FOUR Bere Alston Trekkers took part in an event last weekend that was to push them to their limits. 

The event was the Wellington Boot which is hosted by the Long Distance Walkers' Association and is a 100km (62.5mile) walk/run from Wellington in Somerset crossing the Quantocks, the Brendon hills and the Blackdown hills, passing the Wellington Monument and rising to 1,000ft on three occasions.

The object of the event is to complete a circular route of 100km with 7,200 foot of climb within 26 hours, starting and finishing at Wellington. Of the 100 or so entries there were less than a dozen runners.

The route ascended the Quantocks, then went through the Brendon Hills and part of the Exmoor National Park to reach Clatworthy Reservoir, then south through West Somerset and part of Devon; then it was back over the Blackdown Hills where the runners ran to the Wellington Monument before returning to Wellington. Runners were issued with a route description but interpreting it required a great deal of concentration imagination.

As is common in LDWA events there was a variable start time with walkers setting off first and runners starting later. Bats went off in two teams with Nathan Newton and Ken Kingston in one and Rachel Wood and Julian Setterington in the other. All competitors had to carry their own supplies including food and water, head torches for the long night ahead and anything else they may need to get them through the event with the additional loads on the back making things even tougher. 

A couple of river crossings meant that feet remained wet during the event causing blisters and making feet sore and with the hours spent making their way along the self-navigating route meant that their endurance was pushed to the limit.

Nathan and Ken completed 90km of the event in 19 hours where they then retired and Rachel and Julian completed the 100km in a staggering 21 hours. 

This was a really difficult event and the team are to be applauded for their great efforts.