This Term 7 has seen the great #GLSCoast2Coastchallenge, when SBLs across the UK have signed up to walk from The Grand Pier, Weston super Mare to Waterloo Crescent in Dover. 454.4km over 6 weeks, virtually. It finishes next Friday 6th September, but I feel inspired to write now about it, as I’ve realised that this Term 7 had all the hallmarks of being quite bleak, but I think the step challenge transformed that for me.
Some of you may know already that this summer has been a Burge examfest – my boys have completed their A-levels and GCSEs, successfully! So we took the decision of taking our family holiday in early July, which meant Term 7 was going to be one long slog of work when all my friends would be on holiday. In previous years just being at work for all but two weeks of Term 7 have been a struggle, so I wasn’t looking forward to this summer. But the #SBMstepschallenge has got me out the house in an evening and at weekends. I’ve not wallowed in self-pity at my status of being nearly the only person in my friendship group still going to work or spent too long watching my friends social media of their stunning holidays – I had after all the #GLSCoast2Coastchallenge photos to admire. And I have. It has been fascinating to see where people have holidayed, live, work and the challenges they embrace – it really has been a great event for SBLs to learn more about each other, bond, become inspired and get fitter – mentally and physically.
A normal pre #GLSCoast2Coastchallenge week for me, would see me walk 35km. Whilst on holiday I walked 42km on our chill out time on Vancouver Island and then 66.43km whilst extreming it in Whistler. Immediate post-holiday drive to get fit and change work life balance (shed the holiday weight!) saw two weeks of 40plus km and then the challenge happened, and I’ve been walking over 60km a week. I know I’m nowhere near the challenge leaders, but hey I got on the leader board once, albeit in 15th place….this isn’t bad for someone who is still working stupid hours in a predominately desk job. This is good, this Term 7 I’ve been able to encourage my boys to get out and walk or run – every night I’ve asked them to join me, I’ve been able to have long uninterrupted chats with hubby, agonising over and convincing ourselves about exam results, admired sunsets, watched silly holidaymakers in the mud around the Grand Pier and of course enjoy a slice or two of cake. Instead of working in the evenings I’ve been walking. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been to the Grand Pier and back. I’ve also walked footpaths and routes I’ve never knew existed and I’ve lived in the Weston super Mare area nearly all my life. It has inspired hubby and I to do a coastal path walk next summer, which I’m already looking forward to.
Almost don’t want Term 7 to end as I’m enjoying this challenge so much!
So thank you to Cheryl Campbell @JustChezBubbles for getting SBLs stepping in the first place and to GLS for creating the #GLSCoast2Coastchallenge. I’m not sure of the exact numbers of SBLs involved, but I know it has made a big difference to me this Term 7, I’m sure it has to others too. As one SBL colleague has told me the #GLSCoast2Coastchallenge “has not just been about the moving it is about the motivation and belief…sometimes we just need a nudge”.
Right my hubby is nudging me to get off my laptop, guess I’m off for a walk now!
Waffles of a School Business Leader 