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