Return to the Malvern's...not listening to Return of the King..(Lord of the Rings Orchestra)

Avoid, avoid and for too long avoiding walking the Malvern Hills.  I craved driving to, parking up and hitting the hills.  However, due to concerns (once again, history repeats) of my fitness level/stamina I found reason(s) to avoid.  The Malverns had been a regular venture when training for the Sahara Desert September 2010 charity trek.  God  I learnt to love those mini treks, and certainly appreciated how they had helped me prepare for the Sahara trek.  My numerous trips and treks to the Malverns came to mind during the various diverse challenging times experienced September last year.

Sunday 26th June my fear of facing my fitness level was out weighed by the urge to re-visit, reflect and focus on my new training schedule.   Eventually after procrastination, procrastination and that last little job that needed to be completed, there was nothing stopping me.  Boots laced up, water bottles filled, great music selected to play during my drive to the hills, I hit the tarmac in Cherry Corsa.  My, my it was bloody HOT! and that was just driving to greenery, space and me time.  I found another excuse to avoid longer (procrastinate, I am so skilled at this), stopping to buy food my body was craving thinking of completion of walking the hills.

Parking ticket bought, back pack on, one trekking pole to help encourage me to improve posture and not trigger off the nightmare back and hip pain or next day suffering paralysis from resurfacing old muscular kung fu day injuries :o$ (ouch, they hurt!).  Walking my last years regular route I go from trio avoid to natural recall and a rush of the many times I walked this same route.  I am a little surprised.  Breath needs improvement, more cardio at the gym and more visits to the Malverns.  Legs? hmmm mulling over that! not too bad! I notice weak moments and my footing in particular on my weak side of my body, the right side.  When an area of terrine is challenging I notice on my right foot I have a habit of treading on toe.  I focus on heel and putting the entire foot into action to strengthen.  

I arrive to the top of the hills.  Not as bad as anticipated.  Plenty of training required and essential, but for once I cut myself some slack.    It is extremely hot today.  Sweat beading on my forehead and back, from a simple stroll, I find myself smiling and asking myself "Was that you that completed the Sahara Desert Trek, in soul destroying heat!?"  It was! When I trekked with the team the Sahara sands last year I continually tried to record many moments, visual, feeling, sound, taste and smell.  I kept saying absorb, embrace, feel, remember to go back to in mind.  I can recall, very good at visualisation and sound (even with limited hearing :o)) but I still can't quite believe for some reason, I completed that challenge.