Fitness

norris9 · Post by **norris9** » 17 Mar 2019, 09:32

Hi Guys,

I am starting soon as a Postie....

Do they ease you into the job or are you pretty much straight out the door walking 8miles+ per day from day 1?

I went up to London last summer and went sightseeing, I avoided public transport. I walked 14 miles in a day and towards the end of those 14 miles my legs had turned to concrete, they were heavy and they felt like giving up. I remember being desperate to get back to the hotel and I just ended up lying in bed for hours not being able to do much, but rest.

To be honest I didn't have the best footwear, but it wasn't the worst. My toes were messed up too, with blood under the toenail which dried and only totally cleared 8 months later.

So I am concerned as to how my legs are going to react to walking 8 miles+ a day consecutively....

- Do they ease you into it? doing maybe less miles to start with? and building them up over weeks?

- Do they understand if new starters can't make it in somedays due to their legs being fatigued?

- Is leg fatigue / exhaustion a common reason for starters to give up on the job?

I may be fine, with better shoes/trainers, but I am aware that if my legs seize up like they did when I was in London - then there is no chance I'd be able to work the following day.

In your experiences - how were your legs and feet after the first days of being a Postie?

misstmac · Post by **misstmac** » 17 Mar 2019, 09:47

The first couple of days you should be with someone else so you won’t necessarily be thrown into the deep end however you will still be walking a similar distance. Think I did around 8 miles a day on my first few days. I would strongly recommend that you get some walking practice in before you start if possible.

twoloops · Post by **twoloops** » 17 Mar 2019, 09:53

norris9 wrote:walking 8 miles+ a day consecutively

8 mile I'd take that, I'm looking at 30,000 steps about 15 mile on a Wednesday & Thursday, You'll be alright, but not if you wear the piss poor royal mail boots/shoes.

LittleEmm · Post by **LittleEmm** » 17 Mar 2019, 14:36

Hiya! I started on the 26th Feb so am still getting into the swing of things. Will say I am not fit and was doing an office job so struggled through life style to do approx 6k steps a day! However starting at RM I was put in a three for the first week out on delivery and managing on average 6 miles a day and to be completely honest most days I felt like my legs were concrete and I was useless by the time I got home just ended up flat out for the evening haha. BUT now I’ve been doing it for a few more weeks and just in my usual pair on a round I am averaging 25-30k steps and around 10.5 miles and trust me it’s OK and I didn’t think I’d ever be able to say that. I wear my own walking boots I purchased from the Regatta Outlet online and have some insoles in to help my feet and have also got some compression socks as I have had a bit of shin splints. Everyone knows you will be knew and won’t expecy you to be the quickest or to do a full round straight away. Just make sure you are comfortable in your footwear, buy some deep heat, insoles and some muscle soak bubble bath!

VeryHopefulPostie · Post by **VeryHopefulPostie** » 17 Mar 2019, 15:13

On my first week i walked between 10 and 12 miles every day, you need to have a good level of fitness, your legs and feet will get used to it the more you do it, ive ran alot of 10ks and half maratjons and so ive not found it too bad, but bear in mind youll have a bag to carry too!

bardeh · Post by **bardeh** » 17 Mar 2019, 21:06

I'm three and a half weeks into the job and just starting to get my fitness levels up. This is the first Sunday that I haven't felt completely bone tired. The first couple of weeks are gonna be rough though - make sure your shoes are comfortable is the best advice I can give. The first few days will be a little easier as you'll be going around your walk with someone else, but you will still be walking. It gets more difficult once you start on your own because you'll be lugging a bag/pulling a trolley too. But stick with it, and you'll soon see the benefits. I'm losing weight and getting fitter by the day, and loving it.

BELIAL · Post by **BELIAL** » 17 Mar 2019, 23:14

Then after 12 years ,everything starts to wear out and break down. Thirteen miles a day with a load on your back day in day out, it takes a toll,harry Kane couldn't do it it even for 200K a week.

norris9 · Post by **norris9** » 19 Mar 2019, 09:54

LittleEmm wrote:Hiya! I started on the 26th Feb so am still getting into the swing of things. Will say I am not fit and was doing an office job so struggled through life style to do approx 6k steps a day! However starting at RM I was put in a three for the first week out on delivery and managing on average 6 miles a day and to be completely honest most days I felt like my legs were concrete and I was useless by the time I got home just ended up flat out for the evening haha. BUT now I’ve been doing it for a few more weeks and just in my usual pair on a round I am averaging 25-30k steps and around 10.5 miles and trust me it’s OK and I didn’t think I’d ever be able to say that. I wear my own walking boots I purchased from the Regatta Outlet online and have some insoles in to help my feet and have also got some compression socks as I have had a bit of shin splints. Everyone knows you will be knew and won’t expecy you to be the quickest or to do a full round straight away. Just make sure you are comfortable in your footwear, buy some deep heat, insoles and some muscle soak bubble bath!

Yeah, I defo need to get walking.....if my leg muscles tighten up and turn to concrete like they did when I walked 14 miles in London....I literally won't be able to walk the next day, as that's what happend to me. I can't allow that to happen otherwise I'll be giving up within days. I walked 2.5 miles yesterday and when I got home my legs briefly felt like concrete....I am going out again today to do another 2.5miles and will gradually build it up over the next 2 weeks before I start.

LittleEmm · Post by **LittleEmm** » 20 Mar 2019, 22:12

norris9 wrote:
LittleEmm wrote:Hiya! I started on the 26th Feb so am still getting into the swing of things. Will say I am not fit and was doing an office job so struggled through life style to do approx 6k steps a day! However starting at RM I was put in a three for the first week out on delivery and managing on average 6 miles a day and to be completely honest most days I felt like my legs were concrete and I was useless by the time I got home just ended up flat out for the evening haha. BUT now I’ve been doing it for a few more weeks and just in my usual pair on a round I am averaging 25-30k steps and around 10.5 miles and trust me it’s OK and I didn’t think I’d ever be able to say that. I wear my own walking boots I purchased from the Regatta Outlet online and have some insoles in to help my feet and have also got some compression socks as I have had a bit of shin splints. Everyone knows you will be knew and won’t expecy you to be the quickest or to do a full round straight away. Just make sure you are comfortable in your footwear, buy some deep heat, insoles and some muscle soak bubble bath!

Yeah, I defo need to get walking.....if my leg muscles tighten up and turn to concrete like they did when I walked 14 miles in London....I literally won't be able to walk the next day, as that's what happend to me. I can't allow that to happen otherwise I'll be giving up within days. I walked 2.5 miles yesterday and when I got home my legs briefly felt like concrete....I am going out again today to do another 2.5miles and will gradually build it up over the next 2 weeks before I start.

I’m sure you will be fine, if I can do it anyone can. Good that’s you’re easing your fitness levels up. But when you start don’t give up, stick with it and it will come and you will start to notice things becoming easier. I have invested in some compression socks (like the ones Runner’s wear) and these have helped a lot as feel like my legs don’t seize up as much also some insoles in your trainers/shoes (most of my depot wear their own trainers) you can get some gel insoles from amazon or boots. Also Epsom salts are good for a nice hot soak when you get back!

gimba · Post by **gimba** » 21 Mar 2019, 08:03

I thought I'd be the same
Oddly though when I've got letters in my hand, bag on my back I don't feel the struggle, you're just cracking on to the next door, it's only when I get home and rest for 5 mins, then stand up I go "ohhh that's abit sore" , but during work I honestly don't feel anything, think your mind takes it away because your constantly thinking