So finally the big day was here: 14th July, the day we were all due to start walking from Petersfield and not stop until we reached Brighton the following afternoon. We weren't alone, almost 2000 other walkers, making up over 400 other teams were up for the challenge too.

To accommodate the numbers there were three staggered start times: 6AM, 8AM and 10AM. We'd managed to negotiate 10AM start times for both our teams, which helped our combined support team from a logistics view point and also helped us get a little more sleep the night before; only having to wake up around 6AM!

Kit-Check

Several months earlier we'd been issued with a kit check-list which we duly lugged down to the check-in desk for it to be inspected by the Gurkhas. We had absolutely everything on the list, though given the guys at the desk only saw a few of the items, I can only  think we must all have very honest looking faces, say no more!

That done with it was time to dump what we didn't need with us for the time being (waterproofs, fleeces, hats, gloves and torches) with the support crew and head down to the start for a photo opportunity.

Stage1: QUECP-Harting Down
Distance: 9.5km; Elevation: +300m -210m; Record Time: 51m; 24hr Pace: 2h16m
Our time: 2h05m (10h00 -12h05 + 15mins rest)

On the stroke of 10AM we were off and for a few moments led the pack. There were lots of teams running and speed walking passed us, but we'd made a pact (sic) to stay as a single group and not to get carried away. We were quite familiar with this first section through Queen Elizabeth Country Park, but just before we came to the boundary of the park, a Trailwalker sign at a fork directed us left, as opposed to staying on the South Downs Way (SDW) proper. We knew from the instructions that the route Trailwalker route deviated from SDW occasionally but hadn't expected this detour so earlier, and presumed that it was a short additional up hill section to help spread the field out a little more.

After around 15 minutes up hill climb, we turned sharply to the west (the route runs west-to-east) so we pulled up, as did a few dozen of the other hundreds of walkers. A quick phone call to RaceControl and we established that there was no deviation from the SDW route in this stage and that they should probably send a team out to the north-most region of the park to deliver the bad news to the several hundred walkers who we couldn't shout to. 15 minutes later we back on SDW, 30 minutes lost, but this had (1) put us on our guard and (2) happened at the start when we were all fresh and not in the middle of the night!

We reached CP1 without further incident.

Stage 2: Hartling Down-Hilltop Farm
Distance: 10.3km; Elevation: +290m - 390m; Record Time: 52m; 24hr Pace: 2h27m;
Our time: 2h00 (12h20 -14h20 + 25mins rest)

Having walked/ridden SDW several times in the last few months it was bizarre to find the checkpoints populated with  50+ vehicles parked up on Harting Hill,  Gurkhas to help us cross the road, Gurkhas clapping us in, Gurkhas checking our tracker bands, porta-loos, several hundred other walkers, no to mention our support team: Jarod, Neil and Steve waiting with camping chairs, fresh-water and talk of cups of tea at the next check-point. Of course this meant we stayed longer, why wouldn't you? It was a jolly nice view, it was sunny, in fact as Andy put "Four of us, three of you, I make that Pimms O'clock!". Luckily we were out of Pimms so we got a crack on with Stage 2.

After a fairly 'bumpy' first stage, this one was a little more level, with the exception of a very steep hill after around 2km, so walking poles were the order of the day. Surprisingly this particularly steep hill (it practically has steps) wasn't as much of a bottle-neck as expected (too many people still at CP1 soaking up the view!). After a detour into Philliswood to avoid Treyford Hill, this part of SDW just plods across seemingly endless kms of identi-kit moorland with indenti-kit sheep, although we did see a dog and some large farm-machinery towards the end!

The end arrived a lot sooner than anticipated; the moorland finishes and we dropped down onto a long farm-track heading towards Cocking from where CP2 was in full view, though still someway off. Had we phoned the support-crew when we'd first seen the CP, maybe the kettle would have boiled before we left rather than shortly afterwards!

Stage 3: Hilltop Farm-Littleton Farm;
Distance: 8.3km; Elevation: +190m -175m; Record Time: 41m; 24hr Pace: 1h56m;
Our time:  1h55 (14h45-16h40 + 20mins rest)

With feet freshened and water-bottles filled we were off again. This stage kicks off with a steep climb along farm-track before leveling off to quiet woodlands for almost 7km.  When walking through the same scenery for mile after mile, you have little reference of distance, and again the CP arrived as something of a welcome surprise!

Stage 4: Littleton Farm-Amberley;
Distance: 9.0km; Elevation: +180m -300m; Record Time: 48m; 24hr Pace: 2h12m;
Our time: 1h50 (17h00-18h50 + 30mins rest)

Brain was probably the most relieved to see CP3. He was finding the going very difficult due to severe back pains. He decided not to risk further injury and retire at this checkpoint. We spoke to him later in the evening, he was laying down on a hard floor and looking forward to some pain killers and sleep. Never mind Brian, there's always next year!

Although when we'd previously walked this section and we knew the altitude profile was a little misleading for this section, it didn't pan out too badly. This was probably because we knew that when we reached CP4 Neil's Meal (aka homemade bolognese and pasta) would be waiting for us. We did have to keep an eye on the downhill speed cause it would have been all too easier.

Stage 5: Amberley- Washington;
Distance: 12.1km; Elevation: +280m -220m; Record Time: 1h15m; 24hr Pace: 2h56m;
Our time 2h50 (19h20-10h10 + 15mins rest)

Once again the location of the checkpoint was a welcome change from previous travels along SDW, even if we did have to walk to the bottom of the hill to swipe-in and then half-way back up the hill to our support crew's camp. It was worth it though, we were being served the afore mentioned  Neil's Meal! It was delicious,well done Neil, if the tech-support gig ever goes belly -up you've got a plan B there!

Because the support crew needed to have some proper rest (they were finding the 2 hours between CPs soon passed by after packing up and driving to the next CP). Therefore we agreed they would go directly to CP6, have some sleep and be ready for our arrival sometime around midnight. Therefore, despite it still being daylight, we had to take on board all of our night time gear: fleeces, hats, gloves, torches etc.

Having been fed and watered, we were off again. After a brief pause to take in the scenery, we trotted over te River Arun, and up to Amberley Mount, looking down on the castle, and then onwards to Rackham  and Springhead Hill as the sun started to set.

By the time we reached Washington darkness was up on us. However our hi-vis bibs were not up on us, because we'd left them with our support crew. We improvised with single file and a rear-facing  head-torch on our last walker until we made our way to CP5. We were a little lost when we reach the CP as the support crew weren't around, although each of the CPs had plentiful supplies of hot and cold drinks provided by the Gurkha Signals Reginment.

In lieu of our missing hi-vis vests the Gurkhas kindly gave all our team members glow-sticks, on the understanding we made haste to Brighton and caught a few good night clubs.

Stage 6: Washington-Botolphs;
Distance: 10.4km; Elevation: +210m - 270m; Record Time: 1h01m; 24hr Pace: 2h30m;
Our time: 2h35m (10h25-01h00 + 40mins rest)

Glow-sticks clipped to various ruc-sacs and zippers we headed off into the still humid night. The hi-vis bibs were for use whilst road-walking, fortunately very little of this stage was anywhere near the highways. We headed upto Cross Dyke, through the cloud and mist to Steyning Round Hill and Steyning Bowl and then down Botolphs, looking back every so often to see the steady stream of head torches following us along the path.

Finally we arrived in the village of Botolphs, and into CP6 where Neil, Steve and Jarod were waiting with tea, coffee, hot-chocolate, soup and hi-vis bibs!

Stage 7: Botolphs-Devils Dyke;
Distance: 8.8km; Elevation: +330m - 130m; Record Time: 1h07m; 24hr Pace: 2h09m;
Our time: 1h55 (01h40-03h35 +  30mins rest)

This stage took us into Upper Beeding for a couple of km before climbing a long narrow path upto BeedingHill (a very long detour to avoid crossing the A283 and an much easier climb, but such is the life of the charity event participant!). At the car-park on Beeding Hill we were entertained to a few minutes of Drum'n'Bass as a small rave was under-way. Never have I been so happy to hear Drum'n'Bass!

We then had a long walk up a long road over to Tottington Barn and the transmitters of Truleigh Hill before heading over towards Fulking and towards CP7 where the Gurkhas were providing pasta and soup.

From a personal viewpoint, at this stage the Gurkhas could have been providing cheese-on-toast,  I really couldn't get enthused. It was by this stage the second aspect of Trailwalker was coming into the play, that being the lack of sleep, apparently I looked ready to drop when I turned up at CP7!

Stage 8: Devils Dyke-Jack and Jill;
Distance: 6.5km; Elevation: +190m -230m; Record Time: 0h52m; 24hr Pace: 1h35;
Our time: 1h35m  04h15- 5h50 + 30mins rest)

Amazing what 30 minutes rest and a bit of banter does for the spirits!

Off we set onto stage 8, one of the shorter segments, just before sun-rise. Before long we'd shed our fleeces, hi-vis vests and soon caught sight of the Jack and Jill windmills overlooking Clayton. As we approached Clayton we started to hear what we hoped wasn't thunder. As the daylight broke a look to the south revealed a hellish-looking cloud hovering over the English Channel just off Brighton.

No amount of finger-crossing could help us. The cloud approached the main-land and without any drizzle-build-up it burst, and we all got very very wet. Some of us (again writing from a personal viewpoint) had banked on the next stage being dry and had left our waterproof gear with the support crew.

The support crew we just readying the gazebo when the thunder and lightning started and erecting a metal frame on a hilltop during a thunderstorm isn't exactly what we'd call best practice so when we arrived on-site, soaked through (again from a personal veiwpoint!) we were grateful that the Gurkhas didn't mind us using their admin tents for shelter!

Stage 9: Jack and Jill-Spring Barn Farm;
Distance: 13.8km; Elevation +220m -380m; Recrod Time: 1h18m; 24hr Pace: 3h23;
Our time: 3h45 (06h20-10h05 + 40 mins rest)

Amazing what not having 30 minutes rest and a bit of banter doesn't do for the spirits!  Although we were dried out and had a fresh change of clothing (right down to a new pair of walking boots in some cases!) we headed off into the rain again, albeit a little lighter than when we'd arrived on-site. A proper rest would have been better as this stage was by far the longest, evident by the presence of a water-station midway through the stage. The knowledge that this stage would take around 4 hours to complete didn't help either!

Around 9km into the stage the sun came back out and around the same time we started to come across pedestrian traffic of other Trailwalkers coming down off Plumpto Plain towards Lewes. The tailbacks were due to the route taking a narrow rain-soaked path which had already seen several hundred walkers since the earlier rain-storm.

When we did our first training walks back in Feburary we thought it pointless training any more on overly-muddy tracks as this wouldn't be the sort of terrain we'd find in July. How wrong we were!

After an near-eternitity we reached CP9, and this mean bacon sarnies a cup-of-tea and a good sit down! Hurray for Sunday mornings!

Stage 10: Spring Barn Farm- Woodingdean;
Distance: 5km; Elevation: +180m -110m; Record Time: 27m; 24hr Pace: 1h14m;
Our time: 1h35m (10h45-12h20 + 10mins rest)

Time to bid the support-crew farewell until Brighton Racecourse, CP10 is located literally in the middle-of-nowhere. At least these next two stages had a combined distance less than that of the previous stage, and if that wasn't sufficient to keep the spirits high, it was no sunny once more, oh the English summer - you really can't beat it!

Well it might have been sunny, we might have been almost there, we might have had more than enough water and fluid onboard, but man was this a tough section. People over taking us, people thinking other people were about to collapse, people thinking they themselves were about to collapse, and even with sun-hats and sun-cream the route was so exposed to the sun, it was draining and dragging.

Although Woodingdean, the location of CP10 was off all tracks, including the beaten track, bless the Gurkhas; they'd transported a row of porta-loos along side the regular swipe-in, water and first-aid tents.

Stage 11: Woodingdean-Brighton Racecourse;
Distance: 6.4km; Elevation: +180m - 140m; Record Time: 48m; 24hr Pace: 1h31;
Our time: 1h25m (12h30-13h55)

So after a good sit-down, we were off again, using our secret weapon to ensure we made the finish line before the 30-hour deadline: put Colin at the front.  If transpires that Colin only has two speeds: so slow you think he's going to keel-over and flat-out! Despite blisters and strained calves a concerted-effort was put in to reach the summit of Bullock Hill before easing off the power a little. Shortly after we reached a Gurkha-manged road-crossing where we confirmed we had around 2km left to go.

Legs went into auto-pilot until we reached the edge of the racecourse and we knew we'd make it after all, and may be inside 28 hours. At 200m we were met by an Oxfam marshall, to let us know that the next marshall would take our team numbers to be passed onto the MC to broadcast on the PA system. At 100m we let them know there were two 3-man teams, teams 200 and 255 and then we were on the parade-straight of the racecourse in-front of the grandstand, bagpipes playing and we were over the line and swiped each team in.

Our final timings were:

We then took the podium as a 6-man team and were presented with our medals by a nice man from Oxfam, had our photos taken, were presented with a bottle of something sparkling by our support crew and then promptly disbanded!

Coming up in the next blog entry: our best-bits, our worst-bits and our thank-yous!