Trailwalker Prep Session Hints & Tips

Just getting around to sorting out the notes from the Trailwalker preparation session run by Oxfam and the Queen's Gurkha Signals from a couple of Saturdays ago.

We had an introduction by Tom from Oxfam, then Warrant Officer Stu Coope from the Queen's Gurkha Signals give us some of the key pointers for operations on the day. Finally we had two members of the Haslemere Normans who competed last year running through their tips after their successful Trailwalker completion.

These are the pointers that we took from the session:

Timing

• Make sure you allocate a time keeper in the team.
• Think about the checkpoints and allocate a total time to spend at each one, and how long you want to spend at check points in total.
• Use the table at the front of the maps sent out to you to plan out how long each stage takes and how long to spend at the check point.
• It is very easy to lose time at checkpoints.
• Have two plans - one for your ideal scenario, and one for if things don't go to plan and you are slower, or have to stop longer for various reasons, so that you can still stay on track.

Training

• Between 30-35 miles should be your longest training walk.
• Use your training walks to find out where you hurt, which muscles could be sore, where you get blisters, etc.
• Use training walks to try out different foods, drinks and check on who doesn't drink enough.
• It's recommended that you build up on eating carbs in the 2 weeks before the event.
• Each person in the team should have experience of reading maps. Have a look on YouTube for videos on how to do this if in doubt.

Support crew

• The recommended support crew set up is two day members and 2 night support crew members.
• Make sure each team member has a kit box which can be easily accessed.
• It is recommended to have a member of the support crew waiting for you when you reach the checkpoint to lead you back to the car and your kit.
• The support crew should set out four chairs ready for the team to sit down, with a kit box next to each, and lay out blankets for the team to stretch on.
• Team members should use their time at the checkpoints to sort out blisters, swap socks/clothes and stretch. Eating can be done on route.
• Support crew should allocate food to each person and have sun cream and drinks ready.
• It's a good idea for the support crew to arrange surprises for you. They could have music playing at a check point when you arrive, or could dress up in fancy dress, do things to make you laugh, or have special food treats to keep up morale.
• If you have a runner in your support crew, they could come out and meet the team when they are close to the check point, and then take messages back of what is needed, such as the food being craved for, so it's all ready when the team gets to the check point.
• Remember that the support team members can fundraise too. Give them sponsor sheets, get them to publicise what you are doing with their friends and family.
• The 50-60k is a good point for support crew teams to swap over.
• When swapping, they will need to arrange somewhere to meet away from the checkpoint to swap over the support crew car pass, as each team will only have one.

Kit

• Bring a waterproof bag to put your phone in for in your pocket/rucksack.
• Build up a good first aid kit.
• Make sure you have whistle, torch, head torch and spare batteries.
• Make sure you have a warm hat for the night time stage. A warm hat is also good to put on during stops at check points.
• Take lots of spare sets of socks and have talc to put on when you are changing socks.
• Make sure you take lip balm.
• Dioralyte rehydrating drinks are a good idea to have available at each check point. Test these out on training walks.
• Mars bars and snickers bars are good energy snacks.
• Try out army rations for food. They have good nutrition. Try them out on your training walks.
• Make sure you have savoury and sweet snacks. Oatcakes, fruit, sandwiches, crisps, as well as sweet things.
• Check out YouTube clips for binding your feet with Zinc Oxide tape.

Sponsorship and fundraising

• Give people reasons to sponsor you. Tell them how hard it is and how much effort you are putting in to your training:
• The average percentage for teams completing as a 4 is 55%.
• The average finish rate is 75%.
• Use links to Trailwalker videos to show them how tough it is going to be.
• The Trailwalker website will soon have some more fundraising ideas.
• Use social media and blogs to get the message across to your sponsors.

On the Day

• Registration of team on Friday 13th July between 4pm and 10pm.
• On registration you pick up your tags and support crew car pass.
• There is a briefing and cultural show between 7:30 and 8:30 pm.
• Camping space is available and there is a hot breakfast available in the morning.
• You will be given a tracking tag on registration. You need to make sure you swipe in and out at each check point. This will keep a record of your timings and can be used by friends and family online to track your progress.
• Arrive at the event at least 1 hour before your start time if you are not camping the night before.
• Make sure you make notes of emergency numbers to that these are available to you if you need them. 
• At checkpoint 7 you will be provided with a hot meal.
• All checkpoints have hot and cold drinks and water available.
• Checkpoints 5 and 8 have massages available - but only use these if you really really need them.
• There are toilets at most checkpoints.
• Most people tend to find check point 6 to check point 8 the hardest.
• Check for land marks that you can see. They are useful reference points to check for on the map. For example checkpoint 8 is next to windmills.
• Showers will be available at the finish.

Some additional tips from the Haslemere Normans

• Try some early start walks.
• Fit in short walks during the week to get your mileage up.
• Get some liner socks.
• Check point 8 was the hardest point.
• Make sure you have ibuprofen!
• Use layers of zinc oxide tape.
• At checkpoint 9 they were craving salt. Make sure you have something like salty crisps available.
• The clay gully decent in to checkpoint 9 was really hard work and slippery in the rain.
• Their full 63 point guide to what they learnt is on their blog.

So there we have it, a long list of helpful tips and hits to help ensure we'll be able to finish this challenge in one piece!


UPDATE: Julie spoke to her brother Royal Marine Major Keith Stanton who had the following additional tips:

• Tape up feet the night before a walk to make sure there are no parts coming unstuck etc. if there are stick some more tape on top, don't take it all off. Also it saves time in the morning.
• Try to elevate feet at any rest stops, even if just on top of rucksack, to stop legs and feet swelling and help take pressure off.