Here's what walking with Joanna Hall does to you. You start off by thinking that learning her patented style of fast walking is a good way to exercise while recovering from your running injuries. You end up wondering why you'd ever train in any other way.
I've been a fan of Joanna's for several years – the top fitness expert runs courses around the country, and I've enjoyed many of her London Bridge sessions (twice a week, whatever the weather, great results and lots of fun). So when she launched a training camp, at La Manga in southern Spain, I wanted to be there.
The camp lasts five days and is as demanding as you choose. There are sessions in which you learn or finesse her relaxed, smooth style of fast walking, two intense walks each day, workshops, advice, and morning and evening stretch/yoga sessions on the balcony in the sunshine. As a veteran, I was worked hard (peaking one day at 36,000 steps on my pedometer – about 18 miles), but guests go at their own pace. There was one fantastic session by the beach, which we followed up with a swim in the sea; an 11-mile challenge hike up some scree to a beautiful clifftop viewpoint; and, my least favourite thing, a daily walk at 6.45am to see the sunrise. Oh and every afternoon, a swim and café con leche around the pool.
Joanna herself is a truly excellent trainer: upbeat, as you might expect, but also very innovative, dreaming up new ways to explain the technique or rev up someone's motivation.
She also manages to inspire some fantastic camaraderie. The training camp at La Manga was a hoot, in a healthy-hen-night sort of way (the guests were all women, although someone brought her husband along, I think for the weather).
It was also, unexpectedly, a moving experience. When a woman who was very overweight managed a steep 11km climb, everyone cheered her over the line, many of us dancing, many in tears. We were all willing along another young woman, who was only just clear of a rare form of cancer, when she managed to "get her f***ing legs to work".
Although we all had different walking strengths – from those who had been doing the technique for years to those who found it very difficult – we all worked together to make sure everyone finished each walk.
The La Manga hotel complex itself is rather footballer-y – indeed, the Scottish football team were in residence when we were there (nice lads, though they kept themselves to themselves: which is more than can be said for their physios.) It has excellent fitness, golf and spa facilities and is lavish if not cool, But it is five-star comfortable and the choice of restaurants is pretty good – from Thai to "fine dining". My favourite was the Spanish tapas bar, La Bodega. Don't expect to see much of the surrounding area – the complex is huge and hard to escape.
About half the people on October's course have booked again already – including me – and Hall is rapidly adding new dates to meet demand. It's lovely, walking fast in the sunshine; it's about fitness, and getting yourself out of your head and into a shared experience. Highly recommended.
• The next Walkactive (020-7729 6223, walkactive.co.uk) training camp is on 26-30 April. It costs from £667pp, including four nights' half board accommodation, all training, and one 30-minute spa treatment. Flights, transfers, drinks and lunches are not included
