Officially, I am not looking to #walk1000miles this year, having come so close in 2016 and exceeding the total last year.

But I will be tracking my mileage as the months go on, as I’m interested to see how I may fair in a more ‘normal’ and less challenging year.

06/01 – 15.75 miles – East Mendip Way: Nunney to Frome
13/01 – 16 miles – Severn Way: Avonmouth
14/01 – 9.5 miles – Wrington and Redhill
20/01 – 9.75 miles – Severn Way from Severn Beach
27/01 – 10 miles – Black Mountains, Wales (led by Brunel)
31/01 – 1.25 miles – Wrington, North Somerset

Total for January 2018 = 62.25 miles

So, I didn’t embark on my first walk of 2018 until a full five-days after the turn of the year. But, I have managed to complete the East Mendip Way and walk further stretches of the Severn Way in this short time (both of which are goals for the year).

I’m mostly walking once a week right now, with no great incentive to get out on a dark cold evening and beat along the pavement. There’s also the importance of maintaining other areas of my life: I live on my own, have to look after the home, myself and keep things like this blog going. Last year, I would allow these things to slip in order to cram the extra miles in.

I’ve only been on one group walk, so far this year. I find that to be a little sad but it’s also part-reflective of the state of our walks programme right now. Things should improve with the growth in daylight hours.

This time last year, I managed an impressive 77.25 miles. I’m pleased that I’m not far off that mark – without intending to sound competitive! I wasn’t expecting to peak about fifty, if I’m honest.

For 2018, I have an intention to find a workshop to rent in my spare time; whether that’s an entire property to myself or a small space within a larger setup. That could certainly affect my time spent outdoors, depending on how things develop. I’m also looking to move home… I have ideas on where I could end up and I would be sacrificing immediate access to many acres of countryside. But it may also favour my mental well-being in the long run.

62.25 miles so far…

Thanks for reading.