Sue Stubbs, a wonderful member of our Membership Services team is taking on an amazing challenge to raise important funds for Dementia Jersey.
"In October, I’ll be swapping the familiar surroundings of Jersey for the mountains of Albania.
So naturally, I’ve been training.
When we think about training for a trek, it’s easy to imagine heading straight for the treadmill or StairMaster and walking for hours. And yes, cardio is incredibly important.
Do I love cardio? Not particularly, haha!
But I’ve realised there are lots of different ways we can prepare our bodies for something like this.
Training without realising I was training
I love a challenge and have taken part in the South Coast Challenge, North Coast Challenge and plenty of long cliff path walks with friends.
And Jersey might be small, but some of those hills certainly aren’t!
Over a year ago, before I started boxing, I remember tackling the hill sections of one of my longer walks. I could do them, but there were quite a few stops along the way to catch my breath.
Then I started boxing.
I box with a group of members at the gym who are all retired and, I should add, incredibly fit! We usually do at least eight rounds of two to three minutes and, believe me, that gets your heart rate up.
I wasn’t doing it specifically to improve my cardio. I was doing it because I enjoyed it.
Around a year later, I found myself approaching those hills again. I remembered how hard they’d felt previously, so I was already anticipating the stops.
Except this time, I got all the way up. First time.
I remember thinking, hang on a minute, what just happened?!
That was when I realised just how much my cardiovascular fitness had improved. All that boxing had been training me for those hills without me really noticing.
Sometimes that’s how progress shows up. You don’t necessarily notice yourself getting fitter or stronger week by week, then one day something that used to feel really hard suddenly doesn’t feel quite so hard anymore.
More than cardio
My preparation for Albania isn’t just about getting my heart rate up. Strength training is a big part of it too.
I’ll be walking for several days, dealing with climbs and descents, carrying a rucksack and then asking my body to get up the following morning and do it all over again.
So my training is pretty varied. I lift weights, box, walk, take on longer challenges and generally try to train in ways I actually enjoy.
And yes, occasionally I make myself do the cardio I’d probably rather avoid!
But there’s another kind of weight I’ve become much more aware of too, and it has nothing to do with what’s in my rucksack.
The weight we don’t see
Over the last few years, I’ve become much more interested in the connection between our physical and emotional wellbeing.
We can train our bodies to carry weight, but most of us are already carrying quite a lot before we even pick up a dumbbell.
Life has weight too.
It might be change, grief, responsibility, relationships, work, family or uncertainty. Sometimes there isn’t even one particular thing wrong. We just feel a bit heavy.
I’ve experienced that myself, and one of the biggest things I’ve learned is simply to notice it.
I don’t always have to fix it or judge myself for feeling it. Sometimes it’s just recognising, something feels a little heavy today.
That awareness helps me work out what I need. Sometimes that’s a hard workout and other times it’s a walk, being around people, having some quiet time, laughing with someone or simply resting.
For me, that’s become another form of strength. Not always pushing through, but becoming better at recognising what I need and being willing to adapt.
So why Albania?
In October, I will be taking on this challenge in support of Dementia Jersey.
Dementia touches individuals, families, friendships and communities in ways that go far beyond a diagnosis. It’s also a reminder that when we see somebody walking into the gym, passing us on a trail or simply going about their day, we really have no idea what they might be carrying.
Albania will undoubtedly challenge me physically. There will be tired legs, aching feet, steep climbs and probably several moments when I question why I thought trekking through mountains was such a brilliant idea!
But I’m genuinely looking forward to finding out what happens.
I’m curious to see what my body can do, how all those ordinary training sessions will show up when I need them, and what I might learn about myself along the way.
Because perhaps preparing for this trek is about more than getting strong enough to carry a rucksack.
Some of the weight we carry makes us stronger.
Some of it doesn’t.
Maybe part of the challenge is learning to recognise the difference.
So before I head off to Albania, there’s a question I’m taking with me:
What am I carrying, physically or emotionally, and is it helping me move forward?
I’ll let you know what I discover on the other side.
Sue 💛"