Enfys was one of the entrants that I interviewed before the Hunnypot 100 and she kindly agreed to answer some questions about her experience of the whole hot 100. Enfys reached checkpoint 8, a considerable achievement in itself with the heat.
Q. What are your main memories of the Hunnypot 100?
A. My main memories of the Hunnypot are the heat. That made this event so incredibly challenging, as just two days before I had been on the beach in 12-degree weather with hailstones pounding down on me. The contrast was crazy. Other than that, I’ll remember the volunteers keeping me cool and taking the time to play Pooh sticks, which I lost.
Q. Along with over half the entrants, you retired during the event. Was it mostly heat related for you?
A. It was definitely heat related. My feet had blistered, as had my back, with more hot spots coming. I had to make a choice between finishing early on a high, having completed an excellent route with a medium amount of blistering, or finishing like last year, when I was in tears from the pain. I chose happy and satisfied, with wonderful memories.
Q. Which part of the walk did you enjoy the most?
A. The route delivered picturesque villages, shaded woodland and some lovely hills. My favourite part was climbing the hill from Pooh Bridge just as the sun was setting.
Q. Will you be doing it again? Or is it too early to say?
A. Of course I will be doing it again, it’s so much fun. In 2027 I’m taking a year out to do some events that I normally can’t do, as I prioritise the Hundred. However, in 2028 I will be back and can’t wait to get on the paths in the place where my long-distance walking began.
Q. Do you have any suggestions for organisers of future LDWA 100s?
A. The organisation and volunteers on the Hundred are unmatched. However, I would be interested to know if it is logistically possible to move event start times forward in the future, if we encounter another hot event.