THE capital will soon be a sea of pink and awash with brightly coloured bras when 10,000 walkers take to the city-centre streets to
raise millions for cancer charity Walk the Walk. And while next month’s MoonWalk Edinburgh 2009 may not be a competitive race, completing the half or full marathon-length power walk will be no stroll in the park. Which is why preparation is key. “It is so much harder than it looks,” admits Edinburgh personal trainer to the stars Will Sturgeon, who is based at The Balmoral Hotel and has worked with Scotland rugby players, top athletes and even some of Hollywood’s elite. “Even though this is a walk as opposed to a run, you are still pushing the body hard. It will be a testing 13.1 or 26.2 miles, physically and mentally.” Stiffness, soreness, blistered feet and even muscle damage are just some of the side effects, according toWill. He said: “Whether you run a marathon distance or walk it, it is an intense effort you’re putting the body through as most people will simply not be used to it. In the weeks leading up to the MoonWalk, a build-up of longer walks and some leg strengthening is key for stamina and lasting the distance. “Equally, the final few days of preparation are just as vital so as not to ruin all the hard work.”
But, rather than stepping out for last-minute hard slogs, it seems less is more.