Clambering across giant boulders, up a steep scree path, Jen Lowthrop stood on the top of Scafell Pike in the Lake District and could barely see due to the fog in front of her. 'Suddenly, the clouds lifted and I had 360-degree views over the mountains and lakes below, and I thought, "That's what this walking thing is all about," the 38-year-old says.
Twelve months earlier, Jen struggled to walk up a steep hill without getting out of breath, let alone Scafell Pike, England's highest mountain. After a serious car accident, a skiing accident and breaking her wrist while ice skating, she had suffered pain in her back, shoulders, hips and knees for years.
Nothing was diagnosed, but the pain wouldn't go away and she was desperate to do something about it. 'I'm quite accident-prone. I've broken quite a few bones over the years, and I would wake up in the morning and creak,' Jen remembers. Sitting at a desk all day was making it worse and, juggling two businesses, as well as her role as chair of the Peak District National Park Foundation, she was on the brink of burnout.
Born and raised in Matlock, on the edge of the Peak District, Jen loved the national park, and wanted to encourage more people to experience the benefits of physical and mental well-being. So she set herself a challenge - to hike 1,000 miles across all 10 of England's young national parks in 10 weeks, covering Northumberland, the North York Moors, the Yorkshire Dales, the Lake District, the Broads, the South Downs, the New Forest, Dartmoor, Exmoor and the Peak District. She called it 'A Walk in the Parks'.
Esta historia es de la edición March 19, 2024 de Woman's Weekly.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición March 19, 2024 de Woman's Weekly.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
10 OF THE BEST Buys for CHARITY
Look great and support Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October
How to HAGGLE
Save those £££s by plucking up the courage to negotiate
Your wellbeing
LATEST HEALTH SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR MIND AND BODY
Here to help
LET COUNSELLOR KEREN LIGHTEN YOUR LOAD
Good to GLOW
Plant your bulbs now for a lovely bright start to spring
Painted VASES
Prettify empty jars and bottles with this quick craft project
Escape to OXFORD
Delve into the city's rich cultural heritage for a wonderful weekend
Sail through menopause WITHOUT WEIGHT GAIN!
Middle-aged spread may seem inevitable - but it really doesn't have to be
Woodland wonders
When you go down to the woods, you'll find a whole new world teeming with life
'We should all be dancing'
Singer and actor Toyah Willcox on overcoming adversity, ageing and Strictly Come Dancing