Trailwalker 2005: sub-24 hours?

Last year we said never again...and within a day, Lorna and I were tentatively asking each other if we'd like to walk it again. And so the 2005 team, called the Feral Bananas, was born. The team is John, who joined us mid-way through last year, Allison, Lorna's sister, Lorna and me. Our brilliant support team are Iain and Heather, with Simon looking after fund raising.

Iain's wonderful banana artwork at the finish

The night before: I sat in the sun in my garden, wondering what on earth I was doing. I'd got in very little training, had been suffering from a summer cold, and was full of self pity. Luckily Iain rang. I told him about the timings I'd worked out, and he said: oh, aren't you going for sub-20 hours? This is to be on the safe side, I said, rather pathetically. Lorna came on the line and was full of guts and good sense, as ever. 

John and I got the train down to Petersfield early on Saturday morning, and John had booked a taxi which swiftly got us to Queen Elizabeth country park. Barry the taxi driver talked happily about how he'd be enjoying a beer and a rest later in the day. I rang Iain - he and Lorna were close by, held up in the line of traffic. We all met up and quickly nabbed a table so that we could gulp down some Gurkha brekky before registration.

Breakfast at 0830: Iain, John and Heather

Then we rushed over to the registration tent, back out for kit check, back in to registration to pick up our chips and...on to the start. We'd cut things a bit fine, but still time for team pics. Heather and Iain scooped up our kit and food bags to stow in the car. 

Our wonderful team: Iain (support), Heather (support), me, Allison, Lorna and John, at the start (pic by kind TW walker)

The day was set fair, and it was already very hot. John pointed out the hilly route of a running race he'd done here. I think we were all very glad to be starting two hours earlier than last year. 

Just before we set off (pic by Iain)

Iain and Heather: no better support team anywhere

There was a good-hearted gaggle of walkers as we congregated at the start. A few words from Oxfam and the Ghurkhas; the honk of the start hooter; mass clicking of watches and the dismal wail of Ghurkha bagpipes: we were off!

Start: 0900

The start point

Like last year, we'd asked Heather and Iain to skip chpt 1, and John, Lorna and Allison set a cracking pace for the first 9k. We were much more bunched up with other walkers than last year: most of us were aiming for around 24 hours.

Checkpoint 1: 1052
leg time: 1.45 (okay, not all these times are going to add up...)

John, Lorna and Allison at checkpoint 1

We gulped down the water and juice provided by the Ghurkhas, and I stripped down to my running vest. It was going to be really hot today.

Above Harting Downs

Looking over to the hill fort

This is the leg that includes one of the bastard hills of TW: down and then up to the Devil's Jump. It looked much worse this year, as I knew I was the slowest. And it was on this second leg that I began my major wibble. I knew I hadn't trained properly, and the thought grew in my mind that I was mad to be holding the team back. I was already aching, which was bloody ridiculous given that we were only 20k into the route. Some captain.

Along the top above Bepton Down

John, Lorna and Allison were looking really strong, and we approached the checkpoint, I had a major decision to make. Heather and Iain had put up one of this year's support innovations: a lovely tent, in Runner's World colours, that provided a shady nook to take on refreshment. And Jo (limper from RW forum) had turned up! A lovely surprise.

Checkpoint 2: 1250
leg time: 1.50

Before we arrived: Heather gets stuck in to Harry Potter (pic by Iain)

Heather, John and Jo at the back; Lorna slaps sun lotion onto Allison

It was so hot that I didn't feel like eating, but I drank some coffee (both John and Lorna said later: you realise that's a diuretic), and ate some cheese. 

In the tent gulping coffee (pic by Iain)

I didn't want to say anything to the team, but a lesson learnt from last year is that you tell the team what's up. So I said that I knew I was slower than them, and I would be happy to DNF if they wanted to get under 24 hours (which was the truth). They all said no, the important thing was to get round as a team, what ever the time. Which was brilliant, and I felt like a great weight was lifted. A huge thank you! Iain said that I was looking shaky, which surprised me, as I wasn't feeling it. I licked a Calipo lolly, feeling better. 

Iain with his Beau Jeste hat consuming lolly brought by Jo

Jo and Heather breaking camp (pic by Iain)

Iain and Heather pointed out that we were already faster than last year, and I felt very relieved that the pace might slow a bit from now on.

Through the fields...

The next 8k was kinder: an ascent of 145k but gently done. And there was a stretch through woods where we all enjoyed the shade.  We stormed this leg, shaving nearly 20 mins off the 24 hour time. And it was one of those nice legs where you see the checkpoint ahead. Lorna did a brilliant job throughout, co-ordinating with Heather and Iain to let them know our etas.

Looking back to the checkpoint

Up on the top of the ridge, the walking was good, and we were still very close to lots of other teams. As we overtook, or were overtaken, we exchanged greetings and target times.

Looking over the ridge to what's to come

Heat and corn

Slow descent near Lavington

John, the angel, had offered to carry my rucksack at chpt2, and I'd gratefully said yes. He made sure I was taking lots of fluid on board.

Aha! Next checkpoint in view!

Checkpoint 3: 1455
leg time: 1.25

We headed up the field to our familiar tent, where Iain and Heather had set up a camping stove with coffee and tea for those who wanted it. 

Heather boils water (pic by Iain)

I gulped down more water and cheese, and we all adjusted kit and checked our feet. I think it was here that Heather forced me to eat a bag of Hula Hoops for the salt. I obeyed. Time too for a sock change, vaseline and compeed for a hot spot.

Me applying plasters to hot spots (pic by Iain)

Iain showed us a painful bit of missed sun-protected skin.

Ouch! Pink bits

The team slap sun lotion and take on carbs

Iain brought out his magic flapjack box: fantastic recipe containing loads of seeds and nuts that, by the end of the walk, would reach mythic fame thanks to Allison's digestive reaction to it.

Magic flapjack with Heather's hand

Then it was off again: another climb up Burton Down and Bignor Hill.

On to the next leg...(pic by Iain)

Iain cooling off after we'd left (pic by Heather)

There was some discussion about the perceived size of cows to those not used to the country, and a handy cow provided a photo opportunity.

That's a tiny cow

Heading down to Houghton

Checkpoint 4: 1655
leg time: 1.35

Heather revealed some of the salads she'd bought for us: I shovelled down a salmon pasta salad. Yum. Iain again said how well we were doing for time: nearly half an hour faster than the 24 hour time. I remembered how last year, this was the checkpoint we left as night was falling. Lorna and John both remembered the route over the foot bridge.

As we set off again, we saw our first feral banana skin. Lorna said that the goblins make these into coats: I wasn't entirely convinced, but she has the medical training so must know. We had another climb up Amberley mount, passed the nice house we all wanted to own.

St Mary's church near Rowdell

It felt strange to be doing this leg in day light - I remember how Peter came out to meet us in the dark last year. I also remembered the nasty climb up to checkpoint 5, and it was fab to see Iain on the route to guide us home.

Checkpoint 5: 2000
leg time: 2.25

Iain and Heather had camped under a tree, and there was all sorts of food laid out. By this time, my legs were complaining, and so was Allison's back, so Iain gave both of us a very welcome sports massage. I squeaked like crazy, but felt hugely better afterwards. I zipped my legs on, and we all dug out an extra layer or two for the night walk. Heather told us sternly that there would be soup at the next checkpoint, which we must eat.

Dusk falls...

...but there's still sun

We cranked onwards, along one of those ridged flinty paths that the South Downs is so good at. Then it was uphill - in the light this time - up to Chanctonbury Ring. 

John and Allison approach the ring: other TW walkers ahead

As we looked back, the sun was setting.

Last light

None of us were wearing head torches yet: we'd decided to rely on our night vision as long as possible. And we were still in the company of other teams. It felt like a long way down into Botolphs and the next checkpoint.

Allison's hands had been sausage shaped most of the day, thanks to the heat. And her alimentary tract was making loud and musical work of the flapjacks.

Those digits...

There were wonderful Ghurkhas to see us over the road, and I think this was the first checkpoint were they said: still four of you? Good! We grabbed the choccy on offer and headed off to find Iain and Heather.

Checkpoint 6: 2215
leg time:2.00

Before we arrived: Heather preparing Harry Potter update (pic by Iain)

Iain and Heather had pitched camp in the long grass of the field, and the tent was up for them to catch a bit of kip later. How was everyone doing?
John: Okay
Allison: Cold
Iain: great
Heather: tired
Me: glad of drugs
I haven't recorded a comment from Lorna, but she was looking good.

Lorna takes on carbs (pic by Iain)

John, Iain and Allison with head torch

Allison and I popped ibuprofen, and Heather conjured up some wonderful bean soup. And Heather had bought me some sausage rolls! Allison located a nasty blister on her little toe.

That blister in close up...

Heather had bought Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince earlier in the day, when it first went on sale, and kept up up to date with her snatched reading of it. Lots of deaths so far...meanwhile she was sporting a practical but unfashionable line in TW footwear...

Support teams are excused fashion rules

Now we really did crack out the extra gear: head torches for three of us, plus fleeces and waterproofs.

Lorna, Allison in North Herts Road Runners top and me in trusty fleece

I was very tired by now: we all were. But it was grand to be at this checkpoint nearly five hours earlier than last year. Time to crack on: as we left, Iain and Heather told us that checkpoint 8, the next time we'd see them, would be hot and sweet. Fab.

In the route booklet, this leg is down as 4.1k, but the route has changed since last year, so we knew it would be longer. There was some tricky navigation on the roads, but John had a clear idea of where we were going. Back uphill again, and  I got quite cross that it was so much longer than the promised 4k. Allison's Garmin tracked it as 9.2k, and it really felt like it. Lorna and Allison both said that it was more miles ticked off, which was right. It seemed an age til we got to the Ghurkha checkpoint set high on Devil's Dyke, and I felt very very tired. I had no idea if I'd finish...but I kept repeating my new mantra (from Escape to the Legion): pain is just weakness leaving the body.

Checkpoint 7: 0055
leg time: 2.05

Phew. We trooped into the food tent to find that most of the food was still hot. And as it was finally cool, I scooped up a good plateful of mince and spaghetti and wolfed it down. Lorna's chosen pasta was cold, but she forced it down. Then Allison found a seat outside to attend to her feet. I wandered over to the loos, passing a walker crashed out on the camp beds. Then I joined Allison for some hot spot attention. Eventually it was time to move off on sore feet. 

This was the one leg where we got a bit lost: I don't think we went too far out of the way, and once we were back on course, another team told us they'd shouted at us to turn back, but we didn't hear. They were too tired to track us down: oh how we understood. But thanks to John we were soon back on track, but quite slowly. 

Checkpoint 8: 0350
leg time: 2.30

Oh, how glad was I to see this one. Iain told me later that it had taken them nearly an hour to get into the car park overlooking the ridge at Ditchling Beacon...which made me admire our support team even more. We arrived to hot coffee and more flapjacks, and wonderful hugs. I talked to one of Ghurkhas who told me that the winning team (Ghurkha, of course, but not his unit) had finished in 10 hours 40 mins. Stunning. Dawn was just glimmering over the ridge, and we headed off to the standard battle cry of 'Go Bananas!'

Dawn breaks

Last year I'd had a real adrenaline rush at this point: this year it was just keep plodding. Now it was Allison's time to have a wibble. Her blood sugar dipped, and she took a couple of breaks to munch kit-kats and restore her sugar levels. Then we headed on, with not much loss of time, to morning and checkpoint 9, down by the road at Houndean Bottom. Miraculously, a Brit Ghurkha led us much of the walk in. 

Checkpoint 9: 0638
leg time: 2.08

Iain guided us up the road to the car.

Lorna with wrapped Heather behind (pic by Iain)

Waiting support cars (pic by Iain)

Iain and Heather grab a bite

The stove was on, and I chose hot choccy. It tasted fantastic. Tea and coffee for others, and the remains of the flapjacks. 

I spot a real blister (pic by Iain)

I was dreading the next leg, as it contained bastard hill no 2, but John said: embrace it! The hill is your friend! I didn't agree, but thought I should stop whinging. Hugs really helped my spirit. And we changed into our TW t-shirts for the finish. 

Then it was off again, stopping off at check-in, then on to a much longer walk in than I remembered to the hill by Kingston. I took it slowly but steadily, stopping at several points. Allison was revived and doing brilliantly. This leg is only 6k but felt much longer. We looked down on wonderful crop patterns ahead.

Crop marks

I finally got to take a picture of the '500m to go' sign - a blessed site all along the route.

Nearly at checkpoint 10

Checkpoint 10: 0837
leg time: 1.18

This checkpoint has no road access, so it's manned by Ghurkhas, who once again expressed delighted surprise that there were still four of us. More choccy on offer, and hot chocolate. No one on the team was in the mood for a hot drink. I gulped water, and poured some over the back of my neck at it was getting very hot again. We didn't stop long, just wanting it to be over. Again, it was a sign of my tiredness that this leg seemed a lot longer than last year. I was slowing, so it was wonderful to reach the B2133 where the Ghurkhas had set up a water point. More water over my neck.

On to the finish: Lorna rang ahead to let Heather and Iain know we were 10 mins away. I could see the finish but boy, it seemed a long way a way. One foot in front of the other...we heard the PA announce the team ahead of us then finally, the Feral Bananas were announced...I saw Iain and Heather roar us on, and slowly but surely we crossed the finish. 

Nearly there, with Ghurkha bagpiper (pic by Iain)

Heather and Iain were there with celebratory coke all round. We passed our chips over the timer for the last time, and a kindly Ghurkha took pity on me and wrestled mine off my wrist.

Finish: 1005
leg time: 1.15
Finish time: 25.05

Lorna, John and me at the final check in (pic by Iain)

Heather doles out cola (pic by Iain)

Just after the finish (pic by Ghurkha)

We sipped our coke and lined up for the medal presentation - I felt so proud when the Ghurkha officer told us how well we'd done. 

Those medals, waiting...(pic by Iain)

Being told we were great! (pic by Iain)

Presentation of medals (pic by Iain)

And it was brilliant when Heather and Iain climbed the rostrum too. Medals and badges very proudly worn.

The whole team: my favourite pic (pic by Ghurkha)

Ghurkha, Lorna and Allison after the award ceremony

We staggered in to get our Ghurkha curry and rice, and I dug a can of Stella out of my kit bag, specially packed for the finish. 

Lorna calls home while Heather communes with a poppadom (pic by Iain)

Iain grabbed a couple of bananas to embellish (see first pic). 

John demolishes a nana

Iain with two captures

I thought, never ever ever again. Then Heather bore John and I away to Brighton station and we finally slumped into the train. Allison and Lorna crashed out in the car. 

The Cook sisters slumped (pic by Iain)

I slept in snatches on the way home, having bought my own copy of Harry Potter at Brighton. Then the luxury of a taxi from London Bridge all the way to Tottenham.

Thoughts afterwards...

I would never have made it round without our fabulous team: Lorna, John and Allison instantly saying that we'd get round as a four rather than chasing time; support from them when I slowed; wonderful hugs and bossiness from Iain and Heather, with wonderful food/drink/advice/cheers exactly when needed. I thought our support team was pretty near perfect last year; this year they were gobsmackingly fantastic. Huge thanks too to forumites who called and texted: Ruth, Johnny J, Evil Pixie. And thanks a million to my wonderful sponsors.

I didn't feel much when I finished this year, other than relief, but the next day I felt really proud to have been part of the team, and boggled a bit that we'd lopped four hours off last year's time. It was a good lesson for me to have been the tail ender for quite a bit of the way this year. To finish this walk is really about stuff in your head not your legs.

Never, ever, ever again: so I'm certainly not thinking about how to crack 24 hours next year...and I've never ever talked to Lorna about it...