21/07/2012 Trailwalker 2012 (Part 5)

With the feet patched up, clothing and socks changed the team were ready to move for Checkpoint 8 after 1 hour. This was only a short hike and we stood every chance of at least getting there together. With the cheers from our Support Team ringing in our ears we set off for Jack and Jill Windmills, again a step into the unknown and the continued blackness.

Simon counted us out....and counted us all back in again.

The walk in the dark down the hill was fairly treacherous in places making the poles a godsend. On several occasions we felt ourselves slide and then the poles would bite and we'd remain upright though this downhill slalom descent was now taking its toll on the knees.

It was a relief to get to the road and start to go uphill once more. As we got closer to Checkpoint 8 our Support Team radioed to say that the field had been closed to Support Crews but they were going to dump the car as close to, grab some supplies and meet us there.

More enthusiastic music playing Oxfam volunteers greeted us as well as Kate and Ted who had legged it up complete with folding chairs and a bucket of goodies leaving Simon with the car. We'd made it in 1 hour 31 minutes and decided to have a short break as we all felt pretty good to get going again. The Support Crew had been warned that Checkpoint 9 wasn't looking too good earlier in the week so they were going to try and see us in advance of it given this next stage was a long one.

After a 13minute stop, we set off at a good pace gradually climbing towards Ditchling Beacon. It was a shame we were in pitch darkness as the view from here should be amazing but instead we were enveloped in pitch darkness climbing steadily. After a while we found ourselves checking our watches and willing the sun up to give us a boost but it was another watched pot.

Dawn breaks over Checkpoint 9

Eventually in distance we could see the checkpoint illuminated but still so far away and as we paced across a field, dawn eventually broke and with that, Mark could feel the shards of broken glass in both feet again. It was still about 6km to the Checkpoint and this wouldn't keep - we'd have to stop  again. Finding somewhere to drop, the team took a chance to rest while Mark assisted by Lee slipped his boots off to reveal two new blisters this time bizarrely between his big and second toe - an odd position on both feet and it was hurting with every step. A quick patch up with blister plasters and we were on our way again but it was shortlived as we crossed onto a road - there were our support crew parked up. 

The opportunity was taken to change socks and boots and as we sat in the chairs Simon produced a bottle of Jura and asked if anyone would like a wee nip? Now we wouldn't normally drink so early in the morning but on this occasion we thought we'd make an exception. The only problem was thart up until now the effects of tiredness hadn't fully kicked in but the small measure of Jura was rapidly absorbed and Mark suddenly found it difficult to put one foot in front of the other and keep his balance making the next few km a bit zombified.

Checkpoint 9....we got bogeys incoming

The rest of the walk into Checkpoint 9 is a bit of a blur apart from coming down the last straight to swipe in and bumping into the BunLovingCriminals who greeted us with an affectionate "The Red Harrows! You b******s! You started a whole hour after us!" - It was nice to see them too! It had taken us 3hours 18minutes to do this section and it felt like it.

The support team had made it in as well and infact this was the best checkpoint for access so far! Grabing some hot drinks, we tried to eat but this was becoming difficult. Eating had long since lost its appeal and it was now just a case of trying consciously  to get some fuel in to get us to the end.

Another moment of pain...

As we stood there against the car we could see the big steep hill in front we'd need to get over and it looked daunting. Mark's feet were saying no more but we were so close now. Even if we had to cross the Finish line on bloodied hands and knees - we were doing it.

We bid our support team goodbye and gingerly set off - one foot in front of the other towards the hill. 

The BunLovingCriminals top the hill before CP10

We walked alongside the Buns for the most part of the ascent with Mark needing a couple of breathers on the way up to grit teeth and dig deep. Eventually we reached the summit and as all the Buns had made it too, Mark took a group photo.

As we descended towards Checkpoint 10, it became evident Martin was hurting. The descent was killing his knees now and he clung to his walking poles like they were now an extension of his body and if anyone tried to separate him from them they probably wouldn't have lived to tell the tale.

Swiping through Checkpoint 10 we realised there was yet another ascent. Mark didn't recall this being part of the plan but it had to be the last one, surely? On and on the hill went and in the distance we could see the summit but how much further was Brighton? Surely not much further now? As we closed on the top, two familiar faces came towards us. Simon and Kate had walked back on the route towards us to walk with us. Grabbing Mark's backpack, Kate walked alongside her husband who suddenly felt a burden lifted and more determined. With the last couple of km to go, Kate and Simon jumped back in the car and asked us not to be too quick so they could see us cross the line - not much danger of that!

With 4 furlongs to go its the Red Harrows...

That was it now. The home straight. We broke into a pace, sore feet, aching knees and ankles be damned, we were hurting but we were going to finish. We started to overtake other walkers, some in groups, some solitary and hobbling showing the same determination to get to that Finish line. 

The last sections of track were well waterlogged but we no longer cared for dry feet and ploughed straight through them and as we hit the race course we could see the Finish line in sight.

Crossing the Finish Line

Mark and Polly felt tempted to remove boots altogether now we were on the soft cool grass as first the 1km marker then the 500m marker passed us by. As the course widened out we walked line abreast up that final straight just as the Gurkha pipers burst into life. 

The emotion, the relief and the joy as we crossed the line, swiped in and hugged. We had done it!





After 24hours and 32minutes of walking - we had completed this Epic 100km Trailwalker. Now standing and waiting in line for our our chance on the podium was the final test as we all just wanted to do was sit and get our boots off.

Back L to R: Mark, Martin, Lee, Polly Front L to R: Kate, Ted, Simon

 Thats all for now! An Epilogue will follow soon....