This is a tale of 4 fantastic walking friends, 3 amazing supporting friends, a million text messages and one sad old pathetic sleeping dragon!
It all started in 2003 when someone found the TW challenge and I like others got caught up in the excitement! We were enthusistic but not at all prepared for what TW really was like, add the worst weather and "The Lunatic Fridge!" dropped out at CP7. Cold, wet and drained of every ounce of energy.
2004 came, I said NO WAY and sulked. I texted the guys who did it as I remembered how fantastic it was to have text messages during the event. My teeth were gritted as I hated doing it because I was still so annoyed at not finishing in 2003 and having nothing, not even 1 small blister to show for my failed efforts, but I knew it was good for the team so did it.
2005 came and the same. This was starting to grate. I was annoyed and time wasn't lessening the effects!
Then somehow I found myself talking to friends and on 30th December 2005 I found myself entering for 2006!
Between August 2005 and this weekend the team and support did change but one thing remained the same. The goal.
"The team of four would start as four, go through every check point as four, at the same time and finish as four!No exceptions!"
Yesterday that goal was achieved 100%
As is now traditional for me I had my normal pre-big-event wibbles! Stress eating for England, excitement, nervous and aprehension. Bear was in amazing form and organised the most amazing support team with Fraggle, Rob W and himself. They had a massive plan and it worked like clockwork! I can't fault them! The only time they were not there was because we told them a time and walked faster! Sorry guys!!
Anyway lets have a brief review!
Friday ... not much work for Pixie!! Left and went to the Cavern, managing one loo stop in the 1hr journey! Me nervous? No way!!
Cavern to HQ at Rob's ... several M&S cookies for carb loading! Lots of traffic :-( and a very long drive for V-Rap (she's a star!)
Rob had given us amazing STAR instructions (STandard Arrival Route!) but a quick phone call meant a diversion due to a busy M3. When we did get to HQ we found a bouncing Rob and Duck! Rob cuppa no.1
Then off to Queen Elizabeth Park having had Rob pack what looked like an entire camping set (less the kitchen sink!) ... the nerves were rising! A call told us that the rest of the team were putting up tents! We arrived and leapt out and ran off down a hill to find them!
Friday night was rushed ... register ... BBQ ... get checked in ... chipped and bed! My main memory of the camp site was millions of tents and then a small square marked "smoking area" Seemed very funny! I know I am sad! As Fraggle has mentioned sleeping was restless due to noise and all too soon it was morning!
The 6AM start seemed stupid! We were all half asleep!
6AM came. There was a short delay and then bagpipes and we were off!
I have no idea why but I very very quickly became obsessed! People every where and mainly carrying walking poles! All I could hear was chatter and clacking poles. I took charge and lead the team forward .... if I saw a pole and a hole I was off! Pace quicked and we went passed poles and found nice holes!
Soon we were working out the 101 ways to use poles!
About 5mins before CP1 I noticed my heel was sore. At CP1 I stopped to check and some grit had got in my sock, sock seem and grit = blister. Blister had burst. BUGGER.
Support asked for requests and it went in as "Plaster, banana cake and coffee!"
I soon realised that the irritation was no better or worse with pace so we carried on. My main memory of 2003 was "goat hill" and no sooner was it in view it was gone! See Pixies can do hills!They just don't LIKE hills! We ran down the other side giggling and Leon declared there was a fell runner in me!! Yeah right!
Mr Gadget man (Leon) was in charge of directions and led us along "The purple line" perfectly. M memory helped me remember a lot too like the long hill down through the fields to CP2 ... we ran that one too!! Maybe that's why we were quicker than predicted!!
It was at this CP that Dr Dino took charge of feet! Duck got 1 blister stabbed and several plasters applied. I had 2 plaster and 2 compeed! Fraggle started "SUN BLOCK" watch and the banana cake and chocolate bread and oh everything was gawjus!! I think that was our last Ghurka drink (well apart from CP7 when the team were having a snooze at CP8).
Stage 2-3 saw my heel bleeding more :-( and us running down the hill into the CP with cheers from Rob and Fraggle! Then Leon took a knife to my saucony shoes and killed them! Gaffer tape applied and my heel was no longer a problem!
I have so many memories it would take all day and a lot of web space to detail them all! V-rap is doing a full report so I'll try to minimise mine!!
Stage 3-4 we saw the 1st "trailwalker NOT this way" sign!! Very funny! CP4 we discovered how gawjus Fraggle's flapjack was!
Stage 4-5 and another "incline" on which some "stray" forumites "just happened to be there!" Snoop and Tiger! CP 5 and my other shoe gets hacked!
Stage 5-6 and I am starting to feel very tired and sick. I wobbled in to CP6 and flopped on a blanket. Rob refused to let me leave until I had eaten a hot cross bun, the flapjack crumbs and drunk 2 cups of tea! V-rap stabbed a blister and I screamed like a baby!!
By this time I didn't care so changed tops and bra whilst stuck to the floor! Bear rubbed vaseline into my back. Leon and V-Rap ate fresh cooked pasta and although we were there for an hour it was required and not wasted. All changed ready for night (pirate buff round neck!) we went off feeling better and ready to slay the dragon.
My eyes took a long time to cope with the night. We passed "stupid lady in white" who twice came charging up behind us on a hill only to stop, hands on knees declaring she was about to die. Leon told her to slow down both times. She never passed us again (smug grin time for Pixie!) I think it was here that Leon started the "hand on back" approach to Pixie Hills. With hand in place I had no choice but to keep walking! I worked well!
As we approached the old CP7 my emotions started to go all over the place. As I finally saw the barn I ran, I cried, I swore and struggled to breath. The Dragon was dying. CP 7 itself was fine! I learnt that Ghurka hot choc was nice but they bar of choc was rank!
CP8 however was a totally different affair. Shortly befoe someone's fire was smouldering. The smoke caught my throat and I couldn't breath properly. I was WELL pasted the dragon. The support team would be there and I started to hyperentilate. Leon took my hand and walked me though it. I blanked Fraggle and Bear (for which I am so sorry) checked in as a team and headed for the car focusing on breathing. Rob greated me with a hug and my legs went, I cried and he wouldn't let go until I was breathing OK and in the car.
Stage 8-9 and my head started to do mad things. I was seeing walkers in my periveral visions. Ghosts of TW past. Those slane by the dragon. Then tall wooden posts in front of me. Very spoky and not nice. A bit later on and a hot cross bun later and demon pixie returned to slay more pole people and the "green stick people" who I had been watching since leaving CP8!
My next main memories were nasty. I knew about Bastard Hill as I had read about it. I wasn't expecting that though. 3Styles to climb over didn't help! Leon had hand on back and had to stop, with V-Rap half way up to stop me stressing. I couldn't breath. I was panicing. I was crying but knew I HAD to finish. Once up the hill you had to walk across the edge of a hill. OMG it was high, the drop was steep and far and I couldn't breath again. Once on the other side I broke down. Again I as hugged back together.
CP10 our last was in sight. Mr Garmin was implying we could be close to 26hrs ... 26:02 infact. Leon took my hand (again the hero!) and kept me going. My feet were screaming, I was wimpering and if left alone I would have stopped and crawled.
To get to the finish and see the clock still showing 25hrs was amazing and I went from not being able to walk without wanting to cry to running then sprinting to get under 26hrs!
Tears followed loads of hugs and a small breathing issue (!) and we were presented with the hardest earned medal in my collection.
I had been through highs, lows, tiredness, strops and massive sulks to finish in elation. Yesterday and this morning it was NEVER again would I do it because I would never put myself through Bastard Hill again. Now I wonder what I would do if I saw it again.
Thank you to everyone who supported me and the team in everyway. I is one very happy if somewhat stiff and tender footed pixie!
It all started in 2003 when someone found the TW challenge and I like others got caught up in the excitement! We were enthusistic but not at all prepared for what TW really was like, add the worst weather and "The Lunatic Fridge!" dropped out at CP7. Cold, wet and drained of every ounce of energy.
2004 came, I said NO WAY and sulked. I texted the guys who did it as I remembered how fantastic it was to have text messages during the event. My teeth were gritted as I hated doing it because I was still so annoyed at not finishing in 2003 and having nothing, not even 1 small blister to show for my failed efforts, but I knew it was good for the team so did it.
2005 came and the same. This was starting to grate. I was annoyed and time wasn't lessening the effects!
Then somehow I found myself talking to friends and on 30th December 2005 I found myself entering for 2006!
Between August 2005 and this weekend the team and support did change but one thing remained the same. The goal.
"The team of four would start as four, go through every check point as four, at the same time and finish as four!No exceptions!"
Yesterday that goal was achieved 100%
As is now traditional for me I had my normal pre-big-event wibbles! Stress eating for England, excitement, nervous and aprehension. Bear was in amazing form and organised the most amazing support team with Fraggle, Rob W and himself. They had a massive plan and it worked like clockwork! I can't fault them! The only time they were not there was because we told them a time and walked faster! Sorry guys!!
Anyway lets have a brief review!
Friday ... not much work for Pixie!! Left and went to the Cavern, managing one loo stop in the 1hr journey! Me nervous? No way!!
Cavern to HQ at Rob's ... several M&S cookies for carb loading! Lots of traffic :-( and a very long drive for V-Rap (she's a star!)
Rob had given us amazing STAR instructions (STandard Arrival Route!) but a quick phone call meant a diversion due to a busy M3. When we did get to HQ we found a bouncing Rob and Duck! Rob cuppa no.1
Then off to Queen Elizabeth Park having had Rob pack what looked like an entire camping set (less the kitchen sink!) ... the nerves were rising! A call told us that the rest of the team were putting up tents! We arrived and leapt out and ran off down a hill to find them!
Friday night was rushed ... register ... BBQ ... get checked in ... chipped and bed! My main memory of the camp site was millions of tents and then a small square marked "smoking area" Seemed very funny! I know I am sad! As Fraggle has mentioned sleeping was restless due to noise and all too soon it was morning!
The 6AM start seemed stupid! We were all half asleep!
6AM came. There was a short delay and then bagpipes and we were off!
I have no idea why but I very very quickly became obsessed! People every where and mainly carrying walking poles! All I could hear was chatter and clacking poles. I took charge and lead the team forward .... if I saw a pole and a hole I was off! Pace quicked and we went passed poles and found nice holes!
Soon we were working out the 101 ways to use poles!
About 5mins before CP1 I noticed my heel was sore. At CP1 I stopped to check and some grit had got in my sock, sock seem and grit = blister. Blister had burst. BUGGER.
Support asked for requests and it went in as "Plaster, banana cake and coffee!"
I soon realised that the irritation was no better or worse with pace so we carried on. My main memory of 2003 was "goat hill" and no sooner was it in view it was gone! See Pixies can do hills!They just don't LIKE hills! We ran down the other side giggling and Leon declared there was a fell runner in me!! Yeah right!
Mr Gadget man (Leon) was in charge of directions and led us along "The purple line" perfectly. M memory helped me remember a lot too like the long hill down through the fields to CP2 ... we ran that one too!! Maybe that's why we were quicker than predicted!!
It was at this CP that Dr Dino took charge of feet! Duck got 1 blister stabbed and several plasters applied. I had 2 plaster and 2 compeed! Fraggle started "SUN BLOCK" watch and the banana cake and chocolate bread and oh everything was gawjus!! I think that was our last Ghurka drink (well apart from CP7 when the team were having a snooze at CP8).
Stage 2-3 saw my heel bleeding more :-( and us running down the hill into the CP with cheers from Rob and Fraggle! Then Leon took a knife to my saucony shoes and killed them! Gaffer tape applied and my heel was no longer a problem!
I have so many memories it would take all day and a lot of web space to detail them all! V-rap is doing a full report so I'll try to minimise mine!!
Stage 3-4 we saw the 1st "trailwalker NOT this way" sign!! Very funny! CP4 we discovered how gawjus Fraggle's flapjack was!
Stage 4-5 and another "incline" on which some "stray" forumites "just happened to be there!" Snoop and Tiger! CP 5 and my other shoe gets hacked!
Stage 5-6 and I am starting to feel very tired and sick. I wobbled in to CP6 and flopped on a blanket. Rob refused to let me leave until I had eaten a hot cross bun, the flapjack crumbs and drunk 2 cups of tea! V-rap stabbed a blister and I screamed like a baby!!
By this time I didn't care so changed tops and bra whilst stuck to the floor! Bear rubbed vaseline into my back. Leon and V-Rap ate fresh cooked pasta and although we were there for an hour it was required and not wasted. All changed ready for night (pirate buff round neck!) we went off feeling better and ready to slay the dragon.
My eyes took a long time to cope with the night. We passed "stupid lady in white" who twice came charging up behind us on a hill only to stop, hands on knees declaring she was about to die. Leon told her to slow down both times. She never passed us again (smug grin time for Pixie!) I think it was here that Leon started the "hand on back" approach to Pixie Hills. With hand in place I had no choice but to keep walking! I worked well!
As we approached the old CP7 my emotions started to go all over the place. As I finally saw the barn I ran, I cried, I swore and struggled to breath. The Dragon was dying. CP 7 itself was fine! I learnt that Ghurka hot choc was nice but they bar of choc was rank!
CP8 however was a totally different affair. Shortly befoe someone's fire was smouldering. The smoke caught my throat and I couldn't breath properly. I was WELL pasted the dragon. The support team would be there and I started to hyperentilate. Leon took my hand and walked me though it. I blanked Fraggle and Bear (for which I am so sorry) checked in as a team and headed for the car focusing on breathing. Rob greated me with a hug and my legs went, I cried and he wouldn't let go until I was breathing OK and in the car.
Stage 8-9 and my head started to do mad things. I was seeing walkers in my periveral visions. Ghosts of TW past. Those slane by the dragon. Then tall wooden posts in front of me. Very spoky and not nice. A bit later on and a hot cross bun later and demon pixie returned to slay more pole people and the "green stick people" who I had been watching since leaving CP8!
My next main memories were nasty. I knew about Bastard Hill as I had read about it. I wasn't expecting that though. 3Styles to climb over didn't help! Leon had hand on back and had to stop, with V-Rap half way up to stop me stressing. I couldn't breath. I was panicing. I was crying but knew I HAD to finish. Once up the hill you had to walk across the edge of a hill. OMG it was high, the drop was steep and far and I couldn't breath again. Once on the other side I broke down. Again I as hugged back together.
CP10 our last was in sight. Mr Garmin was implying we could be close to 26hrs ... 26:02 infact. Leon took my hand (again the hero!) and kept me going. My feet were screaming, I was wimpering and if left alone I would have stopped and crawled.
To get to the finish and see the clock still showing 25hrs was amazing and I went from not being able to walk without wanting to cry to running then sprinting to get under 26hrs!
Tears followed loads of hugs and a small breathing issue (!) and we were presented with the hardest earned medal in my collection.
I had been through highs, lows, tiredness, strops and massive sulks to finish in elation. Yesterday and this morning it was NEVER again would I do it because I would never put myself through Bastard Hill again. Now I wonder what I would do if I saw it again.
Thank you to everyone who supported me and the team in everyway. I is one very happy if somewhat stiff and tender footed pixie!
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