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Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. *** Post event update ***  What a night! Snow.., rain.., driving wind.., fog..  Well, the event went ahead as scheduled starting at 17:00 on Saturday with 350 walkers registered. Our scout/explorer unit had entered over 30 with 12 walking the Gold 36 mile route. This was the 39 Cotswold Marathon event and was confirmed to have experienced some of the worst weather conditions ever (apart from 2009 when the event was cancelled due to snow). Nine miles in, our Scout leader took a fall in some woods in the snow, inaccessible by vehicles and some 800 metres from the nearest road. He was stretchered out to an awaiting ambulance. This brought home the importance of carrying survival/sleeping bags! Snow conditions at the Silver finish point (18 mile - Elkstone) were so bad that minibuses couldn’t reach the finish point. Much to their annoyance, Silver walkers had to finish at the Bronze finish point (12 mile - Birdlip) with only Gold walkers being allowed to proceed past the Bronze finish point. Due to events, I had a 2 hour wait at the Bronze finish point before proceeding with the rest of my Gold team mates (just 24 miles to go!). Along the way various team members retired one by one  but I managed to team up with splinter groups from other Gold teams. The going was extremely hard – continually slipping on slushy snow. As far as our scout/explorer unit is concerned, I managed to walk further than any other member – just over 25.5 miles. I could have walked further but for reasons of safety I retired at the Bisley checkpoint (06:30) – rather frustrated I might add! Considering the weather conditions and the long wait at Birdlip this is still somewhat of an achievement – especially as this was my first long walk over night, during one of the worst months of the year, and carrying all necessary equipment. I have no blisters, just stiff legs! Somehow I don’t think this is the end… There now remains some unfinished business to attend to!    Thank you very much for your donations! ******   For those of you that may not be aware, on the 4th & 5th February 2012, I will be taking part in the Cotswold Marathon. The Cotswold Marathon is a Gloucester Scout/Girl Guide hike around the Cotswold Hills at night in February. This is a circular route totalling 36 miles (Gold award) with Bronze and Silver awards covering the first 12 and 18 miles respectively.   My primary task is as a Scout helper ensuring that a Scout Bronze team (including one of my sons) meets its objectives on the night. I have also been persuaded to attempt the whole 36 miles!! This is my first attempt at a long walk over challenging terrain, and only one relatively short practice session remains before the event. I am not as young as I used to be and the practice sessions have brought out a number of physical weakness and blister problems - all of which now seem to have settled down. So it will now (hopefully) just be a case of team morale and mind games. There is nothing that can prepare one for the coldness of 2 am by which time I should have completed 24 miles and should be in bed!!!   -------------------------------------------------------- Update 01/02/12 Well.... as if 36 miles is not enough ....., it now looks like the weather conditions for the weekend are challenging in their own right. The best scenario looks like freezing +/- 3 degrees (cold without snow). However, it now looks increasingly likely that there is going to be a high probability of significant snow some time over the weekend with Friday (3rd Feb) being the favourite at present (just what I need!).  ---------------------------------------------------------    In the process of the walk, I am seeking to raise some money for charity. After all, I will need something worthwhile to focus on whilst enduring a 'degree of pain' whilst walking in these conditions! To this end, I have chosen a local charity – The Sue Ryder Hospice. The Sue Ryder Care hospice cares for people from across Gloucestershire who are living with progressive life-limiting illnesses, along with first class support for family and carers. I have been assured that any donations raised using this web page will be channelled directly to the local Leckhampton Hospice. This charity provides a very valuable service to local people. Any donations, no matter however small, will be very greatly appeciated. Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity. Any donations (no matter how small) will be greatly appreciated Thank you Jeff

36 mile (Gold) Cotswold Marathon 2012 - Jeff Hall

36 mile (Gold) Cotswold Marathon 2012 - Jeff Hall

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