Donate to Remove ads

Got a credit card? use our Credit Card & Finance Calculators

Thanks to johnstevens77,Bhoddhisatva,scotia,Anonymous,Cornytiv34, for Donating to support the site

Todays climb.

Fitness tips, Relaxation, Mind and Body
BrummieDave
Lemon Slice
Posts: 818
Joined: November 6th, 2016, 7:29 pm
Has thanked: 200 times
Been thanked: 378 times

Re: Todays climb.

#225357

Postby BrummieDave » May 29th, 2019, 8:18 pm

Snorvey wrote:https://www.lemonfool.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=4836&start=580#p221113

For interest only, my ascent heartrate taken from the Fitbit.



I don't monitor my heart rate, but I do monitor my general exercise levels using distance walked as a proxy for this. I use the native 'Health' app on my iPhone rather than anything fancier, but calibrating it against a friend's GPS tracker, I under-measure by up to 10% on average (but ignore this under-measurement).

Last calendar year I averaged 6 miles a day which, considering the days when it rains, I'm travelling, have non-walking commitments etc., I was quite pleased with. I also started the year in recovery from a broken ankle. I therefore set myself the target of 7 miles per day for 2019, an increase of an additional 365 miles over the year of course.

As we approach the end of May and the longer days, I'm pleased to be on target, with the app showing 7.1 miles average per day. I had hoped to post a screenshot of my phone, but can't see how to do this. Instead, my monthly averages are:

January 5.1m
February 6.9m
March 5.8m
April 8.3m
May 9.3m

Average 7.1m

redsturgeon
Lemon Half
Posts: 8910
Joined: November 4th, 2016, 9:06 am
Has thanked: 1309 times
Been thanked: 3665 times

Re: Todays climb.

#225434

Postby redsturgeon » May 30th, 2019, 9:03 am

BrummieDave wrote:
Snorvey wrote:https://www.lemonfool.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=4836&start=580#p221113

For interest only, my ascent heartrate taken from the Fitbit.



I don't monitor my heart rate, but I do monitor my general exercise levels using distance walked as a proxy for this. I use the native 'Health' app on my iPhone rather than anything fancier, but calibrating it against a friend's GPS tracker, I under-measure by up to 10% on average (but ignore this under-measurement).

Last calendar year I averaged 6 miles a day which, considering the days when it rains, I'm travelling, have non-walking commitments etc., I was quite pleased with. I also started the year in recovery from a broken ankle. I therefore set myself the target of 7 miles per day for 2019, an increase of an additional 365 miles over the year of course.

As we approach the end of May and the longer days, I'm pleased to be on target, with the app showing 7.1 miles average per day. I had hoped to post a screenshot of my phone, but can't see how to do this. Instead, my monthly averages are:

January 5.1m
February 6.9m
March 5.8m
April 8.3m
May 9.3m

Average 7.1m


Very interesting. I average about 4-5 miles a day and I am thinking of upping that. Do you walk in one big chunk or in smaller chunks throughout the day? I do most of my walking in the early afternoon with the dog but I was thinking of perhaps adding 2-3 miles in the morning to that. By the end of the summer I am hoping to walk "a marathon" ie. 26 miles locally not an organised event, just for the hell of it. I did this once before and it was fine except for a blister on one toe so my aim would be to do it blister free this time.

John

BrummieDave
Lemon Slice
Posts: 818
Joined: November 6th, 2016, 7:29 pm
Has thanked: 200 times
Been thanked: 378 times

Re: Todays climb.

#225488

Postby BrummieDave » May 30th, 2019, 12:20 pm

redsturgeon wrote:
Very interesting. I average about 4-5 miles a day and I am thinking of upping that. Do you walk in one big chunk or in smaller chunks throughout the day? I do most of my walking in the early afternoon with the dog but I was thinking of perhaps adding 2-3 miles in the morning to that. By the end of the summer I am hoping to walk "a marathon" ie. 26 miles locally not an organised event, just for the hell of it. I did this once before and it was fine except for a blister on one toe so my aim would be to do it blister free this time.

John


All of the above John, I'm just a pretty obsessive person and for the past decade or so, walking has been in the cross-hairs. I'm a young retiree and basically, I walk everywhere and take every opportunity to be outside walking. We live on the edge of a village, half a mile to the nearest shop, three miles to the nearest town, and I go to one or the other most days. We are surrounded by countryside, two canals, and lots of paths. Two national parks are within 30 minutes drive, and I visit one or the other most weekends. I also go on four or five trekking holidays a year, and am just back from one last week and leave again in two weeks, but that actually reduces my daily average; the more difficult the terrain, the shorter the walk. This is also proven by my son, who lives high in the Himalayas (in summer, he moves lower in winter), and whose mileage is modest by comparison.

Although it must have some health benefits, I think this is pretty limited to skeletal and muscle areas of the lower limbs, and lower back. I'm heavier than I've ever been at twelve and a half stone, so it doesn't shake off the pounds unless of course, you are overweight to start with in which case it's a great way to get some fitness back, whilst enjoying the open air and countryside. It's massively improved my lower back, but stopping all gym work may have contributed to this too.

I just love walking tbh, and have stopped other sports that may impact my long term ability to continue walking.

BrummieDave
Lemon Slice
Posts: 818
Joined: November 6th, 2016, 7:29 pm
Has thanked: 200 times
Been thanked: 378 times

Re: Todays climb.

#225494

Postby BrummieDave » May 30th, 2019, 12:27 pm

Snorvey wrote:Its good to have a target.



It certainly is and I salute you if this is part of a life change situation as you describe.

Ben Nevis is of course a great name to bag for the sake of it, and not difficult to ascend (although I have seen a couple of ill prepared fatties airlifted from the path on a hot June day, and a few folk always fall off the top in the cloud, usually when leaving their group to go for a pee). It gets crowded, and there are far nicer Munros (and Marilyns https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_M ... tish_Isles) to walk up of course. That said, I don't try to dissuade anyone from bagging a well known peak, just don't think that it's as good as it gets, because something away from the crowds and tea shops is usually much more rewarding, as I'm sure you know.

Well done Snorvey.

BrummieDave
Lemon Slice
Posts: 818
Joined: November 6th, 2016, 7:29 pm
Has thanked: 200 times
Been thanked: 378 times

Re: Todays climb.

#225502

Postby BrummieDave » May 30th, 2019, 1:13 pm

Snorvey wrote:Thanks Dave.

Ben Nevis is the target purely because it's there and it's 'the biggest'. I don't find it a particularly attractive mountain either tbh and I don't really like Fort William. I don't really fancy trying it when the weather is poor and I don't really like crowds. And it's a fair old drive away (Lochnagar last weekend was pretty much spur of the moment based on conditions - i.e the wind was light, not much rain, the knee was feeling good etc - and it's only a couple of hours away).

It would seem I have plenty to think about! As

I'll stick to the rowing etc in the meantime (whilst my toes recover!) - but there's really nothing like getting out there. My only regret is that it's taken decades for me to appreciate what's on my doorstep.

45 minutes rowing / 15 minutes weights (not heavy) Fitbit stats.



Just a few points in response:

Fully understand anyone's wish to climb Ben Nevis, I've done it and even been stupid enough to do the 'Three Peaks' 24 hour challenge. I say stupid, because after making the effort to travel to Fort William (I share your view of the town btw) it seemed crazy to dash up and down BN in the evening sunshine, then drive off haring around the Lake District and Snowdonia. I'd much rather have stayed in Scotland for the weekend! :lol: I was leading about 40 folk in 6 teams on a charity event though, so it wasn't without purpose.

There's really no need to suffer with blisters. They can, with good modern equipment, be completely avoided. Hope this doesn't sound patronising btw, but the correct combination of wool sock (I use Smartwool) and boot (I have Salomons and Hanwags) makes blisters history. Take the time to choose socks and boots together, and have them fitted in a specialist shop. It's worth it. If you have blisters, or feel them coming, Compeed really is like magic. I've known people walk 100 miles over a week with blisters covered by Compeed, and they were fine. It's like a miracle, honestly, when applied properly (warm it in your hand, apply stretched to clean skin). Apols if you already know all this.

Lastly, if you live that far north that FW is within a couple of hours, have you though of multi-day walking instead of ascending? I've done several long distance routes in Scotland and they are really good. From Fort William there is the almost totally flat 'Great Glen Way' along the Caledonian Canal, and several Lochs including Ness of course, and lovely Fort Augustus, up to Inverness. PM me and I can put you in touch with bag movers/accommodation. Others I have done have had more ascents and were chosen for that reason, but the GGW is a good one to start with, and is an easy 5 day jaunt. It can be done as day walks of course, if it's commutable.

Hope the above isn't OTT, told you I was obsessive!

BrummieDave
Lemon Slice
Posts: 818
Joined: November 6th, 2016, 7:29 pm
Has thanked: 200 times
Been thanked: 378 times

Re: Todays climb.

#225619

Postby BrummieDave » May 30th, 2019, 7:33 pm

Snorvey wrote:Very interesting Dave. Thanks for that.

It's not blisters I've been bothered with it's my toes being squashed in my walking footwear as I descend.

I've found this website

https://blog.outdoorherbivore.com/camp- ... -downhill/

My walking footwear does feel a little loose (I do have narrow feet for a bloke) so I plan to implement the tips on offer - such as loop tie lacing and a gel insert , as well as keeping my laces tight before descending. It's a learning process for sure.


Oh I see, same thing though, it all comes down to the correct combination of sock, boot/shoe, and perhaps inserts/insoles, and lacing as you say.

I have shallow feet and whilst Salomon boots and approach shoes fit well straight out of the box, in my Hanwags (essentially my winter/Scotland boots) I have replaced the insoles with the G20s from Granger: https://grangers.co.uk/collections/insoles . You may also see the more expensive insoles from Superfeet https://www.superfeet.com/en-gb/insoles ... ns,insoles which I am sure are good, but they just don't work for me. That said, they honour their 'money back' guarantee if you don't like them, I can vouch for that!


Return to “Health & Wellbeing”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 5 guests