I’ve spent the last few days using an App to track my walking trips. Whilst I’ve been a slave to Fitbit for years, I thought I’d like to see those little maps of my walks, like I see friends posting from Strava on their Facebook pages. I do not want to post mine anywhere (er, probably…), but am keen to have a record of my perambulations around the neighbourhood in these continuing strange times for my own reference.
I am using Endomondo – the free version. I don’t need bells and whistles – just so long as I have a map and it creates a nice one plus some simple stats.
I’ve also already been awarded two gold cups. These leave me cold, to be honest, although sometimes prompt me to share with my husband so he too can be suitably unimpressed that I went further than ever before (on Day 3 of use – hahaha). Fitbit has given up awarding me things – I reckon I’m past it now, but no doubt I will soon have walked to the moon and back so perhaps they’ll let me know when I do.
In addition to checking my progress mile by mile – which annoyingly interrupts my podcast or audiobook whilst I’m marching along (note to self, there must be a way of switching this bit off – research needed) – I have an extra distraction this week: spotting all the different inspection covers in the pavements! Oh dear – I really wish I was not doing this, but one of my friends has taken to posting pictures on social media of these covers in unusual places (well, in Richmond Park where you might expect it to be more wild). Someone commented that there should always be an indication on the cover of what lies beneath – hence I keep glancing more closely at the wretched things as I go past. I will stop this soon (I hope).
Anyhow, I am pleased to report that I have achieved the following*:
- Thursday 5.07 miles in 1 hour 31 minutes
- Friday 4.74 miles in 1 hour 27 minutes
- Saturday 6.18 miles in 2 hours 1 minute
- Sunday 4.63 miles in 1 hour 50 minutes (split in two ambles)
- Today 5 miles exactly in 1 hour 41 minutes (some of it hiding under a tree in the rain – yes I know that’s not a good idea but the thunder didn’t arrive till later)
- In total I have seen 473** manhole or inspection covers
*I promise not to share this again
**this is a completely made-up number (otherwise known as a lie) but I have certainly seen a lot.