A huge congratulations to Jane, Catherine, Amanda and Amanda for successfully completing the Trailwalker 2011 challenge.
Trailwalker UK 2011 is the original 100km team challenge, across the South Downs with the Gurkhas. Four people, one goal, 100 kilometres in under 30 hours. An incredible experience combining endurance, navigation, determination and teamwork and that’s just the support crews!
The team were raising money for Oxfam – make a donation here.
The “Feisty, (not so) Fast and Furious Team” set off at 7am on Saturday morning in perhaps the worst squally showers of the year so far. But despite the conditions maintained a furious pace and were ahead of their own tight schedule by Checkpoint 1 which they flew through without stopping. Spurred on by the thought of home-made muffins and coffee, they arrived 20 mins ahead of schedule at Checkpoint 2. The slick pit crew (Tanya, Chris, George (the dog) and me) fitted new tyres and refueled the team within 10 mins and they were off again, head down into the gales and diving rain. Meanwhile the support crew went on the hunt for the elusive Costa Coffee retail outlets that Jane had promised peppered the route.
By Checkpoint 4 the support crew were growing concerned that the team had only managed to consume 11,000 calories each and by our reckoning there were at least 30,000 more to go. Drastic measures were obviously required. As they crossed the line into the Checkpoint area, Chris and Tanya pounced on the four of them and held them down as George and I pushed pasta, fruit and energy drinks into them.
By 17.05 the girls were over halfway. 50 Km down and 50 to go.
We handed over the support crew duties to Jonathan and John. Oh my god – they had another car full of food and we had hardly put a dent in the load in our car…..the girls weren’t going hungry tonight!
Time for us to head home but had several texts updating us on their progress through the night.
Physically exhausted the team crossed the finished line at 6.15 am on Sunday morning. 23 hrs and 15 mins – an incredible achievement!!
Huge respect – well done all!!
Some photos of the experience below – thanks to photographers Tanya Bolton and Jonathan Jordan also!
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- Best seat in the house!
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- That hat is sooo flattering
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- The Car Park Attendant
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- “I’m sure I have enough energy to push the Landie as well”
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- “Did you see that girl that fell flat on her face?”
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- “Pain is temporary, pride is forever”
Midlifekayak 
And we couldn’t have done it without you Andy, Tanya, Chris, John and Jonathan. The laughs, hot chocolate and nagging got us there in the end. I have to say it was one of the toughest things I’ve ever done (thank you Amanda for frogmarching me over the last 20km – I wouldn’t have finished without your gentle cajoling).
I don’t know how this compares to kayaking – but this time I’ll be in the dormobile nursing a hot coffee cheering you on Andy!
We had lots of fun supporting you guys. I think I’ll enter the 2013 event – you have inspired me!
A very amusing reminder of the day, and reasons for why I am not that promised 1/2 stone lighter! Thank you for sharing the photos, it is great to have mementos of the day.
I’ll second that Thank you to Andy, Tanya, Chris, John and Jonathan. Couldn’t have done it without you.
You must let me reciprocate and provide some support for your amazing 3 month sea kayaking challenge!! In the meantime, good luck with the training.
Catherine x
Be careful I might just take you up on that 🙂
Andy x