THE MOONWALK LONDON 2016

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Hallelujah. I’m finally starting to get the feeling back in my legs. Thank God.

Moonwalk London you have made an enemy with my body, but best pals with my soul.

As I type, Team Disco Diva are frantically sending 20 whatsapp messages per minute ‘SIGN UP IS OPEN FOR NEXT YEAR’S MOONWALK’ ‘LETS SIGN UP NOW?!!?!’

My body is scowling at me as I entertain the idea, so I thought it may be a good idea to get down all the reasons why The Moonwalk London is a fantastic event to take part in.

Heck, it may even persuade you to join the fray too.

 

1.IT’S BRILLIANTLY ORGANISED.

From one events organiser to another – well done, you smarty pants. This was a brilliantly executed event, from the pre-event comms all the way to the finish line. It ran as smooth as a baby’s bottom with zero hiccups. In fact, we were able to start the race early, that’s how on fleek they were this year.

It’s no small feat hosting a marathon in the middle of London in the dead of the night. Throw in 15,000 participants, two different race courses and several start times and you’ve got yourself a tricky combination of logistics.

Round of applause Walk the Walk team.

 

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2. FESTIVAL ATMOSPHERE

Moonwalk City. It doesn’t fail to disappoint. And yes, it’s as sparkly as the name suggests.

Arriving at 8pm as the sun is setting to be greeted by booming music and a giant festival tent is the best kinda way to start a marathon. In fact, by the time I’d done a few dances to ‘I Will Survive’, toyed with the idea of having my photo taken with the buff carnival models and got all excited about the array of giant carnival swans, I’d forgotten all about the marathon bit.

It was only when I started vasaline-ing my feet up (uh huh, gross) that I remembered ‘oh yeah, gotta walk 26.2 miles in an hour. Mega lols.’ 

But even when the race begins, the par-tay does not stop there. Throughout the 7 hours and 15 mins of walking, we passed different bands and entertainment just to give us walkers that extra buzz we needed to complete the course. This may seem like a small, insignificant detail, but don’t forget I’m talking 2am/3am/4am.

 

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3. GETTING DRESSED UP & FEELING LIKE A SASSY PANTS

Now let me be clear.

You don’t HAVE to get dressed up. There’s plenty of walkers who choose the standard active wear options.

But Team Disco Diva are not standard active wear people. Nah ah. We decide our own theme each year and spend an entire 8 months planning exactly how we’re gonna look fabulous on the special evening. This includes a full day schedule of hair and make up and prep of the utmost precision.

And yes, you may feel silly on the train up there as commuters stare at your crimped hair and glitter covered faces and shiny spaceman leggings, but once you enter that Moonwalk City you honestly feel like the coolest cat in town. We were greeted by whoops and cheers and high fives and ‘GREAT LEGGINGS LADIES‘.

Sassy. As. Hell.

 

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4. ACHIEVING SOMETHING AS A TEAM

It’s not a one woman race ladies, lemme tell you that.

You enter the Moonwalk as a team. And everything is completed in team spirit, from matching costumes to matching dance moves. You start together and you finish together.

Having trouble keeping the pace? No fear, the team will slow to meet the needs of the slowest member.

Need an energy boost? Don’t worry, let’s have a team choccy bar break. Nakd bars at the ready.

Struggling to hold that wee until the next loo stop? ‘QUICKEN THE PACE LADIES, JADE’S GONNA PEE HER SHINY SPACE PANTS.’

When you cross that finish line together, there is no doubt that you did that 26.2 miles as a team.

 

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5. THE FANTASTIC VOLUNTEERS

The biggest round of applause of the evening goes to the hundreds of volunteers that line the course throughout the evening, cheering you on and keeping spirits high.

They drag their butts out their toasty, warm beds and miss a whole night of beauty sleep for this event. Something on this scale  could not run without these committed individuals.

And they weren’t even grumpy or nuttin. Nah ah. Not only did they have the biggest smiles and a whole range of sweets for every walker that passed, but they also ensured 15,000 people’s road safety throughout the evening.

AND they gave the best compliments ‘WOW you ladies have got the best outfits I’ve seen all night!’ *blush blush blush*

My fave was the volunteer on the light up bike that rode up and down whooooping and cheering us on. You da best.

What a lovely bunch of people.

 

 

6. SEEING PRETTY LONDON BY NIGHT

I still think there is no better way to experience London than by Moonwalk. And this is because you get the full spectrum of London sights, in all forms.

Day, night, sunrise, morning. The busy commuters, the midnight revellers and the early morning birds.

You see all the sights – London Eye, Tower of London, London Bridge. There’s enough to keep you entertained.

I cannot describe the feeling of utter relief when you begin to hear the birds singing and the first sign of light appears in the sky – ‘Flippin’ heck, we must be nearly  done. Thank God, think my legs might drop off.’

Despite the complete and utter pain, you do feel kinda at peace in that small window of time that is dawn.

 

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7. COMING TOGETHER FOR A COMMON CAUSE

Through all the dress up and festival atmosphere, one thing sings out loud and clear from start to finish. All 15,000 of us are standing together in our bras against one thing:

Breast cancer

We will kick your butt, you tricky thing.

 

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And on that note, I think I’ve just made up my mind for next year.

Pass me my bum bag, I’m ready for the Moonwalk 2017.

 

Fancy it? Click here to sign up for the Moonwalk London 2017.

 

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