18/07/2012 - Trailwalker 2012 (Part 2)

The night passed fitfully. Mark couldn't get to sleep and as it turned out neither could the team-mates settle. The brain just wouldn't shut down at a point when we really needed a decent rest before facing this Epic trek we actually couldn't. It was almost a relief when the alarm went off at 5am to start getting ready. The usual preparations, a couple of bananas, a pint of water, a nurofen, shower then taping up the feet with zinc oxide tape.

We were meeting in the car park at 6am, the plan being to get to QECP at about 6:30am to allow us to miss the road closures for the 6am and 7am starters and get some breakfast down us. As we walked out into the car park, it seemed we weren't the only Trailwalkers with the same plan or inability to sleep as several other teams started loading their kit into their cars.

The team arrive and park at QECP

On arrival at QECP, the car park was extremely full and following the directions of the Gurkhas we seemed to park a good way away from the tents. We decided we'd suit and boot and carry our gear over rather than come back later. 

The car barely made it onto the muddy field and we watched as a four wheel drive struggled to get out. The shape of things to come perhaps?

The queue for breakfast

As we walked towards the tents we could hear the bagpipes starting up - the 7am starters. The BunLovingCrimnals were in that group we thought and it would be us next. We stood in the queue for breakfast dished out by the Gurkha chefs. 

An array of bacon, sausages, beans, tomatoes, boiled egg, cereals, tea and coffee on offer. The team tucked in though Mark was a little less enthusiastic and decided he couldn't really face much to eat at all at this point.

The team looking pensive at the Start

After breakfast we slowly worked our way round via the toilets for a final pre-Start pit-stop and once again bumped into Jon Paul Tom and Olly who were limbering up and getting their gear together. 

As the teams chatted and stretched, the minutes ticked by and it was time to head up to be 'coraled' into the Start Area. Dibbing our Dibbers as we entered to ensure our 8am start would be registered, we waited. 

Gubbs becomes the 5th Red Harrow!

We were soon approached by Gubbs from the HardcoreFour and introduced to Jo, Julie and Josh though there wasn't much time to talk as we listened to the Gurkha officer and then the klaxon sounded followed by the sound of the Gurkha bagpipes and suddenly this throng of 400 or so people was off into the park.

And we're off! (Infiltrated by the HardcoreFour)

We weren't sure how things would go for this first stage as we thought perhaps things might get congested, but the track was good and wide so everything moved at a reasonable pace, enough to get warmed up properly. As we passed the Visitor Centre we were in complete unknown territory but with this many people all going the same way, provided those at the front knew where they were going - we would be fine. 

As we rounded the corner, the track began to deteriorate to a more of a hardcore track, still wide but we soon had our first encounters with the mountain bikers as progressively the word "Bike" was shouted encouraging people to move left out of their way. It wasn't clear how far these bikers had come or how long they'd been out but they were pretty much covered head to toe in mud. if that was an indication of the trail up ahead then things were going to get much worse from here.

The Red Harrows Mobile Command Centre at CP1

At least the rain was holding off us so far and things were actually quite pleasant though the evidence of heavy rainfall  abounded on the trail as standing water. As we approached Checkpoint 1 the walkie-talkies burst into life and we gave our ETA. The Support Team were ready even though we were ahead of schedule and we were greeted by Ted on the trail in advance - something he would do a lot of on the Checkpoints to come. As we dibbed in at Checkpoint 1 our time registered 1:44, a good 22minutes ahead of our schedule. 



The Support Crew escorted us over to the waiting gazebo which they had erected despite there being no need at this point but it was good practice for them. Coincidentally we were alongside the HardcoreFour and after a 16minute break, refuel, re-water we were off again cheered off by our Support Crew and the Hardcore Four! 

Beacon Hill in all its glory

Still in unfamiliar territory we set off towards Checkpoint 2 at a decent pace. The trail had narrowed and the crowd had dissipated thanks to people stopping at Checkpoint 1 and others carrying on up the trail. The weather was still holding up but we knew on this stage we would encounter Beacon Hill. This hill had grown in notoriety as the subject of many a teams blogs in training. It was for this reason we had climbed Shutlingsloe in the Peak District and the Tramway at Burwardsley. Soon enough it was there looming in front. Not the biggest hill we've seen but steep, steep enough to have steps carved into it and a good early test. Halfway up it and we were glad we'd trained on steep hills as maintaining the pace became difficult, but as quickly as it began it was conquered and we were off.

The rest of the stage passed fairly uneventfully apart from the frustrating need to don waterproof coats during heavy showers which would last 15minutes or so, then stop, let you realise you were too hot, take them off and then find another shower coming in. This pattern would continue for a number of hours.

Checkpoint 2 - mind the mud.

Approaching Checkpoint 2 we got on the radio again and during the descent there was the smiling face of Ted to greet us again and guide us up to the support vehicle. On entering the Checkpoint, we began to comprehend what our Support Crew were having to contend with. The place was a mess. Large brown ruts ran down the middle of the field where cars, vans and four wheel drives had slid sideways. As we walked to our car, we watched as car after car had to be pushed and guided, Gurkhas throwing down sawdust to tray and soak up the moisture all to no avail. Four wheel drive didn't seem to make any difference whatsoever. 

Banquet at Checkpoint 2

We reached the car to find the team had put the gazebo up and the sides, which was just as well as we arrived to the sound of thunder and then the real rain started. We'd managed to complete this stage in 1hour 55minutes, a good 16minutes ahead of our target time.

Taking the opportunity to change socks, load up on the spread on offer and stock up for what would be a longer walk to Checkpoint 4 before we see our Support Crew again we managed to complete this stop in 25minutes, a little longer than our 15minute allowance but we could afford it and we were still 27minutes ahead overall.

We bid the Support Crew goodbye wondering how they would ever get out and set off up the hill. We'd only been gone about 10minutes when Simon hailed us on the walkie-talkie - "Guys - bad news - we've just been told Checkpoint 4 is now closed to Support Crews - we won't now see you until Checkpoint 5 - Good Luck!"

To be continued....

17/07/2012 - Trailwalker 2012 (Part 1)

Of all the blogs we've written throughout training, this is probably going to be the most difficult. Difficult because it will be hard to put across what we've all gone through over the last few days, not just us - the Walkers but our Support Team too. To make it more manageable, I've split it into parts.

Thursday 12th July 

Oxfam provide us an update on the course. The news isn't good. The recent bad weather has taken its toll. Checkpoint 3 has been closed to Support Crews and Checkpoint 4 car parking has changed making it smaller and further away. Surprisingly, the low lying Checkpoint 6 near the river isn't on the list. At least we can make a plan to carry enough food and water from CP2 to CP4, about 3.5 hours so not a big deal given we've done longer than that unsupported in training. The weather forecast for the weekend isn't looking any better than previous weeks. Still very unsettled, looking like we might get a dry start on Saturday before light then heavy showers persist into the evening before clearing overnight into Sunday. Possibly a small bonus not walking in the dark with rain then?

Friday 13th July

10:00am Mark heads over to his Physio for a little light tissue work and to be strapped up with tape to assist the injury picked up doing the Sandstone Trail training walk. To add to his woes, he's also started with a head cold so isn't feeling particularly great. Mark leaves the Physio with a blue Union-Jack-shaped taping arrangement down his left leg.

12:00pm The support vehicle (Mark's car) is packed with all the goodies, chairs, table, gazebo, cool box etc. and ready for the off. Simon, Martin and Ted are already on their way down. No message from Lee and Polly so it's presumed they have woken and are heading down.

12:30pm Mark and Kate grab a quick protein lunch at McDonalds - Big Mac, Fries and Chocolate Milkshake making Mark feel more like fourteen than forty, just as well as he was a lot fitter then!

4:30pm A smooth journey down and Mark and Kate arrive at the Premier Inn near Havant and the whole team are there and checked in - including Lee and Polly albeit a little worse for wear after a heavy night before at Lee's neighbours during which a large quantity of wine had been consumed (so much for the alcohol ban then!)

5:00pm Lee and Kate set off for Brighton in separate cars to leave Lee's car with all the Sunday gear in, the rest of the team head over to the pub next door for some 'hydration'

7:00pm The team head for Queen Elizabeth Country Park to meet up with Kate and Lee, register and attend the safety briefing. Arriving at QECP, we were greeted with chaotic scenes. Gurkhas directing traffic trying to get in and out who then advised us to park down by the Visitor Centre and walk up. Suddenly things became very real as we drove under the overhead 'Start' banner. 

Tent 1 - Registration Forms

Walking in to the park we found Tent 1 where the registration packs could be found and then meandered down past the array of tents arranged in start time order noting 6am, 7am and 8am we're looking pretty full but 9am and 10am were looking a bit sparse.

Looking at the conditions of the ground and the forecast, we were glad we opted for a hotel and not a tent. 

Its not looking good out there...

Finding Tent 2, Polly set about filling the forms in while we waited for Lee and Kate to join us. As we waited for the Safety briefing to start we noted the white board next to the tent which now confirmed our suspicions - Checkpoint 6 was now closed to Support Crews as well. It shouldn't have come as a surprise given that yet more rain had fallen in the previous 24 hours. Listening to the safety briefing we also found out that for the first section of the trail there would be a cycle race coming towards us but as long as we kept to the left - we should be fine! 

The Gurkhas doing the Kukri dance

With the briefing over, it was time for the Gurkha cultural show. Out came the marching band and the Gurkhas doing the Kukri dance - quite something to watch. It was at this point we got to meet Jon Paul Tom and Olly who were watching the show a few yards away. It was strange that though we've never met before, we already knew so much about each other thanks to the power of Twitter and Blogging over the last 6 months and it was great to meet them all after all this time. 

No backing out now!

Once the show was over, it was time to get registered and tagged. Thanks to meeting our fundraising target, it meant we could be fast-tracked into Tent 3 where the waiting Gurkhas tagged our wrists with our 'Dibbers'. These little devices would be needed at every Checkpoint to swiped in to ensure everyone knew our whereabouts on the course and they would register our final time. We also had our Team Number  - 145. 

So job done and off to queue and load upon pasta cooked by the Gurkha chefs after which we bumped into the BunLovinCriminals who we hadn't seen since the Gurkha Training Day and had a quick catch up. 

With the procedural stuff done and the festivities over, we decided to head back to the digs, grab a nightcap and get an early-ish night. On the way out of the park, we once again passed under the Start banner, The next time we would do that would be 8am Saturday morning and it would be for real  - with 100km still to go. 

See you in 11 hours...

 To be continued.....