Category: LDWA

There are a number of interviews with entrants of the 100 at https://www.julianwhite.uk/ldwa-100/ with more coming, but I thought that I’d summarise some of the interviews that have been received so far. And add my own commentary of my 100 in 2021 which I of course hardly mention…..

There are many reassuring things about the LDWA 100 such as Richard at the registration desk fending off a crisis, supportive volunteers along the route and a few sore feet. The entrants that I’ve spoken to already at the 2026 Hunnypot Hundred in Kent have already produced a splendid collection of optimism, experience, mild alarm and food-based strategising. I think it’s fair to say that a reasonable number of entrants are at this stage wondering what they’ve let themselves in for, but this is a big thing to do and it’s good to be prepared.

Mira Nair is approaching it with the correct level of determination, saying that “my mindedness is as bloody as ever”, which is perhaps the most useful quality to possess when the event involves 100 miles, hills and the inevitable moment when the human body asks whether a shorter hobby might have been available. Ercole Lugari, taking on his first LDWA 100, is looking forward to the “unique atmosphere” of the Hundreds and seeing the Kent countryside, while Mark Pennington offers the wonderfully realistic answer that he is most looking forward to “Saturday and Monday”, which does at least have the advantage of leaving out most of Sunday which is something of a sub-optimal day for many entrants.

A strong theme running through the interviews is that entrants are not simply looking forward to completing a route, but to being part of the intriguing village, if I may refer to LDWA groups in that way, that forms around the 100. Sab describes the event as his “annual pilgrimage”, with the camaraderie, new friends, marshals and the chance to see another part of the country all pulling him back.

Phoenyx Harritt, taking on their first Hundred, is looking forward to Pooh Sticks on Pooh Bridge, Ashdown Forest and “the camaraderie of the shared achievement”, while Graham Sherwood is anticipating “shared adversity and pain, and hopefully a few laughs”, which is a beautifully LDWA sentence because it manages to make discomfort sound like a perfectly legitimate social activity. Actually, don’t quote me on this as I’m the national LDWA comms officer, but this is perhaps why the LDWA has never needed a comms department in the conventional sense, the product rather proudly advertises itself as uncomfortable and people still keep signing up merrily.

This reminds me of when I asked Jayne Cook, one of the heroic Norfolk & Suffolk entrants, how much of the challenge walk 100 that she actually enjoys. Her response a couple of years ago was “you’re not supposed to enjoy it, it’s a challenge”, but I know she secretly loves every moment.

Simon Hodgin, having supported the marshal’s event, thinks entrants will especially enjoy the last 100 metres, before generously conceding that there is also plenty to enjoy before then, especially anything in daylight. But he’ll have to be careful not to let his mind wander too much with his thoughts of entering one of the Spine races….. And I wonder whether Chelle, who completed her twentieth LDWA 100 this year at the marshals’ event will be back next year. She says not, but I think in early 2027 we’ll see her studying the route with a suspiciously interested look in her eye.

The route itself is also getting plenty of attention, not least because this year appears to contain more hills than some recent Hundreds, which may come as unwelcome news to anyone who had mentally filed Kent under “gentle orchards and nice tea rooms” which is what I had perhaps done. But, I mentally block out hills, they’re bad for the mind (well, and calves, morale and general happiness, but I’m from Norfolk and we’re not hill trained). David Morgan, who has walked, marshalled and organised more 100s than most people have owned pairs of walking socks, says the route feels surprisingly rural given its proximity to London, with the North Downs particularly pretty, although he also warns that the steepest rises come in the final third and that entrants should not go too hard too soon. I think that piece of advice is one of the most sensible, this is not an easy 100, although I accept that none of them actually are.

Rebecca Lawrence, who has started 15 Hundreds and completed 11, says Hunnypot feels special because she loves trees and the area is full of them, while Enfys Bosworth is looking forward to a hillier route after last year’s flatter event, as well as the community and a healthy bit of FOMO. Jane Bates, meanwhile, offers a useful reminder from the back of the field which it is not about speed, it is about doing what is needed to finish within 48 hours, even if that includes accepting a second night and perhaps a cheeky little power nap. And, it really isn’t about speed, this isn’t a race but a personal journey. Quite a long personal journey, but there we go.

And then, inevitably, there is food, which is perhaps my favourite topic which might not mark me out as an elite endurance athlete, but it does make me unusually well suited to checkpoint-based commentary. I was delighted to become an official food tester at the marshals’ event, but that’s not the first time I’ve selflessly taken on that role. No civilised discussion of the LDWA 100 can avoid food, because after enough miles catering stops being a practical matter and becomes a branch of moral philosophy.

Mira is hoping for mac and cheese, homemade flapjacks or cake, crumpets, pizza and little yoghurts. Ercole gives perhaps the purest answer of all “tea and cake” because a cup of tea always makes things better, or a 15% stout, whatever suits the individual’s mindset. Mark looks forward to cereal, rice pudding and tea in the small hours, while David praises crumpet with tomato purée and melted cheese, plus homemade dhal and naan breads. Enfys looks forward to macaroni cheese, fish finger butties, fresh fruit and sandwiches, and Phoenyx is making a beeline for cola while avoiding anything spicy, which seems sensible when one’s digestive system is already being invited into several days of negotiation.

The food answers also reveal the deep tactical wisdom that only long-distance walking can produce. Sab finds melon and orange easier to eat when other food becomes difficult, with peanuts and crisps working well too, though bread sandwiches become hard to face after about 70 miles. Jane is clear that food is key, warning that not eating enough early on can cause problems later, and says that anything homemade is what she really looks forward to. I think this is a good point, nutrition is hugely important although I accept that if I ran the event every checkpoint would just have pies.

Graham needs plenty of salty food and stresses the importance of eating at every checkpoint before nausea makes it harder. I remember on my 100 that I sometimes genuinely didn’t want food and was bemused why my body didn’t crave more, but eating is important. Rebecca’s advice is equally direct which is to eat and drink as much as needed, take rehydration salts and, perhaps most importantly, do not go into any pubs en route until the end. This is a cruel rule, but probably a necessary one, particularly for those of us who regard pubs as cultural institutions. There are few downsides to pubs in my eyes, but they are quite hard to leave after seventy miles and especially if they have delicious real ale, craft beer, Mini Cheddars and comfortable chairs.

What comes through most strongly is that the Hunnypot Hundred is not just a test of walking fitness. It is a test of judgement, humour, appetite, patience and the ability to treat each checkpoint as both salvation and a time-management threat. People are looking forward to the scenery, the trees, the hills, the company, the daylight, the finish, the conversations, the little acts of kindness and, quite reasonably, the food. There will be tough moments, of course. There will be sore feet, late hills, odd thoughts in the night, perhaps hallucinations and probably at least one personal conversation with a cheese crumpet.

But if these interviews show anything, it is that the LDWA 100 has a strange ability to turn discomfort into memory, strangers into companions and a very long walk into something people somehow want to do again. Which is either inspiring or medically fascinating, and possibly both. Most of all it’ll be fun, well, looking back, it’ll seem like fun and that’s the main thing.

I’ve dusted off my previous page at https://www.julianwhite.uk/ldwa-100/ all about the LDWA 100 to bring it up to date for 2026.

This interview is with Sab and I liked how he refers to himself as a lazy runner, I think I’m not dissimilar to that! This will be his fourth LDWA 100 and he was kind enough to answer some questions for me.

Q. Could you briefly introduce yourself and what got you into long distance walking?

A. Myself Sab, moved to UK 8 years ago. I am originally from India, currently lives in Middlesbrough. As I was a lazy runner and didn’t do any solo running during Covid, I joined a walking group after Covid. My best friend from that walking group mentioned about LDWA and my first walk was the Kettlewell challenge event in 2022, there I met another walker who has done more than 20 hundreds by then. That was the first time we as a group heard about the 100, and 8 of us where at the starting line of EBB100 the following year.

Q. How many LDWA 100s have you completed before, and what keeps bringing you back to the distance?

A. Three hundreds so far. This is now my annual pilgrimage, if I can say that 🙂 Plan is not to miss out on one as long as I can do a 100. Plenty of reasons to do the event. To name a few, it is a great holiday where you spend time with friends, challenging yourself, hitting the wall, find the strength which you never knew you had, making new friends, meeting friends from allover the country and seeing another part of the country, the wonderful marshals etc.

Q. How has your training been going, and has anything surprised you about the preparation this time?

A. Training was great, done plenty of miles in April, including a few 50 milers. It shouldn’t be a surprise, but I was worn out by end of April.

Q. How prepared do you feel at this stage, physically and mentally?

A. Feels that I am extremely well prepared both physically and mentally.

Q. What are you most looking forward to about the event?

A. The camaraderie. Exploring the part of the country I have never been before.

Q. Is there anything about this particular 100 that feels especially challenging, whether that’s the route, the distance, the timing or simply staying cheerful at 3am?

A. The route got more elevation than my past 100s. So waiting to see how the body will cope with the ascents later in the event.

Q. Food can become strangely important on a 100-mile event. What do you usually rely on to keep yourself going, and is there anything you absolutely cannot face after enough miles?

A. I find it easier to eat fruits (melon and orange) even when I could not eat other food items. Peanuts and crisps work well for me too. I found it difficult to eat bread sandwiches after around 70 miles last time.

Q. Do you have any little routines, habits or bits of advice that help you through the harder parts of a long event?

A. “This too shall pass” true for both good and bad times, but remember it more when you have a bad time. The one thing I do when I feel sleepy while walking, just change the pace infrequently (walk fast, slow, change gait, cadence etc) so that the brain can’t find a rhythm to settle in.

Q. When you look back afterwards, what do you think will make this year’s 100 feel memorable?

A. New friends I made, any funny stories from the walk, the sunrise on Sunday and may be on Monday too.

I’ve dusted off my previous page at https://www.julianwhite.uk/ldwa-100/ all about the LDWA 100 to bring it up to date for 2026.

Here’s entrant Simon Hodgin with me at the marshal’s event as we needed refreshment as supporting the Norfolk & Suffolk group was exhausting. There’s a long interview with Simon and volunteering on the podcast, of which much more very soon! But here’s a quick interview about what he’s expecting at the main event.

Q. Could you briefly introduce yourself and how many 100s you’ve completed?

A. Simon Hodgin, a member of the Norfolk and Suffolk group. I’ve entered and completed seven 100s to date.

Q. Having supported others on the marshal’s event, what were your first impressions of this year’s Hunnypot 100?

A. Like all 100s, it’s different to the others. More hills than the Suffolk 100, but with some spectacular countryside to enjoy.

Q. Are there any particular sections of the route that you think entrants will especially enjoy or that you’re looking forward to?

A. I think entrants will especially enjoy the last 100 metres of the route! Joking aside, there seems a lot to enjoy. For me, it’s anything in daylight.

Q. Do you think there are any parts of the route that seemed more challenging than expected, either because of the terrain, navigation, timing or the general little arrangements that make a 100 what it is?

A. There are more hills to navigate in the final section, so it’s a reminder to everyone to pace themselves. Generally, I really think it depends on who you are and, importantly, how you are feeling at any particular part of the route.

Q. What makes a good checkpoint or marshal interaction when someone arrives tired, hungry or wondering why they have made such a lifestyle choice?

A. It’s the support and encouragement you get when entering any checkpoint. The marshal role really is important, not only to make sure you are drinking and eating enough, but also to mentally help those who may need a little encouragement from time to time.

Q. What advice would you give to someone taking on their first 100, especially if they’re nervous about the distance, the night section or keeping themselves moving?

A. Walk at your pace and don’t get carried along in the early miles by faster walkers. Remember, if you’ve done the training, the chances are you can go the distance.

Unless you are very unlucky with an injury, it’s all about overcoming the mind in the later miles when it questions why you are doing this. Ignore the questions, put one foot in front of the other and keep going.

Q. What do you think makes the LDWA 100 special, both for the people walking it and for the people helping to make it happen?

A. It’s a unique event: the challenge, the atmosphere and the support you get all the way along the route. Ultimately, you are challenging yourself. Everyone there, be it other walkers, marshals or supporters, wants you to succeed.

Q. Finally, could you be tempted to enter one of the Spine races?

A. You’ll just have to wait and see! [I think he will, he’s still young enough to do it! – Julian]

I’ve dusted off my previous page at https://www.julianwhite.uk/ldwa-100/ all about the LDWA 100 to bring it up to date for 2026.

This interview is Graham Sherwood, a member of the NEC, who gives some great advice on completing 100s. And what a debut for a social walk that he got himself mentioned in Strider! This photo of Graham was taken at Pooh Bridge on the Kent social walk in April 2026.

---

Q. Could you briefly introduce yourself, including your role as LDWA groups officer, and how many LDWA 100s have you entered?

A. I’m Graham Sherwood, LDWA local groups officer, secretary of Merseystride LDWA and co-organiser of the Open to Offas challenge event. As local groups officer, my role is to help the 41 local LDWA groups, who are the backbone of the organisation, to thrive. I joined the LDWA in 2018 having heard good things about it from fellow participants on a 35 mile charity challenge walk along the Llangollen Round.  Although I did a couple of 50 mile events shortly after joining, the thought of a 100 was just crazy. However, in May 2019, I somehow found myself on the Hadrian 100, and thanks to the support I received from other walkers and encouragement from marshals I managed to complete the event. In total now I have started five and completed four 100s – on the Trans-Pennine 100 I retired at 67 miles.

Q. What made you decide to take on this year’s LDWA 100 in Kent?

A. Once you start doing 100s, they become addictive. I know I can walk a hundred miles over two days and two nights and I want to prove to myself that I can do it again.

Q. What are you most looking forward to about the route and the event weekend?

A. I’m looking forward to getting to know this part of Kent and East Sussex better. I’m also looking forward to the social aspect of the 100 – shared adversity and pain, and hopefully a few laughs.

Q. Have you walked much in Kent before, and is there anything about the landscape or area that particularly appeals to you?

A. Having grown up in the Chilterns, I love chalk landscapes. I am most familiar with the area around Dover. Although I live in North Wales, my very first LDWA social walk was with Kent group in June 2018 – a 42 mile dawn to dusk walk led by this year’s 100s chair, Peter Jull. I distinguished myself by having a funny turn in the pub we called into in the afternoon and getting written up in Strider as a “fainting episode”. I’ve also completed the White Cliffs challenge four times and the Sevenoaks circular once.

Q. How has your training and preparation been going so far?

A. I hope reasonably well. I try to get out on a social walk at least once a week, mainly with The Irregulars or Merseystride, but I’ve also joined walks organised by East Lancs and Kent in the last few weeks. I managed to complete the Cymoedd Sir Fynwy 50 in South Wales this year, something I failed to do two years ago and I’ve also completed challenge events organised by Lakeland, West Lancs and Essex and Herts groups this year.

Q. When you think about the 100, are you mainly focused on finishing, enjoying the route, managing the pace or some slightly alarming combination of all three?

A. I am a slow walker and I will be focussing on getting round this route within the 48 hours – I walked a 12 mile section of the route through Ashdown Forest to Crowborough with Kent group a few weeks ago and know it’s going to be tough underfoot and very challenging. This is the first time I have ever done anything resembling a recce. My normal recce consists of a couple of fly-throughs on OS Maps and checking the gpx route on my Locus Map app.

Q. What do you most enjoy about the atmosphere of a 100-mile event?

A. The 100 brings the LDWA membership together – talking about it on social walks before and after the event. The support you get from other participants and volunteers at checkpoints.

Q. Do you have any advice for entrants, particularly at times when they’re tired and when perhaps the enthusiasm has dimmed a little?

A. The 100 is a mental as well as a physical challenge – I find the first night tougher than the second as I always feel sick. The hallucinations on the second night are rather fun. On my first hundred I got to the Kent checkpoint some 30 hours in determined to retire. Graham Smith told me to sit down, have a cup of soup and wait half an hour. That was great advice.

Q. Food can become rather important on a long event, sometimes to a level that would alarm anyone outside the LDWA. Are there any checkpoint foods or walking snacks you’ll be especially hoping for?

A. I need plenty of salty foods to keep me going. It’s essential to keep eating at every checkpoint as if you aren’t careful you start feeling sick and it gets really hard to eat.

Q. As someone involved with LDWA groups nationally, what do you think events like the 100 show about the strength of the association and its volunteers?

A. The 100 is a fantastic showcase for the LDWA and goes to show the dedication and determination of its members. I really admire those at HQ and at the checkpoints who help the participants complete the challenge – their support, encouragement and, of course, food are invaluable – we couldn’t do it without you.

Q. Finally, when you reach the start line in Kent, what do you think will be going through your mind?

A. I’m going to be glad to see familiar faces but nervous – this is going to be a particularly challenging route because it is hilly, the ground is rough underfoot and there are a lot of stiles.

I’ve dusted off my previous page at https://www.julianwhite.uk/ldwa-100/ all about the LDWA 100 to bring it up to date for 2026.

This interview is with Jane Bates who has completed four LDWA hundreds and is volunteering at this year’s event. There are lots of really useful tips here for those who are coming to the event for the first time and aren’t entirely sure what to expect.

Q. Could you briefly introduce yourself and say how you first became involved with the LDWA and long-distance walking?

A. In my working life I was a chartered accountant feeling a bit bored (well I was an accountant🤣) and about 20 years ago saw a programme on the Moonwalk and thought I can’t run a marathon but perhaps walking one is possible. So I trained for that, reignited my enthusiasm for walking and then joined my local LDWA group Sussex for the social walks. Then a few years later I started doing challenge events and then back in 2012 I did my first 50. Then in horror realised I was qualified for a 100; but was I really up for that big of a challenge ??

Q. You’ve completed four 100s, with two on marshal events and two on main events. Looking back, what do you remember most strongly from those finishes?

A. Of the actual finishing it has always been a bit of an anticlimax but then the next day the reality of the success of finishing hits me and I am so chuffed with myself.

Of the walks itself I enjoy the actual walk for the first 50, after that I could be walking anywhere, it is just checkpoint to checkpoint. I have done some of them on my own but always end up walking with other lovely LDWA entrants and the chatting really helps. Every finish was after dawn on the Monday and I just had to accept I would be walking through 2 nights, but that does mean walking through 2 dawns which with hindsight is my favourite time on long challenge walks.

Q. You mentioned that you have also had four 100s where you didn’t complete. What have those experiences taught you about the event, the distance and yourself?

A. My first attempt and my first non completion was the Welsh Valleys. A very respectable one to fail on (but walking 70+ miles in constant rain is definitely not failure) but others did finish so I was just not tough enough. A lot more training the next year led to success on Red Rose. Then I got complacent and again ‘failed’ at 70 miles on Dorset 100 – that followed the rule of should never underestimate the challenge.

Next non completion was the Covid era self created one – that really showed me the importance of support at proper checkpoints. My final non completion was Speyside – just not in the right headspace – again shows that the 100 is not just a physical challenge but is even more of a personal mental challenge – you have to want to finish.

What did these teach me?

Completing one does not mean that you will complete all others, never underrate the challenge both physically and mentally.

Training does matter, the EBB was successfully completed on the back of walking 600 miles of the Camino Norte, repeated by walking 15 miles a day for a month prior to Flower of Suffolk.

Food is key to me. Not eating enough early causes me to run out of energy at 70 miles.

Bigger trainers, and even bigger trainers in breakfast bag, I am not one of those people who can walk on massive blisters. I have finished with no blisters.

Q. As someone who describes herself as one of the slower walkers, what do you think people misunderstand about taking on a 100 at that end of the field?

A. You have to accept that second night of walking. The faster walkers do not understand that at all. At the back the objective is doing what you have to do to finish in under 48 hours and nothing to do with a fastest time. The luxury is taking your time at checkpoints, perhaps having a cheeky little power nap. Checkpoint close times can be tight on earlier checkpoints (a close time that allows 2 mph from then to end can be too tight especially with early hills).

The worst is the lack of food, or the lack of choice. I have had a few occasions when there has been practically nothing left. This can be the difference between success and failure. I have never understood why quantities supplied to checkpoints are so small – I would always prefer to pay another £10 and not have this problem. There are reviews of groaning tables of food from faster walkers; when I get there there is a Twiglet and if I am lucky stories from the marshals of emergency food deliveries that have just arrived

Q. Is there a particular moment during a 100 when things usually become hardest for you, and what has helped you keep going when it has worked out?

A. Oddly the early hours of the first night can be very difficult. So tired but so far to go. What works for me is accepting that a short power nap might help. But once dawn arrives I do feel much better. In general it is ‘ can I have a go at the next stage to next checkpoint’ and not thinking any further.

Q. You’ve experienced both marshal events and main events as a walker. How different do they feel, and do you enjoy them in different ways?

A. Main events have a great buzz to them but do feel a bit impersonal, also more risk of no food. Marshal events can mean walking on your own, but that does not worry me – the route finding keeps me awake. But friendlier checkpoints as marshals have more time for you.

Q. Food can become strangely important on a 100-mile event. What have you learned about what keeps you going and what do you look forwards to?

A. I have learnt that the usual small snacks at CP1 do not work for me. My body says lunchtime. I have learnt to take my own food for this one, a Higgidy pie works well. Then I need to eat as much as I can for as long as possible. That means making myself eat between checkpoints as well as checkpoints. A full cooked breakfast I can’t cope with, but porridge and egg on toast can work.

Then it is just odd what you want to eat, sometimes savoury, sometimes sweet, sometimes bland, sometimes a real desire for something with taste. Often very easy food like yoghurt or rice pudding and tinned fruit just hits the spot. I avoid lots of bread and bought in ultra processed ‘muck’ such as my dreaded Tesco mini flapjacks and brownies, and never drink squash, just water and tea. That helps avoid ‘tummy’ problems.

But what I really look forward to is anything homemade, to me that is real LDWA challenge event catering.

Q. You’ve also helped as a marshal on events including the Flower of Suffolk, this year’s marshal event and the main event. What do you enjoy about being on the support side of things?

A. Giving that bit of TLC that allows entrants to carry on. And of course still being part of the great institution that is the ‘100’ without the effort of being an entrant. 🤣 And its always a learning experience that I can take back to improve our own group’s challenge events.

Q. From a marshal’s point of view, what makes the biggest difference to walkers when they arrive tired, hungry or having a difficult patch?

A. Someone sitting them down, bringing tea and food to them. Perhaps sitting and chatting with them, so they take the time to recover. Many can’t eat anything when they arrive and they just need time to start eating again, often a yoghurt or something else very simple. It’s great to see them recover and go off to the next checkpoint.

Q. What advice would you give to someone entering their first 100, especially if they are nervous about being slow, struggling or not knowing quite what to expect?

A. Train but don’t overtrain. You have done a 50. You don’t need to overtire your body with lots of 30s and 50s just before the event, just walk lots and regularly. Really cut back in the last few weeks – a runners taper. The first 50 is in your legs the last 50 is in your mind. Don’t think of how far you have to go, just concentrate on getting to the next checkpoint. This first 100 aim is to complete not to go fast. Keep the tank full, take the time to eat early on. Later on you will not be able to eat much. Drink more than on shorter challenge events; many people can do 30 miles on little food and water but they are not in good shape to do another 70.

Don’t let the early adrenaline get to you. Keep a sensible pace and don’t rush. Going fast ruins your feet. If it’s hot just drop the pace, it will cool off later on and you can speed up then. Take care of your feet. Don’t wait for a checkpoint to sort out a hotspot. Change socks at 25, change to bigger shoes at breakfast, change socks again at 75ish.

Have confidence that you know what works for you; all those other challenge events have refined your night navigation, route finding, clothing choices etc. Don’t worry about reccy of whole route, the route description and GPX file will be very good, if you have limited time reccy the night sections.

I’ve dusted off my previous page at https://www.julianwhite.uk/ldwa-100/ all about the LDWA 100 to bring it up to date for 2026.

This interview is with David Morgan who hasn’t only completed 24 LDWA hundreds, but he’s also marshalled at them and organised them, as well as being a former LDWA chair and 100’s co-ordinator. And here he comes striding in at the marshals’ event in early May 2026. One day I might walk a 100 with David, although I suspect given the pace that he does it might be for just a couple of miles….. On a personal note and back to my heroic 100 in 2021 (that I hardly mention), David was one of the main reasons that I got around following his advice and support.

Anyway, onto the questions!

Q. You’ve got a great deal of experience with 100s as a walker, marshal and organiser. What keeps you coming back to the event in all those different roles?

A. I like the camaraderie that the annual 100 event produces. I love the physical challenge that walking 100 miles brings knowing that few people in ordinary life can complete what we do in the LDWA.
I love seeing others succeed particularly when they have faced challenges and have shown resilience to push through and ultimately succeed.

Q. Having walked the marshal’s event this year, what were your overall impressions of the Hunnypot 100 route?

A. The route is cleverly designed and in a county that is in close proximity to our capital city, I was amazed at how rural it felt for its entire length. The North Downs were particularly pretty but I was feeling rather jaded when I walked along them. I am looking forward to returning for the main event and videoing the entrants passing through this pretty area as part of my duties with the LDWA Media Team.

Q. Were there any sections that stood out to you as especially rewarding, whether because of the scenery, the variety, the route design or the satisfaction of getting through them?

A. I found the night section particularly difficult as I was walking alone. The navigation was intricate and I made several mistakes. As the dawn chorus commenced and I was approaching Felbridge, I felt at that time as if I had passed an important milestone.

Q. Some parts of a 100 are always going to ask a bit more of walkers than others. From your experience on the marshal’s event, where do you think that entrants may need to manage themselves carefully?

A. Recent 100s have been quite flat. Hunnypot 100 returns height ascent to the equation and this time the steepest rises are in the final third. Entrants would be well advised to reserve energy levels for the last 30 miles and not go too hard too soon on the event.

Q. With your organiser’s eye, what do you notice on a 100 that most entrants probably never see or think about?

A. On this occasion I looked at why the route was a clockwise route. To my mind an anticlockwise route might have had other benefits. But then one considers what facilities the organisers needed to.work with, ie, village halls and schools and one then begins to understand as to why the route choice was made.

Q. There will obviously have to be a food question and I’m very pleased at your recent social media having more culinary content. From your own experience, what food do you look forward to seeing at a checkpoint and how do you manage your food intake across the event?

A. I think you’re referring to my gargantuan calorific intake in Italy following the Hunnypot 100! [JW – I was, the Italian food looking amazing] I like to eat little and often at all checkpoints in order to keep putting calories in for future energy needs. This is easier said than done when one feels nauseous and on Hunnypot 100 I had a queasy stomach for many miles.

A crumpet with tomato puree and melted cheese always works well, although being served home made dhal and naan breads at CP4 hit the spot!

Q. How important is the tone of encouragement from marshals, and what sort of things are genuinely useful to say to someone who still has a long way to go?

A. The work of the marshals is crucial. They are often empathetic because they know what you’re experiencing. They’ve been there and done it. Just remind people not to look at the big picture but concentrate on bite size pieces and walk checkpoint to checkpoint!

Q. Are there any simple practical things at checkpoints that can make a big difference to entrants, especially those who are new to the 100?

A. This is a tricky question to answer as people will have different views. Checkpoints can be seen as oasis and on arrival it is easy to enter a time vortex. Don’t dawdle. On approach to the checkpoint go through in your mind what you want to achieve. Perhaps it’s a sock change, topping up of a water bottle or eating some food. Do it efficiently and then get moving or otherwise the 15 minutes you planned soon turn to 30.

Q. What advice would you give to someone taking on their first 100, especially if they find themselves having a tough spell and wondering whether everyone else is coping rather more elegantly?

A. Never ever give up on initially arriving at a checkpoint. Sit down, eat food, drink tea, talk to others and you will soon realise that the person at the next table feels exactly the same way you do. Then leave the checkpoint and tell yourself that you’re only walking to the next checkpoint. Repeat several times and you’ll soon be at the finish receiving the warmest applause in the UK!

I’ve dusted off my previous page at https://www.julianwhite.uk/ldwa-100/ all about the LDWA 100 to bring it up to date for 2026.

This interview is with Rebecca Lawrence who has completed eleven LDWA hundreds which is some considerable achievement. And the little mistake that she made on the Yoredale 100 is very much one that I might make…. There’s lots of useful tips here that will likely be very useful for anyone attempting their first 100.

Q. Could you briefly introduce yourself and say how you first became involved with the LDWA and long-distance walking?

A. I first started walking in my teens. I had a horse on loan, details of which I kept from my parents (as I couldn’t quite afford it out of my paper round money so it involved supplementing the costs out of my dinner money which they would not have allowed if they had have known) so I had to be very vague about my whereabouts at the weekend and couldn’t ask for lifts to places. I started walking the 3 miles there and 3 miles back on a regular basis and it kind of went on from there, my love of walking and the independence it gave me away from my parents. I remember being really proud of myself for walking 15 miles in my adulthood and then going on holiday and meeting someone who told me about the LDWA and mentioned the 100! I couldn’t believe people could walk 100 miles in one go but I was curious and joined and discovered a whole world of challenge walking and like minded people. The first challenge walk I signed up to was the Pathfinder March – 46 miles and it nearly killed me.  I wore heavy boots and had done very little preparation but finished. I then went onto do the Poppyline 50 – a fabulous event held in Norfolk. It was when I was sat in a tent in a forest at 3am with people who all thought it “normal” that I really felt accepted and knew I had found my people. Away from walking I am a keen horse rider and work wise I manage the Audiology Department at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Q. You’ve started 15 Hundreds and completed 11 of them. What keeps bringing you back to the distance after so many years and so many miles?

A. The 100 is a beast to be respected. There’s no other way to describe it. You learn so much about yourself and how to improve your resilience in all situations in life and not to fall at the first hurdle no matter how tough things can get. Because of this I consider that it’s a mental challenge.  Of course you do have to be physically able to do it as well, but the real strength comes in carrying on when your body is screaming at you to stop, working through your lows and appreciating the highs, and it’s the people you meant along the way.  For me the real heroes are those who take every second of the 48 hours allowed.  I do think its quite addictive.  At the time you tell yourself “no more I’m done” and then a few days later you find yourself looking at next years……

Q. If you complete the Hunnypot 100, it will be your 12th finish. Does that still feel special, or does experience make the whole thing feel more familiar now?

A. Every 100 is special and I have very clear memories of each one. Each one has its own challenges and sting in the tail. Hunnypot 100 does feel particularly special as I love trees and the area is full of them!  Sussex and Kent are real hidden gems in terms of beauty and well worth the trip round the M25. The Elephant Bear and Bull was especially special. I did it in aid of a colleague who was an inpatient for a while.  Unfortunately whilst recceing the route for it; I had planned to walk 25 miles each day over 4 days, I turned and fractured my ankle 4 miles in!  I carried on with the recce, vomiting with pain on the first evening, wrapped my ankle up with vet wrap and did the other 3 days.  After a week when it was still hurting I finally got it x rayed and was told it was fractured.  When I asked about doing the 100 in 3 weeks time the Consultant laughed. I emailed the organisers to make sure they were happy with me to give it a go and I finished it. I was being sponsored so it was important to me.  Sometimes having something to drive you on like that really helps.

Q. Tell me more about what happened at the Yoredale 100!

A. Oh dear…..well it was a sunny weekend and I was going quite well initially into the first night, but there was a head wind. It didn’t seem to matter which way you turned, the gale was straight in your face which started to sap energy. I walked through Sat night but sometime after lunch on Sunday I started to really flag.  I had made a fundamental error and ignored sore points on my feet which had now exploded into blisters and I had 20 miles still to go. With the head wind I was down to 2mph and it felt like trying to walk with the handbrake on. Factor in a lovely pub, everyone sat outside looking happy and relaxed…..just one pint won’t hurt would it?! Well I don’t need to tell you the rest. That was game over. I had some friends who were using my Travelodge room whilst I was walking and they had decorated it with congratulations posters. I couldn’t tell them the real story…

Q. Having completed 11 and not completed four, what have the unsuccessful attempts taught you that the successful ones perhaps didn’t?

A. Interesting question.  I believe we do learn more from our unsuccessful attempts than we do our successful ones.  

1 – don’t go into any pubs en route until the end

2 – Feet feet feet – do not ignore sore spots / discomfort

3 – invest in waterproofs that really are waterproof

4 – don’t hand your tally in straight away, have a drink, some food and a chat

5 – see it as a series of short walks, never allow yourself to calculate how much you have left to go until you are in single figures

6 – don’t do anything new

7 – allow yourself to eat and drink as much as you want and need

8 – take rehydration salts

9 – go with a clear head with no stresses – if you are stressed about needing to finish by a certain time you might as well not start

Q. How do you approach training and preparation now compared with when you were taking on your first few Hundreds?

A. I am more prepared re the route – you don’t want to go wrong even for a few yards. Training wise this can be tricky, I work full time but I try to do a 25 miler every other week from Feb onwards and the 50, but it is important not to start the 100 tired. The rule I give myself  is you should be able to do 25 miles comfortably. The best training I find is the recce – 25 miles every day for 4 days 3-4 weeks before the event is the best training you can have in my opinion.

Q. Food can become strangely important on a 100-mile event. After so many starts, what have you learned about what keeps you going and what do you look forward to?

A. I look forward to anything that slips down. Pasta and cheese are favourites, egg sandwiches or just plain boiled eggs are normally quite palatable. I can’t stomach anything too heavy and have a meal replacement shake in my breakfast bag as I don’t seem to be able to cope with the cooked breakfast without it making me nauseous.

Q. You’ve recced about 70% of the Hunnypot route, though section 4 seems to have already made its intentions clear. How useful do you find recces, and does getting lost beforehand help or merely add to the sense of impending doom?

A. Recce’s give me confidence. Although I often find myself walking with people, I have started most hundreds these days on my own. The thought of being lost in the Ashdown forest at 3am on my own doesn’t fill me with excitement. I worked out how and where I went wrong on the recce so hopefully won’t repeat. I’ve always been a map and Route Description kind of girl, butting against following a GPX breadcrumb trail but after getting lost on the recce and realising that Ashdown forest will be my night section I have paid for OS maps on my phone to have as backup. Recce’s also act as a way of seeing and enjoying the route without the pressure of the event and if you do sections consecutively, its an excellent way to get that extra bit of fitness in before the event.

Q. What advice would you give to someone taking on their first 100, especially about pacing, keeping calm and not being lured into a comfortable pub at mile 80?

A. You’re going to have low points and that’s normal. It doesn’t mean you won’t finish. 

Don’t go with any expectations as to when you think you might finish as that can be soul destroying – expect to go through a 2nd night and anything less is a bonus.

See it as a series of short walks – you might think you can’t get to the finish when you are having a low point, but can you make it another 7 miles to the next checkpoint?

Don’t go off too fast – I personally prefer walking on my own and joining up with people for a few miles that happen to be going at your pace as you can speed up when you want and slow down when you want. Walking as a group is tiring.

Take as much or as little time as you need at checkpoints.

Don’t navigate by committee, have a clear idea where you are going and stick to it.

Don’t go to the pub however inviting it may look….

Q. After 15 starts, are there any small signs early in a 100 that tell you whether it is going to be a good day, a difficult day, or one of those character-building little arrangements that the LDWA seems to specialise in?

A. The weather can play a really important part. If its tipping it down at the start line it just adds another factor of difficulty into the equation.

Q. When you look back after the Hunnypot 100, what would make this year’s event feel like a success for you?

A. Knowing whatever happens, I’ve tried my best. You can never predict how its going to go and there are many factors out of your control. Finishing would be lovely but just being part of this amazing event is a real privilege and a credit to all the organisation and volunteers.

I’ve dusted off my previous page at https://www.julianwhite.uk/ldwa-100/ all about the LDWA 100 to bring it up to date for 2026.

This interview is with Phoenyx Harritt and this will be their first 100 and I particularly like their comment of “I think it will be a great lesson in learning when to listen to my mind and body, and when to ignore them” which I think is very true.

Q. Could you briefly introduce yourself and say how you first became involved with long-distance walking?

A. I’m Phoenyx [they/them] 45 years old, and a fairly new member of the Essex and Herts LDWA. I started running about 16 years ago when I entered the ballot for the London Marathon, having decided if I was going to make my childhood dream a reality, I should get a headstart on the running. It turns out marathons are quite addictive,… especially trail marathons,… and ultras too… As time went on, and my PBs became ever more distant and insignificant, I realised the longer and slower the ‘run’ the more it soothed my soul, and so I found the LDWA was the perfect way to facilitate this.

Q. This is your first Hundred. What made you decide that this was the year to take one on?

A. A couple of running club friends took on the FOS 100 which was the first I had heard of these events. I was inspired. I spotted the Golden 50 event which encompassed the two counties I live on the border of, was a qualifier for the Hunnypot, and decided that sounded idyllic. The timing was perfect, and the fact my dad came from Kent is a bonus opportunity to explore somewhere I have an affinity with.

Q. How are you feeling about it now: mainly excited, slightly nervous, or a strange and probably very LDWA combination of both?

A. Definitely excited. The term ‘maranoia’; a portmanteau of marathon and paranoia, feels like it needs a counterpart for the Hundred as what I have right now is like maranoia on steroids. The dreams about missing the start, turning up in my pyjamas, and leaving my pack at HQ feel way too real right now.

Q. What has your training looked like so far, and has anything surprised you about preparing for this distance?

A. I’ve kept marathon fit since the Golden 50 in July. My hill training includes the Dorset Doddle in August and the Surrey Three Peaks as my final hike before taper. I ran trail marathons on consecutive days between Christmas and New Year, then hiked the Stansted Stagger with friends that weekend. In April I ran ‘Nodnol’; the reverse route of the London Marathon starting at midnight, then met my clubmates and supported them running the main event. I set myself a ‘staying awake’ PB of 42 hours. The thing that has surprised me is that the staying awake training has been the biggest boost to my confidence in my ability to complete the Hundred.

Q. Have you had any advice from people who have done Hundreds before, and has any of it particularly stuck with you?

A. Some of the best advice I have heard from LDWAers is to lie on the floor with feet up on a chair at checkpoints. I’ve also heard about ultra runners taking a ‘caffeine nap’ whereby you take a caffeine gel, set a timer for 10 minutes sleep, then wake up as it kicks in. These seem like useful weapons in the armoury.

Q. What are you most looking forward to about the Kent 100?

A. Playing Pooh Sticks on Pooh Bridge; the Ashdown Forest will be a highlight from a landscape point of view. Mostly I’m excited for the camaraderie of the shared achievement of completing 100 miles.

Q. Is there any part of the event that feels like the biggest unknown at the moment, whether that’s walking through the night, managing tiredness, the route, or simply reaching a distance you haven’t done before?

A. I’m intrigued as to where my mind will take me during the event, and what it feels like venturing past the 50-mile point. I think it will be a great lesson in learning when to listen to my mind and body, and when to ignore them.

Q. Food can become strangely important on a 100-mile event. What are you planning to rely on to keep yourself going, and is there anything you already know you absolutely won’t want after enough miles?

A. Caffeine. I’ll be making a beeline for Cola and avoiding anything spicy. I think I’ll see what’s on offer and what I fancy as I go along. I never knew the pure joy of bananas and custard until I had some at an LDWA event so I’m sure they’ll be some revelations at this event too.

Q. When things get difficult, what do you think will help you keep moving?

A. The impending sense of achievement mostly. I do like a mantra too. I heard something on a podcast recently which I have paraphrased into ‘tenacity over talent’. If all else fails, I’ll resort to quoting Dory from Finding Nemo ‘just keep swimming, just keep swimming…’

Q. When you imagine finishing your first Hundred, what do you think that moment might feel like?

A. It feels like pure joy, with a heart that is so full it might burst.

I’ve dusted off my previous page at https://www.julianwhite.uk/ldwa-100/ all about the LDWA 100 to bring it up to date for 2026.

This interview is with Enfys Bosworth who has completed four 100s before and I loved the character building tantrum!

Q. Could you briefly introduce yourself and say how you first became involved with the LDWA and long-distance walking?

A. My name is Enfys Bosworth, I’m 32 years old and live on the beautiful Pembrokeshire coast. I joined a hiking group in Manchester called the Manchester and District (MAD) Walkers. A few of us got into long distances and someone suggested the Bullock Smithy — 56 miles through the Peak District. I finished it slightly broken but very happy, and already thinking about the next challenge. Someone mentioned it qualified me for the LDWA Hundred, so I entered without a second thought — and I haven’t looked back. It’s now the highlight of my year.

Q. This will be your fifth Hundred event. Does it feel different preparing for number five compared with your first one?

A. It’s completely different now. My first hundred was all about “can I even do this?” — I overpacked, wore heavy boots, and just got round. These days I’m edging towards running, so it’s about refining my pace and kit — trainers, a light running bag, tasty snacks— and building mileage gradually with a couple of short runs in the week and a long one each weekend. I’m lucky to live in Pembrokeshire, so the coast path is perfect training ground.

Q. What keeps bringing you back to the 100-mile distance?

A. One-hundred miles will never be easy but will always be a massive achievement. It lets me explore a new part of the UK every year, and every route brings different challenges. Last year’s flatter route was really tough on my feet and mentally I was fried, while the hillier Scottish route the year before was a joy. But the real draw is the people — the volunteers are incredible. The encouragement and food at checkpoints are unmatched. Special mention to pizza crumpets and selection box chocolates!

Q. Are there any particular memories from your previous Hundreds that still stand out, either for good reasons or for “that was character-building” reasons?

A. So many, although some a bit hazy from lack of sleep! On my first hundred (the Trans-Pennine), I faced freezing winds overnight which really got to me. The tantrum I threw, and the shivering was truly ‘character building’, so I now always carry an extra layer. But the sunrise coming down Lose Hill made it all worthwhile. In Scotland, one of my funniest memories was my teammate at mile 95 convinced there was a net about to capture him on the path.  Watching the hallucination unfold was very amusing.

Q. What made you decide to take on this year’s Hunnypot 100 in Kent?

A. Last year wasn’t my most enjoyable experience, but that wasn’t the event’s fault or the fantastic organisers.  A learning point for me was to train on similar terrain as the event.  However, the pull of a hillier route, the amazing community, and a healthy bit of FOMO (fear of missing out) brought me straight back. That — and the fact I’m a big Winnie the Pooh fan.

Q. How has your training and preparation been going this time?

A. I had a small hip cartilage tear last September, so I took three months off to recover. Since then, I’ve rebuilt my fitness and switched things up by running more — a nice change, even if I’m not sure I can call myself a runner yet. I also did a 53-mile event called ‘The Marreg ’in Pembrokeshire — with 3000m plus of hills, some scambly bits and an opportunity to do night navigation it was wonderful. And I was mostly fuelled by delicious checkpoint Welsh cakes. The bilk of my training has been gradually building miles with 2-3 short runs and a nice long adventure on the weekend.

Q. Do you feel you’ve learned anything from your previous Hundreds that you’ll be trying to put into practice this year?

A. I’ve learned many things that I will try to incorporate this year:

• Keep eating and drinking— it’s absolutely crucial. I’m already pretty good at this but my last event I didn’t carry enough water between checkpoints which was very unenjoyable.
• Deal with foot issues early — stopping is worth it. I’ve been known to ignore the issue and regret it every time.
• Miles 70–80 are always tough for me, so I’m working on staying positive. I know my body can do it so I can’t let my head win.
• Save a treat for later — I’ve learned a Coke near the end is like rocket fuel for me.

Q. Food can become strangely important on a 100-mile event. What have you learned about what keeps you going, and what do you most look forward to eating or drinking during an event?

A. We all know the hundred is a checkpoint-to-checkpoint exercise with the temptation of the next offerings keeping you moving. I’ve always had a big appetite, so the walking picnic is a dream. I carry energy chews, high-carb bars, and salty snacks, but the real highlights include macaroni cheese, fish finger buttys, fresh fruit, and the endless sandwich options.

Q. Is there any part of the event that you’re especially looking forward to, or anything that feels like the biggest challenge?

I feel more prepared than ever this year and confident in my game plan which inevitably have to be adapted as the hours tick on. Pacing is my biggest challenge. I tend to get carried away early on and pay for it later. This time I want to stay steady and consistent — and enjoy the hills and scenery along the way.

Q. What advice would you give to someone taking on their first Hundred, especially if they’re feeling excited but slightly daunted by the scale of it?

A. It does see daunting and I never know how I do but trust your body and mind. I try not to think about the miles done or the ones yet to be completed and live in the moment. Other tips include:

• Eat often and stay hydrated (don’t forget electrolytes)
• Chat to people — it lifts your mood and passes the time
• Stick to your own pace
• Change your socks regularly — your feet will thank you

Q. When you look back after the Hunnypot 100, what would make this year’s event feel like a success for you?

A. Finishing, having more highs than lows, and ideally avoiding a second night — I really don’t like wearing a head torch! Fewer blisters would be a bonus too.

I’ve dusted off my previous page at https://www.julianwhite.uk/ldwa-100/ all about the LDWA 100 to bring it up to date for 2026.

This interview is with Mark Pennington (with his wife Deborah in the above photo) who is looking forward to taking part in his fourth hundred. And I love this answer about what he’s most looking forward to and his answer was “Saturday and Monday” which seems quite realistic!

Q. Could you briefly introduce yourself and say how you first became involved with long-distance walking?

A. I am an accountant from Leeds with no athletic background. Around the age of 50, weight-gain suggested I needed some exercise, and my wife Deborah and I decided to walk a trail as a holiday. I found information on the LDWA website, and selected the Dales Way, which we managed to complete, exhausted, at 12 miles per day. We then joined LDWA and did our first social walk with The Irregulars on my 51st birthday.

Q. You mentioned that this will be your fourth hundred. What do you remember most strongly from the first three?

A. The walk into the unknown on Hundred #1. Everyone has done 50 miles to qualify, but most debutants have no idea what their body and mind will do beyond that point. On reaching Coventry at 70 miles, I was exhausted and ready to stop. Instead I asked for a lie down: while discovering that I couldn’t power-nap, I had to listen to other conversations going on around me about whether to quit. I didn’t think it was justified, so I got up, had some food and drink, set off, and gave myself 10 minutes to decide whether I felt too awful to continue. The lie down had done me some good, as I actually found a burst of respectable speed and started overtaking people. I didn’t look back from there. It was a pivotal moment for me.

Q. Does approaching your fourth 100 feel different from preparing for your first, and are you calmer about the distance now or does it still have a healthy ability to cause concern?

A. I now feel as though I understand the event and how to get myself through it. It’s immensely long and things can go wrong, but so far I have coped and never felt that I wouldn’t finish my subsequent Hundreds.

Q. What made you decide to take on this year’s 100 in Kent?

A. After two I decided I’d had enough and would take a break. This turned out to be 10 months long (!), and I was a late entrant for last year’s event: I missed having a goal in the spring. I think I’m hooked now.

Q. How has your training been going, and have you changed anything based on what you learned from your previous 100s?

A. My approach has been similar and I’ve come through unscathed. I just beat my PB in the Marsden Moors Meander by 19 seconds, so I guess I should tackle the Hundred at my usual pace!

Q. How prepared do you feel at this stage, physically and mentally?

A. Physically I’m okay. Mentally, it’s how you feel on the day: but it’s an inspiring day, so I should be up for it.

Q. Food can become strangely important on a 100-mile event. What do you usually rely on to keep yourself going, and is there anything you absolutely cannot face after enough miles?

A. On approaching a checkpoint I’ve always been ready to eat, and I always know what I want. In the wee small hours, milky foods like cereal and rice pudding go down well. And tea, of course.

Q. Is there a particular point in a 100 where you know from experience that things can become difficult, and how do you usually get through it?

A. As a Monday finisher, Sunday is immensely long and very hard. In particular, 60-80 miles is the hardest, when you’re done-in and there’s a very long way to go. Before 60 I can smell sausages, and after 80 I start to smell success. One thing I’ve learned is that your feelings come in-and-out: you don’t just feel progressively worse all the time.

Q. What would make this year’s 100 feel like a success for you?

A. Any completion is a success. Beating 41 hours would keep up my statistical progress, but I suspect the late hills might challenge this. I won’t worry about it.