The ‘Four Pedestrians of the Apocalypse’. Morgan Jones is at back left. Photo: Karen Robinson

Morgan Jones shares his Trailwalker highs and lows.

The ‘Four Pedestrians of the Apocalypse’ are an intrepid bunch that were just one of 403 teams intent on completing the 100km Trailwalker challenge - a non-stop race against the clock from Petersfield to Brighton along the South Downs within 30 hours.

The team consisted of my friends Amy, Rich, Hugh and me. After setting off at 6am on the Saturday, we finally reached our destination at Brighton Race Course 25 hours and 7 minutes later.

Training for an event like Trailwalker is easier than you might think. We managed three or four walks of over 40km in the months before the race, and some form of exercise each weekend, but most of our training was choosing to walk at any given opportunity - like always taking the stairs and walking home after a night out. For the walk itself, the support crew is easily as important as the competitors. We made sure there would be food and drink top-ups every 10km plus some much-needed encouragement and blister plasters from our friends and family.

"The walking gets painful once the inevitable blisters start appearing" Photo: Olivia Jones

Trailwalker is a tough event that tests your mental fitness as much as your physical ability. It helps if you’re stubborn! Walking through the night towards the end of the walk is hard for morale, for route finding and for your stubbed toes. The walking gets painful once the inevitable blisters start appearing - but our personal experience had many more highs than lows. The South Downs are spectacular and one of the most beautiful country routes I have seen in England. The Gurkhas and volunteers at the checkpoints are wonderful and full of encouragement, and the feeling at the finish is second to none. The combination of exhaustion, sleepiness and pure elation at finishing makes for an emotional end and a fantastic sense of achievement!

"...a bit of hard work and a lot of silliness on my part can contribute to overcoming poverty." Photo: Olivia Jones

This year Trailwalker is likely to have raised over £800,000 for Oxfam and the Gurkha Welfare Trust, two charities that do amazing work for those in great need. I am thrilled that a bit of hard work and a lot of silliness on my part can contribute to overcoming poverty and suffering. I’m so glad I took part in Trailwalker and I’d recommend it to anyone wanting to make a big difference to themselves, and to the well being of hundreds of people all over the world.

See you there next year!