Update: 10 May 2022

So I'm delighted to say that I arrived at my last virtual stop in John O'Groats just over six weeks ahead of where I thought I'd be on 1 January. There were times when I think I was walking too much, especially when my knees were already very sore, but I made it with the encouraging words (and pledges) ringing in my ears. Thank you all for your generous support for four wonderful charities that each mean a great deal to me. I think I may carry this on but at a slightly slower pace now!

Update: 30 April 2022

I've had a great month and walked (and cycled) 325 miles this month. I've agonised over including one long bike ride from Bath to Bristol and back along the old regional railway line but many people cycle LEJOG too. So, I've got 93 miles left to do and have completed 991 to date and raised lots of money. I'm overwhelmed with the generosity of so many people, so a big thank you from me to you all.

Nearly there and another two weeks should do it... that's six weeks ahead of schedule.

Update: 31 March 2022

Today seems an unusually tough day; the first time I haven't really summoned up the will to go out walking (yet). I have hit the halfway point in my six-month walk today but I'm delighted to say that I have covered 61% of the distance (as of last night) and I'm between Penrith and Carlisle on the map. Next major point is obviously the border into Scotland.

Having completed 199 miles in January, 215 in February, I'm now up to 666 miles, so completed 252 in March... and my knees feel like it right now. Going down anything (hills or stairs) is agony and I can't currently kneel down because my kneecaps can't take the pressure. I'm sure it will pass.

I have 418 miles left so probably two months' of walking left meaning I shall finish a month early if I carry on at February's rate or mid-May if I match March... but that's unlikely.

Thank you all for your continued support for the wonderful charities.

Update: 28 February 2022

At the end of my second month I have completed 414 miles which I'm chuffed about, having just missed 200 at the end of January. So a short month and I've more than made up for it. I'm currently 69 miles ahead of target and just north of Stratford-upon-Avon; next stop Coventry and thus I'm really in the Midlands then. Still raising money and therefore very grateful for all the financial support for my four charities.

Update: 20 February 2022

I'm humbled by all the financial support my little "LEJOG" walk has generated and I'm so very grateful to all those who have pledged and donated funds to four wonderful charities - THANK YOU!

On Day 50 - today - my stats (actually from midnight last night) were that I had crossed mile-340 and thus have completed 31% of my walk against a target of 297 miles. My on-target-tracker is at Thruxton motor racing circuit on the A303 (where I have spent memorable times as a spectator and on the circuit in some magical cars) and I'm actually on the A34 at Didcot. Ironically I've crossed this stretch of the road probably 6,500 times over the years on the train between London and Chippenham. Next stop, Oxford and its dreamy spires but that will be beyond the 1/3rd distance marker. From there it's the market town of Banbury, Stratford-upon-Avon and then north to the Midlands.

I'm enjoying the walking and trying hard to vary my daily routes to keep life interesting. With the current weather, I'm also trying to steer clear of densely wooded areas - creaking trees is not a nice sound with the strong winds we have!

My knees are very sore at the moment and I've been to the physio in the last week and she slightly raised her eyebrows when she asked how much walking I doing (over 200 miles a month, I replied). I said I couldn't take time off so asked for exercises to strengthen my knee ligaments which have, apparently, too much play in them. Oh well, that's age I guess!

Right, off for today's long walk; toodle-pip.

Update: 11/2/2022

As of last night I have crossed the 25% marker and I'm now going through Salisbury. I'm about four days ahead of schedule but I am not sure if I can keep this pace up for six months. In less than six weeks I've walked more than 275 miles and the fundraising is going fantastically well and I'm humbled by the support - THANK YOU!

Update: 1/2/2022

As of the end of January, I was around 0.5 miles short of my 200-mile target for the month. Powering on and still trying to do two long walks a week with normal walking in between. If I can keep up this pace I'll be in John O'Groats two weeks early. Realistically, that gives me some room for injury or lazy days! Onwards and upwards...

The Backstory:

I took early retirement and officially stopped full-time work on 1 January 2022. I have always been goal-driven in my business life and have enjoyed walking in my own time. I decided that with time available to me I would set myself a target of a virtual walk from Lands End to John O'Groats during my first six months of retirement.

I'm using The Conqueror app which takes steps recorded by my mobile phone and smart watch and plots this against an extended distance of 1083.8 miles. I must therefore walk an average of 5.94 miles per day, every day from 1 January to 30 June 2022. As I write this on 20 January, I'm ahead of target having completed over 115 miles already in just under three weeks.

I'm keen to take the opportunity to raise funds for four charities: two national and two local. The British Heart foundation in memory of my late father, Prevent Breast Cancer because my dear Mum has beaten the disease twice, Dorothy House Hospice who provided the most wonderful "hospice-at-home" care to my late stepfather and Evie's Gift run by a good friend of mine who lost his daughter as a young teenager. They provide financial support to families whose children are in hospital.

If you feel able and wish to support one or more of these charities as I complete a virtual walk the length of the UK, I would be so grateful. Please do remember to Gift Aid if you are a taxpayer - it will add 25% to the value of the gift automatically!

I should add that there are four links below that appear to be identical; in fact the giving page for each of the four separate charities sits inside each link. Please either select the charity you wish to support or split your donation between more than one if you wish. If I can work out a way to identify each on the list below I will!

Many thanks.

Michael