This is the way I had to walk for 7 of the 9 miles yesterday.
John Wayne style. It was doable for a bit then got extremely painful and I had to stop. I took 5 pain killers as directed by my doc and walking partner Annie. This made the last few miles ok and I got there, its funny when you know its nearly over. On the way back up from Tayloan in the car I started to feel sick. I thought it was the car, but this feeling lasted all night and I realised it was the pain killer overdose, ofcourse. My brother called to see how I was and suggested I should call it a day, if you cant walk it off there is clearly something underlying, but he also very kindly offered to come and get me if I wanted to go into the hills and attempt the 15 miles today. I thought let me see how I feel when I wake up. We woke up at 4.30am with the intention of getting started early to avoid the torrential rain forecast for lunchtime. I went to the toilet, then into the kitchen to boil the kettle. I walked back and forward and the pain was medium, this is before I even started and I realised I could not go. The mind is 500% willing but the body is not. Get over it Lilia. It could be pretty devastating when you love the adventure and you feel great in every way, but the body just will not do what it is told. When I was in Uganda 4 years ago I hiked Mount Sabyinyo which is 3645m high. It was the first time I ever had a problem with my body this time it was altitude sickness. I had hiked the high Himalaya in Nepal 11 years before and had no problem with this, but on this hike it stopped me dead. I thought I was going to pass out, quite a pleasant feeling, like being dizzy but made me stop incase I fainted. The guide kept saying "time is not our friend" and I wanted to kill her as there was nothing I could do about it. I ploughed on, way behind everyone, a place you never usually find me, and my ego would not let me give up. It passed a bit but the trek was fairly torturous and extremely hard. If you ski, board, kite,hike or bike you know how to move through the pain barrier. You know when the body screams and if you just keep on going it will get easier. I assumed this would happen to me yesterday, and the day before. Alas on this trip the problem is underlying. The inflammation I have been healing over the last 6 months is still there, I have more work to do. During the winter (the real, actual winter) my body was fatigued, achy and unwell. I have worked magic on it and wanted to test it with this walk, see where I was at fitness wise. Now I know. I overwalked on the first day. I was fine after the first 5 hours, it was after 7 my body started to scream. So I am not as fit as I used to be. I have done no training for 4 years. I still have more work to do. When that happened to me in Uganda I had just turned 50, I was horrified. I started running every day and before the end of my trip I hiked Mount Muhabura 4127m and loved almost every minute until the last 2 hours of the 11 when pain came into my knees. Even with the walking poles it made no difference. When you have cardio issues, muscle pains and cramps you have to get your mental state in order. When your joints, nerves, ligaments start to scream there is nothing you can do. Blisters, muscle pain, stiffness, fatigue can all be overcome and its actually a buzz to do it. This hip thing is just getting worse by the day. I had to give up. I have to let go of wishing I was out there with Annie. I was LOVING the fresh air and the challenge. But it was not to be. I have more work to do in regards to my health. Very common for post menopausal women to have high inflammation in the body. I still have to redress this 100%. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwcvTUx43cA A little video that explains it all. I am healing this, by hook or by crook. I am regaining my fitness and health
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