The beginning

It all started with a simple question: "would you like to go on a walk with me?"

We were having a few beers at a low key social event when my friend posed the question somewhat nonchalantly. I just assumed he wanted to talk about something. Guys aren't always good at that sort of thing so I figured that if he wanted to talk, the least I could do is go for a walk and have a listen.

"Sure", I replied, "when did you have in mind?" (Bearing in mind we were at a social event, a walk right then and there seemed inappropriate.)

"I'll get back to you", he replied.

Over the next few weeks, it emerged that the walk he had in mind was the Caledonian Challenge, a 54 mile hike over the Scottish Highlands. The cut-off time is 24 hours. By that time, he'd enlisted a few more friends (it's a team event) using similar techniques, and we were committed.

I bought come hiking boots, which I quickly had to trade in for some hiking shoes as the boots gave me terrible achilles tendinitis, and we started training. The training walks were great fun. Rambling over the Surrey countryside with a bunch of friends gives you a new appreciation for how beautiful the world can be. I'd never visited the Scottish Highlands before, but when the event finally arrived, I remember being quite shocked by the stark contrast between the rugged Highlands and the gentle rolling hills of Surrey.

We finished in 22.5 hours. It was tough, but a fantastic experience. You learn something about yourself and your friends when hiking through unknown terrain in the pitch dark at three in the morning.

What does a hike have to do with ultra-running? It's quite simple really. As we lined up at the start of the hike, we noticed a small group of people in shorts and running shoes. When the the rest of us started walking, they started running. As we were walking I learned that there is always a small group of runners at the event, and that the first of them would cross the finish line in about 8 hours.

At 5 o'clock that evening, with another 14 to 16 hours of hiking, through the night, ahead of us, I realized that the first runners would now be crossing the finish line. As we hiked on, they'd be enjoying a piping hot bath and a good nights sleep.

And that is when the seed was planted.