Sunday 6th June dawned a beautiful sunny day – great. I had 26 miles to walk along the Clarendon Way for Naomi House and I didn’t fancy doing it in the rain. I had a busy schedule. Up at 5am to get son no. 2 to school for 6.00am; he had an exciting week in France on a PGL outward bound course with various opportunities to practise his French. My schedule allowed me 30 mins on my return to have breakie, and sort my stuff out before a 7.10am pick up. It did not allow for Jenny my ginger Queen to go into labour …. arghh. This was her third litter, so I was reasonably relaxed to leave her with daughter and son no.1 as proxy midwives! I got regular updates via text and phone. She did really well producing 5 beautiful kittens.

It was a beautiful walk, from Winchester Cathedral, along rolling countryside. I walked with a group of friends for the first 7 miles, but despite trying to use the event to get time under my belt, got itchy feet, so Paula and I picked up the pace and left a merry band of 5 to potter along. We got to the lunch point in Broughton at about 1.00pm. This was the 1/2 way point for people wanting to start or finish the half marathon event. It was a busy venue with people signing in and out, groups picnicking on the lawns, and folk having limbs massaged! Paula and I had a quick loo stop, then pushed on; we climbed the only real hill of the walk, up through lovely shaded woodland up to Farley Mount.

At 16 miles, I got the urge to pick up the pace again. Paula, was quite happy for me to push on. I didn’t worry about leaving Paula, she is much more sociable than me, and will talk to everyone. We were well supported on the way with local fruit juice, energy bars and fruit, as well as regular water stops. As I strode out I bumped into other friends, who had started at Broughton at mid-day. It was a well attended event, with over 1000 walkers.

It was lovely to walk out of Beechy Dean Copse and see Salisbury Cathedral spire beckoning in the distance. From here it was a steady walk through the outskirts of Salisbury to the finish in the Cathedral grounds. I enjoyed sitting in the sunshine with a hot cup of tea waiting for Paula and John (our taxi home) to arrive. The atmosphere was great, with people being clapped in, and champagne corks being popped.  Twenty Six miles is a great achievement. It was my most comfortable walk; but I am still rather daunted by the thought of the Nijimegen Marches in a month. Four days of 50km will be very challenging!

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