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County Marathon 2007An online diary, of the annual event...
November 25, 2007, 11:41 am
After what was meant to be a good night's sleep, 5:30am came all too quickly and we dragged ourselves out of bed to cook breakfast in the darkness. Tents came down, bags were packed and we set off… slightly late.
Sunday's walk was much easier than Saturday and we completed three bases. Sore, tired, but in my case full of beans, we walked back to Ferny Crofts (HQ) where everyone else collapsed on the floor and had a good meal. I however, bounced around trying to use up all my energy!
The Marathon was fantastic and totally worth the wait, work and drive. Despite the fact we didn't win, we all had a great time and feel winners all the same ! ! !
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November 25, 2007, 11:40 am
The day was incredibly hard work, yet it seemed to fly by as the whole team laughed and joked and sang together. The morning was very successful and we completed five bases. Spirits were high and so far we had managed to avoid getting lost. Even a rainstorm couldn’t slow us down!
However after lunch it all took a turn for the worse, more like several turns, and we ended up tired, damp and rather lost! We did, after plenty more walking, get back on track and eventually arrived at Zulu camp, ready to put up our tents and have a refreshing nights sleep!
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November 25, 2007, 11:39 am
And so, after lots of work our adventure had begun! Last night we set off at 7:30pm in two minibuses. It took a while to get to HQ, but we found plenty of things to entertain us on the journey.
We signed in and put our tents up and went to bed just after midnight. Six or so hours later we were up taking our tents down and setting off for our first day’s hiking leaving at 8:00am. I can’t wait! No Comments >> |
November 25, 2007, 11:37 am
After 2 weeks of planning, everything had come together. Emergency rations had been sealed up, first aid kits replenished and pre-cooked meals bought.
I sat down and started to look at our map; we'd been given our first base but could then choose which bases to visit - not that we knew where they were yet! Each member of the team had to take an emergency card with contact details on, a first aid kit, whistle and emergency rations (which if unused would be a nice thing to munch on the journey home) and there was plenty of group kit to organise too… it didn't look like I'd have room for a change of clothes! After some "careful" bundling, shoving and cramming the kit was packed, and a heavy rucksack sat on the floor ready to go.
And, having checked, double checked and triple checked my kit I am ready to leave & win the County Marathon…. well that's the plan anyway!
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November 25, 2007, 11:35 am
A year ago, when I was 13, I decided that I wanted to do the County Marathon at the next opportunity. However when, 2 weeks before the event, I was faced with a long kit list and an incomplete team, I wasn’t so sure. I soon came round however, after reminding myself of all the great stuff we’d be doing over the weekend, and the fact that this would be the last thing to do for my Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award!
Then it was on to organising. This years County Marathon is going to be held in the New Forest, and I am really happy about this as I’ve been there for a hike earlier this year and it’s a beautiful place. My brother, team mate and fellow Explorer Scout Chris was soon dragged in to help with organising, and soon we had a nice pile of equipment in our living room, which when put together looked nowhere near lightweight!!!
With plenty of kit accounted for, thanks to local scout groups and their support, the team was pulling together and thinking about everything that needed sorting. We all had gained enthusiasm and can hardly wait to be out there and walking! The briefing meeting only made us more excited, but there was no time to stop, with stuff still to sort and us all having busy lives!
So with less than a week to go, it’s down to packing and sorting all the final bits before we’re off to the New Forest for a great weekend!
Becky
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November 25, 2007, 11:34 am
Here Becky tells us what she’s been getting up to as she prepares to take on the County Marathon in the New Forest this year. Keep checking back as she tells us what she’s been doing to prepare and find out how she gets on in the New Forest. No Comments >> |
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