The South Downs PLOD
OK, so I've just completed the South Downs PLOD, before I started most people who I Asked for donations were unimpressed as "it's only a walk" and to be honest I approached it thinking much the same thing. Now I've done it I think I'd be likely to punch anyone who said it's just a walk.
I think one thing I overlooked was that unlike running I'd be relying on a different set of muscles, I'd be carrying kit that would add to my weight and because of the length of time it takes to get anywhere there wouldn't be much time for sitting around or indeed any places to sit either because if you sit on the floor it's very difficult to get up.
Some people would say "it's not like you're running" and the silly thing is that I'd prefer it if I did run. There was a stage probably around 20-25 miles in where my feet and tendons at a point just behind my knees were screaming in agony and for a laugh I ran up a steep slope, to my amazement this actually made my legs feel better than they had done. Later on in fact between the last and last but one checkpoint I used this trick up some very steep slopes between the seven sisters and remarkably I was able to get to the tops and catch my breath within a matter of seconds so for me running would be much easier than walking, or at least part and part.
One thing I would say is that staying awake for 35 hours or so, some team members were approaching 42 hours without sleep and walking for 16+ hours really does bring out communal team spirit. Not only did I have a smashing team giving each other support along the way but also a wonderful support team who greeted us at every checkpoint witha well stocked tuck shop in the back of his car and words of support, as well as some support that weren't part of the team but gave us all that little boost we needed when we needed it most with cheers and smiles.
Walking through the night was wonderful, even when we missed a turning and walked a mile or so further than we needed to.
It was a shame to see a number of teams take shortcuts, the most annoying was seeing a team a good 10 minutes behind us suddenly appear in front as they'd taken a shortcut into Alfriston :( still we maintained our integrity by not cheating when we could have done.
I must admit that I actually started to enjoy the very last bit and think I'd have liked to run the last 2 or 3 checkpoints. However after running a few hiills I suddenly realised I was becoming the jerk that abandons his team for personal glory, this is not who I want to be so hung back to join the others. I am glad I did too as one of the team was in desperate need of water and I had some spare that I was more than happy to give up, see that's what winning is not crossing the line first but crossing it together!! A lesson well learned.
Would I do this again...probably not, or at least not for a long time. I think there is a very different style and fitness required for walking rather than running so until I stop training for running events I don't think I'll do any further walking ones.
One further thing to say was that the organisers were smashing, I regret that I had to leave before being able to use my £6 luncheon voucher at the pub but never mind the team managed to collect over £1500 in donations so well done to us all.
