Well, it’s a walking marathon, but it’s still a marathon right?! I am going to go from coach potato to marathon walker. What has inspired this change? Getting my hands on a Polar Loop 2 activity tracker.
When I was asked to try out the Polar Loop 2 I already had a fitbit and wondered how this would be different, but I love it. I decided I wanted to use the experience to motivate me to complete some sort of fitness challenge. What challenge was the question; as someone with major back issues running related events are out of the question, then I remembered about the Walk The Walk Moon Walk and I knew that was MY challenge. Walk The Walk donates the money raised to various breast cancer charities; a cause close to my heart. My mum is a breast cancer survivor and a friend who blogs, Mim, has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and is a pure inspiration. I want to walk for them, I WILL walk for them.
My sister in law is also trying out a polar loop 2 and so was the perfect person to ask to walk the marathon with me; thankfully she agreed! We have just started the second week of training and are up to 4 miles a session, a far cry from the 26.2 that we will have to do on 14th May, yikes!
I wanted to record my training for the challenge, so that I will remember every step along the way and also share how the Polar Loop 2 has helped with the training.
My starting point
At the moment I am considerably overweight, with 3 prolapsed discs, SPD and arthritis in my back. Needless to say not very fit at all.
My goal
By 14th May I need to be fit enough to walk 26.2 miles without killing myself! I have 14 weeks to do this.
My motivation
My mum, Mim and all the brave ladies out there fighting this awful disease.
My plan
This is where the Polar Loop 2 comes in. It is hugely motivating to know that a band is tracking your activity and with the Polar Loop 2 if you don’t move for 50 minutes, it vibrates to give you a reminder to get going! Although some days I feel like an electric shock would be more motivating for me personally!
I am also following the Walk The Walk training plan, which you can gain access to here. It gradually builds up the distances and ensures you are ready in time to walk. The Polar Loop 2 is fabulous and tracks steps, calories used, as well as adding all your activity up and showing it to you graphically in a bar which fills up and also in terms of what you still have to do that day to hit your activity target, i.e. walk for 1 hour or jog for 34 minutes. I love that it shows me what I still need to do, my brain works better this way. When you are setting up your Polar Loop 2, you enter in your weight, so when you are given the calories burned figure, you know if will be accurate.
Polar Loop 2 Dashboard
Once charged the battery lasts for ages, but when you do have to connect it to charge and sync, you can gain access to other information too, like the amount of sleep (and the amount of restful sleep) you have (or don’t have!).
My Training Diaries
28th January/1st walk – 2.9 miles in 1 hr 30 min
My first training walk. The timing is off as Baby’s bike is in the garage, so that time includes getting it out, strapping her in and doing the same when we got back. I also had to stop a couple of times to show her ponies! Wrestled with the bike all the way round to keep it on track, so my arms had a work out too! Huge pain in my foot, need better shoes!
30th January/2nd walk – 4.8 miles in 1 hr 20 min
We were out for the day so I got Mr Hubby to drop sister-in-law and I off four miles from home (I have researched the drop off on google), then we walked home. I thought this would be easier mentally than going home and having to come back out again. This time I has lots of shoulder pain and there were more hills to contend with.
1st Feb/3rd walk – 3.0 miles in approx 50 minutes
This walk was the toughest so far. Baby decided she was scared of her bike and so I took her in her Quinny. As soon as we set off she started crying saying she wanted to go home (nothing wrong with her, she just wasn’t feeling being outside). I found it really hard to mentally carry on when I wasn’t feeling it, the weather was rubbish and I would rather have been at home, then add it whining child. However, I pressed on and did three miles. Hooray!
4th February/4th walk – 4.0 miles in 1 hour 03 mins (15.51 min miles)
Decided to walk while Baby was at nursery, meaning that although it ate into my working time, I could just get it done without being nagged. I dropped Baby at nursery, whacked on a Podcast and walked (up very steep hills as it happens) for two miles, then turned round and walked back the the car. It was great to listen to the Podcasts while walking, I tried to work on my phone too, but three things is too many for me to do and I nearly ended up in a ditch!
That’s it so far and I will check back in when I have got further into the training programme.
Disclosure: I was given this activity tracker in return for an honest review.
Comments 21
The fitness tracker sounds like it’s provided you with a lot of motivation, as does the good cause you’re raising money for. Keep going, and going, and going. You’re going to feel incredible when you achieve this!
Here’s something else that might help. It’s a tracker for virtual walks. Set yourself a target and you can input your distances walked every day and follow your virtual walk online! Another source of motivation : myvirtualmission dot com.
GOOD LUCK!
aw good for you I started the couch to 5k last month its great fun and I am actually loving it good luck hunny
well done. I’m doing the Moon Walk this year too. In my third week of training (started slightly early). I did 4.5 miles this week, and the instinct is in me to want to get out there and walk now which is good. I think tomorrow we’re aiming for a five mile walk to up the distance a little as I have two weeks out of training in April when we’re on holiday. I look forward to watching your training.
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Oh that’s great that you are doing it too. I am still on 4 miles, but going to 5 on Thursday. We will both smash it 🙂 x
Good luck lovely, you’ve got plenty of time to work up to the 26 miles. You’ll get there! x
Good luck with your training and the polar loop gadgets sounds interesting I wish my witherings (Fitbit) would shock me when I am not mobile lol
WOW go you! doing a marathon, whether walking or running is no mean feat!! good luck and I can’t wait to hear how it goes! xx
Wow 26 miles, I can’t even do 1 mile! It’s a really worthy cause though, I hate cancer. I really admire you for doing this, and hope the tracker keeps you going! xx
Aw bless you hun you must be in so much pain but you are so brave to do the polar loop and run that killer marathon xx
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It is a walking marathon, but the polar loop activity tracker will help with my training. Thanks hun x
Oh Good Luck – how fantastic of you. I am sure you will do it – you have such support willing you on. It is absolutely brilliant what you are doing. Kaz x
I love the idea of the polar loop – I need some motivation to get outside and walking at the moment – good luck with your challenge xx
You are doing so so so well beautiful! I’m so honoured you’re walking for me too, thank you x x x
Oh wow, this is amazing Aby! I will try and remember to sponsor you nearer the time 🙂
Louise x
You can do it babes! I know you can, I will be with you in spirit! Actually why not call me when you’re half way round, I can tell you some really good jokes to keep your spirits up. I know you can do it and just want to say you are an utter inspiration. Love you xxxxx
Your tracker looks fantastic and it is great that it is motivating you to complete your walking marathon for such an important and worthy cause. Good luck! #thelist
It’s a great idea to be dropped off away from home, shame there are so many hills! Good luck with your training, I really hope you do well #thelist
This was really interesting. I have a Fitbit, but struggle to get motivated to get exercising. Maybe it’s time to invest in a new gadget! Via #TheList
What a fab challenge! I’ve not done this myself but know from others how gruelling the training is. Well done you, a very worthy cause! Best of luck, looking forward to reading about your progress xx
Good luck with your training. I like the idea of a walking marathon, I always wanted to do a marathon but not sure I have the motivation at the minute. Good luck
Good luck with your traning Aby… you can do it! I will be cheering you along on your journey! x #thelist