Cheat 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0…..
Well we’re home again. We’ve been delaying writing this post for a day or so until we decided what was to be done but here it is…
My foot is no better. In fact it’s worse. The rest days did nothing. It’s hurt now for 150 miles and it can’t take any more abuse. We got to Chepstow on Tuesday after 20.7 mostly painful miles and made the decision to take the following day off to think about things alone. We were looked after magnificantly by Roger and Jenny Taylor and for that we are extremely grateful. Our decision, however, was to come home for a few days to sort things out and ultimately to stop the walk. It may sound like a bit of a rushed decision but it is one that we’ve really agonised over.
The problem is that this is no new injury really. It’s an old enemy of mine from my days on the running track. I had an operation on that ankle two years ago which seemed to improve things slightly but although I hung up my running spikes it’s come back to haunt me. It’s been caused by the impact of carrying weight over so many miles so many days. With a few days rest and without a pack I’m pretty sure I could return to doing shorter walks easily but no amount of rest is going to make my foot properly able to cope with the strain (I know, last time I hurt this part of my foot it took well over 3 months before I could run without pain) and it would take us far too long to get to John O’Groats on 10 miles a day. We also don’t want to carry on pretending we’re doing what we set out to do and actually just cheat every other day. We’re obviously both pretty disappointed, it’s been a dream of mine for a long time, we’ve spent all our final year of uni wading through mud in an effort to get fit and the whole thing’s been two years in the planning. Most of all however, we regret the choice we faced because of the support we have had from so many other people. A lot of people, including readers of this blog, have put time, money and love into this enterprise and we only walked 250 miles. That might be seen as a reasonably long walk but it wasn’t what we set out to do and what we told you all we were doing and so for that we apologise.
However, we are not going to just forget it all happened. There were two other elements to this walk and my foot needn’t get in the way of them… Firstly we were raising money for Christian Aid. We have put a lot of our own money into this walk but we have had one or two very generous sponsors who have given us money specifically to fund the accommodation and food costs etc. Any money that either we have been given or we have saved ourselves to fund this walk we will donate to Christian Aid when we get back from John O’Groats…
…yes that’s right. we’re still going to John O’Groats. Like I said, we don’t want to pretend that we’re doing what we set out to do or that we’re changing our plans and that it doesn’t matter, which is why we’re declaring the end of the LEJOG challenge now. We don’t want your support under our false pretences! We are still going to get up to JO’G, we’re just not walking. Our plan is to leave Bristol again this weekend in a car we will then spend the rest of this month driving a certain distance and then stopping somewhere for a few days. We will spend those days taking shorter walks around the area praying for it as we go. You see, before we went to Land’s End I contacted churches up and down the country asking them what their area needed prayer for and so we have a list of prayer points for areas all the way from Cornwall to the HIghlands of Scotland and we WILL go and pray for these places and my foot is not going to stop us. We hope that over the next three weeks we will be able to put in quite a few more miles, they’ll just have to be in shorter bursts, and that maybe we’ll get around the 350 mile mark altogether with the 250 miles we’ve just walked.
So there you are. Hopefully this way Christian Aid will get just as much (perhaps even more!) money from the whole debacle and we will get to do some of what we intended to do even if it doens’t look quite the same as when we set out. We’d like to thank all of you for all the support and if you wish to keep praying for our safety please do. We’d also really like to spend some time praying for other people so if you have any requests let us know and we’ll find somewhere pretty and pray for you! We’ll kep this blog updated but don’t expect any of you to feel obliged to read it any more!
God bless you.
Oh guys sorry to hear bout the walk
Dont worry you’ve done amazingly well and you are not letting anyone down. The last thing anyone would want is for you to cripple yourselves carrying on.
It’s great that you are carrying on to John O’ Groats though, we hope you have just as meaningful a time and enjoy the rest of the journey.
All be thinking of you,
God bless,
Leni and Piers
03 Jul 2008 at 10:07 pm
keep up with Gods work - keep blessing everyone on the route.
03 Jul 2008 at 10:17 pm
A brave decision, and one that must have cost you.
Love you lots.
Muv
03 Jul 2008 at 10:48 pm
Hi Paul and Chloe,
Well done on getting as far as you did. Sounds like you’ve had a pretty rough time with the foot problem. I did a 20 mile walk once for World Aid and it finished me off for a week, with blisters etc. so how on earth you managed to put that mileage in every day I really don’t know. Hats off to you! You set yourselves a huge challenge and did your very best to rise to it. Don’t worry about all your sponsors - we gave because we want to give to the charity anyway. The fact that you haven’t walked from one end of the country to the other makes no difference to us, and I’m sure everyone would say the same. I think you’ve done the right thing. You both go and enjoy yourselves as you travel up to JO’G by alternative methods! We’d still like to see the piccies and the Blogs!
See you in August!
Linda and Ian T.
03 Jul 2008 at 11:46 pm
Hi guys
I’m sure you must feel disappointed right now, but that sounds like a careful and wise decision. Going on to the various places by car and praying will still be an adventure, I’m sure, and very worthwhile. I’m cool about what we’ve given - it’s to a good cause! - and will still eagerly read the blog to find out how you are doing.
I hope that you will really enjoy the rest of the time, and not feel too down about it - it’s still a great achievement, I couldn’t have done it!
lots of love, Linda, Poppy & Mango (Ian can send his own if he wants!)
04 Jul 2008 at 8:47 am
Hey guys,
I’m really sorry to read that you’ve had to stop… but from the sounds of it it seems you’ve made a good choice. I think it’s great that you’re still going to go and carry on the adventure, even if it’s not quite what you expected when you set out.
Hopefully you’ll be happy that you’ve raised so much money, got to know each other better and been within a few miles of Jay-Z (even if he wasn’t physically there yet).
PS if it’s any consolation my foot still hurts after the two packless days of walking i did.
also this reminds me a little bit of cool runnings… you should get lots of people do to a slow clap as you walk the last few steps to JO’G.
04 Jul 2008 at 5:01 pm
Yes, I agree with the comments already made here. I know you’ll be disappointed. However, I really like the imaginative approach, finding ways to carry the vision forward despite the injury. Being willing to be flexible, working out ways to adapt the programme. I know it will sound trite written like this, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised to find the next phase of the project proves even more rewarding as plan b, than plan a. And I hope you get a chance to savour the countryside you venture into, meet lots of people, and have a chance to enjoy some summer weather (as and when it shows up)
Much love Neil and Zoe
04 Jul 2008 at 5:23 pm
Congratulations on getting as far as you did, we’ll all be praying for your ankle.
04 Jul 2008 at 11:36 pm
hey guys,
sorry to hear the walking had to come to an end sooner than you’d hoped. But the change in plans sounds quite exciting and i’m sure u’ll enjoy that as another challenge in itself.
Plus i think it was a good decision to stop as i know how painful that foot of urs has been and i hate seing you hobble around…..so it’s good to stop now and let it heal again.
I love you lots chlo… and you to banks.
Kepp us updated and don’t be too dissapointed coz it’s great you made it that far i kno i woul have given up a long long time before you did haha
take care and god bless
sa xx
06 Jul 2008 at 1:12 pm
Well what a pair of troupers! Chloe I can only imagine the frustration your painful foot has brought you. But how you both are turning the bad stuff that’s coming your way and creating something new out of it is just exactly how we should be living life. Very inspirational! May this always be the way you live your lives together.
Tina Dunne x
06 Jul 2008 at 6:09 pm
Hey guys,
Just read your post. Sounds like you’ve made a wise decision but I know you must be disappointed. Great idea to carry on by different means though and I’m sure you’ll have a great adventure on the next leg too.
The one day I did I found exhausting so doing all that you did is a real achievement so don’t forget that! We still love you and are very proud of you both. I still need to sponsor you and don’t worry I won’t subtract anything!!!
Lots love Hannah & Niall x
06 Jul 2008 at 9:07 pm
Well done guys. Hard decision to make.
Im still thinking of you every day (as is everyone else but my thoughts are pure gold)
Hope it all goes well
steve
07 Jul 2008 at 8:02 am
So the adventure continues…all be it in a slightly different guise to how you planned!
I can only imagine how you feel and the agony of making such a decision, but I’m pleased that you’ve acted wisely and that hopefully no permanent damage has been done. I’m sure the ‘plan B’ will be equally rewarding and potentially challenging. Its great that you will still be able to pray for the communities that have asked for it; and of course the money that you have raised will have a transforming effect on the communities that it goes to. What you have done already will change people’s lives.
Thank you.
So here’s to the next stage of the adventure…may you know God’s peace as you travel.
07 Jul 2008 at 10:43 am