@mhsutton

heart.head.work.life

Tag: walking

  • I’m going for another walk. 

    I’m going for another walk. 

    As you might know – I like to walk. So on the 10th of September I’ll be heading to Santander in beautiful Cantabria, Spain to complete the walk I started in June 2016. 

    The Camino Del Norte starts at Irun and ends in Santiago de Compostela. It runs for about 850 km with 32 stages. In June 2016, I started the walk from Irun to Santander, covering 255km and now – like a glutton for punishment – I’m heading back to complete the remaining 600km over 20 days.

    Why?

    Because I can! I’m lucky enough to be physically fit and able to, but more importantly, I would like to raise some £££ in support of 3 causes I think need more recognition and support. I hope you can help me do it. 

    The causes and charities I’ve chosen to support for this walk are:

    Women’s Health

    Endometriosis UK helps take women’s illnesses more seriously. They help families and victims of endometriosis take back control by providing support, services and community.

    Help Mike Raise Money for Women’s Health

    Children

    Sick Children’s Trust gives families one less thing to worry about when their child falls ill. Sick Children’s Trust provides a safe place to stay and someone to talk to, all free of charge.

    Let’s Help Sick Children and their families

    Dementia

    Alzheimer’s Research UK is the leading charity for funding dedicated research into Alzheimer’s causes and treatments in the UK. What they learn helps the world understand more about this condition that is increasingly affecting more of our elderly everywhere.

    Lets support Research Into Alzheimer’s

    Alzheimer’s Society are in the frontline of support and care for Alzheimer sufferers and their families – providing assistance, counselling and many other essential help. They also are active in engaging with policymakers for better support for this sector of care.

    Help Mike Support Families Dealing with Dementia

    In my upcoming posts, I’ll explain why I chose these specific causes.

    Back to the walk

    At the end of each day, I’ll share with you a summary of my walk along with the route I took. I’ll also tell you a story of someone who has unfortunately had to experience one of these three causes. Through clearer understanding and increased empathy, I hope you can give what you can and more importantly share this we need to raise awareness as much as we need to raise money.

    Camino Del Norte

    There are many Camino de Santiago routes, starting in France, Portugal, and Spain. 

    You can find more on the full route and gear I’ll be taking here.

    Traditionally, pilgrims would start their ‘camino’ from their own homes. Millions of people from all over the world have taken part in this walk. Most people have a clear idea of why they want to walk the Camino de Santiago routes: for religious reasons, as a personal spiritual journey, for a healthy challenge, or just the social aspect. 

    From my previous walks, I have felt a sense of community along the journey. You meet people, walk with them for a while, share moments together and then walk on by yourself. For me, that’s what it’s really about.

    My Reason

    Walking can be meditative. A chance to spend time with yourself and free up your mind from the noise of the outside world. It can be a way to identify what unwanted baggage you don’t realise you’re carrying. On this walk, I’ll be free of emails and replies. I can get comfortable with myself. It’s an opportunity to connect with whatever you need to connect with. 

    Within these 20 days, I encourage you to do the same. Spare a little time in the morning before work or a half hour on your evenings to get on your trainers and try it for yourself. 

    The End Game

    I want to raise £5000 by doing this walk. I want to share stories and learn more about the challenges of endometriosis, dementia and sick children. I want more people to connect with walking and themselves.

    And I need your help to do it.

    Stay tuned. I’ll be sharing more information on the 3 causes I’m supporting, my prep for the camino and how you can get involved.

    #TellYourStory

    I’m just a guy going for a walk, but I know there are so many that are affected by these issues and situations that I am supporting on my walk.

    If you have a personal story to share about endometriosis, dementia or supporting sick children, please consider sharing your story with me to bring more awareness, create more empathy and bring more support.

    I want to tell your story.

    You can share your story by filling a short form that will be turned into a blog post on this site, you don’t have to give any details beyond a first name.

    I will highlight your story on a day of my walk – giving your experience space and exposure it deserves.

    Endometriosis: click or copy/paste: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd7N49kIrxGTazupIFS0SgyY4E7zBTaM6aF1imbs-FO-iJ1Ug/viewform?usp=pp_url

    Sick Children: click or copy/paste: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScRQRx_SEa2fFI6-bf9IjjAgsPlk16KCMNwk6Oc0TYkIqBV8A/viewform?usp=pp_url

    Dementia: click or copy/paste – https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd3_Oqy3jLHuvH-2nDihJlziBiqHUA6bI8Jc-_QRptZ0PU5DA/viewform?usp=pp_url

    Thanks for reading and supporting me and these incredibly important causes.

  • #MikesLongWalk: An update and my first training walk

    #MikesLongWalk: An update and my first training walk

    The Latest News

    It seems like ages since I committed to walking the Camino and raising money for ME/CFS activism and awareness. Quite a lot has happened over the last month. Here’s the latest news:

    We’ve raised £2,128.66 out of the £3000 target and I’ve confirmed 2 sets of friends joining Maya and I on bits of the walk and I’m gradually acquiring my gear.
    The route is pretty much all finalised – I’ll publish it on my next post (early next week hopefully) – I’m just finalising the camping locations at each of the stops and Albergue options for my companions who aren’t able to tent it.

    I’ve bought my backpack which is a Forclaz 40 Air from Decathlon , holds up to 40 litres of my stuff. My target weight for gear is about 8kg and at the first trial this all fits in rather nicely.

    Just this week I completed my first training walk – had to happen sooner or later – here are the details and pics.

    My First Training Walk

    With just 7 weeks to go until my Camino starts, I need to get some consistent training walks in. I’m targeting about 24km per day during the Camino and my training walks need to be at least that distance – fully loaded with the expected back pack weight, the right shoes and generally the kind of clothes I’ll be wearing. The aim, of course, is to test everything – the kit, the dog and ME!

    My first training walk was from Nigüelas and across the mountain and down to Lanjarón, mostly along the GR7 route.

    face on with line

    My companions on this walk were Mark and Giles, Mark’s dog – Luna and my trusty mutt – Maya.

    We had a pretty dreary start to the walk – the almost consistent sunshine and blue sky typical of Southern Spain decided to take the morning off but thankfully the rain held off for the entirety of our walk.

    From Nigüelas, we took a shortcut to meet the GR7 – cutting out Acequias – and continued upwards until we reached 1260m above sea level and then pretty much stayed on this for 10KM after which we began our descent to Lanjaron. I don’t much mind the climbing, the 5km descent on mostly concrete road was a killer on the knees.

    Needless to say, the landscape – inspite of the weather – was stunning and being out on the open road with the promise of beer at the end – well, what’s not to love.

    Training is supposed to teach you something and it did – here is what I learnt:

    • I need layers – when the cold wind blew, my single fleece was just about enough but not cosy. We like cosy.
    • My running shoes might do for the walk  – they are really light but around the 12km they got a little rubby. I’ll know for sure after the second training walk.
    • I need to add Compeed blister plasters to my gear list!
    • As much as I love my trusty walking stick, I will probably be better off with walking poles and the one that my mate Mark recommends are the Leki poles – they are super light and strong.
    • I could have walked an additional 7 – 10km on the flat – which is great news from my first training walk!
    • My pack weight was 8kg and I could probably manage and extra 2 – but 8kg probably will do – especially given I need to factor in food rations for Maya.

    Enjoy pics of the training walk and look out for the horrible processional caterpillers!

    What Next

    I’ll be purchasing my tent – I’ve got my hopes pinned on getting a Tarptent Double Moment – it is a seriously lightweight and well reviewed/recommended setup by people who know tents!

    And getting the rest of my gear together – especially a sleeping bag!

    More training walks and multi-day ones too. The next one is pencilled in for early April – 24km one day, a camp out and 24km the next – that should sort the men from the mice!

    Please help

    I’ve written about why I’m doing this walk – to help raise awareness and funding to cure ME/CFS.

    Donate and share this post – ask your friends and family to do the same. Also really really important is that you find out more about ME/CFS – the more people ask and discover, the less isolated the sufferers feel and the more we can hold our governments accountable for funding research and effective treatments for this.

    Thank you for helping fix this.

     

  • I'm going for a walk

    I'm going for a walk

    The Short and Sweet

    Between May 8th and the 20th , I’ll be walking 214km 240km of the 815km long of the Camino del Norte – the northern route of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela.
    I’d like you to support me and my selected charity and invite you to join me.

    Walking the Camino de Santiago de Compostela

    Millions of people from all over the world have walked to the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela. The routes they have take over the ages are called the Camino.

    For whatever the reason people make this ‘pilgrimage’ – spiritual, recreational or simply popping out with the dog for a pint of milk – this is a chance to connect with whatever you need to connect with.  In my case, my dog, myself and your donation for a great cause.

    Ultimately I intend to complete the entire 815km northern route in 4 visits. This is the first visit, the second is tentatively planned for September 2016 and the rest in 2017.

    You can see more of the route I’ll be taking here.

    Make every kilometre count

    I’m making this journey because I’m fit and healthy and fancy a walk. There are thousands of sufferers of M.E in the UK  – including my best friend Joel – who can’t walk 100 yards without feeling totally exhausted. They’d love to do this – but they simply cannot.

    They – like Joel – used to be fit and healthy until they suddenly got severely sick and never got better –  like a permanent severe flu. Their lives have been put on painful pause by M.E and their recovery put on hold because the UK Government and medical establishment are hiding their heads in the sand on this. It is up to the general public – you , me and InvestinME – to move this forward.

    So I need your help.

    I need you to put your hand in your pocket and sponsor this walk. My target is £1000 and I’ll even match donations up to that target.
    Give what you can and more importantly share this we need to raise awareness  as much as we need to raise money.
    Sponsor me here now:
    JustGiving - Sponsor me now!

    About Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E)

    Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) is a systemic neuroimmune condition characterized by post-exertional malaise (a severe worsening of symptoms after even minimal exertion). It causes dysregulation of both the immune system and the nervous system. The effects of ME are devastating enough to leave 25% of patients housebound or bedbound. For moderate to severe patients, living with ME is like living with late-stage cancer, advanced stage AIDS, or congestive heart failure for decades. – www.meaction.net

    Living with ME is like living with late-stage cancer? That’s pretty rough – right? Now imagine that is your life for the next 5, 10 or even 15 years,

    You would think that with such chronic pain, suffering and lower quality of life affecting so many people with this condition that there would be state funding to fund research into the condition and develop a cure or definitive treatment. Not so – in the UK,  the funding to date – of  £2m over the last 25 years  – is entirely embarrassing.

    It simply isn’t good enough and I’m taking this walk partly to raise awareness of both the condition and the lack of emphasis on it. Please help me in doing both.

    Join me

    My 214km walk is in 10 stages and if you would like to join any of the stages – that would be wonderful. Here are some things you need to be aware of:

    • you need to be fit and able to commit to complete whatever stage(s) you join
    • you’ll need to make your way to the rendezvous location the evening before the start of the stage with whatever gear you need
    • If you would like to do a multi-day walk with me – you might have to rough it. My dog and I plan to camp in a tent most of the time but there are very basic hostels called Albergues that you can bunk in.
    • We’ll walk for 6 – 8 hours a day and eat ,drink, muse and recover for the rest of the time.

    If all this still excites you – please send me a mail and lets plan our camino. Please make sure you also make a donation to the cause too 🙂

    A Super Special Limited Offer

    I’m a sought after world class agile coach – you cannot hire me until 2018 because I’m all booked up to help organisations deliver value more effectively and joyfully . If you would like to spend a day walking and talking about the challenges you are facing as a manager/Scrum Master/whatever in a tech organisation struggling to deliver value effectively – then make a minimum donation of £500 to the cause above,  get your walking boots on and lets talk. I guarantee you it will be the best £500 your company ever spent.

    Limited to first 3 people only.

    Updates on my Camino

    I intend to keep this blog updated of my progress before, during and immediately following the walk – so be sure to bookmark and follow along.

    You can also “like” my Facebook page here to stay updated.