Well! With less than a week to go, the nerves are starting to kick in. All training is now complete and this week will be spent trying to eat as many carbs, hydrating and getting our kit together.
It looks like the weather is not going to be great but as long as we prepare ourselves then it shouldn't be a problem.

The last team training took place during the night on Friday 29th June. After work we travelled up to Brecon and then walked along the Brecon Canal to Talybont. A quick stop for a beer in the White Hart and then along the Taff Trail back to Merthyr. It was good to get a night walk in and the weather played its part too with the rain lashing down for most of the night. We completed the 21miles around 2am - a good test, mostly stamina.

3 of the team took part in probably our last large training walk on Saturday 2nd June. 40 miles along the 'Welsh Coastal Path' from Oxwich Bay to Porthcawl. It turned out to be a very tough walk mostly along roads with a few dunes thrown in. All 3 of us were hurting a bit by the end but managed to complete it in less than 13 hours. The Welsh Coastal Path is embarassing in large parts around this area with it leading through heavily-industrial estates and through back alleys - not much in the way of views!

Jamie and Bec in part of the picturesque Coastal Path! 

Bec taking in some liquid and Byron looking like he is insane



I (Jamie) hiked for 36+miles on Bank Holiday Monday on my own in the torrential rain and mud and it was not a pleasant experience. It has to be the hardest thing I have ever done and it has hit home exactly how tough this challenge will be!

With only 9 weeks to go, the training needs to now be intense and we need to start making sure we all have the correct kit.

Saturday and Sunday saw the team take to the actual route for a reconisence mission to experience the 'night stages'. Once we parked the chariot at our abode, the Centurions trekked from CP6 through to CP9, reading the map and making sure we noted important landmarks and bits of grass which we will pinpoint on the actual walk.
We would highly recommend everyone who hasn't taken part previously train along the parts of the route which they envisage walking in the dark - it will be beneficial on the actual challenge.

It was quite a tough day and we didn't cover the miles we really wanted (19miles) to but all the same, enjoyable and worth every minute. We finished the day staring up at the hill out of CP9 and turning around and frequenting The Juggs in Kingston for a well-earned brew (or 2). As the dusk dawned, our VERY kind host from The Rising Sun in Upper Beeding then came all of the way over to pick us up and return to our accommodation.
A quick shower and change of clothes and the 4 of us were sat in the delightful bar at The Riser where we spent a few hours discussing the day and how hard we think the challenge will be.
On Sunday we decided to walk from The Riser backwards along the route to CP5 and then return (16miles) before returning to South Wales on Sunday evening.

All-in-all quite a tough weekend but worthwhile. Thanks to Barry and Sue from The Riser who made us very welcome and were kind enough to come and pick us up from The Juggs on Saturday - very hospitable!

Memorable quotes from the weekend:
Byron - "62miles is a long way"
Byron - "Bec, can I borrow your hair-dryer"
Bec - "I don't like Bacon- it's too piggy"
Jamie - "Which way now Byron", Byron-"How do I know?", Jamie-"You're holding the map", Byron-"Oh Yeah"


Memorable moments from the weekend:
Byron and Bec standing right under the 6ftx6ft sign for The Juggs pub whilst studying their phones trying to find out where the pub was whilst Jamie and Eddie were shouting at them from the beer garden. Even then they wanted to carry on walking down the road! Technology eh?

Our 'Chariot' - thanks to our kind boss who lent us this for the weekend. 

Jamie, Byron and Bec in our training t-shirts along the route 

Byron talking to Eddie in The Riser's bar 

 Eddie taking a breather

This IS the South Downs and NOT a road in Alabama 

What's that coming over hill, is it a monster?

No it's Eddie!

'Jack'....or 'Jill' - one of the 2 windmills on CP8

Jamie hiked up Snowdon on Saturday, training for the 3 Peaks challenge coming up in May and then walked 15 miles on the Sunday morning.
We are hopefully walking 30 or so miles this Saturday down on the Trailwalk route, starting at CP7 and walking to the end and returning to Upper Beeding. The plan is to get up Sunday and walk the opposite direction.

Not a lot has happened over the past 2 weeks due to work and Bank-holiday.
I myself spent 5 days painting my house which I consider useful training for the Trailwalk - mental attitude training, trying to focus on getting the job done and I think the fact that I did manage to finish it stands me in good prep for the walk!!

The team are travelling down to Upper Beeding on Sat 21st April and plan on walking CP7 to CP9 and back on the Saturday and a sprightly 20 mile or so on the Sunday. Really looking forward to it.

Travelled to Petersfield today for the Trailwalker meeting which we found enjoyable. It was useful to hear previous participants talk about their experience and to also get some good tips.

We came away feeling very positive about our current level of training and feel that we are on track. This is by no means taking away from how hard this challenge is but we know that if we keep training hard then we stand a good chance of finishing the 100km in a good time.

It was good to hear tips on binding the feet, eating and drinking the correct amounts and how important the Support Crews will be.

This is NOT "Just Walking" as someone has previously stated!!

Really looking forward to it now

£1000 raised online so far - Fantastic News!

We are now half way to reaching our target
Many thanks everyone

32miles completed yesterday by Jamie, Byron and Bec. A mixture of pavement, beach, coast and rock climbing from Porthcawl > Ogmore > Nash Point Lighthouse and back.
Hard work but VERY enjoyable in the gorgeous weather. We struggled towards the end and then it hit home that this was only half of the distance that we will be walking come July. Oh my Word!

Jamie and Byron attempting the stepping-stone challenge over the estuary 

Bec and Jamie returning to Porthcawl as the sun sets 

 Bec, queuing for ice-creams. Lovely on such a warm day

 Byron and Bec modelling the S&G Centurions training t-shirts

The first £500 has been raised on our fundraising page which is fantastic news!

No Team training this weekend.
Jamie got up early, parked up at Storey Arms and wandered around the beacons for 21+ miles. VERY tough with plenty of climbs and drops. Have blisters where I haven't previously

http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/gPxGQtyUUGw

Endomondo Hiking Workout

Endomondo Hiking Workout: was out hiking 19.12 miles in 6h:57m:59s using Endomondo.

Well, it's the morning after our longest walk to date and I personally feel absolutely fine. Apart from a sunburnt head!

Stunning views from the top of Table Mountain 

Jamie doing that time-honoured tradition of sitting atop a Trig Point 

 Not sure if Eddie needs the poles to help hold him up or not!

Jamie looking at a map 

Bec giving Zuffa some much needed water

more pics from today's walk....

Jamie, Byron and mutt

'The lads' - Byron, Eddie and Jamie

I sit here with a glass of wine by the side of me and my feet soaking in a bowl of salty water - oh and I've also got a sunburnt head!
The team completed a somewhat challenging hike in Crickhowell today, climbing up and around Table Mountain and along the ridge, dropping back into the lovely little village of Llanbedr. A total of 19.12 miles. 19.12 miles of climbing up and down and through bogs, mountain paths and roads. Hard on the feet but worthwhile all the same. It was an absolutely stunning day (my burnt head and neck are testament to this) and even though we only walked less than 1/3 of the Trailwalker total, I think it was a good workout. Not looking forward to waking up in the morning though!!

The team - VERY early on!

Just getting over the last of the climbs according to the map - Oh No! Many more in front of us! 

 Eddie breathing in for camera......

Slobber-Chops Zufflar 

...and the winner of the best expression goes to....

this is a clip of most of the route - its in the farthest point you can see

Training is starting to pick up a pace. We are trying to undertake a night walk during the week nights. Jamie and Bec did 7 miles night-walking through the Beacons last Tuesday.

Up early in preparation for our team walk today. The idea is to complete a 20 mile trek up and around crickhowell. Further updates to follow later

A mixture of Trailwalker and 3-Peaks training last night for Jamie. A night walk up through the Brecon Beacons when the sun was going down.

Further individual training sessions have taken place over the past couple of weeks. Eddie has been pounding the Taff trail which is providing hard training as the terrain is hard under foot. Jamie also has completed 14 miles down the Taff Trail and also an 8-mile night walk. Byron has been sweating over his cross-trainer and Bec has once again walked through bogs. I think it is fair to say that Bec will not be in charge of navigation on our walk!

Our next scheduled Team walk is on Sunday 11th March when we hope to complete a 19mile hike in the hills above Crickhowell. This will be followed by a 25-30 mile walk on the Welsh coast 2 weeks later. The next team walk will then be our night-walk.

On Saturday 18th Feb, 3 of the team (plus Mrs Jones and Zuffa-the-mascot) had a lovely early-morning stroll along the Welsh coast - not all of it, just 12miles or so. Started off at Nash Point Lighthouse, just East of Ogmore and then followed the coastal path into Ogmore and returned. It was an absolutely beautiful morning with a crisp morn. There is probably nothing better than walking by the sea.

Jamie didn't join the team as he spent the weekend walking in Devon, completing a testing 15-miler on the Saturday from Mortehoe to Croyde Bay and back.

Further individual training sessions this week. Bec visited the beautiful Rhossilli beach and Jamie hiked amongst the Brecon Beacons.You know it's cold when all of the running water supplies are frozen solid.
 Its hard for the team to train together due to Byron and Eddie working weekends. I think we need to get a few long walks under our belts very soon. #littlebitworried

We have raised over £300 so far which is fantastic news but we still need to raise a lot more. Thanks everyone!

Pen-y-Fan on Saturday morning

Byron and Jamie

Zuffa - officially the highest dog in the UK, south of Snowdon

Eddie and Jamie

Byron trying to book a taxi

Eddie (the Eagle) and Bec

It looks like we are walking on the moon!

MONDAY 30th JANUARY
Training starting to heat up now. As well as our team training, as individuals we are putting the miles in also. We now need to 'up our game' and put a monster walk in - and soon

SATURDAY 28th JANUARY
Our second team training walk today - and what a day!
We started off at 8am with a hike up CornDu and Pen-y-Fan and the weather was out of this world. Snow on the mountain with sun shining down and not a whisper of wind - absolutely gorgeous. For those who have been up there, you will know how good the views are. From Pen-y-Fan, we trailed across the ridge and over the top towards Pontsticll. Unfortunately, this included walking through what can only be described as bogs. Sometimes slipping knee-deep in this horrible mud did not hinder us and all-in-all provided a very stern workout. We only covered 10 miles in total but it was quite tough going.
I'm glad to say that my boots and my new '1000 mile' socks held up remarkably and I shall be purchasing another pair of those for the main event in July.
Highlight of the day was hearing that Eddie was up to his armpits in the mud and struggled to get out. Pity only Byron was around to see this as I'd imagine it would have been worth saving on a camera!
We finished the walk off with a well-earned pint in the Red Cow drinking establishment.

This was the view this morning from the top of Pen-y-Fan - Stunning!

We now have our own Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/SG-Centurions-Trailwalker-2012/326165984073438?sk=wall

Byron has been out and about this week, trying to get some miles under belt. The snow has hit us today but hopefully will not hinder our planned training walk on Saturday. The idea is to have a quick 10 miles on Saturday morning through the Brecon Beacons

Endomondo Hiking Workout

Endomondo Hiking Workout: was out hiking 2.58 km in 35m:43s using Endomondo.

MONDAY 23rd JANUARY
Jamie decided it would be a valuable experience to try a walk in the dark so armed with a head torch, headed up Pen-y-Fan....on his own....in the pitch black. Not a terribly good idea especially when the mist came in towards the top - it's amazing how scary how the slightest sound can be when you are all alone on a mountain. The descent took about half the time of the ascent. Memo to self - don't do this on your own again!

SUNDAY 22nd JANUARY
Jamie joined the other 'Three Peaks' team on Sunday morning in their training session. Another walk up our local mountain, Pen-y-Fan was the order of the day. It is only the second time the Three-Peaks team has got together and this session was to improve on the first and to increase the pace. All of the team managed it to the top even though it was a very windy day.

Jamie's total miles covered since the first training session = 36 miles
Need to get more miles under our belts!

SATURDAY 21st JANUARY
Byron and Jamie had another early start to climb up Pen-y-Fan. Even though the weather wasn't very good, we started off just as the daylight was coming up and got up Pen-y-Fan in around 45mins. It was so windy on the ridge that there were times when we had to steady ourselves in fear of being knocked off our feet.
Once at the top, Byron headed straight back down whilst Jamie dropped over to the Cribyn and then walked down past the Neuadd Reservoirs and into Pontsticill and then home. A 15mile jaunt and has the blisters to show for it.

WEDNESDAY 18th JANUARY The team held a meeting today to try and thrash out some fundraising ideas. It turns out that even though this is a monster challenge for us, raising enough money may prove to be the hardest part! Various ideas bounced around the table and the suggestion of auctioning ourselves off as slaves even came up!! Not sure getting £2.50 for one of us to be a slave is worth it! Any fundraising ideas are more than welcome. Some good news materialised today though- Mike Donovan sort of agreed to be a support team member which is fantastic

TUESDAY 17th JANUARY
Jamie's new boots arrived yesterday. A nice pair of Meindl Mountain boots although he is unsure if the fit is right or not. He is already trying to break-in a pair of NorthFace Hedgehog trainers and now needs to win the lottery to pay for all of the gear he has bought since xmas.

TUESDAY 17th JANUARY
We have decided that all those who donate will be entered into a draw and a prize will be given to the first name out of the hat. Unsure as to what the prize will be, it may be a lovely bottle of plonk or it may be a set of our sweaty socks.

SUNDAY 15th JANUARY
Another training session for 2 of us. Byron and Jamie walked up Pen-y-fan in the Brecon Beacons, starting at 8am. An enjoyable walk even though it was very cold and windy.

The walk was part of the first training session for another challenge being undertaken by a team from our work. We have entered a team in the 3-peak challenge in May in aid of Tenovus and this was a little sample to see if people think they could manage it. More on the 3-Peak Challenge to follow at a later date.