Allan and I spent two weeks on the Gold Coast - a good opportunity to take time out and think about the year ahead.
With the London Marathon in April, our holiday was not a time for putting our feet up and getting soft around the middle. Quite the opposite!! We both look at Gold Coast holidays as our training camps - long beaches for walking or running and two Fitness First gyms close by.
Looking out our apartment window, we both wondered how long it would take to walk to the fartherest point we could see - you know, just start walking and see what happens.
So we headed off about 8am for a walk that we estimated to be between 30km and 40km - walking from Broadbeach to Coolongatta. And we were very prepared - suncream, sun hats, water and navigation watches - and mobile phones!
We kept a reasonable pace. With the summer sun, we quickly went through our supplies of water and Powerade but were able to fill up at convenienve stores along the way - and people in the stores were amazed when we told them that we were on a 30km walk. It's amazing the great people you meet.
Not too dissimilar to taking nutrition during a marathon - I found that I was not hungry - but kept the energy up with Powerade, Gu and jelly beans. At about 25km, we could see a major storm coming in and we calculated that it would be about a 45km round trip from Broadbeach to Coolongatta. So we picked Currumbin Surf Club as the turn around point - which would make our walk for the day 33 km.
The storm hit when we had about an hour and a half to go - but at least it wasn't cold, there was no lightning, just lots of heavy rain - and whipping wind. The legs and hips got a good work out, and were tired and sore at the end of the day. Just like doing a marathon, I was sore for a few days.
I have to say, that it was a great way to spend a day - just walking and talking with no time pressure. Can't wait to do it again!!
With the London Marathon in April, our holiday was not a time for putting our feet up and getting soft around the middle. Quite the opposite!! We both look at Gold Coast holidays as our training camps - long beaches for walking or running and two Fitness First gyms close by.
Looking out our apartment window, we both wondered how long it would take to walk to the fartherest point we could see - you know, just start walking and see what happens.
So we headed off about 8am for a walk that we estimated to be between 30km and 40km - walking from Broadbeach to Coolongatta. And we were very prepared - suncream, sun hats, water and navigation watches - and mobile phones!
We kept a reasonable pace. With the summer sun, we quickly went through our supplies of water and Powerade but were able to fill up at convenienve stores along the way - and people in the stores were amazed when we told them that we were on a 30km walk. It's amazing the great people you meet.
Not too dissimilar to taking nutrition during a marathon - I found that I was not hungry - but kept the energy up with Powerade, Gu and jelly beans. At about 25km, we could see a major storm coming in and we calculated that it would be about a 45km round trip from Broadbeach to Coolongatta. So we picked Currumbin Surf Club as the turn around point - which would make our walk for the day 33 km.
The storm hit when we had about an hour and a half to go - but at least it wasn't cold, there was no lightning, just lots of heavy rain - and whipping wind. The legs and hips got a good work out, and were tired and sore at the end of the day. Just like doing a marathon, I was sore for a few days.
I have to say, that it was a great way to spend a day - just walking and talking with no time pressure. Can't wait to do it again!!
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| Starting out - the view from Broadbeach to Coolongatta |
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| Turn around point - Currumbin Surf Club |
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| The storm - back at Broadbeach after our 33 km walk! |
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