Training Around the World

I have always taken Geoff’s challenges seriously, unless he’s had a few too many... in which case it’s best to find a quick exit!! So when the chance arose to walk across part of England, I set about my training with passion and determination. Granted, I was already on a 6 month holiday travelling around the world, but that didn’t stop me.


Instead of starting off with a slow and gentle regime, I threw myself into the deep end and decided to climb to Annapurna Base Camp in the Himalayas. At only 4,100 metres, it is a stroll compared to Everest Base Camp (5,500 metres) so seemed a fitting first training session.
I endured hardships such as no hot water, no red meat (what do you mean cows are sacred?!) and no Fosters which only steeled my resolve.


Conditions were generally good underfoot with well maintained paths and pleasant weather. We did encounter snow and ice in the final few days of our ascent... good preparation for what may lie in wait in England come June!!


I conquered this climb in 7 days, even managing to get engaged to Natalie along the way... let’s just hope that doesn’t repeat itself in The Cotswolds... I can only deal with one fiancé!















Lately my travels have taken me to Nepal, India, Australia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. There has been plenty of walking between the planes, boats, tuk-tuks, buses, trucks and motorbikes so don’t think I’ve gone soft. I even walked from Thailand to Cambodia and then Cambodia to Laos... granted it was only to walk across the few hundred metres of no-mans land between the borders, but I could argue the toss over a beer!


Some of my more strenuous sessions have included the walks through city streets with my 18kg backpack looking for accommodation that suited my budget. Not to mention the stair climbs at these establishments to view the rooms which always seem to be on a high floor. Similar walks have been repeated late at night (without the pack) in a drunken haze trying to find my hotels... these sessions are slightly more fun than the former.


With the weather consistently above 20 degrees the shoes have been replaced by thongs (flip-flops to you English) for the majority of our travels. My thong work has improved considerably since we started our trip and I can now easily negotiate sand, sea, rivers and rocky climbs without removing them or causing a thong ‘blow-out’. I still need to work on my speed and agility over the coming weeks but I could be a chance to wear my thongs for a journey... do HiTec have trekking thongs??

My next training walk will be Cradle Mountain in Tasmania. At only 1,545 metres it can’t compare with Annapurna but it towers over the relatively small highest mountain in England (that being Ben Nevis at 1,344 metres). But we all know that England produces small things so I won’t go on about it...