Berichtje uit Canada van Tim.


Hi :)

This week winter seems to have finally let go.  In fact, today's high of 12 has been passed and we are currently at 14.  It is supposed to be about 8 tomorrow and then be about 5 for the next week or so.  5 is a little bit below normal buy anything above freezing is okay with me.

That being said, since I have walked all winter, I find that 2 or 3C is about perfect and that anything warmer is too hot.  Today I cooked walking with a bit of jogging thrown in.  8 kms took 77 minutes but I do not normally walk that fast.  Normal for me is about 90 minutes for 8 kms.  Do you ever time yourself.  How fast do you walk?

Are you walking with your pack on?  You are more trained than 95% of the people who go.  I am now finding people who do not train in advance, but start walking short distances for the first few days and then gradually extend it.

I have announced that I am 95% sure that I am going in September.  Do you want to go again?  Since announcing this, I have been getting lots of advice - some good and some very repetitive stuff.

The best advice I am hearing which I want to pass on to you is

1)  It is not a race - walk at your own pace, let others who you have met who walk faster go on ahead
2)  Walk as far as feels comfortable for the day.  Do not worry about needing to get to the Santiago.  If you are behind schedule, once in a while, take a taxi or bus to catch up.
3)  And this one is from over a year ago and I did not listen to it - Never quit at night.  Always sleep on it and make your decision the next day.

Going back to me, I have had a good week, although no where near your mileage.  Saturday I did 7 kms, Sunday I did 10kms, Monday and Tuesday I did 5.5 kms each day, and Wednesday and today I have done 8 kms each day.

The problem I am having is that I am not losing any weight.  So beginning sometime soon, I need to cut out the chocolate bars and the butter tarts and crack down on my diet.

You will do fine.  You are very prepared mentally.  Be prepared for lots of rain.  I say umbrella, most people say poncho.

I am proud of you as I am sure your family is.  Good work!!!!!!