Good News and Bad News

Today's the day I planned to start my epic walk. The overnight accommodation in Minehead has been booked for the last 3 months and rough schedules worked out. 

The Good News is that I have fully recovered from my hip problems. I have also recovered from the snot fest of Covid!

Unfortunately, the bad news is that my achilles tendon  has failed to recover in time. If you have ever suffered from problems with your achilles tendon, then you'll appreciate how frustrating they can be. Several times I have thought it had got better, gone for a short walk, only for it to become inflammed and painful again. I could just try to walk through the pain, if I was just going for a one off trek. However, as I am planning to spend at least 50 days consecutively walking, with a heavy pack on my back, then the cumulative effect would be excruciating and likely to risk rupturing the tendon! 

As well as being quite sore, I have been unable to practice carrying additional weight and climb any hills (something I need to be able to do, right from Day 1 of the walk). 

Thankfully, my achilles is finally starting to improve after lots of stretching, eccentric exercising (lowering your heal over a step) and vigorous massaging. Its not fully healed by any means, but I am starting to be able to do some gentle walking with no ill effects. I have therefore postponed the start of the trek until 17th of May. If I leave it any later, the latter stages of my walk will encroach into the peak holiday season, where path/campsites/cafe's etc are very busy and/or more expensive! 

I just hope that the tendon keeps improving. I will continue to gently increase the load I put it through over the next few days and have a final assessment on May 15th. Fingers crossed!

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