Trailwalker anniversary dinner
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
We finally went out for our Trailwalker anniversary dinner - we met for a drink at The Crown and then ate at Moro. There was even much talk of us doing the walk again next year...
Showing posts with label Trailwalker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trailwalker. Show all posts
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Monday, July 17, 2006
Walkers heading towards Chkpt 2
Walkers heading towards Chkpt 2
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
Walkers heading towards Checkpoint 2 - the first time they meet their support crew. Julia and I stood and clapped them as they went past from where I took the photo.
Julia - merchandiser extraordinaire!
Julia - merchandiser extraordinaire!
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
Julia and our merchandising tent - where we spent 8 hours!
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Trailwalker 2006 - clapping the walkers
We got up on Saturday and drove round to Checkpoint 2 which is the first checkpoint where the walkers meet their support crews. It is also an easy checkpoint to clap people at as there is a carpark very close!
So we stood there for about 45 minutes just clapping the walkers as they passed us. It was great to see their reactions - some people really appreciated it, while others didn't know how to react. But it was a great thing to do - and it was so nostalgic watching everyone walking past. Very very cool. Sadly Julia was off on holiday in the afternoon so we had to head back.
Volunteering the night before however had meant that we saw lots of people we recognised - including some who had been desperately trying to find people to walk with as their teams had fallen apart.
It was hot, sunny weather again like it had been last year, and when I woke up this morning I thought how this time last year we were still walking. Next year we'll either volunteer again for the whole weekend or do it again (but try to beat our time). So watch this space!
So we stood there for about 45 minutes just clapping the walkers as they passed us. It was great to see their reactions - some people really appreciated it, while others didn't know how to react. But it was a great thing to do - and it was so nostalgic watching everyone walking past. Very very cool. Sadly Julia was off on holiday in the afternoon so we had to head back.
Volunteering the night before however had meant that we saw lots of people we recognised - including some who had been desperately trying to find people to walk with as their teams had fallen apart.
It was hot, sunny weather again like it had been last year, and when I woke up this morning I thought how this time last year we were still walking. Next year we'll either volunteer again for the whole weekend or do it again (but try to beat our time). So watch this space!
Friday, July 14, 2006
Trailwalker 2006
Had a fab day volunteering at Trailwalker 2006. Julia and I took the day off (EY gives us volunteering days to take), and we headed off down to help out. We got to the site around 3pm and were talked through the choices we had - we could either help out in the check-in tent or work in the merchandising tent. I was amazed at how many volunteers there were - a grand total of 6! Apparently they had more lined up for the Saturday but they do struggle getting people to help out.
We were responsible for selling the caps, mugs and keyrings they had on sale - the first time they've done merchandising thanks to a new sponsorship from State Street. We also sold the bar-b-q and breakfast vouchers to walkers who hadn't raised enough to get them in their pack, or for support crews etc.
This year there were over 100 teams more than did it last year so we were kept pretty busy. Plus there were two bad accidents on the A3 and M25 which meant that people couldn't get down before 10pm so our shift didn't end until midnight! A long day on our feet, but we were right in the thick of it, and got to see lots of the lovely Ghurka soldiers! Everyone was really friendly and hyped up with the thought of what they were about to face the next day.
It was also really interesting just to see the sheer scale of the organising, and what Oxfam had to do with a limited number of helpers. I felt really happy and proud to be involved in part of it again - there are some photos which I'll post once I've got them off my pc.
We were responsible for selling the caps, mugs and keyrings they had on sale - the first time they've done merchandising thanks to a new sponsorship from State Street. We also sold the bar-b-q and breakfast vouchers to walkers who hadn't raised enough to get them in their pack, or for support crews etc.
This year there were over 100 teams more than did it last year so we were kept pretty busy. Plus there were two bad accidents on the A3 and M25 which meant that people couldn't get down before 10pm so our shift didn't end until midnight! A long day on our feet, but we were right in the thick of it, and got to see lots of the lovely Ghurka soldiers! Everyone was really friendly and hyped up with the thought of what they were about to face the next day.
It was also really interesting just to see the sheer scale of the organising, and what Oxfam had to do with a limited number of helpers. I felt really happy and proud to be involved in part of it again - there are some photos which I'll post once I've got them off my pc.
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Trailwalker 2006 - NZ style!
Finally got around to checking out the Trailwalker site for the inaugural NZ Trailwalker - set around Taupo no less! Check out the website here.
I would so love to do this one - I sat at work and went into a daydream about the Shields family putting a team in, with me doing my training over here and then coming back to do the walk. But then reality kicked in and I realised that the training as a team is so important that it wouldn't really work.
But I can't encourage you all enough to give it a go! It was one the best things I have ever done, and I am still so tempted by the NZ one... How cool to do it in the UK and the following year do NZ - and around Taupo as well! Sigh.
If you are around Taupo when it finishes make sure you clap and cheer people who are finishing - you have no idea how wonderful that was for us when we were finishing...
I'd love to hear if any of you take up the challenge - Taupo in April tho... Was a bit suprised by that - the UK one is in the middle of summer - and we got less time to do it in! We had 100km in 30 hours, NZ is 36. Have I raved enough?? Check out Nola's Strollers again if you need reminding!
I would so love to do this one - I sat at work and went into a daydream about the Shields family putting a team in, with me doing my training over here and then coming back to do the walk. But then reality kicked in and I realised that the training as a team is so important that it wouldn't really work.
But I can't encourage you all enough to give it a go! It was one the best things I have ever done, and I am still so tempted by the NZ one... How cool to do it in the UK and the following year do NZ - and around Taupo as well! Sigh.
If you are around Taupo when it finishes make sure you clap and cheer people who are finishing - you have no idea how wonderful that was for us when we were finishing...
I'd love to hear if any of you take up the challenge - Taupo in April tho... Was a bit suprised by that - the UK one is in the middle of summer - and we got less time to do it in! We had 100km in 30 hours, NZ is 36. Have I raved enough?? Check out Nola's Strollers again if you need reminding!
Saturday, October 29, 2005
Trailwalker heroes...
We went to the Oxfam Trailwalker Heroes reception last night - and once we'd got over the disappointment of the lack of alcohol until after the presentations it was good! There were a few speeches where an Oxfam man with bad powerpoint slides told us about some of the things that Oxfam spends their money on, and then a very British army guy told us how they spend the money at the Ghurka Welfare Trust - he was very funny, even if some of his humour was slightly dodgy...
Then they had the presentations to various teams. Nola's Strollers was extremely disappointed to not win the Best Team award, but we did win a prize for our fundraising category :-). We get to go to the Renault F1 Human Performance Centre for a day. We're not sure what that will entail but no doubt it will be good. Although I would have been happy with champagne and chocolates! The team who won the prize for raising the most money raised over £15k - quite incredible. We all felt very nostalgic about the walk as they showed various photos and video clips of the walk... In fact we may have even been tempted to do it again next year - had we not already found a potential challenge for next year. Check out the website for the Caledonian Challenge - 54 miles of the West Highland Way in Scotland in 24 hours. Watch this space...
Then they had the presentations to various teams. Nola's Strollers was extremely disappointed to not win the Best Team award, but we did win a prize for our fundraising category :-). We get to go to the Renault F1 Human Performance Centre for a day. We're not sure what that will entail but no doubt it will be good. Although I would have been happy with champagne and chocolates! The team who won the prize for raising the most money raised over £15k - quite incredible. We all felt very nostalgic about the walk as they showed various photos and video clips of the walk... In fact we may have even been tempted to do it again next year - had we not already found a potential challenge for next year. Check out the website for the Caledonian Challenge - 54 miles of the West Highland Way in Scotland in 24 hours. Watch this space...
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