Extreme rambling

12:21pm Wednesday 4th June 2008

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A PAIR of extreme ramblers are aiming to land themselves in the Guinness Book of World Records by completing an off-the-wall challenge.

Dorchester duo Mark Watson, 44, and Dave Good, 41, plan to walk Hadrian's Wall in less than 40 hours to raise £2,000 for the Weldmar Hospicecare Trust.

They will march along the 84-and-a-half mile route at top speed from July 25 to 27, pausing only for refreshment breaks.

Their logistics team of Richard Mortimer and Jonathan Randall will keep them going as they negotiate the tricky trail in the dead of night.

Mark said: "People might think of this as a bit of a stroll but the kind of walking we are going to be doing is very hard work."

A few years ago Mark completed the route in an unofficial time of 33-and-a-half hours.

He said: "Normally people would walk the wall in a week, but we are going to be doing it non-stop.

"Last time I did it my knees swelled up like they were water polo balls.

"It's a challenge for anyone to do this but when you get to a certain age it sends out a message that we are all capable of doing things."

Mark, a mature student, met technician Dave at Weymouth College where he studies masonry.

He said: "We will have to be walking four or five miles an hour and it will be tough because we'll be walking up hill and downhill across all sorts of terrain.

"I've always done endurance walking and this is a chance for us to help a well known local charity that does a sterling job."

The two men are now in training for the record-breaking attempt.

They have received support from many local businesses, including Howard Johnson Associates, Godfrey Electricians and the Wedding Time Bridal Studio.

Mark said: "Twice a week we're going to be training by doing a minimum of 12 miles in two and a bit hours.

"The real challenge when we go up there will be walking beyond the 50-mile mark, then we'll know if we've been walking the distance at enough speed for the record."

To sponsor Mark and Dave, visit www.justgiving.com/ weldmarhadrianswallwalk.