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
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