SPIRES AND STEEPLES CHALLENGE
Distance - 26 miles
Location - Lincoln to sleaford , England
October 2019
If 2018 wasn't enough, I signed up for the 2019 challenge. With Kevin away, I was a little anxious about doing the walk by myself however having completed the walk the year before I knew what to expect which put my mind at ease a little.
Just like the previous year, the weather forecast was pants! It had been raining heavily leading up to the event causing a lot of flooding in the area. It was certainly going to make for an interesting walk!
The organisers put on a bus from Sleaford to Lincoln, which is super convenient. Arriving at the start it was raining, with limited places to shelter we were all squeezed under a little canopy. We had a long wait before the walk would commence, which is one feedback comment to the organisers.
The walk started really well, I stretched out ahead of the bubble and set down a good pace. It wasn't long before the weather took effect and the ground became a slip and slide event. After injuring my ankle in the summer I was still so careful over the slippy ground.
I was joined by another walker who had a similar pace to mine, was great to have someone to talk to.
We walked through some super flooded sections, which covered my ankles, other walkers were trying to avoid these sections, I came to the conclusion that it was much easier to just wade through them as there was no avoiding the water!
Although it wasn't a race as such I was aiming to complete the walk in a quicker time than 2018 and as the day went on I knew the goal was within my grasp.
The speed at which I was walking took its toll towards the end, suffering from sore hips. But I was determined to keep pushing. I crossed the finish line 7 hours 5 minutes later, thrilled is an understatement!
There were many walkers and runners of all abilities, a very local event, no-frills, and that's why I love it.
