Written by Sheila King-Andrews from Newfoundland
Four years ago, I turned 50! I was depressed, I had medical issues and I was out of shape.
Thanks to a couple of close friends who never gave up on me and encouraged me to get out more, I joined the YMCA and started water aerobics. Having bad knees and weak ankles, there weren’t many exercises I could do at that time.
By the end of that year, I got my first dog and it didn’t take long for her to become my little motivational coach. I started walking with her, and by the end of last year, I started hiking small trails.
In January this year, a friend from Prince Edward Island shared a post from My Time A Great Canadian Running Challenge. I joined in hopes of keeping me motivated and set a goal for myself. I started keeping track of my kilometres and I still had a hard time believing that I could reach 1000 KM. Reading everyone’s post gave me so much encouragement and inspiration to keep going strong.
Hiking Newfoundland Trails
I am proud to say that I have already hiked over fifty trails around Newfoundland. What an amazing journey it has been!
I always thought you had to be in good shape to be a hiker. You don’t! If you can walk, you can hike. I use walking sticks, knee braces and sometimes ankle braces. I can’t walk fast, and I have to stop for many breaks (that is where most of my pictures come from). Going down steps is the worst! I have to go down one at a time and sideways. There were times I literally had to crawl to reach the top of a trail, but I never let it stop me.
Nature is the best medicine!
Alexander Murray Hiking Trail was a birthday challenge I set for myself, and this is where I finally reached my 1000 KM for the year. This is one of my proudest moments.
My daughter, Sabrina, is my biggest inspiration!
Next year I am challenging myself to reach 1500 KM!
What a great and inspirational story!! Thank you, for sharing!