Peta Godney

Week 4 Update – We’ve Well and Truly Smashed It!

Today was supposed to be my martial arts training day, and I had a brilliant plan. I thought I’d walk there and back, clocking up around 2 miles, do my hour of training, and then enjoy a nice leisurely stroll home afterwards.

It was all going perfectly… right up until I arrived and realised I’d turned up on completely the wrong day!

Never mind. While the martial arts didn’t happen, the walking certainly did, and I still managed to get my 2 miles in. The really exciting bit is that those 2 miles mean I now have just 3 miles left to complete before I hit my original 60-mile target.

With two days in London coming up this week, I’ll be able to add a few more miles to the total. I probably won’t rack up quite as many as I normally would, but I’m confident that by the end of the week I’ll have reached my 60 miles—and most likely gone beyond it.

The fundraising has been fantastic too. Not only have I exceeded my original target, but the other half has very kindly offered to sponsor me £2 for every mile I walk. Silly man! Has he forgotten how much I enjoy walking?

So, if anyone else fancies sponsoring a few extra miles, bring it on!

I’m not going to make any promises about exactly how many miles I’ll go beyond my target. The next few weeks are looking pretty busy, but it’ll be interesting to see where I end up.

We’re now in Week 4, it’s the 22nd of June, and I think it’s fair to say we’ve well and truly smashed this challenge. The target may be in sight, but I’m not stopping yet.

Let’s see how much further we can go!

Heat, Miles and a Milestone

It’s been very, very warm today, so I’ve still done my walks, but at a much slower pace than usual. With temperatures sitting at around 26°C when I set off, the priority was looking after my health and wellbeing rather than chasing speed. Sometimes the sensible option is to ease off a little and simply keep moving.

Today’s walk ended up being split into three sections, thanks to a couple of much-needed pit stops along the way. In weather like this, a break in the shade and a chance to cool down can make all the difference.

The big news, though, is that I’ve now reached 51 miles for June. Hooray! That’s a fantastic milestone, especially considering it’s only the 18th of June. I’m well on track and feeling pleased with the progress, even if today’s miles were earned at a slower pace than normal.

Proof that consistency beats speed every time. 🚶‍♀️☀️🎉

Miles, Humidity and Rivals

Well, today didn’t quite go to plan!

It’s been incredibly warm and humid here, and I’d originally intended to walk to Sainsbury’s to add a few more miles to the challenge. However, one step outside was enough to convince me that battling the humidity wasn’t the smartest idea.

Instead, I put on the final episode of Rivals—and wow, what a shocker that was! While I was watching, I hopped on the treadmill. I didn’t set myself a target or have any particular distance in mind; I simply kept walking until the programme finished.

By the time the credits rolled, I’d quietly clocked up another three miles.

So, we’re moving again and edging ever closer to the finish line.

Tomorrow I might walk over to visit a friend, although that will depend entirely on what the weather decides to do. If it’s anything like today, I may need to rethink my plans again! I’ve also got a grand plan for Saturday which should help me rack up quite a few more miles, so watch this space.

We’re getting there, people. Slowly but surely, every mile is adding up.

Thank you all so much for your encouragement, messages and support so far. It genuinely helps keep me motivated. If you’re able to donate, please do, and if not, your good wishes and support are very much appreciated too.

Day 15 – Week Three Begins!

Well, it’s Day 15 and the start of Week Three of my fundraising challenge, and I’m delighted to say that things are going really well.

First of all, I’m now just £30 away from reaching my fundraising target, which is absolutely fantastic. A huge thank you to everyone who has supported me so far – every donation really does make a difference.

On the walking front, I’m even more pleased to report that I’m now two-thirds of the way through the challenge in terms of mileage. I’ve reached 40.9 miles – just 0.1 of a mile short of 41 miles! Looking back, I really should have walked around the block before coming home, but never mind. I’ll take it!

Today’s miles came courtesy of a pleasant walk to Superdrug to pick up a few bits and pieces. On Wednesday, I’ve got a wander planned over to Sainsbury’s, which should help me rack up a couple more miles and keep the total ticking upwards.

One thing I’ve really enjoyed throughout this challenge is simply getting out and about. I’m very law-abiding when it comes to crossings and sticking to pavements, and I have to say that most – although not all – drivers have been absolutely brilliant. They spot me marching along at a fair old pace, slow down, flash their lights to let me know they’ve seen me, and generally make it easy for me to keep moving without breaking stride. It’s a small thing, but it makes the walks much more enjoyable.

Of course, not everyone is quite so considerate, and there have been a few choice characters along the way, but the less said about them, the better!

For now, it’s onwards and upwards. I’m really pleased with my progress and can’t wait to reach the 60-mile target to see which day I hit it. In fact, I’m starting to wonder whether I might even exceed the 60 miles. I’m not making any promises just yet, though. I’ve got work in London next week, which will probably limit how much walking I can fit in on a few days, so we’ll just have to see how things go.

In the meantime, if you feel able to pop your hand in your pocket and spare a few pennies, I’d be incredibly grateful. The donations aren’t for me – they’re for Dementia UK, a charity that provides vital support to families affected by dementia.

Thank you for all your encouragement and support. Every mile and every donation helps keep me going.

Back at it - mile 36

After a couple of days of taking it a little easier and plodding around doing housework (although, looking around, you’d never know I’d spent so much time cleaning!), it was back to the walking challenge today.

And what a productive day it’s been. We’ve added another six miles to the tally, bringing the total to 36 miles. We’re getting there!

I’m hoping that tomorrow’s trip to Superdrug to pick up a few bits and bobs will help push me closer to the 40-mile mark. That would feel like a fantastic milestone to reach.

Today’s walk took me over to my friend’s house. I had my tunes on, was completely absorbed in the music, and before I knew it the miles were ticking by. Sometimes those are the best walks—the ones where you don’t really notice the effort because you’re simply enjoying yourself.

The weather was just about perfect too: warm enough to feel pleasant, but with a lovely breeze to keep things comfortable. Not too hot, not too cold—ideal walking weather.

So that’s more steps, more miles, and more progress towards the goal.

Tomorrow’s another day, another walk, and hopefully another milestone.

Halfway There – 30 Miles Down, 30 to Go!

Well, I’ve done it. I’ve officially hit the 30-mile mark out of my 60-mile challenge. That’s 50% completed, just 11 days in, with 19 days still to go.

Today wasn’t exactly ideal walking weather. It was wet, miserable, and, more importantly, properly cold. I had planned to head out for a walk, but the combination of rain and that damp chill in the air put me right off. Once that cold sets in, especially when you’re working up a sweat, it can be absolutely miserable.

Instead, I decided on a different approach. I stuck Rivals on the television, let a bit of Jilly Cooper keep me entertained and distracted, and dusted off the treadmill. My goal was simple: I wasn’t stopping until I reached that 30-mile milestone.

I won’t pretend it was the most exciting way to spend part of the day. Walking foot in front of foot and essentially going nowhere can get a bit repetitive. But sometimes it’s not about excitement—it’s about determination. The miles still count, whether they’re clocked up on country paths, city streets, or a treadmill in the living room.

And the important thing is that I did it.

Thirty miles completed. Halfway there.

Tomorrow is officially a day off. It’s going to be a busy day, so there’ll be no challenge miles added and I’m perfectly happy with that. Sometimes rest is just as important as the effort itself. Then it’ll be back to it over the weekend to see how much further I can push towards that 60-mile target.

For now, though, I’m taking a moment to celebrate the milestone.

30 miles down. 30 miles to go.

Hurrah! 🎉🚶‍♀️

Challenge Update – A More Relaxed Day

After a few busy days, I decided to take things a little easier today. Rather than heading out for a long walk, I dusted off the treadmill and settled in for some entertainment.

A friend recently introduced me to Rivals, based on the Jilly Cooper books, so on went Disney+, on came the first episode, and before I knew it I’d walked 1.6 miles without really thinking about it. It’s amazing how much easier the miles seem when you’re completely engrossed in what’s on the screen!

While it wasn’t one of my longer walking days, every mile still counts, and it’s another step closer to my goal. Sometimes it’s important to listen to your body, take a slightly gentler approach, and remember that consistency is what really matters.

Tomorrow is set to be a bigger walking day, and I’m hoping to smash through the halfway mark by the end of it. Fingers crossed the rain holds off and I can get the miles in without getting soaked.

For now, I’m pleased with today’s progress. A relaxed day, a good programme, and another 1.6 miles added to the total. Every step is taking me closer to where I want to be. 🚶‍♀️💪📺🌧️➡️☀️

Challenge total: still moving forward, one mile at a time.

Challenge Update – One Step Closer

Well, I’ve had an epic one today.

I managed to get just over 5 miles in, walking to the city centre and back to meet a friend and help her with her bank account. It turned out to be a lovely day too. The sun came out, but thankfully it wasn’t too hot, and there was a nice breeze, which meant I looked a lot less sweaty than I normally do after a long walk!

The miles are starting to add up now, and I’m feeling quite pleased with how things are going. I’ve already reached 24 miles, which means, fingers crossed, I might be well on my way to hitting that halfway mark by the end of the week, exactly as I’d planned.

Tomorrow is going to be a bit of a rest day. There are plenty of things that need doing around the house, so I’ll be taking a break from the longer walks and getting some jobs ticked off the list instead.

Then it’s back to it on Thursday with another big walk planned. If all goes to plan, that should push me over the halfway mark. Surely that’s got to be worth a few extra pennies in sponsorship money!

Thank you to everyone who’s been supporting, encouraging, and cheering me on. Every mile is getting me closer to the finish line, and every donation helps make the effort worthwhile.

Onwards and upwards! 🚶‍♀️☀️💪

Week Two – Onwards and Upwards!

It’s the second week of my challenge, and I’ve got off to a great start today, clocking up just under five miles. I headed out to visit my friend Jackie, which made for a lovely walk and a good catch-up.

I had a bit of a miserable weekend after managing to pull some muscles in my ribcage. It’s probably something to do with carrying that six-kilo backpack in the middle of last week! I decided to do the sensible thing and take two days of rest to let it settle down, and thankfully it’s feeling much better now.

So, onwards and upwards with week two.

I’ve also had a couple more sponsors, which is marvellous. I’m not far off my fundraising target now, and I’m hoping a few more people will sponsor me as the week goes on and can see that I’m definitely in it to win it.

I’ve got another big walk planned for tomorrow. Then on Wednesday I’ll have a bit of a rest day, perhaps just do a little bit on the treadmill, and then see what the rest of the week brings.

Ideally—and I know it’s quite ambitious—I’d love to reach the halfway mark by the end of the week. Whether I manage it or not remains to be seen, but it’s certainly something to aim for.

Thank you to everyone who’s supported me so far, whether through sponsorship, encouragement, or simply following my progress. Every bit of support means a lot.

Dementia UK Challenge – Day 5 Well, I tried to have a rest day. I really did.

But when I found myself with a spare half hour, I started thinking that it would be pretty easy to squeeze in just one mile on the treadmill. One mile couldn’t hurt, right?

Twenty minutes later, the mile was done and added to the total. It’s funny how quickly these little miles add up when you stop overthinking them and just get moving.

That said, I am officially calling it there for today. I’ve got a massage appointment booked, and I fully intend to enjoy a bit of recovery time. Rest is just as important as the miles themselves, especially when I’m trying to keep this challenge going consistently.

So, another mile in the bank, and now it’s time to relax and recharge for the next one.

Dementia UK Challenge – Day 4: Making the Miles Count

Today was one of those days where a bit of planning and creative thinking paid off.

I managed to rack up an impressive 6 miles today, all while carrying a backpack weighing around one stone – roughly 6 kilograms. It’s amazing how much extra effort you can feel when you’re carrying additional weight, but it all adds to the challenge and makes those miles feel even more earned.

The biggest challenge today wasn’t the walking itself, it was fitting everything into a busy schedule. I needed to visit a friend, collect my car from the station, and somehow make sure I still got some decent mileage in for the challenge.

Rather than seeing these things as separate jobs, I decided to combine them. I got the train to the station nearest my friend’s house, only to discover that “nearest” is a slightly flexible term because it was still a mile away! Still, a mile is a mile, and every one counts. That’s another mile safely banked towards the challenge total.

After a lovely visit, I then walked back from her house to the station in time for tea. That journey alone was around 3.7 miles, which really helped boost today’s total. Before I knew it, all the little bits of walking throughout the day had added up nicely, leaving me with 6 miles completed.

One thing I’ve learned from this challenge already is that you don’t always need to set aside hours specifically for walking. Sometimes it’s about looking at your day differently and spotting opportunities to turn everyday journeys into extra miles.

Tomorrow, however, is a very well-deserved rest day.

There will be absolutely no walking challenge updates from me because I fully intend to be horizontal on a massage table while somebody works their magic on my legs and feet. Recovery is important too, after all!

I’ll be back at it on Saturday, hopefully with refreshed legs, happy feet, and ready to add a few more miles to the total.

Challenge miles today: 6

Challenge lesson of the day: Never underestimate how quickly the miles add up when you turn everyday errands into opportunities.

Dementia UK June Challenge – Day 3 Today was strength training day, so I kept things fairly simple on the walking front.

Rather than heading out anywhere, I opted for an indoor walk on the treadmill to get my little legs warmed up before my workout. It was only a mile today, and I could quite easily have decided not to bother. But then I thought, why waste all those miles I’ve got in the bank? Every little bit counts.

The strength training session itself went well… although I may have slightly overdone it. I could feel one of my hip flexors starting to complain, so I decided to stop a little earlier than planned. But do you know what? It doesn’t matter.

It’s still a mile.

It’s still done.

And it all adds up.

Tomorrow is looking a bit more promising for the step count. I’ve got to hoof it across Newcastle to our Newcastle office, which should rack up around a mile walking to and from the train station. Then I’m planning to pop over to see a friend, which should add a couple more miles onto the total.

Friday, however, is officially a day off.

It’s massage day.

And I firmly believe that once you’ve had a nice massage, the only power walking you should be doing is from the treatment room to the nearest comfortable chair!

So that’s it for today. Short and sweet.

Tomorrow’s another day, more miles, and hopefully a few more pennies raised for an incredible cause.

Thank you so much to everyone who has donated, shared, encouraged, and followed along so far. Please keep giving if you can—every donation helps Dementia UK continue its vital work supporting families affected by dementia.

See you tomorrow.

Well, Day 2 is done and dusted!

I finally spotted a window of opportunity today – and I mean a literal window between the biblical proportions of rain that seem to have been falling all day. With the weather looking slightly less apocalyptic for half an hour, I decided to make the most of it.

I needed to pick up a prescription and drop off a couple of parcels, so I thought a little round trip would be manageable. I’ve got a really busy day ahead at work with reports to write and various bits to catch up on, then I’m off to visit a friend later. Somewhere in amongst all that, I also really, really need to hoover the living room!

With so much going on, I wasn’t expecting to do much walking today. The plan was simply a quick trip out and back. But it’s amazing how the miles add up when you’re not really thinking about them.

In around 30 minutes, give or take, I managed 1.8 miles. Who knew?

I’ve not even looked at my split pace yet, but it felt like a decent walk and I kept a good rhythm going. More importantly, it’s another chunk of miles banked towards the challenge total.

The nice thing is that I’ve already built up a little buffer. I’ve got a couple of miles in the bag now, which means if I need a rest day later in the week, I won’t feel guilty about taking one. And let’s be honest, by the end of the week I’ll probably be grateful for that option!

So, onwards and upwards. Day 2 completed, the miles are steadily racking up, and the challenge is off to a great start.

Dementia UK Challenge – Day 1 Complete!

Well, it’s Day 1 of my Dementia UK 60-Mile Challenge, and I’m pleased to report that we’ve started with flying colours!

The target for today was simply to get moving, and somehow, through a combination of pottering about, returning parcels to various lockers, and making a quick trip to Next to return a dress, I managed to clock up around 4.2 miles. Not bad at all for a day that didn’t involve any planned exercise!

It’s amazing when you stop and think about it just how far you can walk around your local area without really noticing. Every little journey soon adds up.

Thankfully, it was a bit cooler today, which definitely made things easier. Armed with my trusty iPod and a playlist full of feel-good tunes, I set off for a wander. Today’s soundtrack included a bit of Take That, plenty of ABBA, some Chaka Khan, and a mixture of other favourites thrown in for good measure. There’s nothing quite like a bit of disco to keep the legs moving!

Once I found my rhythm, I managed to get my split pace down to 15 minutes and 59 seconds per mile. Now, I know that’s not exactly record-breaking. Back in the day—a very long time ago—I could comfortably manage just under 13 minutes per mile. But I do only have short legs, people!

Still, that’s part of the reason for taking on this challenge. Hopefully, by the end of the month, after all these miles, I’ll be getting somewhere close to that pace again. Or at least in the same postcode.

The important thing is that every day is a bonus. Whether it’s a long walk or a short walk, it all counts. The goal is simply to keep going, keep moving, and keep putting one foot in front of the other.

A huge thank you to everyone who has sponsored me so far. Your support really does mean the world and helps keep me motivated. Hopefully this little update proves that I’m in it to win it and that I mean business!

Every mile counts. Every donation counts. Every step counts.

Here’s to Day 2 and whatever miles tomorrow brings.

Thank you, everyone!

It’s Only Two Miles a Day… Right?

So, after spotting the challenge on Facebook about three hours ago, I’ve signed up for the Dementia UK 60 Miles in June Challenge. Don’t ever challenge my spontaneity. 😂

When I first saw it, my immediate thought was, “Sixty miles? That sounds like a lot.” Then I did the maths. Over the course of June, that’s only two miles a day. Two miles is nothing, right?

For me, two miles is pretty much the walk to Asda and back. Suddenly, it didn’t seem quite so daunting. In fact, I have a feeling I might just need to “pop to the shops” a little more often than usual over the next month!

But that’s exactly the point. We often jump in the car because it’s quicker or more convenient. We run out of bread, need some cheese for dinner, or fancy picking up a few bits, and off we drive. What if, instead, we walked?

Those little journeys soon add up. Before you know it, you’ve clocked up a mile here, two miles there, and you’re well on your way to reaching your goal.

The reason I’m doing this isn’t because I’m a fitness fanatic or because I enjoy setting myself huge challenges. I’m doing it because it’s a good cause.

I have family members who work in dementia care homes, and they see first-hand the impact dementia has on individuals and their families every single day. It’s a condition that touches so many lives, and with the statistics continuing to rise, the chances of most of us knowing someone affected by dementia become greater with each passing decade.

So I thought, why not?

I’m fortunate to have some wonderful friends who are always willing to support worthwhile causes, and hopefully together we can raise a little awareness and a little money along the way.

Tomorrow is Day One 🙌😬

Sixty miles starts with a single step, and I’m looking forward to seeing where those steps take me over the next month.

Onwards and upwards.