Ode to Trailwalker

but walk we did, success was ours, champagne celebration!

 

We started off naively, witness Paul’s shoes virginity

or Florin working from his Blackberry, Reza practicing photography.

The first few checkpoints flying by under shady trees and bright blue sky,

we owned the trail and rapidly we found ourselves at checkpoint three.

 

We started out from CP3 fresh and full of beans -

by Friday night, feeling knackered not nearly quite so keen,

An hours kip, a cup of tea saw us right as rain,

and off we went for checkpoint 5, full of juice again.

 

We walked by day, we walked by night, we donned our Petzls for some light,

we wrapped up warm for wind and rain then sweating took it off again,

we bandaged knees and ankles tight, smacked up on Alleve all night,

beneath the sun, beneath the stars, yelling madmen “how bloody far?”

 

The lowest point – two-thirds in, coming up to CP7 -

extreme fatigue took its toll with sleep deprivation.

Eye of the tiger was closing up – rising up? I’d rather die,

but a local saved me with a well timed shout of “ganbatte, kudasai!”

 

At CP8 we hit the wall, the final climb nefarious,

so much sports drink was consumed, we started sweating Aquarius

Shoes were now worn down so thin that every stone was jabbing in,

friction burns on Rezas balls, thank god, I thought for Vaseline.

 

Eventually, the final few kilometers lay ahead of us

and though down-hill they really went by slow and rather tortuous

Finally, we saw the goal and heard the screams of Sam,

and as dawn came up the second time, we fell across the finishing line.

 

One week later, legs still aching , calves still cramping , thighs still shaking

I look back on those long two days of extreme challenge and Bengay

with misty eyes , a sense of pride, we took it all in our stride,

although it was rather laborious, team Snailwalker: truly victorious.