The motivation of music and some parks – first published 28 September 2012

The invention of the iPod and, before that, the Walkman were, in my humble opinion, the best technological advances in modern times. Ok, so neither have ended world poverty, cured diseases or won wars but they have made music accessible at any time and anywhere. For someone who walks long distances this is wonderful. Quite often I don’t use my iPod at all but, on a miserable day or a long walk where I’m struggling, having the music I want with me in my pocket can make all the difference and, in times of stress, the right song can soothe and calm. Back in September 2012 my poor overstuffed mind needed a bit of both.

28 September 2012

All this learning new things at work is wearing me out. My mind feels quite frazzled so it’s a good job I have a nice long weekend to relax and think about nothing. It’s funny how working your brain seems to make you more tired than working your body. Long walks and a good Pump It Up Session make me physically tired but nowhere near as tired as sitting at my desk trying to get my head round all the entertainers names and what they do, remembering where all the various files are stored on the computer, or exactly how to sort out the expenses forms and where to file everything. It’s been a whirlwind induction to the world or cruising because I’ve joined at the busiest time and things weren’t exactly left in order for me. Still, I think I may be beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel. I guess being thrown in at the deep end is the best way to learn, just wish it wasn’t quite so exhausting.

What I needed was a good walk to clear my head and today that is exactly what I did. The forecast was showery so I waited till the optimum moment to leave the house, when the sky looked quite blue. Because of the blasted weather I decided on a medium walk, just over six miles. Not exactly earth shattering but a walk nonetheless and enough to clear my head.

People often wonder how I motivate myself to keep walking on a long walk, especially something really long like a marathon. “Don’t you get bored just walking?” they ask. Obviously it’s not always easy to keep going and there are times when I cut a walk short but usually that’s weather related. One of the things that really keeps me moving, especially when I hit the inevitable wall on really long walks, is music, it really helps make the miles flash past. I rarely walk without my iPod although, for safety, I don’t always have it on.

For me, music really brightens up a dull walk. Not only that, it can make a massive difference to my mood and speed. For walking, I have a play list of fast paced tracks and a chill out play list to, to calm me down for stressful things like job interviews. My steps seem to naturally fall into time with the beat and I find fast music makes me walk faster. There are actually whole walking or running compilations you can download and I know a few people who swear by them. For me though, there’s nothing like a few of my upbeat favourites to get me moving and, when certain tracks come on, they’re guaranteed to make me smile.

Today I did the two bridge challenge (one of Commando’s favourites) but with a bit of a twist. I walked over The Big Bridge taking the same route I would if I was going to work at The Mad House. Not long after I got over the bridge it began to spit with rain and I was almost tempted to cut things short and take a quicker route than planned. Right then though, Craig David (who else as I live in Southampton) came on the iPod with Rendezvous, it gave me the motivation to push on, stick out the rain and keep to my original plan. I actually walked up the steps of The Mad House, which was a little disconcerting given the number of times I’ve done that in the past with a feeling of dread at what the day might bring. I have to say the old butterflys were having a field day but just then Enrique started to sing in my ear, Love To See You Cry, I love the rhythm to that one.

Walking that way wasn’t because I was after a trip down bad memory lane but because I wanted to walk through the top park in town. By top park, I don’t mean it’s the best, it’s just the furthest up from the Bargate which is the centre of this fair city, it’s actually called East Park. There’s a fountain where my Mad House crew often used to sit at lunchtime when the weather was good and a lovely little arched walk I used to walk through in the morning when I worked at Dream Factory. That was what I was heading for. The wonderful gardeners change the planting along the sides with the seasons and I always used to look forward to going through the arch each morning to peek through the leaves and see what had changed. It’s really just a series of brick pillars with wooden arches on the top and wisteria trained up each pillar. When the wisteria is in flower it’s a truly wonderful sight but today with the weak autumn sun, the leaves gave the path a lovely dappled feel as I walked through.

From there I crossed the road into the second park, Palmerston Park, and then into the precinct heading down towards Bargate. If you don’t know Southampton, you might be wondering what I’m going on about at this point so I’ll explain. Bargate is the big twelfth century stone gate to the medieval walled city of Southampton. It dominates the view from the precinct with its protective lions flanking the central arch leading to the High Street and is the symbol of the city. Once upon a time trams used to drive right through the middle and, back in the First and Second World War, soldiers marched through on their way to embark for France.

At this point, around the three mile mark, I was feeling a little jaded so I decided to stop off for a quick coffee in Pret. Any excuse for a coffee. Suitably refreshed, I did a quick dash round West Quay shopping centre and picked up a couple of things I needed then set off again, through Bargate and down the High Street. I got a bit carried away listening to Stranglers, No More Heroes and walked a bit further towards the docks than I’d intended but I cut through one of the side roads towards The Silver Helm Building.

This was the final part of my plan. There are two bridges leading from my house towards my new office, the Big Bridge, or Northam Bridge, I walk over most days and the New Bridge, or Itchen Bridge. The other day Gigi said she walked over the New Bridge when she walked to work and I was wondering how the distances compared. In a quest to find out I stopped the Walkmeter and reset it to zero just after I passed the office.

The New Bridge crosses the river Itchen from Ocean Village to Woolston and replaces the creaky old floating bridges I used to go on as a treat when I was a child. These were a bit like two little ferries that cars, people and buses could go on. They crossed the river on huge iron chains and passed each other in the middle. They were far more fun than the New Bridge, but a lot less convenient as you had to wait for them.

Sadly, the bridge is also a notorious suicide spot, so much so there are Samaritans signs at either end and a help point in the middle, presumably so you can tell someone you’re going to jump or that someone else is. I stopped here for a moment and took some photos of the view, wondering what would make someone want to jump and hoping I never felt desperate enough to find out. From up there the football stadium looks like a big white spider crouched on the edge of the water waiting to pounce on the boats going past.

The bridge is just under a mile long from start to finish but I walked down the steps on the East side and cut through to Bridge Road. Now I was on the final stretch, just the long winding upward gradient of Peartree avenue to negotiate. Before long I was passing Peartree Green and the little church that nestles among the trees there. Then it was onwards and upwards toward the precinct and the top of my own Big Hill. I reached home just as the rain started again armed with the knowledge that the trip over the New Bridge is only slightly longer than over the Big Bridge and the route a great deal prettier. I suppose it gives me alternatives but only in good weather, I’d hate to be caught on the middle of the New Bridge on a wet windy day.