I have been looking forward to the Sussex Stride for a while … It takes training to a new level. The Nijmegen Marches was getting up early and walking long distances on four continuous days. This was walking a really long way (51 miles) for the best part of 20 hours. We were nearly late for the start; at Chicester,we drove 2 miles in 50 minutes queuing with The Goodwood Revival traffic … arghhh.

Anyway we arrived with 20 minutes to spare, just enough time to check in, for Paula to check the route on the map, for me to smother my feet in Vaseline (I am not sure if this helps, but I am trying to avoid blisters – so whatever it takes), and to have a quick loo stop. Then we were off! The first stage was Longhill to Offham (10miles)

First Trig Point - Black Cap

Paula - On top of the Downs

Last time, when we walked the South Downs in April, the weather was grey, cold, misty and very windy. On Saturday, it was warm with clear views for miles. There were about 120 walkers (very different to the 40,000 in the Nijmegen Marches) and we soon spread out. It was interesting chatting to fellow walkers (Paula is a lot better at this than me!) Once a year the LDWA organise a 100 mile walk within the UK. You have to complete a 51 miles walk (in 20 hours) to be able to partake. There was a lady of 80 who has completed 8 of the recent 100 mile walks, she would like to do 10; another lady in her 60’s / 70’s has done 13, 100 mile walks! When I completed the 27 mile walk in April, I couldn’t see myself doing 50 miles ….. now I quite fancy the challenge of 100 miles (It has to be walked in 48 hours!). Next year the walk is in Wales – I will be just back from the Arctic, so should be fit enough. In 2012 the walk is in London to tie in with the Olympic Games, I am very keen to do that! (I can feel lots of people raising their eyebrows as they read this and shaking their heads … am I really a lost cause?)

It was great to get 10 miles under our belts, and I felt really good, (all my training was obviously beginning to pay of!) The next stage was Offham to Glynde (5.1 miles), which took us through the centre of Lewes; it amused the shoppers to see us all with our packs and sticks! We had a very steep climb from Lewes up to the golf club and back on-top of the Downs. In Glynde we were fed quiche, sandwiches, and lots of Swiss roll – it was a much needed, quick energy refill. Then up an extremely steep climb back up to the top of the Downs towards Alfriston (6.4 miles). We had covered this section on the 27 mile walk, so knew what we were walking for the next 20+ miles. I think this is one of the hardest stretches. The climbs (and we had at least one in-between each check point) are always worth it on fabulously clear days like Saturday, the views are so rewarding.  

As we walked from Alfriston to East Dean (7.1 miles) The sun started to go down. East Dean was the start and finish point for the 27 mile walk in April. We were fed bacon butties here, and even served pudding! The volunteers were all fantastic, and really looked after us extremely well, at all the check points.

We missed the sun setting. By the time we came out of the village hall at East Dean it was almost black. It was time for coats, gloves and head torches! The next satge was East Dean to Litlington (5.6 miles). This would take us over 4 of the Seven Sister. Some very steep climbs up and equally steep walks down. We  had to take real care that we did not wander too far left and into the sea! It did make it easier having walked this stretch before in day light, at least we knew roughly where we were going, and where we needed to be! As we came down the hill into Litlington, the Marshall marking us in to the checkpoint, stood by the gate, waving his arms, much like an air-traffic controller! His luminous jacket was very effective and it made it so much easier knowing where the gate was onto the lane!

Litlington to Norton (4.8 miles) was a quick stretch! We were now getting accustomed to walking in the dark,  using head torches.

It was a Dark Dark Night ...

Paula and I walk at different paces.In the daylight hours Paula had jogged on the flat stretches to catch me up (I like to attack the hills!) Paula found that jogging stretched her legs out. Me I don’t run anymore (although Tommy does try and make me do a bit of jogging on the treadmill in the gym!) Once it got dark, I would walk for a while then wait for Paula. There was a reasonable group of us spread out along this stretch, so we never walked completely on our own. Norton to Southease (5.5 miles) was a frustrating section. The directions provided were not particularly clear and the way marker used as a reference point had been knocked over by cattle (It transpired that the organiser knew this, but failed to communicate it to us, despite being at check point 6!). We spent at least 40 minutes in this black field ensuring that we were on the right track. We made it to checkpoint 7 with only 15 minutes to spare.

Southease to Longhill (6.4miles – THE FINISH) was the section that required reasonable navigational skills, By this stage Paula was walking with Paul, and I was walking with his mate John. We had to keep waiting for fellow walkers who had their own compasses (I have now put a compass on my Christmas list!) to ensure we took the right bearings. We marched this stretch at quite a pace, arriving at the finish at 4.47am; an hour and 13 minutes inside the required finishing time!

We were served tea and coffee, and a cooked breakfast of bacon, eggs, beans and toast – what fantastic value! The walk had cost £15.00 to enter! I did suffer with a few ‘mean’ blisters on my heels, and I was a little stiff in the thighs, but I think this was more from a tough Pilate’s class on Friday morning and a hard session in the afternoon on the rowing ergos at a Glacéau vitamin water training session (More on this in my next blog!)

My key learning’s from this long walk are:

• My fitness levels are good
• My strength training is starting to pay off (I did not get sore shoulders or back from carrying a heavy rucksack
• I need to work on my navigation skills
• I need to find a better way of looking after my feet to reduce the chance of getting blisters.

Suggestions and help gratefully received ….

Forgot to say …. the fastest people (runners ..) finished the 50 miles in under 12 hours!!

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