What started as a challenge for Alison Silcock has become part of her daily life.

Alison Silcock is happy to have walked more than 1200km in less than 12 months.

She compares it to her euphoria after finishing her first Great Walk, the Heaphy Track, in February 2021. This was at the start of a health kick that has seen her lose 40kg so far.

“I remember feeling quite overwhelmed, extremely proud and on the verge of tears,” Alison says of passing the 1200km mark in May.

The Cromwell office manager used Walk1200km as a way to get back into walking after severely injuring her knee in a fall on her second Great Walk, the Routeburn Track, in March 2021.

Feeling robbed by the injury, Alison says Walk1200km showed up at just the right time.

She began the challenge with husband, Rob, last September as they set sights on continuing their quest to do all the Great Walks. Their third was the Rakiura Track in March.

“Walk1200km has become a habit,” Alison says. “It started as a challenge but now it’s a part of my life.”

She’s saving petrol by walking to work and getting to clear her head at lunchtime with a quick lap around the neighbourhood.

Now walking without pain thanks to her weight loss, Alison says she wants to redo the Routeburn Track, get past the spot where she fell and enjoy the journey.

Her target weight is 7kg away, and she’s not finished with Walk1200km either.

“I want to see how far I go.”