The Gory Details!

Sorry it's taken a while to fill you in on what happened last weekend.



We set off last Friday evening on the 17.40 flight to Gatwick. As you can see from the photo, we decided to wear our uniform of Walk the Walk t-shirts and pink hoodies - horray for Dunnes! This meant we were easily spotted and a few other Moonwalkers on the flight came over for a chat. We really started to get quite excited about what we were doing. We arrived at our hotel, Hilton Metropole on Edgware Road about 9pm and were relieved that they didn't ask for more money, we'd got this 4* hotel for such a good deal that we really did expect to be asked for extra money when we got there! Pam was already there as she'd gone over the night before to stay with her daughter, Stacey, and she told us to come up to the Asian restaurant on the 23rd floor as her and her husband, Brian (aka The Tea Man) were already eating up there. We went up and the view over London was fantastic....from up there we were able to see the 'moons' at Playtex City (huge white lights floating in the sky above the start/finish of the Moonwalk!). After looking at the menu and getting a call from Nik to say they were having burgers and chips in the Sports Bar on the ground floor, we decided to do a runner before they took our orders as we decided we really needed an athlete's pre-event meal of burgers and chips! Decided against the pint to wash it done....now that's dedication!

I was knackered, partly due to not sleeping great the night before and, partly due to the travelling. I started to panic at this stage as I think it was the first time it had hit me that we had to walk this marathin at night! I was thinking if I'm this tired tomorrow night how on earth am I going to do this! Headed off to bed shortly after 11 to TRY and get some sleep!

Woke about 6 thinking that I hadn't slept but realising that I must've done. At breakfast, Nik was worried as she'd had a bad night, following a week of sickness, she was worried that she wasn't going to be able to do it. Mum and I had decided that we were going to do a bus tour, to kill a few hours without having to be on our feet! We persuaded Nik to come with us and I think it helped take her mind of it. The bus tour was great and we were able to get spot some of the landmarks that we were going to see in a very different light that night!

We met up with Eileen and the rest of the girls at 6 and went to an Italian close to the hotel, to top up on some carbs to hopefully help us through the night! Then it was back to the hotel to get organised and changed! We met everyone else at 8 and we dandered the mile or so down to Playtex City.

At this stage, I was filled with such mixed emotions! I felt sick with nerves but excited at the same time! Looking back, I wish I'd enjoyed the build-up a bit more but I was bricking it about the walk which was silly as we'd done the training and at the back of our minds, we all knew we could do it.

The sight which greeted us at Playtex City was unbelievable.....there was a HUGE pink tent filled with 15,000 Moonwalkers and volunteers etc! Everyone was milling about, fixing their bras and costumes, getting photos taken, tying, untying and tying shoe laces! In the tent we were given a meal of ...yes, you guessed it....pasta and a cookie! Time to take on yet more water which then meant a long queue for the toilets! Nik, Julie and I did try the Sheurinals which was hilarious.....friends - ask me for more details the next time you see me as details are just too embarrassing to type - otherwise bask in the knowledge that 'ignorance is bliss'!!

The time flew in and before we knew it, our colour start orange was being called to the Start line. We waited around her for a few minutes and then at 11.45pm we were off!! We knew that we weren't going to be able to walk together as a group so I just concentrated on not losing Mags! Not an easy task when everyone is wearing pink and the same baseball hat! As it was a cold night, very few were just walking in their bras! Most were wearing tops and then the space blankets and waterproof thingies we were given. Mags and I managed to stay together and off we headed into the night! The first three miles or so were through Hyde Park so it was quiet except for chatter, laughs (mostly nervous) and the rustle of the space blankets. Volunteers were on hand to cheer you on but I have to say they p*ssed me off shouting how well we were doing after the first mile! A huge cheer went up as everyone passed the Mile 1 sign and at Mile 2 I remember saying to Mum that I'll be so much happier when I see a 2 with another 2 in front of it!

We got out of Hyde Park only to have to wait for about 10 minutes to cross the road! Unlike daytime marathons, they don't close the roads for the Moonwalk so there was a lot of time spent waiting to be told it was safe to cross the road! However, it was good with the traffic as there was lots of horn tooting and cheers from drunken men and women returning from their nights out. At Mile 3 it was time for the first (of many) toilet stops! The toilet stops were really frustrating as it took us up to 25 minutes of queuing (poor Eileen had to wait 40 minutes at one!).

The route took us past Buckingham Palace (only 1 light was on!), St Paul's Cathedral, over London Bridge, past Tate Modern Gallery, the London Eye then along the river out to Battersea Park. The pace was slower than our training due to the number of people and having to walk on footpaths! At Battersea, the sky started to lighten and we knew that morning was on its way. We then walked through Chelsea, Knightsbridge, along Kings Road, past Chelsea Royal Hospital (where the Chelsea Veterans live), Chelsea Barracks and the Chelsea Flower Show. Please forgive me if I've got these in the wrong order as it all blurred into one at 5am! We then were back to Battersea! Barbara Lewers had told me that she'd hit a low point at Battersea. When I saw it the first time, I thought that Barbara had hit her 'wall' very early on but I'm going to check with her and I'm sure that she meant the second time she saw it cos I was definitely feeling 'low' at this point!

Miles 17 to 21 were really tough! I did moan a bit at this stage...hard to imagine I know! Mum, however, was a star and just kept on walking! At one point she asked me if I was OK and I couldn't respond cos I knew I'd cry if I did! I was sore and busting for a pee! At Mile 16 there were toilets and we decided to walk on as the Volunteer told us the next ones were at Mile 18. This turned out to be a huge lie as there weren't any until Mile 21! Unfortunately there aren't many bushes in posh Chelsea so I had to hold on! Boy was I glad when those Portaloos came into view!

With the bladders emptied, Mile 21 passed, knowing that we were on the home straight and the crowd thinning, Mags and I just went for it! We flew home the last 5 miles, overtaking loads of people and being passed by no-one! I think we just thought that we have to get this over and done with!

Big Ben will always have a special place in my heart from now on! It was at Mile 22 (remember I'd said above that I'd happy when I saw the 22 mile mark) and the early morning sun was shining brightly! We passed the Tea Man but decided not to stop for a cuppa as we just wanted to get finished! From here it was back down The Mall to Buckingham Palace which looked fantastic - we'll never see it like that again as it was completely empty with no tourists milling about! I love this photo, spot the cyclist riding up the mall!

It was then back into Hyde Park for the last couple of miles and we were so happy to see the Pink Tent coming into view! There were quite a few supporters now and them and the Moonwalk volunteers really lifted our spirits when they shouted words of encouragement! Now I was glad to hear them as their support was deserved now, not like at Mile 1!

After walking for 7 hours and 45 minutes, Mum and I crossed the finish line! We were so happy and pleased with ourselves! What a star my Mum is, completing a marathon 2 weeks before her 60th birthday! Well done, Mum, I'm so proud of you!

Then we had to collect our bags and walk another mile back to the hotel! This was such an example of 'mind over matter'. We walked this mile no bother but as soon as we got into the hotel, neither of us knew how we were going to get up to our room as our legs just went!

After 2 hours sleep, Mum woke me to go shopping! We headed off to Regent Street for some well deserved retail therapy! It really did help to loosen the tight muscles and take our minds of our aches and pains! We then headed back to the hotel to meet the others for a definitely well deserved glass of wine (even it did cost us a bl**dy fortune!) and some craic! There were a few bad words when discussing the walk and how we were feeling!

After a nice meal in the hotel, it was lights out at 11pm! Headed home on Monday on the lunchtime flight from Gatwick. I was really looking forward to getting home, seeing Andy and the kids and getting back to a normal life!

I've probably forgotten little snippets that I'd like to tell you so I'll blog again soon! I'll also do an update on the final amount raised - can't believe that it's at £2,600! This is just fantastic - thanks to all!

Check out www.flickr.com/photos/lindasmyth for more photos!

That's it for now...until the next time...bye!

Lx

WE DID IT!!!

This is just going to be a short one but I wanted to update you all on progress as I know there's been loads of you checking us out over the months!

As we only got back this afternoon, I'm not going to go into details tonight as I've so much to tell you and wouldn't do it justice! Post walk fatigue has set in!

Mags and I completed the Moonwalk in 7 hours and 45 minutes on Sunday morning and had an absolute ball! We survived and none of you who know Mags will be surprised when I tell you that she dragged me off shopping after only a 2 hour rest!

I'll fill you in on all the gory details (and there were loads of them) tomorrow and will also share our photos!

Thanks for reading and I'll be in touch soon.

Lx

OMG!

It's just before 7am on Friday 15 May 2009!

Today's the day we set off on the final step of this fantastic journey and I can't believe that it's here! I guess it's a mix bag of emotions....excited (due to talking to people who have done it and said how fantastic the event is on the night and also that after all the time we've dedicated to this it's finally here) , scared (cos there's the apprehension that, although we know we can do it, you never know what might happen on the night and we really don't know what to expect), sad (due to the events of the last week) and emotional (cos everyone tells us we will bawl our eyes out!).

Still haven't packed so that's probably why I've been awake since 6am with a million things going round in my head. We're travelling in our team kit of trainers, jeans, walk the walk t-shirts and pink hoodies (thank goodness for Dunnes Stores!). The bras are in the final throws of preparation - Mags has to get the needle and thread out to sew on the 'modesty panel'! We've checked in online so other than packing and getting to the airport, we're done! Then only a small matter of walking 26.2 miles tomorrow night!

The fundraising still amazes me - with nearly £2.5k raised! I come home yesterday evening to a card with a cheque from Barbs Lewers. Barbs is a friend through hockey and she did the Moonwalk 2 years ago after her best friend Fiona Morris had been diagnosed wih Breast Cancer. I had a very long chat with Barbs last night when I called and this ended up with Barbs sobbing down the phone as she recalled the "journey not a race" that she and Fiona had gone through 2 years ago. Have to say that it really helped me to talk to her and it stressed what an amazing thing this is! Thanks, Barbs!

Mags did the shopping for the final bits and pieces yesterday - snacks, water bottles, socks, hoodies and blow up cushions for us to sit on in the Big Tent before we set off. We have to be there by 8.30pm so there's 2-3 hours to kill before we set off hence the cushion! Airport security's going to think we've al got a bad dose of piles!

Well, it's now 7.15am and need to get up and get organised for the day! I'm going to miss the kids and they're going to miss me too (so they tell me!). We're bad parents as Andy's also abandoning them to go to the Man U v Arsenal march tomorrow....COME ON THE MIGHTY REDS!

So this is it........

Bye and thanks for reading and for the support!

Lx

3 Days to Go!

Can't believe it's only 3 days to go - it seems like no time since I started the blog and it was something like 14 weeks to go!

This is the hardest post I've had to do as I don't really know what to say. The Moonwalk has been put into perspective due to other things that have happened to my family in the last week. On Saturday afternoon, my 20 year old cousin, Stephen died. Stephen had Cystic Fibrosis and developed an infection about 18 months ago which unfortunately was untreatable long-term. Just before Christmas, he was sent home from hospital having been told that he only had a few days to live but Stephen had obviously thought he'd a few more months left in him and courageously fought until Saturday. His funeral was yesterday and I have to say that it was probably the saddest event that I've ever attended. His family are just devestated by their loss.

I'm really struggling with this post. Because of events I don't want everyone to think that I'm being insensitive by now talking about the Moonwalk but Mags and I now need to lift ourselves and prepare for it. We've trained so hard and raised so much money, that we need to carry on and do it.

The bras are decorated - you'll have to wait for the photos to see them! Not sure how we're actually going to get them transported to London. We're so scared of our luggage going missing that we're taking our walking gear as hand luggage. Think the security guards are going to have a field day when they see the bras! Having experienced some of these 'jobs worths', they'll probably make us dismantle them!

Mum, Eileen, Alison and I are heading to Gatwick at tea-time on Friday. Pam'll already be there as she's heading tomorrow evening to stay with her daughter. Nik and her team are also going on Friday night but there going sleazy jet so we'll just meet them at the hotel. Staying at the Hilton on Edgware Road which Kerrie-Anne (my sis-in-law) informs me is class! We got such a good deal that I'm scared we're going to turn up and be told that we owe another £300!

I'm hoping to post something else before we head off so until then ......

Night Night

Lx

One Big One To Go!

Well, we're nearly there! On Saturday morning, starting at 8am, Mags and I set off for our last 'big' walk of our training. For the next couple of weeks, we only need to do 3 short walks a week. When I say short, they are still 5 miles, but they seem short now in comparison to what we have done! Saturday was tough but we managed it in 5 hrs 35 mins which we were pleased with especially as we had 3 shop stops to buy water and 6 pee stops!! We did it from Portstewart to Coleraine to Portrush and back to Portstewart with an extra lap of Portstewart to get the 20 miles! Boy, does that Ring Road round Coleraine seem long when on foot! Apart from sore feet we recovered really well and have no lasting aches or pains!

We're both getting very excited now and looking forward to the real thing! This week's task is get the bras decorated, my job is to dye 5 bras and then Eileen's organising the rest.....I hope! It's harder said than done thinking of how to decorate them, easy to think of ideas but we don't want them to have anything on them which annoy us when we're walking.....I'm guessing that it won't take much to annoy us after 17 miles when it's about 4am!!

Just a quick statistic....when walking on Saturday, we worked out roughly the total miles we've walked whilst training and we reckon we've done about 250 miles!!!!

Final couple of fundraisers are happening this week, firstly, on Thursday, Eileen and I are having an Office Coffee Morning and, on Friday, I'm doing one for the staff of Andy's school. The fundraising total standing at £1,875 so I'm hoping to make £2,000. Here's hoping the Capita Symonds and Spa Primary School staff dig deep this week!

Will try and blog a few more times before we head for London!

Keep reading and thanks!

Lx

Aghhhhhhhhh!!!

Just a short one tonight.......tonight was another first....we got absolutely soaked to the skin doing a short 6 miler! This made us both hope that there's no rain on 16th May and also made Mags realise that she may need to re-think what she wears! Her trackie bots were so wet that they were nearly round her knees by the time we got back! We have been so lucky with the weather so far and here's hoping that it continues that way!

Andy had the stove lit when I got home which was lovely....cheers, Andy!

Just off now to go onto the much visited (by me) website www.gmap-pedometer.com to plan our route for the 20 miler on Saturday. If any of you out there walk, cycle or run, this is the best website ever to plan routes and the distances are very accurate. Just type in your town (even Spa is on it!!), change zoom to 15, press go and hey presto!!

Sorry, I promised this would be a short one, think I'm starting to blog as much as I talk!! Here's hoping Andy doesn't start blogging!!!!

Lx

ps I note that some people must be reading this, if you are, please send me a comment as I'd welcome the feedback!

Overwhelmed!!!

This word is the only one that I can use to describe how I'm feeling at the minute and it's all down to the generosity of everyone who has donated to this great cause! Hazel's fundraiser was a fantastic success - both as a fundraiser and as a social occasion! We managed to raise a staggering £600 which is just unbelievable - you are all too generous! It was also a great night's craic, Vanessa's stories kept us in stitches all evening......thanks, Hazel!

This has raised the total so far to £1,810!!!! We're now hoping for £2,000! I can't believe it as I'd thought we'd be doing brilliantly to get to £1,000!







Now for the update on the walking front. Yesterday Mum and I walked 18 miles in 4 hours 47 minutes round Portstewart and Portrush. I took Andy's advice and ate something every hour or so which seemed to do the trick as I didn't suffer the same tiredness which had happened last week...cheers, Andy - all those hours on the tinternet has paid off! Next weekend we've to walk 20 miles and that's the last big one before the real thing! I can't believe that the end is in sight and that there's only just over 2 weeks to go!

Our final instructions pack arrived this week and we now have everything we need for the Big Night! I felt very emotional reading the instructions, not sure why but I think it's the first time I've realised what a big event this is! I can't really imagine what 15,000 people in a tent is going to be like. I'm really looking forward to it now, I'm confident that we'll finish it and it should be fun!

Bye for now. Lx