Today is ONE YEAR since I finished! Can you believe it?
This time last year I was approaching the finish line of the most extraordinary, exhausting, emotional and downright bonkers adventure of my life. Blog from that day
365 days. 5,108 miles. Over 11 million steps. Countless blisters, wrecked feet, a few missing toenails and a body that was definitely ready to call it a day!
As I stood at the finish line at the Beatson, surrounded by my amazing family, friends, charity teams and so many wonderful people I’d met along the way, something struck me.
I’d set off to walk solo, but I’d never really been walking alone.
So many people had supported me, encouraged me, walked alongside me, helped behind the scenes and willed me on.
And I hadn’t just carried my own story around Britain’s coastline. I’d carried the stories of so many others too. Stories of love, loss and grief that people had entrusted to me along the way.
I also realised that I wasn’t quite the same person who had set off a year earlier.
When I started, my grief for Angela was all-consuming. Don’t get me wrong, grief never goes away, but it does change over time. Somewhere along those 5,108 miles, I’d begun to find room in my life again for laughter, excitement and new possibilities.
When the Walking Stopped
For an entire year my life had followed a remarkably simple routine.
Wake up. Treat my feet. Eat. Walk. Eat. Plan the next day. Write my blog. Sleep. Repeat.
And then suddenly, it stopped.
Physically I was exhausted, but mentally I was pretty shattered too. My blogs had become increasingly long and detailed as the trek progressed, and writing them took an enormous amount of effort.
Back home, life slowed down. There seemed to be less to write about, and I needed time to process what I’d actually achieved.
But there was something else.
For a year I’d been Tracey doing the Trek. Now I was Tracey who had done the Trek.
Before that I’d been Professor Tracey at work, Mum and Angela’s wife.
Now I was retired, still very much Mum, but also a widow. And the enormous challenge that had given my life such purpose had ended.
So who was I now, and what did I want the next chapter to look like?
I didn’t have an answer.
What Makes a House a Home?
Living in Priscilla for a year had also changed my perspective on life.
Everything I needed fitted into a six-metre motorhome. I’d learnt to appreciate the simplest pleasures — a proper toilet, a lovely hot shower and the absolute luxury of a long soak in a bath!
When I returned home, my house felt enormous. It was full of furniture, possessions and things I’d accumulated over the years.
And the strange thing was, I hadn’t missed any of them!
Of course, the house held 21 years of wonderful memories of life with Angela and our family. But I realised those memories weren’t contained in the bricks and mortar or the things we owned.
The memories were mine, wherever I happened to be.
Over the following months, I gradually came to the decision to sell the house and embrace a different way of living.
And in September, that’s exactly what I did!
A Year of New Adventures
I haven’t exactly been sitting around doing nothing!
For starters, I decorated the house from top to bottom and then tackled the enormous task of emptying it of 21 years’ worth of possessions. That was physically exhausting and, at times, emotionally demanding too.
Sorting through everything we’d accumulated over the years, deciding what to keep and what to let go of, was no small undertaking.
But I did it!
And here’s a thought that still amazes me.
My entire life’s possessions now fit into just 14 boxes and 2 suitcases!
From a whole house full of stuff to 14 boxes and 2 suitcases. Who would have thought it?
I’ve also completed several running events, including two half marathons, and reached the milestone of 50 parkruns!
I’ve been incredibly honoured to receive the Pride of Scotland Fundraiser of the Year award and have had some wonderful opportunities to share my story, meet incredible people and continue supporting charities that mean so much to me.
I’ve spent time with family and friends, made new plans and somehow managed to fill my diary with even more adventures.
And in a few days I’m heading off to India for another trek!
Apparently, walking 5,108 miles wasn’t quite enough to put me off walking.
Some people never learn!
A Nomadic Life – But a Little More Leisurely!
Having sold the house, I’ve now embraced a nomadic lifestyle.
Although, rather amusingly, I’ve only slept in Priscilla for three nights since finishing the trek!
The rest of the time I’ve been staying with Mum, family or friends.
And that’s absolutely fine.
This time I’m not moving to a different place every day or worrying about how many miles I need to cover.
Instead, I’m enjoying spending quality time with the people who matter to me.
My next few weeks will take me from Glasgow to Sheffield to London, then India, back to London and Sheffield, the Glasgow and eventually Wigan to spend time with more lovely friends.
After the middle of December? Well, I haven’t quite worked that out yet!
And perhaps that’s the beauty of this new chapter.
For a whole year I knew exactly where I needed to go, even if I occasionally got lost trying to get there!
Now I have the freedom to choose.
One Year On
Looking back, I realise the trek changed far more than my fitness, my feet or my ability to tolerate British weather.
It changed how I see myself, what I value and how I want to live.
I still miss Angela every day. I always will. But I’m discovering that I can carry our memories with me while continuing to make new ones.
I don’t have everything figured out, and I’m not sure I ever will.
But I’m excited about what lies ahead.
The walking may have stopped, but the journey certainly hasn’t.
And knowing me, there’s bound to be something suitably bonkers just around the corner! Any suggestions?
Thank you, my TraceysTrek family, for continuing to be part of it.
Tracey x
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