Experience #44

Theme: earth, water: the Great Lake Walk

I initially thought of doing the Tahsis great walk but due to conflicting times with other events chose to do the Cowichan lake walk instead. It is a 56km walk around the Cowichan lake. It started in 2001 by a group of locals (or loco's) who wanted to:

• Promote the Cowichan Lake area to improve tourism, commerce and the economic and civic welfare of the area.
• Promote all legally registered charities by encouraging Great Lake Walk participants to raise pledges and collect funds for the charities and causes of their choice.

Since then, they have had an average of 300-400 individuals participating in the event yearly. Simon and I chose to raise funds for the Hospice Society for their fine work and for my Mom, who passed away in their care 3 years ago. Friends, Sabrina and Lisa, were brave/foolish and committed to join us on this experience. I also saw a choir member, Ian, who was doing this event for the second time.

We got up at 2am and picked the girls up and drove up to Youbou where the event would start at 5am sharp. Like any other race, you could pick out the professional athletes and the novices. We sang Oh Canada and started of on our adventure. The lights of the people on the road made for an odd shaped Christmas tree. The going was good; the air cool; the skies clear. The time flew by, at first. We averaged about 5.3 km/hour. I think we slowed down a bit by the last 15 km, but all in all we made good time. Up until 30 km, we felt great! By then our muscles were tired and we could feel the aches in our gluts and hamstrings. Our feet began to feel overly warm, and we knew we'd have a few blisters by the end of the day. At about 40 km we encountered "the hill". It was not steep but it went on for more than 2 km and 100 m in elevation gain.

Down the other side and onto asphalt for the last 12 km. This was when we hit "the wall". The sun, the hard terrain and the fact we had been walking for about 9 hours by that time, our bodies were done. Simon tried to cheer me on at the 50 km rest stop by stating that we were in our last HOUR of walking. LAST HOUR!?! I sorta lost it and said let's stay quite for a while as I can't even imagine continuing for another hour-or words to that effect. Simon, the good man that he is, took charge and walked ahead of me quietly and kept me going. We arrived at the finish line #148/149 at 10:47 hours. We were spent! We drank more fluids and ate without appetite, and waited for our friends. Sabrina and Lisa were #163/164. They made it! Ian was #76! Great going Ian!

Sabrina's family were all there to cheer her and invited us to go out but Simon, Lisa and I were just too tired. We all went home to a hot bath and bed. Sabrina went out and had some wine and dinner and then a free ride in an ambulance! She became dehydrated and "sorta passed out"! She recounted this as part of the adventure, laughing and commenting on the good looking ambulance attendant! What amazing spirit!

They all made me vow NEVER TO DO THIS AGAIN! and I agree. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt!