One milestone accomplished..

Some days you feel like your legs just got to start moving. After my butt started hurting sitting on the indoor bike 2x10 km with a few minutes between the sessions in the early morning hours there were no way I was sitting down again to torture it... lol.  But I figured a nice walk would do me good. Heels were already patched with Compeed covering blisters and burns on the heal. I figured why not go try my heavenly new Nike shoes outdoor. Not sure where I was going after trying to get some on the phone, realizing there would be a slim chance that my part-time walking partner or other people would join on a friday night. So I started walking and then I got the "devil" in me. Was I ready for it? It was yet to be seen, but one way or another I would have to be able to walk around that lake.. Didn't matter if I would scream, curse or crawl my way through it. Well knowing the road I had chosen would mean it would be over 20km and it would be dark before I got closer to centrum again. To make sure I'd walk around it all, I chose the path that didn't let me get the option to cut it short. I was determined to walk it. No excuses allowed..

According to Google maps it should take about 4h 15 min to walk, but I had no idea what walking pace Google are using for the calculation. So I feel a little blessed and thankful having a friend calling me back (after I tried reaching her for a walk earlier)  I believe she kept me company on the phone for almost half my distance around there.  When we said our goodbyes it was back to listening to Spotify - only then in the dark with stars shining around me and once in while a car passing by blinding me for a few seconds. Knowing I had talked that long on the phone I had my concerns that the battery might die before I was home and that meant that I needed to keep checking on it so I could save most of the distance on the Runkeeper app. Getting closer to town seemed like forever and I already felt my feet was somewhat burning. Since my accident years back my feet are the first to go due to sensitivity, way before my legs give in. But I do believe my walks prior has payed off. So little by little they hopefully will get less sensitive. The furthest walk prior other that my more or less usual 7.20 km something walks was back in snowy February when I walked 15.29 km with my partner. In March my feet was more or less "ruined" filled with blisters and burns/flesh wounds, so I could hardly walk at all making me take it more or less easy. While April has been the month to get back on track. With the snow just about gone and no need for spikes under my shoes it helps a little as there will be less pressure and with well spent money on new shoes it looks very promising.. *Knock on wood*

So as the battery drained fast as I got closer to town with the stars sparkling around me, I shut Spotify off, saved the distance so far on Runkeeper a little further ahead and then shut the GPS off. Getting closer and closer I had a pit stop at the gas station to get something to drink (important to stay hydrated) and walked home in a steady pace thinking perhaps crawling would have been better.
When I finally got home stretching was the first thing on my mind. Then the I went in to check if I could add the rest of the walk manually on Runkeeper, which in fact you can.

I also checked my time/distance on Runkeeper in total and with my geeky side taking over me I went all loveydovey on google so she would would find me a site where I could calculate what Google maps actual pace is set at. While my walk had an average of 6.09 kph - not going all out, it seems Google maps pace is set even lower at 4.87 kph. Had my pace been just a little faster I would have made it an hour shorter of the predicted Google Maps time. Perhaps that should be a goal to set for next time. Note to self: Could be smart to invest in an extra battery that I plug in to my smartphone making it last longer and also to get my hands on a hydration backpack as my ultimate goal is to walk close to 40 km to a town and back - although I probably will have a pit stop eating some food halfway through.

After a long warm bath and watching a movie, I spoiled my feet with a well deserved massage just before I hit my head on the pillow and Zzznored my way to the dream zone probably scaring every monster lurking and waiting for me there. Waking up, I was pleasantly surprised to be in a pretty good shape. Besides from some new burns I got yesterday I can say I feel up for a shorter walk than yesterday with my friend that we agreed on last night if I was still alive and kicking.

Still feeling proud of my accomplishment as I believe anyone should be when they have set a goal and go for it. Even if I had failed and ended up calling for a Taxi or something I would still have to tell myself I am proud for trying and wouldn't have given up.

I know there are people out there that struggle daily just getting out of bed or their apartment for whatever reason and for them the smallest step will be huge. I recommend no matter what life situation you are in to set a goal for yourself and with every step forward you take even if there is setbacks in between, acknowledge what you already have done. Even though you may think the smallest step that is hard for you and every person around you seems to do automatically in life - it isn't that for you yet.. And know that it is OK. We are all in different stages in life and that goal might be just as  challenging as someone running a marathon for the first time. Just keep focusing on the positive, in time it will make a difference and new goals can be set and accomplished.