A week today at 10:30am I completed the Coast 2 Coast and it feels like a lifetime ago. Just sat down and thought I’d write a little post to reflect on the walk.
Firstly it’s great to be home back to home comforts and more importantly seeing my daughter at weekend where we went on a sort 5K local walk in the sun and to actually use my legs again. Not seen her for what seems a lifetime so it’s been great to spend time with her again.
I still don’t think it’s settled in fully the whole achievement of walking 192 miles in 11 days literally from zero training but I did it. I’m really proud of myself for doing this and honestly it’s been life changing in many ways.
The Coast 2 Coast itself is a really good challenge. You see some of the prettiest places, amazing views and is a great test of mental strength. We were so lucky with the weather with only having a couple of rainy days and the rest were mostly glorious. It makes a massive difference and with bad rain and wind this would’ve been an even tougher challenge. So if you try the walk, I will try to alert the weather gods to be kind for you ☺️. I actually got sunstroke it was that warm from as early as Day 1 at Ennerdale 😂
The best thing by far about the walk is the people you meet, without question. Before the walk everyone is obsessed with how many days you do it in, with most completing in 14 days. I’m really chuffed with 11 but after the first day I realised it’s about enjoying it and meeting people. They are what make the memories last forever and I belly laughed throughout and loved hearing everyone’s different stories and helping each other along the way. I believe in fate and honestly wouldn’t change a thing as everyone I met at different stages were brilliant. If I’d gone quicker or slower I would’ve missed them.
I started the first 4 days with a friend Nicola who left her car at Shap. She was honestly amazing and we had the best time, also some challenging times physically when Nicola pulled her calf on the way out of Grasmere which turned into a 13hr day and was also struggling with the lack of food. I loved the time we spent together and was the perfect start for the Coast 2 Coast ☺️
I met Iain at Ennerdale when he recognised me from the Group along with Mark who I saved from a cliff side he was stuck on near Robin Hoods Chair as he’d gone the ring way. 2 lads who I’d bump into through the whole 11 days and ultimately walk with quite a few times, camp with at quite a few locations and ultimately see at the finish. Both great characters and we laughed a LOT. But if I ever hear Iain saying “You’re with the Yorkshire Trailblazer” one more time I think I’ll Scream 😂
Overall I have to say it’s been amazing. The time away from work stresses which have been getting to me lately to being out on the trail not even knowing what day it is and limited reception with amazing people and a tough challenge with epic views is addictive. I want to do it more and more! In fact…I will!
Already thinking about future things I want to do whether it’s the West Highlands Way, Hadrians Wall, NC500 and so many others.
I just want to take the opportunity to thank everyone again for supporting my C2C journey. Your generous donations and messages really did help. Some really nice words about inspiring others honestly really touches me and really hope it does inspire people. Hope this journey shows that stepping out of your comfort zone and pushing yourself can lead to some epic experiences and memories forever. “Don’t think, just do” (Had to sneak a TopGun quote in).
Ps…I haven’t even looked at my GoPro footage or any videos from the walk yet but will over the next couple of weeks. Hopefully I can edit into a series of videos which I’ll share a link to here as not sure where I’ll be posting yet but I would like to do it as it should show the true emotion through the stages.
Tata for now ☺️