It was 1995; My first year doing the Great Walk. I was very nervous the morning I got to the starting line. Everyone was around the campfire, or trying to get some sleep in their vehicles. It was 3:51, and I had to start to warm up. As everyone started to gather around the starting line, my heat started to pound. Then the next thing I know, I'm running. It was a long hard run. I never stopped at a check point for very long. My time was 10hrs and 15mins. I got three trophies. "Youngest Walker", "First Female Youth" and "Youngest Female".

In 1996, it seemed harder. I was not as nervous as the first year. I was on my own. In 1995, I went with Megan Cofield.

She slowed me down, so I thought that it would be best if I was on my own. This way I can go at any pace I want. There were times I wanted to give up, but I kept on going.

There were also times were there was no one around and I was walking all alone. I had feelings that a bear or cougar would come out. But one never did.

It took me 9hrs and 28mins. That night at the ceremony, I got one trophy.

"First Female Youth".

In 1997, I wasn't really ready to do the Great Walk. I was really afraid that I was not going to make it. I have never practiced for the Great Walk and I still make it in. Since 1995, when I was walking alone, I thought that I needed a walkman for the next time and I did. So I used it again. I was walking alone for about 20-30 minutes and it was very frightening. There were not very many road monitors. So I was getting scared. But it was a good walk.

At check point 5, I was very close to giving up. But I kept going. I got another trophy. "First Female Youth." My time was 8hrs 48mins.

Now I am doing it all over again.

Jessica Herron
Tahsis, B.C.
Age - 14