Tag: LDWA

I’m really pleased to have been receiving so many stories of how LDWA members took part in the 100 mile walk last weekend, and I’m still very impressed at the bravery shown by so many entrants!

Below is the adventure that Caroline Tennant got herself into and I think that terminology is appropriate, as I often wonder how people get themselves into these situations. In my case it seemed a good idea in the pub last year, but as Caroline mentions, I think many entrants did take to moments of introspection during the walk to discover why they were taking part. My initial plan was just to walk as far as I can, as Caroline aims to do in future walks, and reaching 60 miles is still a huge achievement. And I really like how members from East Lancs LDWA group came together to walk the 100, our wonderful LDWA community in action   🙂

This is Caroline’s story (I like #sausagerollgate, I’ve had overstocking incidents too…..).

Well, what happened was…my feet got me at 59 miles. All the planning in the world and it was my feet that defeated me. No blisters or injuries that I could do anything about, just plain old pain. I thought I would be gutted not to finish and at the time I really wasn’t. I was more than happy (putting aside the foot pain, swollen knees, aching, minor chaffing and general tiredness) I had walked further than I had ever walked before and qualified for 2022.

As the pain eased, I got a little introspective and pondered whether 100s are even for me…could I have gone further? Could I have walked through the pain? Then I looked at my blotchy feet, in sandals because I can’t get my feet in shoes, and realise it was the right decision. It’s annoying, yes, but I am safe and have done no permanent damage. I will take great pleasure in entering future 50s, which I love doing and yes, I will have a bash at another 100, but aiming to walk further than I have and seeing how I get on rather than aiming straight at the 100. It will be far easier on a ‘real’ 100. Having the checkpoints, support and company will remove a huge chunk of the preparations, lists and charts involved in a virtual event. Whilst I loved doing all of that (possibly more than the event itself!) concentrating on the walking will be a bonus.

As for the walk itself, the first 56 miles were brilliant and I loved every minute, until the cobbles on the renamed ‘Rocky Road’ got me…

The 8 of us East Lancs members met up for a 07.30 start from Pauline’s in Standish. Chomping at the bit, we set off at 07.22, all hoping to complete our first 100. Up the canal to Chorley, via Yarrow Valley (bacon butties!) and Astley Park, where I ended up in the stocks. Back to the canal and River Darwen to Cherry tree where we met the lovely Jane, who accompanied us through the night to Horden Stoops. Through Hoghton to the main evening meal stop, 19.30 and 32.4 miles in, at my house.

Mr Tennant did a marvellous job feeding and watering us in the back garden. Pasta and brews all round. Nearly all round, he forgot about my brew! Anyhow, refuelled, repacked, bottles topped up, homemade Lancashire parkin in hand, we set off leaving a chaos of washing up and dirty socks behind us. And sausage rolls. When I had asked for some sausage rolls, I had not specified they were only for me. 28 were purchased. There are still a load in the freezer.

Cuerden Park saw us cheered on by Karen & Ian Wardle from West Lancs. Proper dark was upon us by the first break at Withnell. We were in near silence as the seating was by houses. Disappointed by the lack of village stocks here, but they were off being repainted. Across to Tockholes to use the benches and toilets for another break before the main climbs of our 100.

A pitstop for pictures by the East Lancs PNFS sponsored sign and then a boggy ascent of Great Hill. Down to Horden Stoops at 04.00 and 49.7 miles in. Jane left us here for home. Walking with someone fresher than the rest of us, I think, was a huge help, especially with it being overnight. Many thanks to Jane for the good company and the orange loaf.

Then began my downfall on ‘Rocky Road’ with its evil cobbles. Issues were made worse as my water spout decided it was going to leak, wherever I positioned it. So, either a wet tshirt, or wet trousers, as it slowly dripped on me. Normally no big deal, but hugely frustrating when you have miles to go. Also, when we reached Pike Cottage, it being not even 5am, it was closed, so we could not consume pies. Pies are necessary for all significant walks. I should have planned them in earlier, not into the second day. We ascended Winter Hill with the sunrise and I began to slow on the descent, but made it to Hilary’s house for the breakfast stop. At 08.00 and 59 miles in, Nick and myself decided to call it a day, tired but happy.

Pauline, Suzanne & Paul opted to not snooze and so set off once reorganised and full of lovely breakfast, sausage butties in hand. Dave, Alma and Hilary setting off slightly later, after a brief rest. Huge thanks to Hilary’s son, Craig, for feeding and cleaning up after us and Mr Scott for the good cheer, despite recovering from knee surgery, and not calling us crazy to our faces.

Off into the beautiful, and unfortunately, scorching day for the remaining 6. Back to Pike Cottage for refreshments, Rivington and then White Coppice. At 14.30 and 71 miles the heat took its toll and Hilary, Dave & Alma decided to stop having also walked further than they ever had before.

Pauline, Suzanne and Paul altered the planned route. Partly on purpose, partly tired accident. They missed White Coppice, but returned to the canal where they, eventually, found themselves at Frederick’s for very well deserved ice cream. The second evening meal stop at Pauline’s saw Suzanne retire at 81 miles. Pauline and Paul battled on, taking local circuits, steadily clocking up the miles. Determination saw them through as the miles slowly increased and finally reached 100. They did our group proud and we are all over the moon for them both!

Between the 8 of us, we clocked in 612 miles. I don’t know if this would have been the case had we walked individually. I, for one, think having the group and the support that bought, was a huge factor. From encouragement and distraction on the event itself, to having people to bounce ideas off in the run up to it, I couldn’t have done it alone. And now after 5 months planning, what do I do with myself now? Thank you to Suzanne Corlett, Nick Halford, Paul Kielty, Pauline Melia, Hilary Scott and Dave & Alma Walsh, for putting up with my over organising and sharing this adventure…When do entries open for the TP100?!

Well done to all those that took part, supported, organised and made the event possible and the wonderful thing that the 100 is. See you all next year where we will all either be walking or back helping out at the East Lancs breakfast stop.

Over the last weekend there were hundreds of entrants in the LDWA 100, all brave attempts to walk 100 miles in 48 hours. Every one of those walks comes with its own story, with some being successful in their aims and some not, but that doesn’t take away from the achievements that were still reached. One of the little interviews I did before the event was with Rory Bennett, and although I’m collecting up other stories to post a selection of experiences, I felt that this one warranted its own post.

We had a Facebook group and WhatsApp group for entrants and I was aware that Rory was retiring as he posted briefly about his decision at the time. I noted Dave tried to offer him encouragement to keep going, as this completing 100 miles is very much a mental challenge, but sometimes it’s best to concede defeat and try again another day (or learn from the experience and not try again another day, which is usually my strategy).

In Rory’s account below, I thought that the issue with the battery pack is interesting, sometimes these things can seem like it’s life’s way of telling you to stop, although a lack of power is in itself potentially a huge problem (I mean that in terms of navigation really, although some of us have a need to check social media feeds as well).

And so, this is Rory’s story of his walk, one which I found a very honest and interesting account of his adventure.

In the months prior to this 100 I had been focusing on pushing myself mentally as I knew physically I could take on the 100 having completed one with huge support last year. There were 2 aspects that I would follow through to make this a greater challenge to myself.

Firstly, I would be walking the majority of the route alone relying on shops to refuel and the huge effort put in by the LDWA into the social media channels and the WhatsApp group to keep my mind sane. I would only be joined at 2 points on my walk by friends and family totalling around 25 miles, and at the half way point (The Skirrid near Abergavenny) for a ‘checkpoint’ with my half way bag and pre planned change of boots for the night section.

Secondly I had planned to set off at the earliest point possible (midnight on the Friday night). This was initially to make sure I caught the food shops on my return leg so I could stock up for the night walk, but I also had this desire to see how my mind and body would cope walking through 2 nights having not experienced it fully before.

I had managed to grab just under 2 hours sleep Friday evening before the alarm went off at 11pm. After some last minute preparations and an impromptu ‘first baby kicking’ special moment for me & my partner I was out through the door just after midnight and starting on my next 100 journey.

It was a beautifully warm night and over the first 16 miles I had plenty of hills, encounters with bats, deer, worms and sheep before rolling down into Kington with my first view of daylight which was a welcome sight.

The next 15 miles into Hay flew by and I was making good progress and feeling fine, only hampered by soaking wet feet. After a quick refuel and a change of socks I headed out of Hay, up Hay Bluff and down the Black Mountains onto Hatterall Ridge.

It had all been going a bit too well up until this point and the monotonous ridge line of the Black Mountains soon hit home. Thinking I was making serious progress, all excitement soon past when I realised I had only covered a mile or two. With the heat increasing I really began to feel the pain in my feet having not properly dried them out in 12 hours and the constant pounding on hot ground.

The pain was all worth it when I hit Hatterall Hill and descended down into Llanvihangel Crucorney where, most importantly, a well stocked checkpoint, fresh boots and family awaited. After a 20 minute sit down (my first break up until this point) we were back up and running and onto the halfway mark – up and over Skirrid.

Maybe not my finest choice to push myself over halfway, but a beautiful mountain and one of my favourites.

Unfortunately that was the end of my good run. What I hadn’t realised is that spilt liquid from a bottle had knocked out my battery pack which I was relying on for the night section to keep me on track and in touch with fellow walkers and family. Not a problem for the daylight though as I was using paper maps. Queue the next issue – I hadn’t had chance to recce the next section as it was mostly lanes with a couple of linking footpaths and I thought it best to concentrate on the night section. On paper it looked simple but in reality it was an absolute killer. Firstly I had a nightmare of a time trying to navigate a footpath that was on the map but classically didn’t exist. After hopping over ditches, hedges and fences I made it back to signs of normality and back onto the lanes.

The next problem was the mileage – I was expecting to cover this section in 3 hours, be in Ewyas Harold by around 7:30pm where fish and chips and my partner and puppy would be waiting. In reality this section took over 4 hours, was five miles longer than I was expecting and meant I had to really push to make it to the stop and the ever crucial food restock. By this point I’d been thinking for a while about stopping and slowly the thoughts had come clearer and clearer.

With the prospect of being nearing 2 hours behind schedule, 65 miles in on 2 hours sleep and 21 hours walking, completely exhausted and no way of keeping in touch with family and fellow walkers through the night section I decided to bow out and catch a lift home. It was a really tough call to make but at the time I just couldn’t face heading back out into the dark alone. Especially as parts of the next section had some particularly difficult navigation in.

In reality I should have taken an hour out and reconsidered my options, but I don’t regret my decision. It’s funny how much of an impact exhaustion can have on your body and mind. Physically I felt great and the next 40 miles didn’t seem a problem. Mentally I was in a bad place, had tears in my eyes and couldn’t face taking another step. Really the scenarios leading up to this moment were all small and manageable but together and combined with lack of sleep pushed me over the edge. I should have mentioned it sooner to fellow walkers who are always full to the brim of constructive advice that maybe would had got me through the night but i’m certainly not thinking of what ifs.

However that was all the point – I wanted to push my body and mind to the limit. To see what I was capable of in that situation. On Saturday I found my limits, for now. Now I just have to find a way around them and extend them, to push them further. To say I was gutted to withdraw is an understatement. It really hurt for a while after knowing I failed to achieve what I had set out to do, especially as I’d never pulled out of a challenge walk before. That being said, I’m certainly more determined for the next one with a huge amount of lessons learnt along the way. I’ve never felt this good after walking a strong 65 miles and I’ve also never before planned 3 x 100+ mile walks within 24 hours of a challenge walk – bring on the next one & the Trans Pennine 100!

PS. if you’re ever passing Ewyas Harold, The Old Stables fish and chip shop is seriously on point. I would probably recommend driving there though…

[I’d add that I think Rory’s suggestion on this fish and chip shop is a marvellous one!]

When I started planning this walk it felt like a potentially very lonely 100. What it turned out to be was a nationwide walk with friends. The constant support prior to and over the weekend was a huge bonus and completely unexpected. A huge thanks goes out to all the organising team behind this event for making it happen and for being on call with constant support, banter and congratulations for what seemed to be every minute of the weekend (did you even sleep??) And a massive congratulations to everyone who got up and stepped out of their door. No matter how far you walked you achieved something seriously impressive. It certainly was a 100 with a difference!

[I did sleep a little, but the excitement of the whole event meant I had to keep checking what was happening (as did Dave Morgan and Alan Warrington who were ever present], I didn’t want to miss any gossip! Also, people sacrificed time to help me with my 100, so it was a delight to help others with theirs]

This is a follow-on from the April update, where I asked a number of entrants how their plans were progressing. Since then, I’ve completed my 100 effort, so that’s that out of the way (and I’ve mentioned that more than enough times now). So, how are some of the others getting on?

Rory Bennett seems full of enthusiasm (more than I ever had!) and is also starting very early on the Saturday. The above photo is when Rory was on his last push over Rushock Hill on a training walk.

“It always feel like you have to wait an age for a challenge walk to arrive, then suddenly its upon you! I’ve loved having this 100 to look forward to and to focus on.

Over the past month my training has been up and down. I’ve managed to get in some fairly long runs alongside 2 good sessions recceing the route which has really helped my mental preparation. Particularly tackling the night section and realising I’m definitely going to need my boots for that bit (and not to be confused when you stumble across a field of pigs…) I always try and scale back my training from 2 weeks to go. I tend to find this the hardest part as I’m usually just getting into it properly and seeing results. Alongside that the event is closer and I’m a lot more psyched up mentally which makes it a struggle to taper down, but taper we must.

I’ve now spent the last week enjoying being able to buy excessive amounts of sweets, M&S Pork crackling (you’ve got to try it…) and all manner of treats. I also try and run through the route in my head, visualising my stops, where I’ll change my socks, where I might be brave enough to try a pint, etc… It can also take a while to lay everything out, plan how I’m going to pack my bag and sort out my half way bag. All crucial things, as one thing I have learnt from walking is, if you pack something deep down in your bag, you likely won’t reach for it. Keep the snacks, painkillers and water close to hand!

From here on in my mind has been wandering more towards how I’m going tackle the mental impact of walking 75 miles on my own and through 2 nights (I’m starting at 00:01, the earliest point so I catch the shops on my return loop). Only time will tell for that, but let’s be honest, like everyone else, I’ve mostly been watching the weather! Bring on the 100, it’s going to be a corker!!”

I asked Kevin Marshall whether he was excited or nervous about his weekend’s walk with Sara:

“We are both feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness! Having completed 22 LDWA 100 before I have a big slice of ‘can I drag my body around again…’ I am also very excited as this will be my better half’s first attempt at the distance and it is a real privilege to be going all the way with her so to speak!

Today is the day we are checking and rechecking plans (at the same time still working…), have we got everything, have we got spares… I was reminiscing to Sara this morning about the time I lost my head torch and didn’t have a spare. Someone kindly lent me their spare, the only problem was it was a wind up torch, great fun for six hours! I also recall my 20th as I left my map on the kitchen table at home! Again someone kindly came to my rescue and lent me the one off the wall at the start!”

As for this being a very different 100, Kevin added:

“This year will be very different none of the usual checkpoints to look forward to. We are largely self sufficient carrying stove and meals. However the founders of the Millennium Way have taken us under their wing and will be popping up along the route with water, coffee and any supplies we need. The kindness of ‘strangers’ is one of the things that never ceases to amaze me. Even our B&B host is cooking us a meal on Sunday evening when we hope to finish. She says this is something she has never offered to do before. Such kindness. So yes a mix of nerves and excitement, bring it on.”

It’s less good news for Chelle, who won’t be able to walk the event, but she is still excited to be part of the event by helping some members from Norfolk and Suffolk LDWA. She says “I will be marshalling for friends all weekend so will regularly post their progress and lots of pictures of food.” I’m already excited for the food photos   🙂

Tim Ryan is positive about his walk:

“I will be walking the Exe 100 from my house in Devon as planned. There will be 5 Cornwall and Devon members starting on the Exe 100, 3 completing up to the 50 miles checkpoint. Then hopefully along with Linda McCarthy the two of us shall be pushing on to complete the 100. A momentous occasion, as it shall be Linda’s 20th Hundred completion! My personal preparation has been going quite well, although I have allowed myself 3 weeks of rest days and just short walks since building the mileage up. I have provided a few pictures of places taken along the route: Exe Bridge about 13 miles in, Washford Pyne on the Two Moors Way after around 75 miles and what will be a welcome site, crossing the Exe at Bickleigh Bridge after 95 miles. Great to see the enthusiasm of so many members getting out there around the country. The best of luck to everybody.”

Caroline Tennant mentioned that it’s all suddenly happening, which is what I thought, it does come about very quickly…..

“From sitting at my dad’s dining table on Boxing Day, idly looking at maps…we are nearly there! After 5 months of walking, mapping and maniacal list writing, it all seems strangely calm at the moment. Yes, I am still running about, packing bags and sorting supplies, but without any stress or panic about the weekend. We have all said from the start, we have no idea what is going to happen on the day, so it’s just a case of setting off now and seeing how it all goes. We are so lucky to have our little group, I think that is going to be the biggest help, having each other for support. Either that or we will end up killing each other! Whatever happens I have the worlds biggest packet of chocolate digestives ready for Monday. Whether celebrating or not, I am eating the whole lot! Wishing everyone else lots of luck, lovely weather and tasty treats on the way!”

Shirley Hume sent the above photos a few weeks ago of her training efforts and said at the time:

“Training is not going as well as I would like, needless to say. Although I have done over 1,000 miles since the start of the year I have only managed 2 walks of 31 miles and nothing longer. I seem to have got stuck on around 25 – 28 miles. The lockdown easing last week gave me my first opportunity to travel the 50 miles to Winchcombe for a couple of days recce (not staying over), which has led to a rethink on the route. The warmer weather made me realise that without mobile support I needed to go for shorter loops to allow for filling up.”

The news this week isn’t entirely positive…..

“In truth Julian it is all going amazingly badly.”

As an aside, that’s how I felt about my training at times”

“After walking the last couple of sections of Dave’s 100 with him, I came down with a bad flare up of diverticulitis (first for 8 months), a non-eating week taking industrial strength antibiotics was followed by a week of side effects from the ABs – by which time I should have been starting to ease back. Furthest walked in 4 weeks is 18 miles. Anyway we (myself and the HQ +CP manager) are now established at base camp and hoping for the best. Sadly my prayers for cool weather look as if they are being ignored.”

All I can say is good luck to Shirley, but what a brave effort this will be with that background.

“Try not to be too smug over the weekend!!!”

I must admit for Dave Morgan and myself, this having already completed the walk really makes this weekend rather more enjoyable!

Simon Hodgin from Norfolk & Suffolk group hasn’t got back to me yet, but that’s fine as I know what he will say. It’ll be about me being heroic with my 100 and he’s very inspired by my bravery and doubting whether he can possibly match my time. I’ll be seeing Simon and many others from the N&S group who are taking part this weekend. As I mentioned on Twitter, to quote Norfolk’s own Alan Partridge, they’re all so ruddy, bloody brave.

Everyone on the NEC and involved in this whole event wishes every entrant the very best for this weekend. It’s the taking part that counts, enjoy what you can and see what happens!

A few weeks ago I completed the LDWA 100 and I’ve now decided that I’m an expert on the matter. In that spirit I fielded some questions from Naomi and Julie Cribb, who are tackling the challenge this weekend, along with nearly 500 others. Julie is the national chair of the LDWA and is tougher than me, so I’m confident that she’s got this! And with Julie’s help, Naomi will surely complete it as well, although I hope they don’t beat my time…….

I mention this below, but the important factor for me is that I’m an idiot with this sort of thing, so my completing the 100 shows that it’s possible for non expert and elite walkers to complete it. We all know heroic people like Dave Morgan and Chelle Armour can complete events like this with their eyes shut (actually I suspect Dave would still come in faster than me wearing a blindfold), but for some of us, we’re a bit less committed   🙂

Anyway, onto the questions that they asked me.

What should someone expect mentally and physically, who has never done a 100 mile before?

When I spoke to previous entrants before the event, it was mentioned that the challenge was really a mental one. A bit of me thought that this was ridiculous, walking 100 miles must be a physical challenge because 100 miles is a very long way……

But, I think they were right, as there were moments on my 100 when I thought mentally this was all too much. The biggest dip was at around 03:00 in the morning, when I was only half way round, it was dark, I was tired and I thought that I could give up and claim I’d done a decent walk and that was enough. Although that was true, I sort of also knew that I could go that bit further.

I’d say that any entrant should be prepared for mental and physical lows, this whole event is a bit of a roller-coaster. For much of my walk I was fortunate to walk with someone else, and chat helps a lot to help forget the challenging moments. For those walking the entire event with someone, be aware that you’re likely to have your highs and lows at different points, so it’s useful to support each other through the tougher times.

What I’ll add here though is that I’m not really a very good long distance walker. I never in all honesty expected to finish this event, so my perspective is one that it is possible to get through without being ultra-tough or ultra-stubborn. I’ll be honest, I’m not either of those things, even though many LDWA 100 entrants really are. The key message from that is when I talk about my experiences, they’re as someone who normally moans and groans around even shorter challenge events (as Simon Hodgin pointed out in the LDWA Norfolk & Suffolk WhatsApp group), often nearly in danger of being timed out.

How did you take care of your feet throughout the walk?

This was crucial to me and I received a lot of advice on this, which I carefully listened to (it’s rare for me to be so attentive!). Firstly, there’s the obvious matter of cutting toenails short and wearing shoes which don’t rub. The best advice for me was putting lots of Sudocrem on my feet and not being sparing with that. I also wore SealSkinz socks throughout, which felt comfortable and helped keep my feet dry. I thought that the Sudocrem would be greasy, but that wasn’t the case and it felt like an extra protective barrier.

I also checked my feet every ten miles and reapplied Sudocrem and checked for blisters, which fortunately I didn’t have at any point. I decided against checking my feet at 90 miles, but before then I was very careful to check regularly and even when I didn’t think I needed to. I had two pairs of SealSkinz socks so changed them at 60 miles, but if I hadn’t have had those, I’d have likely changed my socks every ten miles as well. I’d say it’s important to check feet regularly, to be confident everything is OK and to mitigate any problems that might be forming.

What was the hardest point in the walk?

Definitely the overnight section when we just got tired and I think we both started questioning why we were doing this walk. That’s the mental challenge element I think, just be aware that there will be dips like that and just keep going. It sounds easy when writing that, but at that stage, just try and walk one more mile and see if things improve.

If you have to withdraw then that’s always an option and personally I wouldn’t push through much pain as I’m mentally quite weak and squeamish about hurting. But I didn’t want to withdraw and regret it, knowing that I could have gone further. So, when things are hard, that’s what I’d say to remember, don’t give up too willingly.

What was the best part of the walk?

At around 65 miles in, I was walking along Marriott’s Way and was on my own at that point. The sun was shining, I had just spoken to Simon Hodgin and Jane Audsley on the phone and was lifted by their camping fiasco news and I felt in good spirits. That was when I knew I’d finish and that I’d finish before it got dark on the Sunday night. That was a good moment.

My favourite moment though was at 99 miles. Liam’s little boy Leon was pedalling furiously towards me on his bike with a big grin whilst calling out and I felt the need to run towards him with excitement. His laughing and happy face was the best moment of the entire walk. And it was a delight to carry Leon on my shoulders across the finish line.

How were you supported?

My friends Liam and Richard were the main support team, pretty much there throughout the entire event. Their support was crucial and I’m so appreciative of it. Liam, who seems to be endlessly reliable at everything, was a constant source of encouragement and he was even there when Richard had some problems with his car early in the morning.

It was also great to see some people come and walk with me, including some surprise appearances (always nice surprises!) so many thanks to Chelle, Paul, Rob, Brian, Kathleen and Jayne. And of course to Liam’s wonderful boys, Dylan who came out once in between his playing Fortnite, and Leon, who came out a few times to support me with his huge smile and random questions. Children nearly always annoy me, but Dylan and Leon are bloody awesome.

What kept your spirits high?

For the first sixty miles, a lot of chat and gossip….. For the last forty miles, knowing that people were following me on my route and I was getting inundated with messages. They helped so much, more than I thought they would. I’d advise entrants to consider sharing their route, whether on the LDWA Facebook group or just with friends. I felt very popular with all the messages!

Did you sleep at all?

I had the chance to have two hours at home, but decided to go for ninety minutes. I set my alarm to have 75 minutes sleep, but then woke up after 60 minutes before the alarm went off. I felt enormously refreshed after that, even though it was just 60 minutes. For me, that was really useful, although many people feel more tired after getting just that much sleep.

How did you cope with the exhaustion?

There were two points where I struggled, at around 03:00 in the morning which was about 55 miles into the walk and also at around 75 miles into the walk. With the first one, I just remembered people telling me that I would be exhausted, but just to keep going until the sun started to rise as I’d feel better. That was true.

The situation at 75 miles surprised me, as I thought I’d be really pleased to be near to 80 miles. I then realised though that I still had 25 miles to go and that was effectively eight or nine hours of walking. I started to then feel exhausted and a little concerned about the whole thing. I dealt with this by deciding to walk on my own again for a bit and listening to music on my headphones. That gave me a boost and I was able to speed up to do a much faster pace whilst listening to motivational music. As there was no-one around I was also able to sing a little song that myself and a friend wrote, that cheered me up.

How sore are my feet going to be? Real answer! Haha

I usually have problems with sore feet even after 26 mile challenge events, so under usual conditions I’d say that they’ll be very hurty. But I took enormous efforts to take care of my feet and I ended up with no issues at all. Circumstances will inevitably vary, but I’d say that with proper footcare during the walk that there’s a real chance of having relatively few issues.

I’ve mentioned it before, but I’m not a pro walker, so if I can get through 100 miles with no foot pain, it’s maybe possible for very many people.

Did you think at any point you wouldn’t finish the full walk?

When I got into Norwich at 60 miles, I thought that’d probably be the end of the adventure. I knew that I would only have 75 minutes of sleep, I’d have to walk alone in the morning and that my feet might hurt. I had decided that if I woke up tired or injured, I’d like not go out again.

However, I woke up before my alarm, I felt great and I couldn’t think of any excuses not to finish. I knew at that point that I’d finish. Liam mentioned that he realised this was the case as well, I left my flat in great spirits and everything felt right physically and mentally.

Did you find certain foods boosted your energy more than others?

Normally I eat anything, other than junk food such as lettuce. However, on the walk I decided to have no caffeine or alcohol before 60 miles, and I also decided to be careful with sugar intake to avoid peaks and troughs of energy. The Greggs towards the start, the KFC at 50 miles helped, as did the jelly beans that Chelle kindly brought along.

I’d say that entrants should just eat what they want towards the last forty miles or so, but should perhaps be careful about taking in too much caffeine or sugar early on. In the end, I had a couple of Pro Plus at 90 miles, but I didn’t need them, it was just an energy boost just in case. I did think I might treat myself to some decadent craft beer later on, but I decided I didn’t fancy it (which is rare).

Would you have preferred it to be the big social event it used to be or did you like walking alone/smaller group?

Answering honestly, I preferred it as a small group. My problem is that I’m always going to be at the back of an event and somehow knowing so many people are ahead just lowers my mood. I know it doesn’t matter as it’s not a race, but having this event to ourselves felt much easier. That is why I was always intending to walk the marshal’s event of the 100, which has only around 30 people entering I think. I did have the support of friends and mini checkpoints throughout, so I did have the social element of support.

What was your longest walk before attempting the 100 mile? And how long before it?

I’ve only ever done one 50-mile challenge (which was actually just under 53 miles), and that was the Shotley 50 in 2017. I decided after that I’d never do another 50 as my feet hurt, my head hurt, I was grumpy, I was tired and I didn’t even eat the sausage meal that I was offered at the final checkpoint. I thought there was no way that I could do that distance twice. Actually, let me repeat that, I was furious that I’d even undertaken a 50 mile event…… So, this 100 event was quite a jump up from that.

In the weeks before the 100, we didn’t really go that far in terms of long distances, it was more just regular 15 to 20 mile walks. We were planning to do a 50-mile walk a few weeks before the event, but the weather looked miserable and so we didn’t. It was one of our better decisions, I think we went to play pitch and putt instead.

What was the best meal you had over your walk?

Richard from our support team drove to Norwich and acquired me a delicious KFC meal. I had been craving that for a couple of hours before and it was something to look forward to. It was high in calories, salt and fat of course, but that isn’t a bad thing at all when 50 miles into the 100. Actually, as far as I’m concerned, it’s never a bad thing, but that’s a different matter. Definitely have a treat to look forward to. Or indeed, several treats.

How did you feel after the walk? Recovery time? Exhaustion?

Physically, I had no issues and was walking as usual the next morning. Yes, this enormously surprised me as well…. Emotionally, I felt quite worn out about the whole thing though, and that is apparently common from what other walkers have said. As you know, we spoke on the phone on the evening after the walk, and I also spoke to Dave Morgan as well after that, and you both reminded me that this was an enormous challenge that I had completed and there was perhaps some nervous exhaustion set into the whole thing that I hadn’t realised. I’d add though, it’s probably best to have one or two days of doing nothing after the event, you deserve a rest!

When will your next big walk be?

I fear that I’m going to give the wrong answer here, and I can already see Dave Morgan rushing to his keyboard to send me a furious e-mail! The 100 for me was always meant to be a one-off challenge, just an adventure to take part in and see how far I got. I’m naturally quite lazy and not really built for these challenges, I tend to prefer sitting in the pub and eating crisps. And indeed, that’s sort of how the challenge started, by sitting in the pub eating crisps whilst thinking that entering the 100 would be a good idea.

So, I actually don’t know. I’m still taking a break from long distance walking of over 20 miles, but I’m conscious that Norfolk & Suffolk are holding the 100 in 2025, so I’m likely to walk the marshal’s event for that. As I was so passionate about holding that event, it feels wrong not to take part in it.

Would you do another 100 mile walk now knowing what you’re letting yourself in for?

In all honesty, and this isn’t the motivational message that I should probably be giving, but I’m not going to be rushing to complete another 100. I think that’s because I didn’t enter it to prove anything to myself, to others or because I actually enjoy walking huge distances. It was more of a lockdown challenge, so I’d find it hard to justify to myself taking part in another one just at the moment. But, I absolutely am delighted with my decision to walk this 100. Made me feel proud of myself, so I don’t regret taking part.

Did you feel like crying at any point in the run up to the weekend or wish you’d never entered?

The week before my walk I started to get nervous for the first time and I did wonder whether this was sensible. The day before the walk I couldn’t think about anything else and was starting to get worried that I wouldn’t get any sleep at all in case I would keep wondering if I’d made the right decision to take part. Of course, doing 100 miles after a night of no sleep would have been traumatic. I did get sleep fortunately and the morning of the event seemed a bit surreal, this thing that we’d talked about for so long was suddenly taking place. At that point it seemed sensible to just stop thinking about it and start walking. I did wonder whether I was dreaming towards the start of the walk, it seemed strange being there.

How many stops/checkpoints did you have and how long was your longest stop?

There were two of us walking for the first sixty miles, and we didn’t really have many checkpoints or stops during the first 30 miles. We sat down at the seafront in Great Yarmouth to eat our purchases from Greggs, but at that stage we just wanted to keep going. After that we had a sit down along Wherryman’s Way and then fell into having a stop around every five miles. My longest stops were for the BBQ at around 40 miles, the KFC at around 50 miles, my flat at 60 miles and Richard’s car at 90 miles. Those stops were around 20 to 30 minutes each, other than my flat which was for 90 minutes or so.

Did you have any changes of clothes or shoes throughout the event?

I changed clothes at 60 miles, but kept the same shoes on throughout the event. I had spare shoes just in case, but I was comfortable with the ones that I had. Changing clothes is good advice though, it helps make you feel refreshed.

What would you do differently another time?

This is the most difficult question to answer, as I’m not entirely sure given that it went very much as I hoped for. I think having better head torches for the night-time section is the area that I hadn’t given enough thought to, as although we had sufficient light, we could have had more. But that’s a very specific answer rather than a general one.

What, if any, advice you were given did you ignore and/or what did you ignore and wish you hadn’t?

I ignored the advice about not walking too much in the weeks before the event, although that was partly necessary as my planned training time had been cut short by the lockdown. I decided that I needed more confidence about walking regularly and feeling fit, even though there was a risk I’d go on a walk and trip over and twist my ankle or something three days before the event.

I don’t think I ignored any advice that I regretted. Another top tip though, I was going to wear cycling shorts for the first 25 miles to avoid chafing. That worked so well, that I kept them on throughout.

Other advice is to try and enjoy the moment, which isn’t always easy of course if you’re tired and grumpy at any point. But there are some magical moments, with the landscape and the people I was walking with. I’d actually say that I did enjoy it, and that’s important.

What sort of route did you design and is there anything you would change?

Our route went from Ness Point, the most easterly point in the country, up to Caister and this was mostly road with some sandy terrain towards the north of Great Yarmouth. We were ahead of schedule at this point and meandered more about Great Yarmouth which was an ad hoc change as we had initially planned to walk further north than Caister. We decided not to as it seemed a bit sandy, and it just used extra energy to walk on that.

The next part of the route was Wherryman’s Way, which I walked twice last year and very much enjoyed. It was the longest stretch of soft ground that we walked on, which was a change from the road surfaces on the beginning of the walk. We then switched route nearer Norwich to stay on the road rather than walk in the dark by the river, as we just thought it’d be quicker. The rest was a former railway line, which is a great flat terrain to walk on.

The route I walked would appeal to very few people if I’m being honest. I like flat surfaces and many walkers prefer a variety of terrain, but I simply don’t like hills on long walks (I’m from Norfolk!). I probably wouldn’t change anything looking back, but I’m glad we made the changes we did on the day. Incidentally, we were nervous about seeing snakes along the Wherryman’s Way, but the route was also designed to see as few animals as possible (to avoid being attacked, as being injured by a sheep would have been embarrassing). We did hear what we thought was a pack of hyenas howling at night, but apparently it was a lone fox or deer.

As for our route, I still feel that I had it much easier than Dave Morgan did, who had an ascent of half the height of Mount Everest. He claims that a variety of terrains uses different muscles and that’s better for him, but I only have an ability to walk on flat, and I’m very happy doing that for tens of miles. There’s a bit of me that feels like I’m cheating compared to others, but then again, that’s their fault for having such difficult routes! And walking 100 miles is perhaps never easy.

What is the most important lesson you have learned as a result of a) doing the walk and b) completing it?

The surprise for me was how introspective I became after the event, when I started to write up the story of my walk. The question of “why did I take part?” started to feature prominently, and then “what I have discovered?” came up as I was writing about the walk. The most important lesson while doing the walk was to stay positive and keep going when the rough times appear. And they will appear, this is unlikely to be a walk in the park for any entrant.

In terms of the wider picture, I learned that completing something I didn’t think that I’d finish was actually good for my confidence. It’s something I can remember when trying new things, going on new adventures or taking on new projects. The strategy is the same really, be prepared, be aware that there are always obstacles and still know that the challenge can be completed.

On the 29 to 31 May 2021, the LDWA’s 100 mile event will be taking place. Unfortunately, national restrictions mean that the Y 100 Sir Fynwy won’t be taking place as hoped, when in more normal times the South Wales group would have welcomed hundreds of walkers. Instead, there is the chance for entrants to walk a 100-mile route of their choice anywhere in the country, so the event has more of a national feel this year. And it’s fine to enter to do a shorter distance, with anyone walking 50 miles in 24 hours qualifying for the 2022 Trans-Pennine 100.

I’m taking part in the 100 (completed it! wooooo!!) and I’ve been compiling some resources relating to that. When the new LDWA web-site is launched, this and lots more other material relating to the event will be copied there. Over the next few weeks, I’m speaking (well, writing) to entrants on the 100 and following their efforts up to, and after, the big day. We’ll be using the text from these interviews and updates on social media and also perhaps in Strider, the LDWA’s rather excellent magazine which is sent to our 10,000 members. Hopefully it’ll help inform, educate and inspire others to take part or become involved with the LDWA in other ways.

This interview is with Rory Bennett, who very bravely is walking self-supported along a route in a very lovely part of the country (and I love Hay-on-Wye). I also love the food of Scotch egg and Haribo, treats that I enjoyed myself a couple of weeks on my own 100 attempt. Rory also has some great advice about this being a mental challenge and just put one foot in front of the other.

Q. Is this your first 100?

This will be my 2nd 100. My first was a self organised challenge walk last year which I did for charity after my original planned 100 ( 2 loops of the Shropshire Way 80k challenge walk) had to be cancelled due to obvious reasons!

Q. Who are you walking with?

I will be walking the route by myself

Q. What route are you planning to take?

My route is a self devised route allowing me to set off and finish at home, whilst not repeating any sections of the walk. I am lucky enough to live in an area on the offas dyke path so I will pick this up from near Presteigne, Mid Wales. I will follow Offas Dyke south through Kington, Hay-On-Wye, over the Black Mountains and down into Pandy. From here I will turn East and pick up the Herefordshire Trail and tracking North up through the Golden Valley back to Kington where I will follow the local hills & footpaths to my doorstep.

Q. Are you following a GPX route, a map, or do you already know your route well?

I always carry a paper map whilst walking however my main form of navigation will be through a GPX route. I always aim to have recced as much of the route as possible so there’s no nasty surprises on the day!

Q. What training are you undertaking at the moment?

My training schedule has been pretty erratic this year due various reasons, but mostly as work has been so busy. Apart from aiming to carry out 3 x 30ish mile recce walk/runs my main training aim is to to keep fit and active. This mostly revolves around attempting 2/3 runs a week of around 5 miles each, and 2/3 sessions on the spin bike a week. I’ve always been a firm believer that if you think you can achieve it you will succeed. Here’s hoping I have managed to keep up enough of my fitness throughout the winter!

Q. Do you think this will be easier or harder than the actual 100 that is traditionally held?

I suspect there will be aspects of both to this years 100, although generally leaning towards the harder side of things! There is a lot to be said for the comradery on a fully functioning challenge walk which although with all good intentions is impossible to replicate through social media channels. That being said people have the chance to choose a route that suits them, that they know, and that they potentially have a greater chance of completing.

Q. What support do you have en route, anyone cheering you on?

My plan is to walk the majority of the route self supported. After my 100 last year I put a lot of effort into organising specific rest stops that were well manned. This time I want to see how well my body and mind cope with a different challenge. That being said I have planned to meet family at the half-way mark for a change of footwear and some support. I’m also hoping there might be a sausage sandwich waiting for me around 6am!!

Q. What food treats are you taking with you?

For me it’s all about the Haribo, dried fruit, salted nuts and cold pizza. Chuck in a scotch egg and i’m away!

Q. What tactics do you think you’ll use if you feel like giving up on the walk?

Previously I’ve raised money for charity which has been a huge motivator. This time however will be a lot more of a mental battle than a physical one. Having a tracker and knowing people are watching me will spur me on and force me not to give up!

Q. Are there any wildlife that you’re concerned about meeting on the walk? Sheep, cows, snakes, pigs, or anything else?!

Not overly… Maybe the dinosaurs I’m expecting to see well into the 2nd morning after 24 hours walking…

Q. Do you have any foot care tips?

Change socks regularly, trim you toe nails a week before and make sure, if you feel a stone in your shoe, or a lace is too tight, deal with it there and then. Don’t expect it to go away because it won’t and it’ll just get worse!

Q. Would you say you’re looking forward to it?

Yes definitely! I can’t wait.

Q. Do you have a time in mind of how long it’ll take you to finish?

My last 100 I completed in around 36 hours. Anything under 38 will be a success as its a new route and a lot on my own.

Q. Do you have any advice for others, one top tip about long distance walking?

I almost hate to say it, but the old saying ‘one foot in front of the other’ has never been more true. There will be a lot of times you will want to stop, but as long as you keeping going forward you’ll make it to the end. Look at where you’ve been because you’ll be surprised by how much ground you’ve covered!

Q. What would you say to anyone thinking about entering the 100, or thinking about doing a 50 mile challenge event, who might be a bit nervous?

Just go for it. If you’re considering it then it probably is for you. Push yourself to see what your body can achieve, you’ll be surprised. Sign up for a challenge event then its harder to back out, and definitely don’t worry about your time on your first try, that kind of nonsense comes further down the line!