For critical care nurse Sarah Edmunds, doing #walk1000miles has given her a haven from the intense and often harrowing work on the front line.
‘I’ve worked as a nurse for over 30 years, 25 of those in critical care. The last 18 months have seen us all working at an intensity we’d never dreamed of.
Working on the front line, watching patients fighting for breath despite your very best efforts, not knowing if they will recover, or whether they’ll see friends and family again, is something that stays with you as a nurse. It’s a sad and tragic experience, and there are shifts I’ve worked during the last 18 months that will stay with me for the rest of my life.
I feel proud to say I’m part of an amazing, professional, highly skilled and compassionate team. Together we’ve celebrated our achievements, thrilled when patients are discharged to the wards. We’ve supported each other through the difficult shifts and looked out for each other.
We’ve all found our own outlet and way of coping – for me it’s been walking. There’s been many a time I’ve thought, “I can’t wait til tomorrow when I’m out on the hill with the dogs getting my miles”, and that’s kept me going. Walking’s such an integral part of my life. I take routes from home over the hill I’ve known and loved since childhood.
During the pandemic the #walk1000miles challenge has become even more important, as it’s provided me with a haven to escape the intensity of work – time for self care, to process what has happened. I chat to fellow walkers and we have conversations about weather and mud – it’s nice to worry about normal walking problems instead for a change!
I love the simplicity of walking. Those footpaths aren’t going anywhere, they’re a constant. I love watching the seasons change, and there’s nothing like the freedom and fresh air after a 12-hour shift. It’s something I will never take for granted. Walking keeps me grounded and sane, and it costs nothing but a good pair of boots.’
