There were several hundred people milling around the start point at Whitecliff Recreation Ground. I went to the big white marquee to register, pick up my lanyard and event pass with its timing chip, pin my bib number to my backpack, and sat down to eat one of the several snacks I'd brought with me while waiting. The start times were staggered between 6:30 and 10am, and mine was 8:20am. At 8:00 they called the 8:20 starts to the ribboned-off area, where we had a briefing and a warm-up before heading off!
The route was marked clearly with bright pink arrows, so we didn't need to carry a map and figure it out ourselves, and there were distance markers every so often. The first 5km was on paved footpaths along the roads around the harbour down to the Sandbanks ferry. It was quite slow-going, there not really being much room to overtake and go at my own pace, so it took about an hour. The next stretch after the ferry was along the whole 5km of Studland Bay's beaches, which took just under another hour, with good views of Old Harry Rocks. Coming inland at the end of the beach we passed a little area of beautiful wildflowers by the clifftop war memorial and, a little further on, some pretty cottages in amongst the green fields surrounding a village. It was here we started to move uphill onto the ridgeway, where obviously there were amazing views over the land stretching out for miles and miles below.
We were only up on the ridge for a little while before heading back down the other side - steep at times - to Swanage, where at the 15km mark at Days Park we got a break at the first official rest point and the "mid-point" for the Quarter Challenge. There were loos, a marquee with medical supplies and snacks (I got a yummy buttery pain au raisin and a Rice Krispies Marshmallow Squares which I haven't had for years!), loads of chairs inside and out, and space to sit down on the grass. I spent about half an hour there and had some of my snacks before continuing.
Now it was back up onto the ridgeway for the final 9km leg to Corfe Castle. Thankfully it hadn't rained at all and it was largely sunny and warm, but it was pretty windy which helpfully stopped me from overheating. The path along the top of the ridgeway was pretty flat and easy-going and there were lots of members of the public out for a weekend stroll or dog walk. I didn't interact with anyone during the whole hike from start to finish, except one member of the public who struck up a brief conversation about the challenge and wished me luck, both of us almost shouting to be heard above the wind; I wasn't bothered about talking to anyone, but that was nice, and he continued forward along the line of walkers chatting to some. I spotted a pretty little farm down in the valley with local grey-stone buildings and a big field of lush long vibrant green grass waving in the wind =]
It wasn't long before Corfe Castle came into view, and about an hour after leaving Days Park we started heading downwards off the ridge towards the village. My timing chip was scanned at 1:39pm as I crossed the finish line! :D
My finish line at 24km was Norden Farm, behind the National Trust car park at Corfe Castle. Event staff were waiting to greet every single person with energetic cheers and congratulations and scan their timing chip. Of course this was just a rest stop for those doing the Half or Full Challenge, but those of us finishing here got a Finisher's medal and t-shirt, and a glass of prosecco which I declined. They provided lunch in the marquee and I took my tuna sandwich and apple and remaining snacks out to sit on the grass on the far side of the field where it was a bit quieter, did some stretches, and waited for my mum and stepdad to arrive on the steam train from Swanage.
So! I enjoyed it =] It took me four and a half hours, not including the waiting time for the Sandbanks ferry and the half-hour break, and my step count at the end of the day was around 32,000. It was a very good way to spend a Saturday morning, hiking through the beautiful Purbeck countryside. My mind was pretty blank through the whole walk, I wasn't really thinking about anything, which was good, but nor was I really being mindful and fully in the present, either. It's odd, I find the latter a bit more difficult when wearing sunglasses, which sucks.
Needless to say I was exhausted! Even though it was only mid-afternoon it felt like we'd already had a full day out (which I guess we had), so we drove straight back to Southampton. I had an early night, slept very well, and spent all of Sunday relaxing on the sofa, haha. Amazingly my muscles didn't hurt!
I don't think I'll go on to do the Half Challenge next year; this was fine, but I feel 58km would be too much, I don't think I'd enjoy it. I might consider doing the 34km of the Second Quarter though, from Corfe to Weymouth via Lulworth and Durdle Door, a much hillier route that would certainly require me to do some actual training! Or, the Second Half from Weymouth to Bridport is 42km and apparently isn't anywhere near as hilly. Ooh, things to think about! :) Anyway. I've added visiting Purbeck to my "Things to do at a weekend" list; it'd be really easy to get the train to Poole, then the steam train to Corfe or Swanage.
I've currently raised £560 for Mind, which is amazing. (There's still a few weeks left to donate at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/laura-morrell if you haven't and would like to.) It's such a great cause that means a lot to me personally, so thank you very much to everyone who contributed, it will help a lot of people :) To give you a better idea, and wrap up this post, here are some examples:
- £8 means a call to Mind's Infoline can be answered, providing someone with vital support and information about help in their area. So £560 would answer 70 calls.
- £21 means that Mind's online peer support community, Elefriends, can run for an hour. £560 would pay for just over 26 hours.
- £50 can help Mind campaign for better mental health services from the government.
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