Preparing for a Challenge, Run or Event

Rising to The Challenge

It’s been quite a few months since my 7 Marathons in 7 Days Challenge, 4 months to be exact, resting, enjoying the celebration of what was successfully achieved and putting some weight back on, a little too much for my liking.

Over the past month I’ve received 2 lots of sad news involving family, both poorly and one terminally ill. We all live in hope that health will improve when knowing how ill someone is but I find it hard to accept being that my cousin is so young and with 2 very young children. Life expectancy is very limited therefore I want to plan something extremely challenging and something that can raise good funds and awareness of the Brain Tumour Research Association. many of the family have agreed to help and take part in some way. deciding on the challenge was our first goal. If this isn’t a good enough reason to get up and do something inspiring to others then nothing is.

Reading about various feats by many others over the past few years, Inspiring people such as Sean Conway, Alastair Humphrey’s, Clair Oziem and Anna Mcnuff to name a few, I opted to take on the Jogle. I have previously blogged about it here and it sounds such a great fun hard Challenge. I will be tackling it on bike and have opted to try it over 7 days with a team of non cyclists and support driver for spares and equipment. Dates are to be arranged and route will be standard John O’Groats to Lands End roadway, preparation will begin on an indoor bike or Spin Class at the local gym for additional support.

The preparation of The Welsh 3,000 is already underway, preparing to take on the marathon challenge involving 28 miles across 15 of the highest Welsh summits that exceed 3,000ft, and all in under 24 hours. Mind over matter, determination, endurance, a head for heights and a will to get to the end in one of the longest nights of the groups lives will provide us with a memory that will be remembered for a long time yet.

The 2nd family member who is poorly has been told she has Lymphoma Leukaemia, therefore our Welsh 3000 Challenge is in aid of this charity to raise some funds and additional awareness. My Cousin Peter Boardman is a team member and is already on a very special journey through his weight loss, losing over 5 stone with training, long walks and swimming. It’s Peter’s Mum who Has sadly been diagnosed with Lymphoma Leukaemia, we will be taking every step with determination and hoping to achieve our goal in many ways.

Preparing for a marathon run takes time, speed, agility, core, cardio and mind, training for a trek, scramble, endurance challenge is somewhat different. The weather has a fundamental part in such a challenge, we therefore hope the weather gods will be kind.

I’ve been increasing the amount of squats each day, having started with 20, I am now up to 100 per day. I’ve also been back on the dreaded treadmill, a couple of small runs each week to keep the cardio going. Carrying a rucksack loaded with a tent, sleeping bag, cooking utensils, food and additional clothing certainly brings the weight issue into play. Having to carry this round for the full 24 hours while on Crib Goch and Tryfan scrambles would take out the fun in the last 12 hours or so, therefore we hope to offload our Friday night camping kit and to switch rucksacks to day sacks when reaching the Pen-Y-Pas road. The Cicerone book has arrived, it includes the Ten Tors, Three Peaks and almost all of the long haul trails in the UK along with the Welsh 3000.

We are opting to start at the summit of Snowdon, camp on the Friday night near to the top and to wake for a good hearty breakfast on Saturday morning before setting the stopwatch and heading down and across to The Glyders and Tryfan to our final destination. There’s something special about casting long shadows across the Welsh mountainous region, as the sun catches you on the Crib Goch ridge or while posing at the Cantilever, the Canon or while hopping between Adam and Eve, there’s certainly some amazing memories to be made during a visit to Snowdonia.

Maps, Books and Deciding on a Route

Thankfully the testing part of planning a route has already been made with the help of the wonderful Cicerone book, written by the amazing author Ronald Turnbull who has overseen most of the UK long walks and numerous challenges. Ronald is also a runner, walker and has achieved many great walks and climbs. Other books include “The Book of the Bivvy” and “Walkng in the Cairngorms”.

My map is the OS Explorer OL17 1:25,000

Essential equipment includes:

Tent, Sleeping Bag, Cooking Utensils, Compass, Whistle, Survival Bag, Day Sack, camping air mat, head torch, gloves, hat, waterproofs, walking poles, food and drink, additional clothing, walking poles, medical supplies.

Additional supplements will be taken to assist with calorie loss and possibly dehydration over the 24 hours. Bodyshox training mix along with energy gels will be carried.

Welsh 3000 Facts

15 summits all exceeding 3,000 ft in height

24 hours to complete the challenge

12,000 ft of ascent

3 sections of route include Snowdon, Glyderau and Carneddau

A National Welsh 3000 database is available if challengers are successful in completion of the Welsh 3000 Challenge in under the 24 hours deadline.