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Fairlands
Valley Challenge 11 mile
20 July 2003
Another
glorious summer day...
The efficient and punctual Anne scooped me up from Stevenage station, and we met
up with Helen who was registering when we arrived. Free tea and biccies!
Anne, Helen in beekeeper's hat, Fran at the start
A big gaggle of walkers gathered for the start at 0900, and we were sent off by one of the very efficient Fairlands Valley Spartans, who'd run the marathon course at midnight last night.
The course was undulating in a gentle way, and after a mile or so we headed out over open country. Helen told us about her day on the tall ship, and discovered she hadn't started her watch. This was a cunning plan for her to finish an hour ahead of Anne and me.
First water station was at 5 miles, and there was bread pudding! Apparently a
Fairlands tradition. Anne downed a biscuit, but got a bit of indigestion afterwards. There was some lovely walking through cornfields and Helen took over
as navigator, keeping us on the right path. We reckoned this was the challenge -
finding the right route.
Helen, in her beekeeper's hat, Anne and Fran
We were overtaken by two runners who then reappeared a few minutes later, having taken the wrong turning. A drinks station appeared at 8 miles, and at around 9 miles we did a gentle jog downhill for a few minutes.
At some point Anne decided we should do the Disney marathon, but this wasn't
greeted by overwhelming support by the rest of the team.
Anne, Fran and unknown walker behind
We arrived back in 3 hours 35 mins, 10 mins less than I'd estimated, and we were pleased with the time. Interestingly, we all found it harder work than last week's 15 miles, but H and I were wearing running shoes not walking boots, and Anne upped her running mileage this week.
Anne reveals the damage
That claw in more detail
The organisers provided a free bbq at the finish, so Anne and I scoffed barbie food while Helen saved herself for a later lunch.
Overall - a really great event. Excellent organisation, water stations and food,
very friendly event and I'll be back. And, of course, brilliant company.
This walk's revelations:
Helen hates broad beans
Anne is going to jump out of a plane on her birthday
Fran will mention scrambled eggs whenever she can.
Helen
adds:
1. One batch of bread pudding at the first checkpoint had been made with additional cherries and was extra scrummy.
2. Long distance walking events are good fun, and I do like this idea of food at every checkpoint.
3. Don't put a checkpoint card in with a condensation-covered water bottle, makes it hard to reassemble later.
4. I saw marathon runners/walkers several hours later after I'd had my lunch and was out for the afternoon jaunt. Decided anyone who chooses to to exercise for five hours is mad. (Errr... don't mention Trailwalk)
4. Fran can walk without her socks and legs getting dirty: she's either very clean or she hovers.
5.Don't wear cotton socks - ankles now mangled from being rubbed raw whilst socks were damp (and muddy) - didn't notice at the time...
6. Chimp is nearly right about every Sunday... good job my church has evening services :-)
7. Anne has an adventurous streak, and a good imagination. Helen has jumped out of one aircraft once her life and isn't planning to make a habit of it, not even to rescue Anne from rash ideas generated during a craic session (is that how you spell it?).
8. Heights? Bah!