posted here about why I wouldn't be doing Kiltwalk 2023. So it's nice to be able to return the year after with more positive news.
Back then the main reasons for not doing the walk were health related. Some shortness of breath, and, more significantly, back pain. But that I retained hope for the future.
So what's changed? The biggest difference has been provided by Kiltwalk themselves. Not only has the distance come down from 14 to 11 miles, but that alteration to the route has also removed the only real incline that had to be tackled. That was where the breathing got a bit iffy and is not an issue any longer. (The stop/start heart procedure mentioned in last year's post did happen. And didn't work. But my medications allow me to maintain a sensible pace.) The back still hurts, but going to 2 pilates classes a week has helped. And I've learned to swallow my pride...
I used to enjoy the challenge of completing the distance without stopping once. Now the challenge is just to finish. There will be stops. I have walked the course and identified where the benches are. Sit downs will happen, stretching will happen, enough to press the reset button each time. It's a bit like an advance warning of the afternoon naps that will surely become my lot as the years advance...
The boots have been hitting the walkways, the kilt still fits, there are 4 more weeks until the day. Because it's taken me some time to be sure I'd be up to it I'm a bit late looking for sponsorship. Having stopped volunteering with Advocard my chosen charity this year is It's Good 2 Give, which provides support to young cancer patients and their families (I have no personal connection, other than it being supported by Edinburgh Rugby, who I support). You can learn about the great help they provide by clicking on this link. I'd greatly appreciate anything you can give.
