Lessons Learned In 60km...

As you might have gathered from previous posts, I am quite the fan of Hounds For Heroes. So much so that 7am on Saturday found me, walking boots on and rucksack packed, at Glorious Goodwood. Only it wasn't quite so glorious in the cold and under grey threatening skies but I had the sixty kilometres of Just Walk ahead of me to raise money for my favourite charity.

I should say a little bit about the organisers of the event, Across The Divide, who were brilliant. It's so nice to find an event that you can sign up to and once you've paid your registration fee, you're not pressured to raise 'minimum sponsorship' so that's a definite plus. The most important plus point however was that the whole event was very well organised. The route was well signposted, there weren't huge gaps between checkpoints, there were medics at every point and the food was great. I shall be forever grateful for the Chilli at 40km! I'd definitely sign up for another of their events so well played ATD, you got it just right.

The route was beautiful, rambling across the South Downs, from Goodwood to Arundel, Amberley, Bignor and back to Goodwood. The weather was certainly in split personality mode - gorgeous sunshine for the first 30km and rain, hail and wind for the last half of the walk which explains the lack of photos after 40km. I looked like, felt like (and possibly smelt like) a drowned rat.

Anyway, 60km gives you a lot of time to think so here are some of the things I learned on Saturday...

1. The sight of bluebells thickly carpeting a woodland floor is one of the things always guaranteed to make me smile.
2. Even when you don't have a dog with you, you will always find poop bags in your pocket.
3. Supportive tweets from people you've never met lift your spirits and make you smile.
4. If you're going to shout obscenities at the sight of another flipping hill after 58km of walking, check there's no-one behind you first. Sorry!
5. Promising yourself a curry if you manage to get home before the local takeaway shuts is a great incentive.
   
6. Tourists will take photos of you if you walk through Arundel wearing charity t-shirts and event numbers.
7. Changing into fresh socks during a walk is an almost heavenly feeling.
8. Walking poles are, despite my previous assertions to the contrary, not for weeds. They are essential if you wish to stand anywhere near upright on a long walk.
9. When you walk in mud, you'll never ceased to be amazed just how much you can splatter over yourself without actually rolling in it.
10. You will always need the toilet when you're halfway between checkpoints.
    
11. Someone offering you chocolate and a cuppa is instantly transformed from normal person to the best person. Ever.
12. When you drive home straight after an event, be prepared to need much assistance to get out of the car at the other end. A drunken reality TV star getting out of a cab after a night at Chinawhite will look positively elegant compared to you.
13. Never underestimate how lovely it is to be able to walk without rolling around like a punch drunk pirate or how complicated getting out of bed and standing upright can be.
14. Your dog will try to assist you by walking right next to you. You will fall over your dog because you just can't co-ordinate yourself in a normal fashion.
15. Every ache, every pain and every rain-sodden, wind-blown, damp, hard, tiring and seemingly impossible step is worth it when you truly believe in the charity you're supporting. Thanks to the lovely team at Hounds For Heroes and Beverley Cuddy for the supportive tweets, re-tweets and messages. Together We Can.

Event essentials - t-shirt, knee supports and sparkly earrings!