The Hike can be an amazing journey for people, the following comments have been collected by email.

Mark Bayliss, Stafford, 15 hrs 30 mins
just wanted to say thanks to all the organisers and volunteers - much appreciated.
The weather made it much more fun than last year (especially the moonlight)

Norma Rea & David Ewart, Belfast, 11 hrs 39 mins
We travelled over from Ireland to compete in the event and thoroughly enjoyed it. The atmosphere was great and the organisation superb. I think the event really benefits from being a Scout organised event - you get the feeling that it is very much part of the local community. Thanks to everyone to made it such a great experience.
I suspect the story of pushing ourselves to the top one one particular summit to discover a CARAVAN had made it there before us will be retold many times - impressive.

James Rennison, Kemberton, 16 hrs 49 mins
I must say I think the event was again excellently organised including sorting out the weather. WELL DONE!
The only problem was I missed breakfast as our team were too fast this year and finished before it started.
Many thanks.
P.S. please do not accept my application next year.

Diana Parsons, Church Stretton, 17 hrs 54 mins
A big thank you to all the people who help with the hike both behind the scenes and at the check points. I really enjoyed it especially having some flap jack at woodgate and toffees on the top of the stiperstones.
This is the second time I have done the Hike (last year was the first) and there appears to be a lack of benches/chairs for the stiperstones carpark check point) Is there a chance of some more ?
Thank you again.

Malcolm Harrison, Weybridge, 19 hrs 4 mins
A big thanks to all the organisers of the event, from our point of view it was fantastic, as team Severn Internet we were three novices who had done some training, but evidently not enough! What a challenge, looking back on it now, I think I can almost say that I enjoyed it!
We finished the hike which was great and would like to say thanks to the fellow competitors who helped along the way, either with tips for navigation, or motivation, like “once you’ve done Corndon” you’ve broken the back of it!!! We’ll put it down to motivational talking! A big thanks and once again great organisation.

Gareth Jones, Church Stretton, 16 hrs 21 mins
I’d just like to say, whilst the aches and pains of the hike keep things fresh in my mind, how fantastic the whole event was from the entry procedure right through to the fine breakfast on Sunday morning - perfect. Thank you so much to everyone involved in making the event so enjoyable, particularly the check-point people, every one of whom was a relief to see.
Thanks also to my team-mates, John, Julie, Ian, Jane and Martin for making my first attempt such a happy and successful one. Here’s to more in the future.

James Smith, Cleobury Mortimer, 13 hrs 5 mins
Please accept my very grateful thanks to all the people who gave up all that time. So much support and kindness.
My best bits were the sprint finish...well it felt like a sprint....and the four scoop coffee at Stiperstones....oh and spending time with people with disturbingly similar unnatural tendencies.
Worst bits were the realisation that at 6 hours I had another 6 hours to go....my mouth after 20 go gels....putting my hand on a muddy stile near Welsh Cottage and wiping it on my hair and trousers only to realise it wasn't mud.
Thanks for the dedication shown by all the support teams.

Adam Fox, Frodesley, 14 hrs 24 mins
Absolutely amazing race. Hardest thing I have ever done but another event ticked off. The weather until around 5:00pm was just horrific and at that point the prospect of another 10hrs running/walking was awful!!
Brilliant event that is made by such great organizers and helpful people at every checkpoint. Many thanks.

Simon Daws, Ironbridge, 10 hrs 26 mins
I would just like to thank all those involved in the organisation of this years hike. The event seems to get better every year. The friendly faces at the controls are fantastic. Fancy spending your Saturday night in a tent on the Long Mynd? They are madder than we are running 50mls!

Paul Jennings, Malpas, 11 hrs 13 mins
To everyone that helped to organise and run this year's Long Mynd Hike - a massive thank you.
This was my first long distance event (apart from the Pumlumon Challenge three weeks ago but that was ONLY 27 miles) and I loved every minute of it. I was hoping to break 15 hours and was ecstatic when I finished in a time of 11hrs 14mins. The course was great and everyone was really friendly, especially all the helpers, volunteers and tea makers. Even the wet and windy weather failed to dampen spirits.
Once again, thank you, thank you. See you in 2010!

Mark Kynaston, Stourbridge, 17 hrs 17 mins
I would just like to say a very big thank you to you all for making my first hike such a safe one. I was very impressed with the efficiency and all the safety procedures in place. It gave me huge comfort. Thank you to all the volunteers who manned the check points especially those at the refreshment stops. You were all very kind, professional, encouraging and buoyant, just what someone with sore feet and aching limbs needs at 3.00 in the morning. Thank you one and all.

Louise Dermont, Shrewsbury, 15 hrs 30 mins
Completed my second hike and thoroughly enjoyed it, enormous blisters notwithstanding! Weather was perfect by the evening, although nearly gave up at Bridges when it was pouring down. I just about survived last year and couldn't face the rain again!! Excellent organisation and lots of moral support en route. It's a toughie but worth the pain.

Chris Price, Minsterley, 15 hrs 26 mins
Please pass on my congratulations and sincere thanks to everyone involved for another superb hike. It was only my second hike but everything was so well organised. Walking into the early hours on such a beautiful full moonlit night was fantastic after the horrible rain we experienced last year. The breakfast was once again excellent and much appreciated.
Sleeping arrangements were squeezed to the limit however and I slept in the corridor along with quite a few other chaps. That will teach me to arrive earlier to bag a spot! Perhaps another male classroom is needed next year.
I was very impressed with the efficiciency of the admin printing the certificates for collection after breakfast.
My thanks again to everyone who contributed to such a great event.

Tracey & Alan Hayward, Telford, 13 hrs 5 mins
Thanks to all those at the check points, what a pleasure they were..............We had a great time, the organisation was fantastic from start to finish we really cannot fault you all at all!
Best way to spend 13 hours!!!!!!!!!

Emma Jones, Poole, 15 hrs 41 mins
Thanks for a wonderfully well organised event.
Congratulations to my fellow hikers through the night - Jane (555) and David, both competing for the first time. Flawless navigation by David and endless good humour by Jane despite knee injuries meant the night walking was very enjoyable.
Well done for arranging a full moon, and a dry night! And my thanks to all those helpful checkpointers dishes out masses of hot tea and encouragement.

Karen Higgins 147, Shrewsbury, 19 hrs 18 mins
The single most difficult thing I’ve ever done. Nearly packed it in at Shelve but so glad I stuck with it, amazing what the body can do if you push it. Wanted to complete in under 20 hours so chuffed with 19hrs 33mins.
Thank you for organising the event so well and for the efforts of all the volunteers. But also a big thank you to my two friends who were not going to let me drop out and got me through, Meg and Nu THANK YOU! So so glad I did it.

Craig Henn, Church Stretton, 18hrs 42mins
Another great hike and thankfully better weather than last year.
Thanks to all those who gave us support on our way round and to the volunteers on check points who do a fantastic job every year. Well done Martin and Jane who were with us for their first hike, to Tanya for not giving up at Woodgate Farm and to Jen for leading the way and setting the pace !
Well done to Si White who came in only just over the 8 hours – brilliant run. Its in the bag next year mate.
As for myself, I said “never again” when contemplating giving up with 12 miles to go and what felt like blisters the size of golf balls. Two days later, the pain has eased and perhaps it wasn’t that bad after all..........

Nick Evans 541, Stoke on Trent, 22 hrs 58 mins
What a fantastic walk this year. Everything is organized to such a high standard I cannot believe how professional you all are.
I am by no means a keep fit fanatic and do not enter any other events, however this event just draws me time and time again.
My first encounter was in 1989 (retired after 30ish miles) , then in 2003 (completed 23hrs and 24mins) and then in 2004 (retired again after 32 miles).
This year I decided to raise money for cancer relief and this spured me on to finish in 22hrs 58 mins.
I don’t know how to thank you all for keeping this tremendous event alive but I can assure you it means more to me everytime I attempt it.
Thank you so so much and I wish you all the very best for the future.

John Carrington, Towcester, 20 hrs 26 mins
I was hiker 159 in this year's event - a 53 year old "virgin" of Longmynd. Four of us entered as a group - the "Over The Hill Gang" and finished together in 20 hours and 26 minutes. The organisation, the challenge & the feeling of elation on completion were immense - I can't praise those involved, particularly the Checkpoint crews, enough.
Low point - Bridges at 12 miles and realising I should have carried 12 pairs of socks!
High point - Shelve at 27 miles, when meeting two Irish guys who knew how to treat my blisters!
This was a great event. Thank you.

Simon Gregg, Amazing Feet Running Club - Kidderminster
I'd just like to say how friendly the atmosphere was around the course. I met up with a friend and his mate at Stiperstones and ran through the night back to Stiperstones, and all the marshal's, other runners, and people out on the hills were all really friendly, and offered so much support to all the group, even me who wasn't doing the event, although some did question my sanity being out there for 'fun'. The teams at the checkpoints all had time for the challengers, and did their upmost to help them.
I am certainly tempted to enter next year!

Alec White, Llandrinio, 15 hrs 14 mins
Just to say a big thankyou to all the volunteers who manned the checkpoints through the night, and everyone else involved. A fantastic event

James Tattley, London, 16 hrs 24 mins
Just wanted to say thanks for a really well-organised event. The few low points - horizontal rain after Pole Bank, that long cold drag down into the valley from Pole Cottage - were nothing compared to the highs: the view from the top of Earls Hill at dusk, hiking by moonlight, the atmosphere at the checkpoints (and particularly the biscuits at Shelve), and finally hitting the top of Ragleth. A few days on, the aches have pretty much gone, but I'm still re-living the best bits. I seem to remember saying 'never again' as I limped into the showers, but I have a feeling I might end up reconsidering….

Thanks again - especially to all the checkpoint volunteers.

Gary Rutherford, Melton Mowbray, 14 hrs 42 mins
I participated in the hike on Sat/Sun for the first time. Thank you very much for making it an excellent experience for me. The organisation was second to none. All the staff at registration, kit check and all check points were more than helpful and cheered me up at every encounter.
I will definitely be looking to take part next year and will be reccommending the hike to all my friends! Hopefully by then my toes will have regained some feeling!

Alan Davies, Kingswinford, 20 hrs 26 mins
I would like to start by thanking everyone involved with organising the Hike. To say that I enjoyed it may be going a bit too far but it was certainly an experience I shall never forget - for all the good reasons.
All aspects of the organisation of the event were first class, from the initial registration and kit check to the breakfast in the school afterwards. I suppose one should expect this after over forty years' experience but it was very, very welcome, all the same. All the volunteers I met were, without fail, encouraging, cheerful and helpful. I felt that they were there to help ME and at all times I felt safe. How do they all manage this in the downpour we walked through, the strong winds that assaulted us and in the wee small hours of the night? I believe that they could have a great future in teaching customer service relations! The tea that was served (at all CPs) was, without doubt, the best I have ever tasted - how do you achieve such consistency? The one aspect of which I had no direct experience, thankfully, was that of dropping out - but what I saw of how this was handled was impressive - efficient, slick even.
I suppose that in order to validate my praise I ought to make some critical comments as well, but it has taken quite an effort to come up with any. We were led to believe that the route from the top of Corndon would be waymarked - when we discovered it wasn't the marshal at that CP pointed us in the right direction anyway.
Once again, my heartfelt thanks.

Grant Wilson (retired at Woodgate)
Hi, Just to say that I thought the event was superbly organised from start to finish. The catering at the checkpoints was also excellent with such cheerful people serving, and the breakfast on Sunday morning was first class.
A massive thank you to everyone involved and I look forward to next year's event, when I hope to do a little better.

Alan Champion, Bridgnorth, 18hrs 2mins
I walked more slowly than I thought I would, going with a novice friend who was happier at that pace.
Worst hill - unsurprisingly, probably along with many others, the Mynd, 1st time, due to the wind and rain.
Best hill - all the others, having no problems. But I suppose especially Ragleth because I surprised myself by going from road to top without stopping, even overtaking a few people.
Best parts - as usual the friendly reception at checkpoints. I love the cheerfulness at the summits o matter the time or conditions. Very pleasant to get a friendly reception and lemonade at the Stiperstones pub - very welcome after a boring bit of road.

Giles Madin, Pontesbury, 12 hrs 3 mins
This was my first hike in over18 years, a few friends managed to persuade me which seemed a good idea at the time! As a motivating factor I thought I have to beat my previous time. I am glad to say I did but with a fair bit of training over the Shropshire Hills - what a great county we have. During the night stage I was teamed up with some brilliant guys - Nick and Mark and later on Paul – all of whom do this sort of thing frequently throughout the year and are clearly on a different level to me. In my opinion they are truly "nuts" regularly doing these events but it was a privilege to be part of their group.
The low was going up to Stiperstones in the howling wind and ran – the high - running a section near to Black Rhadley with torches off in the moonlight – simply brilliant.
A special thanks to all those who supplied cups of tea those who came and cheered me on and my friends who persuaded me to do it - they all completed it.

Stuart Lambie, Pulverbatch, 16hrs 26 mins
Many thanks to all involved in organizing this great event – my first time and a great experience! Blessed by good weather (apart from a thorough soaking coming off the Longmynd from Pole Bank) and with great walking companions (you know who you are), no need to consult a map over the whole 50 miles, thanks to great preparation by a good friend who tutored us and practiced with us on the route (yes Al, that’s you!).
Never having attempted anything like this before, I was working on the theory that one mile for every year I’ve lived on the planet couldn’t be such a problem! In the end I was very glad to see Church Stretton from the top of Ragleth (but who is the Sadist that thought of that at the end of the route!). A great day and night – thanks to the nice young lady at Woodgate who told us we were doing great – much needed encouragement at that point as the joints were starting to creak. I WILL be back for more in 2010.

Peter Davies, Much Wenlock, 17 hrs 20 mins
It must be the hardest thing I have ever done, but worth the effort. My friend Jon and I were grouped at Bank Farm with Brian Harwood of Bedford LDWA plus Mark and James from Liverpool. Brian was fantastic and as a 4 time veteran of the event supported, guided and cajoled the rest of us around the course. Without him things would have been much harder. Thanks Brian!