Edinburgh Moonwalk

[Lix]

Well, we did it!!

I'm going to bore you all with the details now and give a HUGE thanks to all those who sponsored me .... without you guys it would have all been worthless


3 of us got ourselves round in 8 hours 27 minutes - against most expectations (including our own!!).

It was a remarkable experience and I hope you don't mind if I share it with you guys here....

We'd signed up to do the walk with some girls at my work at Swip. However, various personal situations had meant that we hadn't done anything like the training we were supposed to and to say we were apprehensive ahead of the event is an understatement!

However, we were determined to do our best and get as far as we could - all for one and one for all and all that - either we all would make it or none of us would.

For 2 of us, it was an emotional journey in more ways than one - both myself and my friend Fi lost our mums to Breast Cancer in our late teens/early 20s - and it would've been both their birthdays today.

Having decorated our bras and raised our sponsorship money, we were determined to give it our best shot ... and so when I was awoken by the postie at 7.45am yesterday morning and saw the weather ... it wasn't the best preparation!! A chair on my balcony was being unceremoniously battered against my window as the wind raged and the rain lashed.

However, come 8pm we were soddenly arriving at the big pink tent in the meadows to face the challenge - along with the rest of the 10,000 other walkers.

The atmosphere in the tent was amazing. To see the effort everyone had put in and the sheer number of people for whom this disease has touched enough to make them want to take part, was truly humbling.

None of us had ever taken part in anything like this before, so we were totally buzzing with it all by the time the warm up had finished and Grant Stott was counting us down to midnight and the start!

I lost my 2 balloons attached to my hat before we were even out of the meadows, but Paula gave me a replacement and the whole adrenelin and atmosphere practically carried us through the first 5 miles - round Arthur's Seat and up the High Street.

We received incredible support from the helpers, people hanging out their windows, passers by (a lot rather the worse for wear) and people who'd come out to stand and cheer us all on. It really helped give everyone a lift.

Through the town - along Princes St, round and on to Queen St and then out across the Dean Bridge and along Queensferry Road. Here, as the half mooner's turned off to head back to their finish, instead of feeling bad to see them nearing the end of their walk it was actually good to get more space to walk at a steady pace and as we passed the 10 mile marker we were all in good spirits.

As we reached Davidson's Mains, we had to dive into some bushes down a wee lane as the toilet queues had been horrendous all the way round ... got a laugh off the policeman on duty as we came out and told him we'd 'just got a bit lost' ...

Down past Laurieston Farm and on to the shore. As we got to the water, we passed the inspirational 13 Mile Marker meaning we'd made it half way.

At this point, we stopped and sat on the wee wall and changed socks, foot tape etc and had some flapjacks.

We didn't stop long, however, as although the rain had mercifully left us about Abbeyhill earlier, it was still not warm!

All along the front and we had our first crisis of whether we'd make it or not. Fi had a really sore bit just behind her right knee... we encouraged her to try and walk through it (we'd all had the odd twinge on the way round) but we could see she was worried.

At this point, we decided to put on our respective iPods and try and just power on for a bit to get through. The music did the trick and we were soon approaching my flat at Ocean Terminal and daylight was firmly with us.

Despite this, Paula was now suffering ... as we came past the back of the Scottish Exec she was desperately looking for the 16 mile marker. No-one had seen it, but we saw one looming up ahead.... and as we got closer, saw it was actually 17 miles!!

I think this was what got her round in all honesty!!
Along to Portobello and this was the hardest bit for me.
We stopped at some public loos (no queues!:YAYYY and as we went to start off again my feet were in agony and we could see up the side streets the folk that were on their way back having completed a lot more than we had ...

However, as we rounded the turn at Joppa and passed the 20 mile mark, we all knew we were going to make it.

We passed Lorraine Kelly at the 22 mile mark, just as we crossed the road to get on to Portobello Road and head for home.

The sight of London Road has never been more welcome and as we got into the park for the second time, we were all dancing and singing along tunelessly to our various iPod anthems and getting bemused looks from the stewards and the swans alike!

The final 2 miles were the longest of the walk, but we got through the cowgate and turned down past the old Infirmary and approached the finish line back in the meadows.

As we crossed the line, we held hands and lifted our arms aloft for the photographer.

What a feeling!!

We were totally exhaused and barely able to take another step - but we'd made it! Tears all roundcandle

As we hobbled out of moonwalk city to await our lift, I saw a young boy holding a bunch of flowers - presumably waiting for his mum to come out.

That set us off again.

So with what looks like £2.5m at least raised for Breast Cancer charities in Scotland it seems this year's event has been a huge success.

I feel honoured to have been a part of it.

And cheers you guys - couldn't have done it without your support.

Oh - and here's a pic of us bints in our bras esp for you ....

[Jamie]

Well done Alix,I knew about your mum from when I was lodging with you and what you have just did is truly amazing,very very very well done

[Stu]

A great job and a great account.

Fantastically well done to you and the girls, Alix.

Marathons are days you remember all your life. I'm sure this one will be no different.

[pilrig70]

Well done Lix. You're an inspiration We are definitely not worthy!

[cavalier]

Well done Alix(and friends)

[Greenman]

Well done

[1875]

Well done Alix, you are a hero!

[hibs1986]

Well done hen!!!!

[Deeks Second Coming]

Well done you three you should be very proud. Also well done to all the other women who took part.

Great cause....

How are the feet Lix....

[Lix]

Thanks everyone for your kind words - and the extra sponsorship!

Am bearing up ok tonight ... just back from George Michael at Hampden ... which I swore I'd not go to as I'd be too sore!

Luckily we were parked a bit closer than the buses were the last couple of times I've been there though ...

[Northern Ireland Hibby]

Good stuff Alix

Glad to hear it went well.

Personally, I reckon it must have been the training in Belfast that helped: all those miles walked on the pub crawl

[Naked Chef]

Well done Alix. I always had every faith in you.
You Go Girl

[Smurf]

Well done to all who took part in this.