Tip 8
Food/Drink (Pre-event eating, and what to take with
you)
pre-event eating is important to ensure your adequately
nourished and well fed, pre-event eating begins before the 'night before'. The
week before the event, eat more carbohydrates (potatoes, pasta and rice),
recommended meals
Sausage, mash & beans (potatoes)
spaghetti bolognese (pasta)
Korma/Tikka/curry (rice)
Hotpot (potato)
pasta bake (pasta)
chilli con carne (rice)
Above are 6 easy meals which should provide you with
sufficient nourishment, always add extra vegetables like sweet corn, carrots or
peas to make a more hearty meal.
The night before the event, myself and my walking partner
will be eating
Pork and apple sausages
mashed potato (added cheese, chive and garlic)
beans (added cheese)
For the event day you’ll need something high energy, and
light weight. Chocolate has a tendency to melt, but can be a great 'pick me up'
when your motivation is low.
Recommended food to take
Sandwiches- Ham Salad, Egg Mayonnaise, Coronation Chicken
ect...
Sausage Rolls
Crisps (Not Ready Salted)
Nuts (Unsalted)
Chocolate
Boiled Sweets
Cereal bars
Fruit (Bananas/Apples/Oranges)
Water and fluids
You need to make sure you stay hydrated while walking, at all checkpoints are an
opportunity to get a drink, but remember to take you own. Water is best, but
for those who would like something with a bit more flavour you can take squash,
just ensure it is very dilute, 1 part squash to 5 parts Water.
Remember, food tastes the same when it is squashed (If not
better), so to save on space and weight, don’t take a lunch box. Cling film
will keep your food in one place, and remember to take a plastic bag with you
for you rubbish.
Tip 9
Walking sticks
The benefits of walking sticks are highly under rated,
especially for those competing in the longer 20 or 30 miles.
The first 10 miles involve a steep set of steps at Ebbor
Woods, I've found this section a lot easier with the use of a pole, and
recommend one to others.
Other benefit for poles include downhill walking, by putting
your pole ahead in front of you, you'll will create a third point of contact to
the ground, if it is wet this will help your stability, and will also help you
to walk down hills quicker.
A recommended height for your walking stick will depend on
the individual, but as a rough guide, ideally when holding the pole your elbow
and arm should be at a right angle, with your elbow to your side.
Tip 10
Hats & sunglasses
You'll ideally want a peaked brim hat, a baseball cap would
be perfect. If the weather is colder then a fleece beanie will help to keep you
warm. With the current on and off weather we have been having recently a
baseball cap should be perfect, both keeping the sun out of your eyes, and
helping to reduce heat stroke.
Sunglasses are also recommended, not only to protect your
eyes from the sun, but there also perfect from stopping rain getting into your
eyes.
You will be looking for a category 3 UV 400 protection
sunglasses, generally this is most sunglasses form £5 upwards.
Tip 11
Stretching/Cooling (Before the walk, and Cooling down after
the walk)
Something else which is underrated and usually not thought
about. The action of stretching is to prepare your muscles for exercise, with
the long distances you will be travelling you will want to stretch as best as
you can. On countless occasions I've not warmed up or cooled down, and suffered
the consequences after, having to walk around with the aid of a pole, and not
being able to bend or sit down easily.
At the beginning of the walk stretch your legs, working from
your feet, upto your hips, when you start walking don't start off to quickly,
try to ease yourself into a sensible pace.
Like wise, when you finish the walk, don't sit down straight
away, walk around slowly and stretch your legs again.
Tip 12
Matt-Ryan's Personnel Kit List
Waterproof jacket (Sphere 2.5, 8000HH)
Waterproof Trousers (4000HH)
Thin Microfibre fleece (Nevis, polyester)
Thin T-shirt (90% cotton 10% Viscose)
Terrain Trousers Cut-offs (100% Nylon)
Walking boots (Viper, Leather)
Sunglasses (black tint)
Cooling Head tube
1litre bottle (not metal. Polycarbonate, water or VERY
dilute squash)
2x walking poles
First-aid kit (Inc Zinc Oxide Tape + Sun cream)
Food
Coolmax walking socks x2
Compass
whistle (emergency alert)
O/S Map 182 (1:50 000)
18 litre Rucksack (chest & waist strap)
Camera
Pedometer
Watch
Spare laces (emergency)
Rubbish Bag
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