The Weekend We Walked 100km Part 3

...continued from Part 2 (if you haven't read Part 2 yet, check it out here).

Off on our way out of CP9

We said our good byes to everyone for now and headed up the hill from Kingston. To keep themselves going, Julie and Jo came over all philosophical and tried to think of some inspirational quotes to keep the team going forwards.  Julie decided that our moto should now be...

'Pain is only temporary, but the achievement lasts forever'.


They shouted this back to the boys to give them an extra incentive to carry on up the big hill. Then disaster struck... Josh's other knee (the right one) gave way. He was swearing at himself. Not now, why now...

There were no more support crew checkpoints to pull out (though I doubt it even crossed his mind), and there was no way he'd turn back. It was just a case of getting through it.

Jo and Julie were in fine form (i.e. just had to keep powering on otherwise they would collapse in a heap and give up!) and were laying down some decent pace in front of Gubbs and Josh. They were getting cold when stopping so they headed on to a point where they had some shelter from the wind while they waited for the boys to catch up.

Once we were at the top of the hill we knew the worst of the stage was over and we made a good time into checkpoint 10 where we were met with a group of cheering Gurkhas supplying squash and crisps!

Josh spotted an ambulance and so went over to get his other knee bandaged up. When he returned the team downed their last energy shot of the day with a chaser of mini eggs supplied by Julie and set out on the very last stage of Trailwalker UK 2012... up another hill...

We took it nice and slow, Josh's knees allowed him to only have one gear now, but that was fine, we were going to make it to the finish before the 4pm cut off we had been warned about at the previous checkpoint.

Nearly there...

We met a couple of teams on the way in, one - the Walkie Talkies had knee injuries also so while Gubbs was Ice spraying Josh he offered it around the group. It turned out that one of this team went to school with Gem, small world ay!

At the car park at the end of the footpath part of the stage, Jo and Julie came across the sorry sight of two members of another team lying on the floor in agony.  They managed to get themselves to their feet again, but were bent in two with the pain in their knees and feet.  Jo offered them some of her pain killers, but they said they were already topped up to the max.  Julie overheard one of them mention that they wish they had brought walking poles with them.  The sight of two grown men, in agony, staggering hand in hand towards the final stage of this epic adventure brought tears to her eyes.  Julie asked the guy with no poles if he'd like to borrow one of hers to the finish.  His face lit up like a beacon and he gratefully accepted.  Jo and Julie gave guys some encouraging words and told them that they only had around another 20 minutes to walk until they reached the finish.  We didn't find out the name of this team, but we were very pleased to see them hobble across the finish line behind us a little while later.

Victory is ours!

We reached the start of the race course to much delight. This was now a time of getting the job done. As we came closer the emotion was high. Josh had a final spurt of energy to get himself closer to that finish line, which took the rest of us all by surprise. The 500m to the finish line sign had to be the best sight we had ever seen in our lives!! The bagpipes started up and so did the tears in the eyes. Jo was pleased to see that her father-in-law and his wife had made a suprise journey and were waiting at the finish line along with the rest of the support crew, friends and family

We made the line and fell into loved ones embraces. There wasn't a dry eye at that finish line.

The job was done, we had walked 100km and all we needed to do now was to walk up two steps to have some pictures taken. I think we could just about manage that!

Our finish time was 31 hours and 26 minutes. Just a shade over the 30 hours originally set, but we didn't care, it was about finishing the challenge. We didn't sleep or anything! All those hours were for walking. Minus the 4.5 hours that were spent at the checkpoints altogether, so 26 hours and 56 minutes of walking. Wow.

Julie & Jo sign the support crew up for next year.

Lots of hugs given around, popped opened a bottle of champers and then there was just one last thing to do... Eat some Gurkha curry!! Best part of the day by far! That's when we met the Blister Sisters who had come in just after us. Another team we had met prior to the event via twitter. Such a sociable event this! Then it was home to our beds via our baths.

So that's it. The last walk of the Hardcore Four that you, the reader, will have to endure.

Team with support crew
minus night support Tracy & Peter

If you have been a regular reader, thank you for sticking with us. If you are a sponsor, thank you for sponsoring, your donations have made this easier to do, believe it or not! It also goes to a great cause don't forget. Additional thanks need to go to the people who called, messaged, text and tweeted us throughout the event - that really helped, thank you.

Also thank you to Oxfam, the Gurkha Welfare Trust, the Queen's Gurkha Signals and the volunteers who made the event what it was.

But biggest thanks go to our long suffering support crew! Without you guys we would not have been able to complete it... and we would have also needed bigger backpacks.

Strong To The Final Furlong...

We had this Saturday marked in our diaries for some time. This was to be the biggest one to date (until it was prematurely eclipsed by Jo, Gem & Gubbs' walk along the Clarendon Way a couple of weeks ago). This was Stage 7 to the end, 25 miles.

With Gem still feeling some of the effects from the walk a couple of weeks ago, she decided to provide support team cover for us, and even managed to rope in friend Anna to assist and provide company for the day.

Our starting point was a lay by on the A283 relatively near the checkpoint in Botolphs. From here we were able to join the Trailwalker route by the river easily and proceeded on through Upper Beeding, before heading to the dreaded climb out of the village.

The hill that just keeps on giving

We knew what was coming after having done this stage previously. So we made ourselves comfortable, shedding the extra layers of clothes that we would no longer need for the climb, for this would really work up a sweat!

When you get to the top and look back towards the village, you see yourself how far up you have climbed.

We walked on after a quick viewing stop (aka breather). We were headed for Devils Dyke where our support crew would be waiting.

On this section we passed a number of 4 strong teams of young lads we presume were doing DofE, or a scout trip, or something. We passed many of them looking enviously at our light day packs compared to their heavy bags laden with camping gear. This was also when Jo revealed her competitive streak asking if it was just her or "do you just want to get past anyone who is walking in front of you?" We can only imagine the kind of pace Jo'll be looking to lay down on Trailwalker day with hundreds of teams out there!

Further along this section we were dodging the minefield of cowpats and cattle which led Julie to dub this Pat Land (though we thought there was no picture necessary for the blog...)

View from Devil's Dyke car park

As we approached Checkpoint 7 at Devils Dyke we called our support crew to let them know we were almost there, to find that they were not yet! This had us wondering what they have been up to the last two hours! Thankfully they arrived just before we did, apparently fresh from a hot chocolate at Marks & Spencer's and a stroll along the beach in Shoreham!

This is the first time we've had a support crew and we felt almost pampered at the service we were receiving. The car park at Devils Dyke was not too busy with just a group of motorcyclists riding up to catch some of the views.

Heading to Jack & Jill

After a 10 minute break we headed off again on the next stage, momentarily jumping out of the way of a group of cyclists heading down the hill. We had our revenge shortly afterwards though when tackling another incline. These boots were made for climbing, and their bikes (or legs at least) perhaps were better suited for downhill. We overtook the cyclists one by one (perhaps taking in some of Jo's competitive streak).

At the top of this hill we could see the Jack & Jill windmills which is the location for the next checkpoint. Gubbs' phone was chiming to indicate an email which turned out to be a notification of sponsorship! Thanks Elisa for the very well timed sponsorship which had us beaming as we walked on.

Julie's worked flint find

This downhill section towards the A23 crossing was also an unsuspecting place for Julie to make an archaeological find, but nevertheless, she picked up a piece of flint that had been worked into a tool. She explained how the shape on one side is only ever formed by the breaking by force and the claw like workings had also been worked out to form a tool. This was an exiting find, which required an excited picture at the checkpoint!

Unknown to us, Gem and Anna were watching from the windmills and they could just about make us out as we walked down the hill.

When we got to the checkpoint Gem and Anna had coffee and hot chocolate ready for us with a blanket laid out ready for stretches. What service! It wasn't a cold day but something different to drink from water and energy drinks was well received.

Nice view for a stretch

This was also our lunch stop and we tucked into the sandwiches and pasta made the night before and enjoyed the views from Jack & Jill car park.  We stretched a little and applied the sun cream at this checkpoint as the sun was quite strong.

We left our support crew after a 30 minute lunch break, probably our longest ever, and headed out on stage 9, the last unknown quantity for us on the Trailwalker course.

This stage's biggest issue is the distance and some interesting navigation when you get close to Lewes. Other than that it is mostly downhill, until a short sharp incline across a field after crossing the A27.

Say hello to my little friend...

Most of the stage covers open hill tops with some nice views in all directions, passing a couple of Ice cream vans on route, which proved particularly tempting, but we held off!

Part of the way through the stage we saw some horses being ridden around in a field and then we reached the racing stables, which is where we saw a great sight of little and large...

Going strong

We have heard many things of the Gallops area of this stage and so we kept a keen eye out for the sharp right turn that we'd need to take. Gubbs, ever ready, had taken to warning Jo and Julie that he had a feeling it would be very close, and this he claimed about 5 times in about 15 minutes, with no sign of it. In the end he decided to keep his feelings to himself.

As we headed towards the checkpoint at Kingston, which we could for most of the stage by spotting the white windmill without it's sails, we could see a couple of people in the distance with florescent jackets waving - this was Gem's attempt to embarrass Anna as much as possible.

Our support crew for the day

We stopped again for a snack, change of socks and chat, and the time just flew by. It was 25 minutes before we left again for the final two stages, which in total would be less distance than the last one we had walked.

It was also time to say good bye to Gem & Anna, for now, who would meet us at Brighton Racecourse to take us home.

Stage 10 we knew would be about an hour to complete, so pretty short. The only challenge with this one is the large hill on the way out of Kingston. This was a head down and pull yourself up it moment. With legs and feet a little tired after the mileage so far it wasn't fun, but had to be done. We know it will be worse in July after many more miles so little time to complain!

The sheds at checkpoint 10

After reaching the top there was time for another stretch and then onwards to the checkpoint. This we found though fields that were full of sheep last time but they were long gone looking at the growth of the grass. We had found the checkpoint from memory after completing this section previously.

Then it was the final stage which none of us are a fan of for the following reasons:

1. It seems to go on forever.
2. The scenery isn't as nice after about 3km following a track behind houses.
3. It goes on forever.
4. By this stage you are going to be knackered.
5. It really goes on forever.

We worked our way up the final hill of the day, conversation now was getting light, we were tired. There was some delight in seeing the racetrack followed by some confusion as we saw Gem and Anna drive towards us on not the road but the dusty track we were walking parallel with. Apparently they were just checking where we were, but they had no offer of a lift...

So as we watched them drive off towards our finish line we trudged on and on until we finally made it.

And as we did Gem & Anna were providing entertainment of their own giving commentary for the race to the finish!

Time for another stretch/flake, popping some ibuprofen tablets and then crowding into the car for the journey home with our semi-sunburnt faces.

Total distance 25 miles in a total time of 10 hours and 21 minutes, including 1 hour and 20 minutes on breaks at checkpoints (we may need to be a little stricter on that!)

Shorts in March?!?

Yesterday saw the team come together for a walk in East Sussex. Due to Julie & Jo being in Brighton already for a family meet up arranged for the Saturday, Julie & Jo suggested Gem & Gubbs met them on the Sunday to train the last couple of stages of Trailwalker, which of course finishes at Brighton Racecourse.

Kingston-near-Lewes from hilltop

Well prepared, after a night out which saw them dancing the night away in a classy "sticky floor" night club until the early hours, Julie and Jo managed to get to the meeting point early to meet Gem & Gubbs. The meeting point was at the before mentioned racecourse and it was our intention to walk the route backwards (in terms of the route rather than literally) from the end of the Trailwalker course to checkpoint 9 in a village called Kingston-near-Lewes, which as the name suggest rests just south east of Lewes.  We were then to turn around and return to the racecourse in Trailwalker mode taking in the landmarks and challenges along the way and storing them in our memories for July.

Walking on Sunshine!

This was Jo & Julie's first training outing on the Trailwalker route and we got started by walking along a track that took us along the back of houses with some great views of the South Downs on the left.

Talk started about 'The Call of Nature'. How frequent would bushes appear along the route if you were to receive one of these 'calls' while out on the trek? Would there be enough cover? What happens if there are lots of people?

With all three of the ladies agreeing that they will probably hate Gubbs after the event for being a man and apparently being able 'to go' anywhere, we made our way along the track further until we hit a busy road crossing. The track then went on further with a slight incline away from the houses, and any other signs of urban life, to the top of a track decline which would take us down to checkpoint 10. Though downhill now, it meant that this was going to be the last incline of note we would have on the way back and also when we return in July. 

Hmmm Jelly Babies

Checkpoint 10 is handily located near a derelict looking barn. We believe this is one checkpoint where the support crew will not be making an appearance, probably based on the very limited access. This was where we had the first treat of the day; a handful of jelly babies. The team then undertook some stretching exercises while Gubbs checked the map for the route to the next checkpoint.

We set off again following a track that took us meandering around the base of hills to a point where we made a relatively steep ascent to the top of one of them. The motivation here was lunch! Getting to the top meant we could open up our egg rolls as supplied by Gem. We were also treated to a new, and very tasty, variation of Julie's flapjack which really did wonders for the energy levels. Due to the unexpected spring heat, this was also the point where Julie and Jo decided to ditch the bottoms of their trousers legs to get the shorts working for them. 

With Gubbs polishing off his lunch before the rest of the team he decided to check the map board located at the top of the incline we just made our way up to, just to confirm that we were indeed where we should be.

Checkpoint 9

...Unfortunately for the second week in a row, we went the wrong way.  This time a little more dramatically... at checkpoint 10 where we went left, we should have gone right. That mistake took us the other side of Castle Hill National Nature Reserve and if we had kept along the route we would have found ourselves back at the Racecourse a little sooner than intended!

With new location and directions found, and whilst trying desperately to convince the team that this was the plan all along, Gubbs led the team along the hill top following Jugg's Road (which was not a road but actually just a track on the hill top).

Fortunately Jugg's Road took the team straight into Kingston-near-Lewes, down a relatively steep descent. On entering the outskirts of the village, the trail levelled out and we walked to where we assume checkpoint 9 will be on the day, an open field with a white building nearby which looked just like a windmill missing it's sails.

At this point we got out the chocolate mini eggs (the benefit of putting in the miles is that you can eat what you like!) We reset the watch and set back to Brighton in Trailwalker mode.

Check out those legs!

Stage 10 is a very small one at only 4km (a little under 2.5 miles), but it has a decent sized 125m incline in the middle of it. This is by no means as bad as say Beacon Hill tackled last week, but it stretched on much further than our legs would have liked. We can only imagine the pain you would be feeling at this point on the day itself after walking for 20 odd hours!

We got to the top at which point Gubbs decided to join the team in exposing some flesh and unzipped his trouser leg bottoms too. This was also when the team put on their sun glasses as we were now walking into the sun. In doing so Gubbs gave some advance warning to everyone that it was not the sunglasses, but rather his ears, that were wonky.

We continued, managing to follow the correct paths and field crossings back to the barn and checkpoint 10 passing fields of sheep with their lambs bleating at us as though we interrupted their peaceful Sunday afternoon.

We checked our watches for the time to complete the stage and we managed to complete this in 57 minutes,  which we were quite pleased with.  We then checked out the suggested Trailwalker time for a team looking to complete the challenge in 24 hours - 1 hour and 52 minutes... The 12 hour teams would apparently complete this in 56 minutes!  Either we have seriously upped our game, or this is a mistake in the map guide! We conceded that perhaps we were not elite athletes after all and carried on to the racecourse.

Almost there now...

After following the route back we decided to actually take the Trailwalker route into the grounds of the race course to simulate the finish as much as possible (with less aches and pains now I assume!). I have to say it took a lot longer to walk that racecourse then we had thought and it's worth keeping that in mind for July!

The last stage we completed in 1 hour and 15 minutes which is about 8 minutes faster than what the guide gives us for a 24 hour finish so we were pretty happy with that.

The stats for the full walk were 5 hours 7 minutes (including a 15 minute lunch break) taking in 13.3 miles (21.4km)... it would have been about a mile less if we followed the correct route...

Next time we are here it will be after 24 hours of walking!