60 Km of Madness!

I have announced to a few friends that I am planning to do a solo 60 km walk to celebrate my 60th birthday next year. The general reaction to my plan was "mad ah?"! One of my regular walking kakis asked me why I was thinking of doing such a thing. I took two days thinking about it and searching my inner most being for an answer.

These are my reasons for my "Mad" endeavour:

1. I love walking.
2. I want to celebrate 60 years on this earth by walking 1 km for each year God has given me. And to celebrate the "extra" years He has allowed me to have.
3. I want to challenge myself by stretching body and mind.
4. I would like to raise funds for National Cancer Centre.
5. I just want to do something crazy at 60!

So, I have planned the route and am starting to train for it. Initially, I had wanted to search for a route that will take me through forested areas. I then realized that the logistics would be tremendous and it would have to involve other people.

So I have finally decided to walk Rifle Range Road to the end and back which is 6 km. Do that 10 times and I get my 60 km. It is just outside my place (Base Camp) which will allow me to drop back home for a drink or a bite, to pee and poo, change clothes and shoes and even take a shower or a nap! Friends wanting to join me can do so at any point in time. Super great idea!

The only draw back is that it is a road walk, no pavement and the traffic is quite heavy on weekdays. So, I have decided to walk on Good Friday which is a public holiday. This should mean fewer vehicles on the road.

The significance of Good Friday has an added meaning for me. It is when our Lord walked to Golgotha to be crucified. It is the day He suffered great pain and humiliation for our salvation. It is the day, sinners rejoice for God has redeemed us through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ. Not for even one moment am I comparing my "gila" and "seow" walk to His walk to the cross, but I know I will be suffering a little and it will serve as a good reminder that on that day I am saved! Amen!

Well, the hat has been tossed over the fence, so come 6 April 2012, rain, shine, storm, hail, snow, tornado, hurricane, tsunami or earthquake, I shall be walking my talk. More information closer to the date on how you can join me ... and I hope you will ... not all the way, but perhaps part of it.

It will not be an easy walk. This morning, I decided to start my training. It was a cool and cloudy morning, so I pushed myself. The first 6 km was a breeze. No problem. The shoulders started aching a little on the 12 km loop. Fingers got a little swollen so I walked with my hands raised above my head. Hip joints started to feel stiff so I varied my stride and pace and at times resorted to jogging downhill to break the tedium of the walking pace. The 18 km stretch was already getting tough. My lower back ached and the bottom of my feet hurt. Monotony was broken by a lovely couple who distracted me by pointing out a beautiful king fisher perched on a fence. I felt refreshed after that short stop. So, I know that I will need company on the way to distract me from the aches and pains I will be feeling.

After all, how much entertainment can one get from counting dead snakes, flattened frogs, squashed snails and avoiding live monkeys en route? The toughest bit will be to leave "home" after taking a rest. But I will persevere and I will complete this 60 km of madness with God's help and yours! Block off the date, set aside some funds (I will be asking for donations) and start training. See you on Friday 6 April 2012!