What happened in 2011

Average Reading Time: about 6 minutes

Our roving "1,000 miles in 1 year for breast cancer", reporter, Zoe has sent in her experience of the night...and do us a favour...just click on that link and "like" her Facebook page! She deserves it!

Getting ready for a MoonWalk is always something makes me giggle.  I don’t know of any other event that has it’s participants painting their nails ...styling their hair and spending endless weeks preparing the perfect outfit ...but then no other event is quite like a MoonWalk.So ...on May 14th (dressed in zebra print and sparkles) I got into my little Mini (decorated in pink ribbons) with Chris (also dressed in zebra print and sparkles) and CaveWoman Jo (my first-time MoonWalking sister) and headed to London.

Timing our arrival to perfection, we pulled into a parking spot at 6pm only to read the sign telling us that free parking commences at 6.30! So CaveWoman Jo and I walked across Hyde Park towards the big pink tent and toilet stop no.1 leaving Chris to wait with the highly decorated (very girly looking) car!

The clouds were rolling in, the wind was really picking up and it was getting cold but little glimpses of what was going on inside the fencing kept everyone’s spirits high and the arrival of some beautiful giraffes ensured every single person had a smile on their face.

The next few hours went in a total blur … A massage … a delicious diner … smiles … photos… Spenco 2nd Skin application … name writing … not to mention finally meeting so many of the lovely people who have become such great friends … and then it was time … time to go and do something that both terrified and excited me … it was time to go on stage with Nina, Julie and Julia … Eeeeeek!!

Nothing could have prepared me for what I saw … it was the most unbelievable sight seeing 15,000 people all there, uniting and looking AMAZING!!!  It was so overwhelming … my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth and I was shaking like a leaf. 

A little wait backstage … a very special moment of silence (shared with Julie, Julia and Roy whilst watching Chris and my sister on the big screen) and a bit of celeb spotting and then it was time to go back on … this time with the celebs and VIP’s which was a little surreal but great fun! Then the biggest challenge of the night … to get off stage, around the whole tent and beat Nina to the start line so that we could get away with our yellow group. 

CaveWoman Jo and Chris were both looking longingly at the portaloos as we sprinted past but were told “NO TIME” and it’s a good thing we didn’t stop as just as we got to the start the marshals were leading the yellows through.  Only then did we realise we had nothing ready!  Shoes weren’t done up properly, iPods weren’t on, my iPod didn’t even work so I had to borrow Jo’s spare … (goodness only knows what would be on that).  Heads were not at all in the zone … but too late … we were off!!!!!!!

Mile 1, mile 2, mile 3 … still no toilets and still no shoelace adjustment but things felt good so far. Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, The Thames … and a surprisingly good mix of music coming from CWJ’s iPod! Mile 6 … this was an important one, this meant I had completed 400 miles in my 1,000 mile challenge!

A quick whoop whoop and Hi-5 to mark the occasion and we carried on to mile 7, and a hilarious paparazzi moment with Guy. Mile 8, Tower Bridge and more snapping from Guy (how did he get there so quick?)

Mile 9 and I swap iPods with Chris who realises that the cheesy-pop playlist I had compiled isn’t anywhere near as cool as the one CWJ had put together! The miles are flying by and before we know it the HalfMooners are directed away from us and the number of people around us thins dramatically.

This is always psychologically tough but this is also when the amazing volunteers come into their own. The river looked stunning and the moon is just perfect so our spirits remained high.

At 12 miles I call CWJ who is only about 2 miles behind us … I feel so proud of her for doing this.  13 miles, “don’t look back, don’t look back” but we can’t help it and turn to see that dreaded 22 mile marker!  There are 9 hard miles until we see that sign again.  Roll on mile 17 when we can count down to that marker on one hand.  There is plenty to look at though and Chris invents a new game of finding one thing in every shop window that we would buy if we could.  All I can see is beds, hammocks, sofas, baths and armchairs!!!!!! 

The miles continue to tick by and despite my hips and feet feeling like they might explode I begin to sense the river is close and with the river comes the reward for those last 9 miles … the sight of thousands of walkers on the other side of the road all looking fabulous.  Waves pass between us … cheers and applause are exchanged and even a very loud “WOOHOOO, ZOE!!!” from Wendy which really gave me a much needed boost!!     

Finally, we make it to that long awaited mile marker. We Hi-5, dig in and carry on.  We Hi-4 at mile 23 but Chris is hurting so it all goes a bit quiet, Hi-3 at mile 24 and Chris decides to ignore the pain and speed up instead,

Hi-2 at mile 25 and ‘kick tarmac’ all the way up Constitution Hill, Hi-1 at mile 26 and come face to face with a sharp little hill that received a few verbal insults (use your imagination here) and then there it is … the big pink tent that had been waiting for us all night. 

I daren’t look at my watch but I get a feeling this has been a quick one.  One last push and we cross the line.  Now I look and I am rewarded with a new PB and the biggest hug in the world from Chris!!

Walking the Walk has yet again proved to be one of the most physically challenging, mentally demanding and emotionally draining experiences which would almost certainly result in failure if it were not for the support and encouragement from the WtW team, the volunteers, fellow walkers and of course the future Mr Zoe who never fails to kick my butt when it gets tough.  Like I said before … there is nothing quite like a MoonWalk.

Moonwalk no.10, DONE!!  See you in Edinburgh for no. 11!!!

By the way … CaveWoman Jo finished in just over 6 hours, an incredible achievement and I am so immensely proud of her!