The largest Ultra-Marathon in the UK...

...that is how the sergeant of the Gurkha Royal Signals described the event.

There's nothing like starting gently! But then it is a training route for Gurkhas...

What a preparation session we had Saturday - really eyeopening. We enjoyed a 2 hour session from the sergeant - information about camping before and after, some health and safety stuff so we don't die of exposure/ exhaustion / low flying sea-gulls!

Perhaps the most compelling were the presentations from 2 guys who had completed the walk last year - one as a walker and one as a member of the support group. The degree of planning was impressive - I'll be emailing them for a template of their schedule which thankfully they have offered me.

Each CP (checkpoint of which there are 11 including the finish line) timing was calculated by Naismith's rule and reviewed so that they knew if they were walking too quickly and therefore were in danger of burnout along the way. In fact even after the first CP they were 30mins ahead - by CP5 they were 3hours ahead - but all seemed happy to continue.

The logistics too were considerable - making sure that the support crew had enough water to supply them with for 1 ltr per CP (totalling 44 litres during the route), spare socks, night-walking kit, folding chairs for a CP stop, snacks a hot meal and stove - not to mention spare socks and the right type of underwear etc etc.

We need to organise the support team - and they need to understand that they are an integral part of the team success of the walk - and the fundraising.

As for training this week, I have completed 2 10 mile bike rides and 2 x 1.15mile runs - all is getting much easier and waist is benefiting.

If you feel led - volunteer for our support team and you can play an important part in making a difference in the lives of countless people who Oxfam and the Gurkha Welfare Trust serve.

Drilling into running

For some this is kids stuff - a customer in Northampton I spoke to yesterday is a seasoned marathon runner - a son of marathon-running parents. I didn't feel that small talking about sports eyewear to him, really.

But I did run a mile last night....OK I've got some way to go and I'm still a tad daunted.

I asked him about correct choices in footwear for cross-country (perhaps team-member Cliff, who has just completed a half-marathon this weekend could also give me pointers) and it seems there are dedicated footwear outlets that have gait analysis services where they video you on a treadmill to determine the best shoe for you personally. They analyse each stride to see at what angle your heel strikes the ground - any angle is bad as it will have an impact on various muscles. I found an outlet in Oxford that I'll have to take a look at.

Oxfam advice suggests I need trainers for the day and boots for the night - the support team will carry them for us.

Anyhow - my customer referred me to Runnersworld.co.uk - and I found this very useful article on getting started and being the salesperson's dream I am - I think I'm enthused already (not at all bemused).

The key element I have learned is to run comfortably and to measure by time, not by distance or speed. Apparently it's the best way to build endurance. I can handle that and so I'll be setting some time frames - the 25mins on the treadmill could have been a bit of a fluke...I'd rather build confidently without injury or burnout and strops!

Question: How do you run by time and chose the route so you get home when you should.....? Ha!

Team is good...

This coming Saturday we are to learn exactly how to prepare for Trailwalker at one of Oxfam's preparation days but the sheer unimaginable challenge has caused me to train NOW! Like yesterday!

Over a Valentine's take away last night Nikki admitted to me she has no idea how I am going to complete it. My male pride is now motivation enough. Perhaps this is her way of spurring me to action?

At church Stevie was good enough to offer to cycle with me this afternoon on a route that will build to a 24 mile round trip to one of Oxford's Park and Rides (where I intend to meet my family for the weekly trip to worship at St Aldates).

Today I reached 5 miles into the 12 mile leg and then returned, glad I had not dived in for the church journey this morning as I had intended - I admitted to Mr Pea that without him I may have stopped a few more times!

Team is good - it spurs us on to endure more than we alone might, were we to rely on our own weak determination. In order to complete the Trailwalker in July we'll all need to build mental and physical endurance.

As Stevie has trained rowing teams he gave me some insight into the psychology of training and how to listen correctly to your body (subduing the flesh without ignoring warning signs). I'm really looking forward to drawing that out so a heart rate monitor is now on the shopping list.

My mountain bike and low saddle height did not make things easy today - whilst Stevie on his road bike seemed to be sickeningly efficient and untouched by the workload.

Planning my next week I am hoping to ride that route at least once to the same marker without stopping - probably Thursday morning. With a run around the block to keep the heart moving Tuesday.

So...onwards and upwards and looking forwards to noticing the gains.

You are welcome to the journey!

Learning that I am to walk the distance of 2 1/2 marathons and ascend the equivalent of Ben Nevis has surely focused the mind.

It's just dawning on me the seriousness of the challenge.

So I've started to train - a business trip in Torquay involved a 25min uphill treadmill session earlier this week; today an à pieds trip to the postoffice (combined nicely with looking after the 2 youngest children) turned into a training sprint. I was late picking up my 2 eldest from school and in meeting with Hope's teacher ("Sorry I'm late Miss Maule!").

I'm so pleased that I've been able to hook up with 3 other people who are as mad as me - as I queried Stevie as to whether he'd really understood the task at hand he replied...

"1. I am mad
2. I am not insane!"

I wanted a challenge - something to reach for - an impact to make.

For me Oxfam is an important charity. On the "About Us" section of their web site they have this statement of intent:

"Our purpose is to work with others to overcome poverty and suffering."

Seth Godin in his book Tribes says that we in the West don't just have an opportunity to lead, to create something good and to overcome poverty and suffering - we have an obligation to do so.

So in brief that is what has brought me to this place - with 3 other team-mates under the banner of "The Leading Followers" (a testimony to our Jesus-following credentials) we embark on a challenge that is 2-fold: As Oxfam say...

"walking a blinking long way, and meeting your fundraising commitment."

So now I turn to you...

Please get on board - here's how:

1. Recruit a team and take the challenge yourself - that would be the best thing;
2. Sponsor me by clicking the button below - the next best thing;
3. Consider volunteering for our support team - er, also the next best thing;
4. Subscribe and follow this blog to be a part of it each and every step of the way (there's an RSS link to the right).

I hope that I can Tweet the walk - if I can make sure I have the mobile battery life.