Walk the Walk ... one step at a time

We set off at 23.40 and we finished at 08.55. That's a long time. But we did it.

It was tough. Not really physically, but mentally and psychologically. Even though when I started I was surrounded by loads of other people, the feeling that I alone was the only person who can make me do this was overwhelming. The first three miles are in Hyde Park, it was dark but the miles seemed to be going quite fast. All that we could see in front and behind was the reflective bits of the hats. Thousands of people walking and uniting for one cause. As we got out of Hyde Park and into St James' park and down the Mall (the Queen was at home) the enormity of the task ahead starts to hit. But we were upbeat. Hearing the beeps of cars held at lights so we would cross, seeing the late night revellers was nice, it felt like you were part of a party. I saw Billy, a Policewoman I know from church, on duty and it was such a lift. At the Tower of London (about mile 6?) I needed to Loo, so we stopped. This was earlier than I had hoped but necessary. Good Loos, Men and Women, all in bras. I was still cold. Bra, plastic mac and fleece jacket. I think it was soon after this that I took Alice's jacket too.

We walked along the river, and over Tower Bridge, the Volunteers keeping us going. The pace OK. We started walking back along the other side of the river, and Alice got blisters, badly. There was nowhere with Vaseline so we just kept going. At 3am we stood waiting to be let through an underpass on the Southbank with Big Ben chiming. At this point Alice nearly lost it. It was a challenge to try and keep her upbeat and chatting and putting one foot in front of the other, but we had agreed to walk it together and that it what we did. One foot in front of the other! I pointed out random facts about places on the route. At Mile 10 we waved goodbye to the Half Mooners who made their way back towards Hyde Park. We kept on walking, into Lambeth, round MI6 and past Phoenix House, where I go for meetings regularly. That was Odd! The bit round Vauxhall was tough. It was dark, and there were few people around. The feeling of loneliness and a mounting challenge crept in but we kept going.

The gates to Battersea Park were a welcome sight, with the half way point contained within them. We stopped for the loo at 4am, for food and water. Alice nearly passed out, and I realised that the food I had eaten was giving me tummy pains but I needed it for the energy. A quick breather, a stretch, a swap of jumper for Space Blanket and we were off again as Dawn started to break over London and light chased the shadows away. It was amazing how much difference walking in the light made. It felt like we were nearly there, like the end was nigh. It gave me a hope, and a new burst of energy. It was still freezing. I also gave up on the I-Pod at this stage. I wanted to focus on what I was doing and zone out. As we crossed the river again, on a Bridge warning soldiers not to walk in time (does anyone know which this is?) I got chatting to some women from Portsmouth also in Green Start. Alice was a bit miserable at this stage and it was tough to try and motivate her. I prayed that God would help us through it and that I would find the words and the ways to pick her up. We walked past some House Boats, one with an all night party on. I thought it was a bit odd that there were people still partying but it was only about 4.30am at this time. We wandered round some very posh parts of Chelsea and Kensington. We ogled houses, and shops. We walked down the King's road. I started to crave caffeine. I took my space blanket off - Alice was shocked!

London started to wake up, shops opened, the sun came got warmer, and the end got nearer. Mile 20 was amazing. Only 6.2 to go. At Mile 22 I really needed the Loo but Alice felt that if she stopped she wouldn't start. SO she carried on and we agreed to meet at the Mile 23 marker. Standing in the sun at Mile 22 warmed me up and I took off my fleece for the first time. I walked for a mile on my own which probably did us both good. The crowd had thinned out in places so I powered ahead.

Mile 23, I spoke to James, He and Stephen were in Hyde Park. The thought of seeing him was wonderful. Alice stopped for the Loo in St. James' Park and I sat down for the first time. My back was all seized up but the sniff of the finish got me up and got me going. As we made our way past Buckingham Palace there ahead of us were the boys. Yeay. Company. They walked with us to Hyde Park and then made their way to the finish as we made our way round the last two miles round the Serpentine. I took off my plastic mac determined to finish in just the bra. It was great in the sun but freezing in the shade. Seeing finishers was tough but they were all really encouraging. Mile 25, Mile 26 and the finish line in sight. We powered on, we overtook people! We held hands, at the finish we posed to James and Stephen to take pictures and then we walked through the arch and it was over. We had done it. One foot in front of the other for 26.2 miles. Someone hung a medal round my neck and someone took the corner of my number.

It was only then that the emotion hit me and I cried for the first time. Only briefly, then I got my goodie bag and collected my rucksack. I called my mother, handed the phone to Alice and then put on every item of clothing in my bag.

We went out of Playtex City to meet Stephen (James had to go back to Croydon for church) and we sat down. I was shivering and cold and wanted to sleep. All signs of hypothermia. Alice's blisters were HUGE so she put on flip flops. We rejected the Champagne Stephen had carefully transported in favour of a cup of tea and went about making our way back to Victoria.

Back home I collapsed into bed and drifted off to sleep.

Moonwalk 2008. Done.

Moonwalk 2009 - Hell yes!

H x

One week on .....

Well last Saturday night I gave up a night's sleep and walked 26.2 miles around the capital city of England, the city in which I live and work. I spent so much of Saturday being nervous that I was worried that I would have used up all my energy come Saturday night. A nervous tension hung in the air in my little house all day, and the FA cup final provided good dozing background noise!

We had showers, and packed up our stuff and had jacket potatoes and cheese and spaghetti. And then we left. Stephen came with us to East Croydon and then we were on our own. Except already, at East Croydon we weren't. There were other women, in pink, in hats and trainers. Going up to London with the Saturday evening party crowd. AT Victoria we poured off the train and onto buses. I felt the need to smile at every woman in sportswear or a Moonwalk hat or WtW T-Shirt. They didn't all smile back!

As we got off the bus and entered Hyde Park the enormity of it all hit. We walked half way round Hyde Park just to join the back to the Queue to get in! So we took of our T-Shirts and wrote our numbers on our fronts and our message to Mummy on our back . I stared Vaselining under my bra where it might rub. It was chilly but I couldn't tell if it was excitement or the cold. Finally walking into Playtex City - number firmly pinned to my leg - it hit me. We were doing the Moonwalk. The inside of the Tent was amazing. The number of people, the noise, the smell. WE Vaselined our feet, drank some water. Sorted out the Bum bag and put our big bags in. I forgot to put the pink nail polish in which meant I carried it for 26.2 miles! We went to the loo, we had our food - surprisingly good, we sat and listened and danced. We looked at other people's bras, and read their messages. Then it was 10 o'clock and Nina was on stage. There is a minute's silence when 15000 people hold hands and think about why they are doing this. It was emotional. That and "You'll never walk alone." I hugged my sister, I hugged the girl on my other side - she was about 14 and walking with her mum. WE did the warm up. Alice went to the Loo, again, and I was told to make my way outside. Alice wasn't there, I got panicky. Alice came back. We went outside. It was FREEZING.

We gathered at the start line, watching the clock. We were told we were leaving at 23.40 so at 23.39 and 30 seconds the count down began the 5..4..3....2....1.... we were off.....

We did it!!

I have to say that that was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life but yes, it was worth it.

I'm still really tired so don't want to do a step by step account of the walk but I wanted to blog and say that Hannah and I did it in 8 hours 31 minutes. I was suffering with horrible blisters for most of it which slowed us down a lot and I felt bad for pulling Hannah back but in a selfish way, I'm glad I did. I could not have done that without my sister, she was an inspiration and motivation when I most needed it. I know that there were times I snapped and was difficult and times when no matter what she did I couldn't respond, but I love her and want to thank her for being there. Especially as it was my dumb idea in the first place!

I'm not at work today. I'm recovering from losing sleep and aching joints and quietly reliving a fantastic night that I am truely proud of!

eight hours

In just over eight hours time Alice and I will be at the start line of the London Moonwalk in Playtex City in Hyde Park.

How do I feel? Scared, very scared. Nervous and emotional. I'm kind of looking forward to it and kind of not! I'll be fine when I get there, the adrenalin will kick in and 14 998 other people will help life me.

Will I manage yet? Yes of course. Giving up is not an option. I've trained, I've prepared. I'm ready

Will it be tough? The toughest thing I have ever done in my life.

So to leave you here are a few pictures of our bras.

Best Boob forward.....Hannah x

The Long One - Alice's version!

The short version of this story is that it was crap and I didn't do the 20 miles I set out to do.

The slightly longer version of it is that actually, I don't really mind! I did quite well and I know that I won't have a problem on the night.

Basically, due to other commitments/injuries/blisters etc the furthest I had walked before last Sunday was 11 miles. So I think my first problem was attempting to go from 11 to 20 miles in one big leap. I'd done shorter walks and been to the gym so my fitness levels are fine but looking back, this was not a good idea.

I worked out a route around Worcester, up to some local villages and back again. I reckoned it would take me six hours at the longest. And that's where the psychology of walking took over. Six hours?!? Of just walking?!? On my own?!? I honestly couldn't think of anything more boring!

But I tried to put this out of my mind and set off.

All was going quite well for the first few miles. I was doing a good pace, my feet and blisters didn't hurt and I was actually enjoying it. Then it started to rain. And continued to rain (heavily!) for over an hour. I was soaked.

Desperate not to be detered I carried on, through the first village, round the corner. As I came round this corner I noticed a small brown and white dog lying dead at the side of the road. It really upset me but there was nothing really that I could do. I carried on and tried to put it out of my mind.

Stopped off at the local shop for some more water and a Mars bar then back on my merry way, on to some windey country lanes. The scenery was beautiful and the sounds and the smells were great. I felt good but started to get a bit bored and tired.

As I walked, several cars passed me and dutifully slowed down. And then one car actually pulled up next to me and stopped. The female driver wound down the window and said 'Excuse me, you haven't seen a small brown and white dog around have you?'. Ah.

This was the point it really turned. I was miserable, wet, uncomfortable and more than anything BORED! I really wanted someone to talk to. I really wanted someone just to help me, to spur me on.

I carried on and found a bus stop. I had a bit of a sit down and decided to change my route slightly. I walked another half a mile and found another bus stop.

And cracked. I sat down and burst into tears. I couldn't do it but at the same time, I didn't want to fail. My feet hurt but not horrifically so. It was all in my head. As it says on the wall of my gym 'The extra mile is between your ears'. But try as I might, I could not get over this psychological hurdle. I was ready to give up and call my parents to get them to come and pick me up.

I called my sister instead. She'd just completed her 20 mile walk and I hoped she might inspire me. She did. She helped me get up and carry on walking.

I didn't complete the 20 miles, I did about 14. I walked straight home and collapsed in a warm bath.

I'm not worried though. I'm physically fit enough, I'm trying to combat my blister problems and I'm bloody minded enough to know that on the night, I will crawl the 26 miles to the finish line if necessary.

When it comes to it, I don't give up. When it's down to the line, when it's the actual event, when it counts - I'll be there. Stepping up and saying here I am.

Because yes, it will be hard and it'll hurt. But giving up hurts more.

Twenty Miles (the long one)

Distance Walked: 20 Miles

Time Taken: 4 Hours 55 Minutes!
Location: New Forest
Aches and Pains: Hip again, 3 blisters and sun burnt shoulders.

James and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary yesterday and so we decided to get away for the weekend, to a friend's house near Southampton. A trip to my chiropractor on Friday to get my pelvis de-tilted- which as a result made my shoulders straight again - meant Saturday was out for walking- needing 24 hours of rest.

Having purchased a leisure map of the New Forest James sat down with a piece of string and a pencil to plan us a twenty mile walk. The New Forest has loads of traffic free cycle paths - which we decided would probably be suitable power walking terrain without the added dodge the car element.

Our 8am set off time became 8.45am and we made our way south to the forest. On the way, somewhere in deepest Hampshire, we came across a group of about eight women. I saw them in the distance and thougth could it be...? And as I got closer and spotted the hats, and then the T-Shirts. A group of Moonwalkers, already part way through their long walk. A mixture of euphoria and jealousy hit me as I beeped the horn and waved. Bloody weirdo I bet they all thought.

Neither James or I were particularly enthusiastic about our walk, grumbling and groaning. It was a warm muggy day, and we'd probably had too much red wine the night before. It was great to be in a different place. As we put one foot in front of the other again and again and again, I started to think about why I am doing this, who it's for. I started using the visualisation techniques in the booklet. Visualising my day in two weeks, my preparations. I thought about how I am going to decorate my bra. Yes I still haven't done that. And I found myself in my own little world. We walked though a campsite - well two actually - and talked about going camping, and the next tent we're going to buy. We saw horses, and foals, and birds. And eventually we stopped at about mile 7 for a quick refuel. Jelly Babies and Bananas on board we set off again with the mid point in mind.

At half way - marked on the map with a big splodge we collapsed for a few minutes, stretched and munched - treating ourselves to Oaty Bars. A quick check of the watch showed we had been walking for two and half hours. On target for those mystical 15 minute miles.

Somehow starting the second ten miles brought a spring to my step. Pack lighter, head clearer I marched on and on. We passed a bemused couple who we'd seen earlier in the day, the guy staring at me as if to say what on earth are you doing. I started to flag about mile 17, we stopped, had some more food and James showed me on the map how close we were. An on we went -noting the location of the ice cream van for later. The last mile lay out in front of us - a re trace of an earlier bit of road, and my feet were on auto pilot, eyes fixed.

The car was a welcome sight, I grabbed my phone to look at our time. 14.55. 4 hours and 55 minutes since we'd set off. Job Done.

I couldn't have done it without James. There is no doubt that training is so much easier with two. Alice struggled, not due to fitness or pain, but due to boredom. I am sure that in two weeks time that won't be an issue, and adrenalin will carry us round that last 6.2 miles.

Walking somewhere unfamiliar helped too - knowing that there was no short cut to home, or the house is just over there, or I should be doing this that or the other meant that I was totally focused on the walk, and finishing it.

I'm feeling alright - fit and healthy, astounded by my own body's abilities and ready to Moonwalk. A lighter couple of weeks of training follows now, plus that all important Bra Decoration! I'll post pictures.

Hannah x

Breaking the Barrier

Miles Walked: 15

Time Taken: 3 Hours 49 Minutes

Aches and Pains: Back, Hip, Knee and Ankle

Yesterday morning I donned my kit, including my newly acquired walking bum bag, with water, banana, flapjacks and route map, grabbed my husband/ moral support/ training partner/ general rock, and stepped out of the front door with 15 miles of South Croydon countryside ahead of me.

I really didn't want to walk yesterday morning. I was generally grumpy and could think of a hundred and one other things I could be doing at home, rather than walking. But the realisation that in 4 weeks time I will have completed the biggest physical and mental challenge of my life to date, spurred me on. The furthest I have walked thus far was the 10 miles last weekend so to increase that by 50% to 15 miles was a big thing for me. 15 miles also breaks the half way barrier of our 26.2 mile marathon. Psychologically completing this one is a huge huge boost.

It was tough.

I got bored around mile 8 but it was nice to chat to James as we wandered. We spent some of the time praying. Walking and praying go well - as long as you keep your eyes open! We had a disagreement over the map reading - which I won ha ha ha!

Around about mile 9.5 as I climbed another hill I saw coming down hill on the other pavement two women, water bottles in hand power walking. As they got nearer I saw them smile at me. They spotted my Moonwalk hat and waved! It was such a lift to know that I am not alone, that on May17th 15000 men and women will be walking the walk. The energy lift from seeing two other people, out training on a Sunday when the rest of South Croydon seemed to be sitting down to lunch and a glass of wine, was great. The lift from 14 998 other people uniting to Beat Breast Cancer in four weeks time is going to be awesome.

By the time I went out to church in the evening my leg had seized up but sponsor form in hand, T-Shirt on and tub of homemade fudge as thank you gifts I collect over a hundred pounds worth of promised money.

Looks like there's no going back! Hannah x