May. National Walking Month. The month that heralds warm spring sunshine, which makes getting up off the sofa and out in the fresh air to move more by putting one foot in front of the other that much easier. Walking is an easy and free way to get mobile, lose weight, become healthier and is ideal for anybody, no matter what their age or level of fitness, to be more active.

I am pretty active anyway but, for me, this National Walking Month will be bookended by two of the biggest challenges of my life, which together, will see me walk a distance of more than two marathons in aid of charity. And, as if that wasn’t enough, the first week of the month began with a week in South Wales exploring the stunning Brecon Beacons and wandering alongside rushing waterfalls that lulled us into a sense of calm and peacefulness. The weather was unbelievably sunny and the only downside was our decision to follow the directions of a guidebook that had clearly been written by a mountain goat! For ‘a tricky descent over loose scree’ read if you should slip and fall you will be cut to ribbons as you bounce down this almost vertical drop; we found an alternative way down but that wasn’t without its challenges……cue a soggy bottom from slipping on the mud.

Anyway, refreshed from the relaxing break we got up bright and early on the first Saturday in May and headed off to Goodwood racecourse for the start of the month’s first challenge over the South Downs. After filling up on complimentary bacon sarnies, we were off. It was 08:00, the sun was shining and it threatened to be a beautiful day. The only fly in the ointment was the 40km ahead of us.

Still, we were used to walking and had visited this part of the country before so were sure there wouldn’t be anything we couldn’t manage in terms of steep ascents and equally difficult descents. Shady woodland, bluebells carpeting the ground, lambs frolicking in the fields, a herd of cows being taken in for milking , it was a truly memorable experience. Once we reached the 20km marker, it was, figuratively if not actually, all downhill and the remaining 20km seemed to fly by. And when we finally crossed the finish line after 8 hours and 20 minutes I almost cried. We’d done it! So when asked if I wanted a free, commemorative t-shirt I wanted to shout, of course I do, I’ve just walked 40 kilometres!!!!

The event was good practice for our second challenge of the month, which will see us walk 56km from Richmond’s Deer Park to Turner’s Hill, just south of Gatwick Airport; this will take place on the last Saturday of the month.

In the meantime, I am endeavouring to walk as much as possible, to not only try to attain the recommended 10,000 steps a day but to also test out my new walking shoes. Every morning I detour round the park opposite my building rather than heading from my car straight to my desk. And, at lunchtime, off I set for another walk.

I’m sure we all believe we walk much more than we do – the average person actually only manages between 3,000 and 4,000 steps a day – so why not strap on a pedometer (or a fitness tracker or download an app to your phone) and see how many you do. I’m sure you’ve all seen the tips on how to walk more – get off the bus one stop earlier, take the stairs not the lift, etc. – so I’m sure there are a myriad little things you could incorporate into your day that will help you take a few more steps. Once you have your base step count, set yourself a challenge to increase that amount. Obviously you don’t need your challenge to be as extreme as mine but, you never know, you may enjoy walking so much that you, too, will sign up to walk a very long way to raise funds for a deserving cause.

Ceri Spain

Statutory Returns Officer

Department of Finance