What a humbling sight.
8000 walkers (and runners!) stretched from point to point like a slithering golden snake across our beautiful diamond island. Everyone of them raising money for patient care at our local hospice. All taking on, what is a very real challenge. 26.5 miles of country lanes, ups, downs, hills, golf courses and cliffs. Each participant taking every step with someone’s memory held dear in their hearts, keeping them going over the ever increasing difficulty, spurring them them on to reach that finish line on the Western point of the Island.
Started in 1991 by our very own Elaine Harris’ father Bill Bradley and his mate Frank Stevens. It started as a team building exercise for the staff at Moreys it has evolved into the largest sponsored walk of its kind not just in England, but in Europe! Mind blowing!!
“Dad was hoping for 2000 walkers in the year 2000, not knowing that he sadly wouldn’t be there to see it (he died in September 1999) But we surpassed 2000 that year and look at it now! He would be blown away!” said Lainey
“I’ve done it every year apart from when I’ve been pregnant with my girls, and on those years I marshalled”
The event has raised a prodigious £4 million for patient care at The Earl Mountbatten Hospice since 1991. It takes a phenomenal amount of organisation to make this colossal event happen. Over 300 volunteers and marshalls on the day keep everyone on track, watered, timed and cheery.
Being runners, we for some reason, we decide that walking some of the steepest climbs on the island all in one day is not challenge enough. Oh no, we have to ramp up the effort levels and run them instead.
With a choice of distances and levels of difficulty on offer, the turn out of roadrunners was unprecedented with no less than 35 taking part this year. 16 of our gutsy club members took on the full challenge. Some of them having never run anywhere near the distance, some battling injury, some recovering from recent ultra races, all of them determined to reach that distant point out West.
Starting at Britten Norton, the first “half” of some 12.5 miles takes in the dizzy heights of Culver Down, through to Mersley Down onward over some of the only flat sections to Arreton Barns where there is always a lovely atmosphere. Continuing onward and inevitably upward onto St George’s Down, skirting along the golf course, back down to the infamous Nunnery Lane and finishing at Carisbrooke Castle where there is a buzzy, party vibe.
“I loved it” said Garry Sharp “I really wish I could have have carried on, but I had to work in the afternoon. I passed the baton (aka my running belt) on to my wife Sarah at halfway, so we completed the challenge in relay”
Sarah Sharp was one of 15 roadrunners who began their journey at this point. Some ran it solo, some in little groups
For those running the whole course, Carisbrooke Castle was kind of the mid point.
“I got to about 10/11 miles and I had this overwhelming feeling of giving up” said Sarah Holmes who has been battling knee and glute problems for weeks
“seeing some of the others at the castle gave me a boost. I had no idea where I was going to find the energy to carry on, or indeed IF I could carry on, but I wanted to give it my best shot”
Onward they went, up and up and up on to the Tennyson trail from Newport. Continuing on the high ground along through Brighstone Forest to Mottistone Down and on to Brook Down.
It is at this stage that the challenge really goes up a gear. From this 18 mile point, the hills become sharper and one after the other. On tired legs, the runners really had to start digging deeper here.
Once they reached Freshwater Golf Course, a little bit of relief started to set in as Freshwater Bay comes into view. This is the last checkpoint before the finish. However with Tennyson Monument looming in the background, the last 4 miles are indeed a battle of will, grit and determination.
“This my favourite bit” said Elaine “you stand at the foot of Tennyson and look back. You can see the snake of people still coming down off the golf course”
Continuing ever forward, suddenly the sea is front, right and left. The Western point was beneath their feet. A sharp right turn at the Needles Battery, fired the runners downhill (at last) and the finishing line swung into view. The marathon distance is surpassed along this stretch along with the realisation that they have indeed made it, all they’ve got to do is put one foot in front of the other and hold on.
Crossing the line there were tears and cheers, relief and laughter. Personal barriers pushed, goals met, achievements made. A lot of feel good factor, knowing not only that they had done themselves proud, but that they had contributed to this amazing event and this amazing cause.
The day after the event Lucy Deville had this to say
“Yesterday I said never again, but now I am already planning for next year!”
I think it only fitting that the last quote should go to Elaine
“I have so many memories of doing this with my Dad, or seeing him pop up along the way. I really, really miss him on the day, but I am stupidly proud of Walk the Wight”
First Half
Garry Sharp
Kelly Forster
Rachel Dempsey
Second Half
Sarah Sharp
Julie Ray
Julie Rasmussen
Tim Keyte
Bridget Keyte
Tanya Clifford
Bel Rockall
Lyn Snow
Georgina Newnham
Shelley Harris
Claire Howard
Alison Batchelor
Jane Andrew
Darren Andrew
Gordon Mucklow
Michael Douglas
Full Course
Elaine Harris
Hayley Baxter
Zoe Elliott
Pat Harris
Steve Hickman
Ian Russell
Dan Williams
Mark King
Lucy Deville
Fay Tosdevin
Tarnia Eldridge
George Butler
Charlotte Williams
Ian Williams
Misha Hetherington
Sarah Holmes
Same time, same place next year? Oh go on then….. BRING IT ON!!!!!
