I found this week really tough. I have been doing a pet sitting job which has taken up all my spare time so the majority of my exercise has been dog walking. I have also got a really bad knee, which is swollen and painful so unable to run until it is feeling better.

Monday February 3rd – I was looking forward to going for a run tonight but I got home from work late and then didn’t feel like it. I ended up peeling myself off the sofa after nodding off at 10pm and going for a walk to Tesco and back. I literally didn’t have the energy to get changed into my running kit, nevermind run. I was sitting on the sofa contemplating not even doing anything but the thought of failing this challenge just wasn’t an option. Glad I did it. Went straight to bed when I got back.

Tuesday February 4th – First day pet sitting Jake so we went for a nice walk. I figured we had 30 minutes before it got dark, so this gave us just enough time to walk the path towards the stack, as far as the bus stop/picnic bench. Was really gutted to see a huge tree blocking one of my favourite dipping spots. We got back just as the last of the light faded.

Wednesday February 5th –

Another walk with Jake and as it was already getting dark I didn’t want to walk down the path to the stack, so I decided to walk along the cycle path to the houses and then back along the main road where it was well lit. I really enjoyed this walk, it was very relaxing.

Thursday February 6th – Another walk with Jake. This time I wanted to walk in the other direction along the path, however as we got a little way down there was someone up ahead. With the light fading and Jake being anxious of others, I didn’t want to cause him to react, so we turned around and walked back the other way to the picnic area and then back again.

Friday February 7th – Today was the coldest day ever !!! I hated being in work. The wind was biting and it made 6° feel like -10° and I’m not even exaggerating. It was horrible and I was dreading having to go back out for a walk with Jake. I had a bit more time tonight and could walk further before it got dark, so we managed to walk all the way to the bridge that is just before the stack. It was nice to actually go further than the picnic area. Luckily we were sheltered from the wind by the trees along the path and it was really quite pleasant, the warmest I’d been all day.

Saturday February 8th – Today is parkrun day! But due to my injured knee I was unable to run, so decided to just volunteer for a change and rest my knee as I knew I’d be getting in a couple of walks with Jake later. Opted for Brynamman park run as it was closer to where I was working… I was a marshal on the route and I really enjoyed it. So glad it wasn’t as cold as yesterday.

Later I took Jake for a nice long walk along the path to the stack and we actually made it all the way to the stack! I love this walk, it is my favourite local walk, and the chimney always amazes me as it comes into view along the path.

We did another walk in the evening, this time I took a different path on the opposite side of the river, and then back up some steps. This actually didn’t take as long as I thought so we finished off with a loop of the playing fields. I think Jake will sleep tonight haha, I know I will 🤣😴

Sunday Feb 9th – I went for a swim over Spring Valley Lakes with Jo and Judith. It was a really cold day, air temp 6° but felt a lot colder. Not sure on water temp but probably around the same. It was really cold is all I know. Somehow we managed to swim for 20minutes, from one side of the lake to the other and back. Absolutely loved it and it’s really helped my knee, the pain has pretty much gone since.

In the evening then I did another walk with Jake. Took the route I wanted to do a few days ago and went in the opposite direction along the footpath, which came out by the George. We then had the long uphill walk up the Berrington Hill. This hill is awful, way worse than Rhiwfawr 🤣. Something wrong with my watch though as I couldn’t breathe and my HR was only 44!! My resting HR is 70 so this definitely wasn’t right! I loved this walk, was nice to go the other way, a path I rarely take as I always go to the stack.

Not the most exciting week but I’ve got to make the most of what opportunities I have due to lack of free time to do anything else.

Hopefully my knee will be better next week.

Another week complete.