Ah! I wondered who you were, MsB!
Well.... I DID IT! It was an amazing experience, but boy was it hard! The last five miles felt like childbirth... only through the feet (???!). We weren't quick, but I was reasonably pleased to finish in under 7.5 hours (7 hours 26 minutes, to be precise!). A colleague of dh's did the Full Moon last night too, and he's just had a text from her to say that it took her over 10 hours, so that has made me feel a lot better about my own time (not least because she is at least 10 years younger than me )! And now, apart from being knackered, I am not feeling too bad. I only have one blister (under the toe... but only on one foot, which is good) and I am very very stiff, but as long as I keep moving I am basically OK.
We set off at about 10 yesterday from W. Yorkshire and arrived in Edinburgh at about 4.00, having got lost in the city centre trying to find my friend's house and driven down some of our Moonwalk route! We chilled at my friend's house and ate pasta till about 8, when she drove us to the Meadows, where there was a huge pink tent set up. We got our tattoos and had a massage and then just tried to keep warm (it was cold in Edinburgh last night) and conserve our energy for the start.
We started walking at 11.35 and managed to get quite near to the front of the 'pack' so we didn't get too held up by the throng. We pushed on as quickly as we could for the first few miles so that we got away from the masses (who then overtook us later, but never mind!). We went round the bottom of Holyrood Park and then zig-zagged through the city centre, where there was lots of support both from people who'd specifically come out to cheer us on and from random passers-by. (I memorably high-fived a drunk on the Royal Mile!) That bit was really great. All the public (and some private) buildings were lit up in pink just for us. It was amazing!
Once we headed out of the city centre it got a lot quieter and there was a long-ish boring bit before we came down to the shore of the Firth of Forth. We arrived there just before 3.00 a.m. and at that point the sun was just starting to come up. We walked along the shore as the sun rose (and I was annoyed to have forgotten my iPod, as I wanted to listen to the bit from The Messiah which goes 'The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light'! ). My friend was tiring at that point and we slowed down quite a lot. At that stage (around 14-15 miles) I was still feeling quite strong. I really dipped from about mile 19, when my feet really started to hurt and my energy levels dropped. The last 2 or 3 miles were largely uphill and felt like at least double the real distance. But just as I was thinking that I couldn't possibly take another step, there was a sign that said 500m to go, then 250m to go... and then we could see the Finish Line. I burst into tears as we crossed it... I was really emotional! We finished at 7.01 a.m. on my 41st birthday!
I immediately phoned my friend to come and collect us (I was scared to sit down, as I felt that I might never ever get up again!) and my first words were, 'We've done it... and we're never doing it again!'. We went back to her house and had some breakfast and then I slept for a couple of hours, before getting up, drinking a load of coffee and then driving back to Yorkshire. I finally got home today at about 6.30 p.m.
It has been two long long days, and I am utterly drained and knackered. But already on the way home I was starting to reconsider my categorical 'I'm never doing that again'. I'm not sure if I will do it again, but the way I feel now (as opposed to how I felt at 7.00 this morning!) I possibly might. Considering I was totally unfit and not used to taking any exercise at all before I started on this foolish idea, I think that to survive with only one blister and few aches and in a time below 7.5 hours is not too bad, anyway.
I forgot to take my camera, Posey, but my friend did take some pics. I may put one on my profile for a limited period only when she sends them to me. Watch this space . I hope to get a photo from Action Photos too, at some point. Meanwhile, there are some great pics (though not of me!) on the BBC website. I love the one of the Castle all lit up in pink, and the one of the sun coming up over the Firth of Forth... that was a special moment!
Phew... sorry for such a long post. I think I needed to get that out of my system. I am so glad I did it, and so grateful to all of you for your support. [emotional emoticon]