My #100 Days of Walking is complete!

I finally did it! I completed my #100 Days of Walking Challenge on Sunday 12th December at the North Down Coastal Path! Starting on 1st January 2021 in Knockmany Forest near Augher, I made the bold decision to walk for at least 30 minutes for 100 days in 2021. I even announced this on my Facebook page to make me committed and I have posted a photo there on every day I walked.

As you can probably gather, I am a fair-weather walker – I don’t go for a walk if it is bucketing with rain. Most people doing this challenge will walk for 100 consecutive days in sunshine, snow, wind or rain but not me. I started out really well in January but then it petered out a bit in February and actually stopped at day 43 on 28th March. I didn’t stop walking then but just stopped posting photos on Facebook. Then in September, a few people said to me that they missed my photos so on 26th September, I posted a walking photo from Belfast’s Ormeau Park on day 44 so I’ve done pretty well since then.

Where did I walk?

Lurgan Park, Moira Demesne, Craigavon Lakes and Hillsborough Forest were regular haunts as were the North Down Coastal Path and Hillsborough Castle Gardens. Other top spots were the Broadwater Canal (Aghalee), Tollymore Forest, Castlewellan Forest, Newcastle Promenade, Murlough Beach, the Lagan Tow Path and the Argory. (Loughgall).

I prefer circular walks rather than walking so far on a path and then stopping to return the same way. Sometimes I walked alone (if I felt safe to do so) or I preferred to have company plus a wee coffee break.

What did I get out of the walks?

1. I got fitter and lost weight but I’m not divulging how much weight!
2. It boosted my mood – on a day wheh I was feeling a bit blue, my daily walk helped me to feel better about life.
3. My coffee dates often became walking and coffee dates which was better for my friends too. And when you grab an outdoor coffee, you are less likely to have a sweet treat.
4. I connected with more people on Facebook. Some of my photos were liked by 40 people and many people left lovely comments too.
5. More appreciation of our natural world. We have some beautiful forests, parks and beaches in Northern Ireland and by having this challenge, I was forced to get out and about to see them.
6. My photography skills have improved a little.
7. It kickstarted me to start blogging. Three years ago, I attended a blogging course ran by my friend Christine Watson for Libraries NI and I’m now finally started to put some of this knowledge into action.

A big thank you

What’s next?

Well that’s up to you as I’d like to challenge you to do #100daysofwalking in 2022. Let me know in the comments below if you decide to take me up on this challenge.

Will I do it again? Yes but this time I have upped the stakes and set my 2022 challenge as #200rambles hoping to raise £200 for Action Cancer while I ramble.

Lynda Willis