Quite simply, the best thing I have ever done.
Those were the words that stuck in my head after finishing
the 41 miles of 2012’s LSW. Before starting the walk I spoke to Lisa Kipling
who had done the walk for the first time the previous year. She told me she had
loved every minute of it. I kept thinking about those words throughout the
walk. When she said it I hadn't believed her. How can anyone enjoy 41 miles in
a day? But as each mile fell away I began to understand and by the end as I
walked into the Royal Oak, 14 and a half hours later, I understood perfectly.
Lisa was right. I had loved every minute as well.
I had a plan. I spent LSW 2011 on checkpoints and I knew how
easy it was to get distracted at them and stay for too long. I decided to only
stop at the even checkpoints, I knew people on all the even checkpoints which
is why I chose them over the odd checkpoints. This meant I had a long way to go
before reaching a proper stopping point. It was worth it though. The lead up to
checkpoint 2 was the hardest part of the whole walk for me. A long uphill with
no level areas to take a break on. I had done this hill on a training walk
which meant I knew it was going to be a challenge. The thought of a fried egg
sandwich at the top and, of course, friendly faces, made it easy to keep going.
I did stop at that checkpoint and enjoyed a bit of company from the ever
friendly volunteers there.
During the rest of the walk me and Darren (who was walking
with me) fell in and out of different groups. The best thing about this was we
got to talk to lots of different people. Which when you have such a long way to
go stops you from going a bit mad! In honesty, the rest of the walk is a bit of
a blur. I remember checkpoints and certain bits of the walk but I am unsure of
the order they came in so please bear with me.
There was a lot of mud. I think all the walkers would say
the same thing. This presented its own challenge as there were some parts which
were very deep and made the walking quite heavy going. We also had torrential
downpours to contend with from time to time. But I suppose when you are outside
for, in some cases, 20 hours, you are going to experience weather and light
changes like you don’t normally experience.
Most of the walk was very pleasant. I had been warned that
the last stretch back to the village would be hard as it was a long bit of road
that seemed never ending. I didn't actually find it that bad. I was in good
spirits by that point. Tired yes, but happy. Darren and I reflected on the walk
that was almost finished and how amazed we both were that I was still going
strong! The road was long and tiring but we made it to Whitwell Common in good
time and I knew then that it was almost over.
I have walked up the hill to the Royal Oak many times. But
this particular time was different. This time I had 40 miles behind me and a
group of people straining their eyes at me to see if they knew who was coming
up. Once I arrived I was greeted with applause and congratulations. The feeling
was immense. After such a long day of hard walking, mud, rain, hills, aching feet
and blisters that pub seemed like a palace! I logged my arrival time and went
in for a well earned drink. All was well until I made the mistake of trying to
get back up again! Darren’s sister Sarah kindly gave us a lift home (a mere
half mile away if that) and that was that. All done for another year.
The first question I was asked by friends at the Oak was
‘Doing it again next year?’ My answer.......’Yes, absolutely, no question.’
