Tarts for Troops- A Final Update

We’re pleased to tell you Tarts for Troops has been a fantastic success, thank you so much to everyone who put their baking skills to test and held an event. We hope you had as much fun as us! We have been really impressed with the gorgeous photos and delicious recipes that have been sent in to us over the past few weeks. Congratulations to all those who made it as Tart of the Day!

If you didn’t get a chance to bake, or if baking is not your thing, you can still take part by buying your very own virtual tart. How about a Bakewell, pecan or fresh fruit tart? It’s a great way to show your support, just select your favourite tart to make a donation. Every penny you give will help blind veterans lead independent and fulfilling lives.

We have been delighted to have the support of the Military Wives Choir

Members of the Military Wives Choir enjoying some delicious tarts!

who have contributed delicious tart recipes as well as holding their own Tarts for Troops party before their rehearsal last week. Here is Bridget Nicholson’s recipe for Cornish Congress Tarts, they went down a storm on the evening! You can see more photos from the event here.

Thank you to all of the Specsavers stores who have supported Tarts for Troops. Stores across the country went to amazing efforts – baking, decorating stores, and even dressing up as forces sweethearts! Don’t worry if you missed out, it may not be too late! Some stores are holding their events this weekend to coincide with Armed Forces Day. Find out here if your local store will be having an event!

The Blind Veterans UK staff joined in the baking frenzy too! Last Thursday was the London Office Tarts for Troops event, with members of staff bringing in a scrumptious selection of sweet and savoury tarts.

Staff from the Blind Veterans UK Llandudno centre celebrate Tarts for Troops.

The Sheffield centre threw their party last week too, where Blind Veterans UK members got a chance to tuck into the some tasty tarts. Llandudno’s Tarts for Troops party was a great success, with Blind Veterans UK staff enjoying their tarts with a glass of fizz.

We just wanted to say a final thank you to everyone who has supported Tarts for Troops. The easiest way to pay in any money you have raised is online. Simply click here and follow the instructions. The money you’ve raised will make a real difference to blind veterans and help us continue to be there for ex-Service men and women.

We’re looking forward to next year already!

Tarts for Troops- One Week to Go!

With less than a week to go, we hope that preparations are well underway for your Tarts for Troops event and that you’re ready to do some serious baking? Haven’t signed up yet? Don’t worry it’s not too late – dust off that rolling pin, get your pinny on and get baking for Blind Veterans Week.

We have lots to update you on for Tarts for Troops, including our first Tarts for Troops event. On Thursday, 31 May, we took to the streets of Brighton to celebrate Tarts for Troops with the team from Juice FM.

Matt Rhodes tells JuiceFM how we have helped him and why you should support Tarts for Troops

Thanks to everyone who stopped by to talk to us on New Road and enjoyed a tart (or two!) alongside the King and Queen of Hearts and the team from Blind Veterans UK. Another big thank you to Forfars, a family run bakery in Sussex, who donated 200 lemon and raspberry jam tarts on the day too.

Matt Rhodes, Blind Veterans UK member, also joined us on the day to tell us encourage everyone to sign up and do their bit to support blind ex-service men and women during Blind Veterans Week.

Tart of the Day entries this week included French cooking extraordinaire Raymond Blanc, who has been kind enough to share with us Maman Blanc’s Apple Tart recipe. The secret of this dish is choosing the right apple – delicious!

We really loved seeing the Military Wives perform at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Concert on Monday – and they still found time to bake tarts too! Check out Becki Fleming’s Canadian Butter Tarts here.

If you weren’t able to make it down to Brighton – or if you were inspired by our delicious tarts – organise your own Tarts for Troops event. Whether it’s big or small, fancy or simple, every penny you raise will help blind veterans’ lead independent and fulfilling lives.

Tarts for Troops Continues!

Last week was a great week for Tarts for Troops! Tuesday’s Tart of the Day was a delicious recipe from Sarah Hamilton of the Military Wives Choir. Why not experiment and create your own version of Sarah’s Higgledy Piggledy Tart using your favourite summer fruits? Watch out for more Military Wives recipes over the coming weeks!

Stephen Fry won Tart of the Day with his savoury red pesto tart

Another highlight this week has to be the savoury red pesto tart, submitted by none other than the marvelous Stephen Fry. Why not join Stephen and enter your baked creations to be the next Tart of the Day?

Specsavers stores are getting involved in the Tarts for Troops baking frenzy. Stores across the country are celebrating Blind Veterans Week and Armed Forces Week with an eclectic range of tart orientated activities. In Llanelli the team is raising money by decorating their store, baking tarts and dressing up as forces sweethearts. The team at St Helens has got the store directors and local supermarkets to donate ingredients. And with five keen bakers on staff, there will be lots of tarts available at their event which coincides with a parade in the town celebrating Armed Forces Day.

If your local Specsavers is participating why not pop in and join in the fun and help raise money for blind veterans! See our events page for a list of participating stores.

Studio Crafts, a family run jewelers and workshop based in Peacehaven near Brighton East Sussex will also be hosting a Tarts for Troops event on Friday 22^nd June. There will be sweet and savoury tarts on offer in exchange for a donation and one lucky person will also win a Lovelinks bracelet and charm prize on the day. Find out more here.

Up and down the country, people are donning their aprons and pinnies to bake for blind veterans and tucking into some delicious tarts along the way. Join them and register your Tarts for Troops event today!

Tarts for Troops Launches!

Calling all Tarts!

We need you to host a Tarts for Troops party during 18-24 June! Jam tarts, Bakewell tarts, lemon tarts, apple tarts, any kind of tart – all are called upon to do their bit to support blind ex-Service men and women.

Looking for some inspiration? We have lots of recipes to get you started, including the classic jam tart. If you’re particularly proud of your efforts, please enter them for Tart of the Day. Please email photos of your tart creations or your best recipes to fundraising@blindveterans.org.uk or submit them here.

To celebrate the launch, we saw the very first Tarts for Troops tea party – on the top of Mount Snowden! The group set off from Llanberis on Tuesday morning and had to put up with strong winds and snow showers before setting up their picnic table on the summit. Billy Baxter is one of the blind veterans and a member of staff at Blind Veterans UK:

“It was cold and wet with snow underfoot – the kind of conditions which we wanted for an extreme tea party, we just hope it inspires other people to hold Tarts for Troops parties. By getting involved during Blind Veterans Week you can do your bit for those who have served our country. Get your cookbooks out or just buy some tarts and get fundraising for Blind Veterans UK.”

So far we’ve had some fantastic entries for Tart of the Day! Including Cheeky Cheats Raspberry Tarts from Barbara Windsor (no baking necessary), Passion Fruit Brulee Tarts by the Fabulous Baking Brothers and a Treacle Tart from Bex Williamson of the Military Wives Choir. Keep and eye out for new celebrity Tart of the Day entries and register your Tarts for Troops event today!

100k Challenge: Kit Check

One thing I love about training is seeing stuff I never would otherwise. My views of East Sussex these last few weeks have been worth all the slog. Some cold, grey and damp treks but others lit by brilliant sunshine, the smell of grass being cut, birdsong and lots of little ‘treasures’ proved life-enhancing. Wasn’t so keen on the vast amount of roadkill though, nor realising that vergeless country roads are a death trap: no one slows down and when I have to cross to the ‘wrong’ side of the road, as the one facing oncoming traffic was a verge-free, blind bend, the speeding drivers all found time to hoot their horns to correct me! Cars nowadays treat pedestrians like obstacles, not someone you have to share it with deep in the wilds. I did come across some fabulous place names en route and some old road names which definitely wouldn’t get past today’s PC brigade!

This wouldn't get past today's PC brigade!

So, I am getting there. Knees creaking a bit and my back’s playing up a little, but all still on track. I am now embarking on the preparatory stage: kit checking and feet embalming. These little beauties are about to become damn fuglies, as I start soaking them in surgical spirit, trimming my nails as low as they safely go and watching skin harden nicely. If the thought fills you with horror, book a good pedicure for afterwards, because you HAVE to do it. I exhort you not to neglect this bit. Blisters develop on soft, fleshy bits and whilst areas that rub cause them, if the feet themselves are dry as a bone and hard as nails, it will be much harder to create a blister. I did two 3-peaks events and last year’s walk using this tried and tested method, and I barely had any after all three events. Nothing will stop one forming near the end when moisture and heat have built up progressively and you haven’t the time to stop and salve it, but for 90% of the walk it will see you through. The more you wear your boots now the better. Every little bit that doesn’t fit exactly will only rear its ugly head on the day, so take time to solve it now. This weekend I felt discomfort on my right foot from one of my orthotics, so am now planning to buy a new set – a tiny thing really when you are doing normal distances, but make or break on the actual day as to whether the last few miles end up fun or pure slog.

Injuries happen. Twisting an ankle or slipping and cracking something will only happen to the unlucky few. The rest will end up discovering health problems they maybe didn’t know they had or have resuscitated through over-exertion. I am very conscious of my back having had episodes of sciatica in the past. I am therefore wearing my rucksack daily and working hard on maintaining an upright posture once I have it belted up round my middle; the temptation to bend forwards too far when climbing up hills is one I have to resist and work at. I am also loading it with enough weight to have some idea what to expect once everything I will need is in there. If I feel straps rubbing I have time to adjust for a perfect fit and I shouldn’t find it onerous to cart everything I will need on the day.

Other injuries I saw last year included crippling cramps, bloody feet sliced open by bad footwear, total fatigue from not consuming enough en route and all sorts of muscle strains and ligament tears. I was lucky but I am not cavalier and know that it could be me, just as much as anyone else, who ends up having to be massaged at the 75k in order to stagger the last 25k. The organisers run a tight, slick operation and I was mighty impressed by the amount of medical experts on hand towards the end. Ideally I wouldn’t want to be visiting one of them but if needs must, rest assured that you have all the help you might need.

And finally, a word on Camelbaks. Carry one on training walks and check that you are happy using it. I loathed the taste of plastic but found it it did the job. As someone who has never drunk enough fluids, I am conscious that I can’t rely on thirst to tell me when to take more on. With a Camelbak you sip regularly and a little at a time, whenever you want. I refilled at most stops and am sure I drunk more than I would have with conventional water bottles as I didn’t need to reach into a bag to get it.

Ultimately though, if your boots fit, are well broken in, you double-sock and sprinkle talc on them at every long stop, you may escape the whole thing blister-free, especially if you start with tootsies you could grate cheese on. If it tips it down on the day, all bets are off, but as those deeply irritating folk to be found in most offices say, fail to prepare, prepare to fail! At the very least have plenty of Compeed blister plasters with you and whilst they won’t cure a blister, they will help reduce the agony!

100k Challenge: Diet

So by now your training is well underway, isn’t it? Well if not, all is not lost. You do still have 6 weeks left so don’t stress about leaving it too late and get out a pen and paper and draw up a training plan. Stick to it; rigidly. It can still be done, especially if you are generally physically fit and experienced in walking. Don’t let the bad weather (which followed so hot on the heels of the heatwave that my body is still in shock!) give you an excuse not to train, so if it’s raining etc try to get on a treadmill! I must confess that I personally work well with a looming deadline, rather than one that’s a long way off, and as this is my second year of training I have been a little slacker than I would have liked. I’ve given myself a good kick up the backside today though, so thought I’d pass it on! If you can make the 100k the focus of your days between now and 9 June, you will be just fine (though don’t sue me if you end up crawling the last mile!).

So what about food? A lot of people around me were muttering this weekend about carb-loading before the marathon, as I associate with the sort of mental, sporty types who love nothing more than a good challenge! It’s still the best way to ensure slow-release energy for long distances so if you’ve started doing very long training walks (and really, by now, you should have done at least a 15-20miler), then feel free to carb-load away. I can’t eat wheat any more so pasta and bread are off menu, but I eat hearty amounts of potatoes, rice and rye bread instead. After my recent walk on the South Coast I stopped off for a burger made of chickpeas and potatoes and enjoyed every mouthful, safe in the knowledge that I’d earned it.

Fortifying Lunch!

Sugar hits are fine if you start to flag en route, but the best prevention of a dip in energy is to be prepared before you set off. Eat heartily and, whatever you do, don’t try to lose weight as this crucial time. You may have sloughed off a few pounds in training if you were carrying any extra, but don’t get caught up with losing more. What matters right now is having enough fuel to go the distance, so under-eating and watching your weight is a no-no. I admit that I have lost weight since last March when I started to train, but it’s been such a slow and steady trickle that it would certainly be deemed healthy by nutritionists. I’ve built up a lot of muscle at the same time, from making sure I ate lots of good protein with my carbs, so whilst I’m leaner and healthier, sylphlike would be pushing it!

Really learn to listen to your body and what it’s crying out for. Fluids are as essential as solids and sometimes when you think you are hungry you are actually in need of water. Go out on every training walk well prepared for thirst and a dip in energy levels. Some people swear by energy drinks, water with added electrolytes and highly sugary sports juices. Personally, I drink a lot of plain water and eat granola and muesli bars at the same time. Last year, on the actual walk, I had my trusty camelback the whole way and forced myself to sip regularly. At every stop I grabbed a Snickers bar (or 2!) and made sure that I ate something at all the hot meal stations. I learnt that small injections of sugar kept me bowling along at a steady pace and that sometimes by the time I reached the hot food point, I didn’t want it any more, so had to work hard to take on board enough food. Snacks are therefore the order of the day, so start training yourself to eat smaller meals and snacking in between on good things (fruit, nuts etc) so that you are ready for the big day.

In addition, make sure that you are also carrying an emergency bag of something that you know will make you giddy with excitement if you eat too much of it at once. I found jelly babies did the trick for me, though I never touch them between events. I grabbed a bag of them at the half-way point in my marathon and can still recall the high as I gobbled them down and got my energy back. This is what they are good for in my case, but experiment to find your own preference and make sure you pack plenty. The only thing at the bottom of my rucksack at the end of last year’s event was the sports-style nutrition bar that I had always though tasted of cardboard, so even when I was in need of fuel, nothing would make me touch it. Remember to choose what you like, have plenty of it with you and enjoy the fact that for at least one day in your life you can eat with wild abandon; yet another persuasive reason to do the 100k!

Blind Veterans Member and 100k Participant – Kerry Levins

Kerry Levins is a 41 year old who was formerly an Officer in the Royal Corps of Signals; he is married with one child. Kerry has been Registered Blind (Severely Visually Impaired) since 2005 and is a Blind Veterans UK beneficiary he is taking part in this year’s 100k Challenge.

Kerry and guide dog Pedro

“I have been asked to contribute something to the Blind Veterans UK blog in preparation for the 100k challenge, unaccustomed as I am to sharing my thoughts with an audience I have jotted down the first things that sprang to mind, No…Really, I did. I will apologise now for the words below, they are bound to offend someone, I usually can’t open my mouth without offending someone so why would the written word be any different!”

Having just been on BFBS being interviewed in relation to the 100k Challenge I figure I had better pull my finger out and write down something for the blog that Cat asked me to do a while ago.

So I’m going to complete the 100k challenge, now some people will consider that to be a bold and arrogant statement, a Blind Man stating that he WILL finish a challenge that would severely test any normally sighted person. But the point is I‘m not actually being arrogant (for once) I’m merely using positive language to try and kid myself into thinking that this is going to be a walk in the park. So I will expand on the questions that were asked during the interview.

Why am I doing this?

Simply put and in the words of George Mallory, “because it’s there”, in my own words; over the past few years Blind Veterans UK have shown me that in adapting to my sight loss it is not so much about what I cannot do anymore as what I can do. Every day I wake up and feel the need to prove to myself and to the world that I am capable of doing anything I set my mind to, for example just a few weeks ago I drove a Bentley Continental GT around Silverstone, something I have wanted to do since my sight started to fail, were it not for Blind veterans I would not have been given a chance like that. As a counter point I would say that I am not always successful in my undertakings. People handle sight loss differently, indeed no two people who lose their sight will have the same experience, it’s a very personal thing. I’d quickly like to share with you a shortened version of my experience.

The first emotion I felt was despair, strong word I know but there it is! In hindsight I think it was the realisation of what the future might hold and the fear which that brought with it, for example it’s the prospect of having to sit down to pee, which as a man is rather a demeaning thought, not the end of the world but it all chips away at your self-esteem. Other considerations are not being able to drive again and the inherent limitations of mobility that come with that and the last thing I will offer for you to consider is not being able to distinguish between joy and sadness on your child’s face, the prospect of was a bit depressing to say the least. I tried to lift myself out of the funk that I had slipped into which unfortunately translated itself into anger, because it is very difficult to be actively angry toward a situation this resulted in me being rather unpleasant to just about everyone I came into contact with, I think I have managed to apologise personally to everyone I may have upset during this time but if not just let me know.

Then two things happened at about the same time, I was accepted as a beneficiary by St Dunstan’s (Blind Veterans UK as was) and I was paired with a Guide Dog. Blind Veterans UK and the people I met Ray Hazan MBE and Paul Jacobs GM to name but two) showed me that above all else sight loss does not mean an end to anything it means that you have to do things a bit differently maybe slower and a bit more carefully but you can still do them, no matter what “they” are.

To summarise this point I will paraphrase the words of another, John Fitzgerald Kennedy; We do these things not because they are easy but because they are hard.

How is the training going?

Every morning of the working week, at about 04:30 Pedro (my Guide Dog) and I head out of the door and nip around the block, it takes about 40 minutes and covers 2.3 miles, not a lot but it’s all about spending time on your feet. Then at the weekend I do two longer walks this weekend for example I will be doing 3 and 3 ½ hours respectively on Saturday and Sunday, on top of this I get myself to the gym 3 or 4 times a week. The obvious, unasked question is “why 04:30?” The answer is simple, I am picked up to go to work at 06:20 which gets me there at 07:00 and misses the traffic and allows me to leave at 15:30 which gets me home for a little after 4pm allowing me to look after my daughter (she’s 8), which in turn means my wife can go to work in the evening without us having to shell out for Child-care! In addition there is no-one around at that time of day, which suits me down to the ground;-) To answer the other unasked question “are you doing it with your guide Dog” the answer is partly, yes, I intend to do the first leg 6 – 8 hours with him and then drop him off with my wife who will hopefully be meeting us!

What are you expecting to be the hardest part?

This is not my first long distance event, I have previously done the Nijmegen Marches, 40km per day for 4 days, the difference is it was 18 years ago and I could see properly, more recently last year I attempted the Wainwright Way, Coast to Coast Walk (192 miles from St Bees to Robin Hoods Bay) this didn’t end so well, truth be told I barely began, damaging myself on the first day which resulted later in that year in surgery and about 3 months in a cast. So what am I expecting to be the hardest part, honestly? The next 5 steps! But then if it was easy, anyone could do it!

The 100k Challenge: Gait

Well it looks like I did something good in a previous life after all, as the fantastic weather we’ve been having has been an absolute bonus where training is concerned. It really is difficult to think of anything better to do than go for a long hike when it’s bright and sunny and, for the time of year, most definitely warm.

On Saturday I went for a long walk down the beach between St Leonards and Hastings and I was pondering all the ways in which the surfaces you walk on determine your walking style. I mostly walk on pavements and sometimes get to go off road on to softer terrain in the park, but when I get the chance to hit sand or shingle I use a whole different set of muscles. The 100k covers a multitude of terrains so use every opportunity you can to walk somewhere challenging as your muscles rapidly become non-responsive if you neglect them.

Gait may have been the least of your concerns up until now (actually getting your head round doing 100k non-stop is probably enough to be going on with!) but like proper kit, good boots, food and rest, this can make or break the day for you. Consider this. Has anyone ever assessed your stride and your posture? Unless you have experienced back problems or running injuries, chances are that other than a cursory seat check in a new workplace, no one has ever commented on how you carry yourself.

My great aunt was the perfect embodiment of Miss Jean Brodie and I was gently tapped on the back every time I was seen to slump. I was in fact so ram rod straight that I ended up developing sciatica so balancing books on one’s head is not necessarily for the best. There are all sorts of ways to adjust your posture (Alexander Technique and Pilates) but make sure that you don’t ignore even the slightest niggle developed when training as it could well be pointing to a problem yet to come to light.

In terms of stride, this is one area that I have worked on since last year’s event as it was most definitely my ‘Achilles heel’ (pardon the pun!). I’m what’s euphemistically known as a short-arse and my little legs give the impression of a rodent scampering along.

I once ran a marathon to win a bet with my 6ft 2” boss, and I swear I did two steps to his every one. I am not about to head to China to be stretched in the manner of a child gymnast, so my only hope of improvement is to lengthen my stride and work the muscles to propel me forward as efficiently as possible.

As last year’s event came to an end my steps were barely a heel width apart and the following day I was walking like John Wayne, so if I achieve nothing else between now and June, I will make sure that I am striding out as far as I can without causing any added pressure on my body.

Joanna Hall is renowned for her walking workshops so if you have any concerns that you aren’t doing it right, consider one of her classes. Also, remember that you are investing in your health and fitness for the long term as you can only be doing good learning to walk as effectively as possible, so any time and money spent on this will prove a worthwhile cause.

Whilst looking at your walking style you also need to make sure that your feet are comfortable and the boots you have are doing everything possible to assist your stride. If they prove too heavy and are dragging your feet down, you will have leaden legs after 10-12 miles. If your toes are squashed together you’ll develop crippling pins and needles. If you’ve got flat feet you must invest in orthotics and if your boots are tight around the heel or ankle you will be blistered up within hours.

I changed my boots part way through training last year and immediately corrected a lot of issues that I had been experiencing. I’d done a 3 Peaks event in my first pair so they had once fitted perfectly, yet all of a sudden they gave me nothing but grief. Feel free to become neurotic about your feet and your legs. Investigate every single muscle strain, shin splint and cramp. Even a minor issue is magnified by 100 when you are running out of steam at the end and facing a climb up and over the South Downs; you can thank me later for sparing you any such concerns!

The 100k Challenge: Safety

Greenwich Park

As the lighter nights approach I am thoroughly looking forward to my long hikes home (yes, I am that mad!) and hoping for some fine weather between now and June. I have been hill running in the park every other evening for the last few weeks for 30 minutes, to break in my legs, and I can already feel the therapeutic powers working their magic.

Switching off from life’s daily stresses is a bonus aspect to training and by the time I get back home from either a run or a walk I have usually worked out a thorny issue or laid down plans for things I’ve long been meaning to do. You see, there are more than just physical benefits to be gained and the mental clarity from last year’s training helped me sort a lot of things out.

One colleague compared me to a dog the other day, saying it was clear that if I hadn’t had my daily exercise that I became snarly and disagreeable! I have to admit they had a point and now the endorphins are back coursing through my veins, I am reminded how vital they were to propel me along on the day itself.

However, I can’t stress enough that safety is an issue and you have to be careful not to switch off, zone out or get complacent. I know that some folk consider an ipod/MP3 player to be an essential accompaniment, but I experimented with these and ruled music out. You are simply not aware of your surroundings and can easily be approached from behind without realising.

Taking the same route at the same time, every single day is also to be avoided because you can be tracked and targeted. Wearing a rucksack is definitely recommended (more on breaking kit in later) but make sure you can fasten it securely if you are walking in a built up/busy area.

Lastly, keep all your valuables hidden, especially mobile phones. I appreciate that the above may sound banal, but I am citing these precautions from personal experience. I was mugged two months after last year’s event, whilst still doing my training walks as the weather was so good.

I had basically fallen into the trap of marching the same route daily then whipping a blackberry out as I neared home to text my hubby about my imminent arrival. I have since learnt that having a hot bath and cup of tea waiting for me at home was all very good, but that it ultimately ended in me lying on the pavement screaming, hoping someone would come out of their house to help me fend off two burly young lads. No saviour appeared, the lads ran off as I had been knocked backwards and was shielding my valuables with my bulk, and I limped home with nothing more than grazes and shock.

My other half made it clear that I wasn’t walking home until the clocks went back this year having had the fright of his life from my experience. I also plan to vary my departure time and route on a regular basis and arrange to meet him on occasion to show any would-be muggers that I am not always alone. Blackberrys are banned and I certainly won’t be playing music! I’ve also got myself a rape alarm for under a tenner, because my experience taught me that whilst householders won’t come out to screams alone, an alarm might make any possible predicament easier for them to identify as an emergency, rather than youths larking about.

My weekend romps (of the athletic kind!) by the seaside have also been restricted to daylight hours only, marked paths and preferably routes used heavily by ramblers. I recall now having gone for runs in the past in forests and woods all alone and not thinking twice about the risks, which is simply foolhardy.

Much as I’d love a dog to take with me, it’s not possible given my living arrangements, but I may badger a neighbour to lend me theirs so I can do some ‘free’ running. I am an independent (some say cavalier) sort and had felt safe enough waltzing through my local area but complacency caught up with me and I learnt the hard way that while it’s nice to be on nodding terms with strangers that you see daily, some folk have other, less pleasant things in mind.

Ideally you will be training with others, but the constraints of daily life mean that you may have to do it alone. So stay safe, stay alert, enjoy the peace and time to clear your head, find a partner if you can and above all use the training time wisely. It has taught me a lot of things and the key thing I have learnt is not to think I know it all.

The 100k Challenge: Planning

What a difference a bit of sunshine makes, when it’s time to get back to some proper training and boy, was it timely this weekend. I’d already vowed to get started before 1 March, but a bit of warmth on the skin was enough to spur me on to do an initial training run yesterday, around the dunes of Camber Sands.

Guess what; yes, I’m hurting today! My calves are screaming for mercy, my thighs feel leaden and my lungs have definitely been given a good clear out, so it’s time to dig out my training diary before it’s too late.

Planning really is key and as long as you stick to a schedule as best you can, you will have every chance of getting to the end of the walk. Of course injury en route or ferociously bad weather could still hinder, but if you’ve put in the effort beforehand you will doubtless drag yourself over the finish line just out of sheer determination not to have wasted all that preparation!

First off, think creatively about whether or not you can build your training in to your daily routine. If you commute, is there any way of changing your current mode of transport to combine some walks? This time last year I was getting a mainline train (the station is just 3 minutes’ walk from my house) to my central London office and back every day. By getting up 30 minutes earlier I factored in a 2mile speed walk to the tube station on my way in and hopped on the jubilee line instead.

In the evenings I did either a 2.5 mile walk from Pall Mall to London Bridge and took a train thereafter or, when it was dry and warm, a 12 mile walk from office to home. A long walk took about 2.5 hours, as opposed to a 40 minute train ride, door to door, so I did need to make some sacrifices in terms of time, but I saved money on train fares and as I fitted in about 3 such walks a week, soon built my fitness up.

I learnt a lot from my evening walks about comfort, style and pace, all of which I will cover off at a later date, but please don’t rely on this walking as your sole form of training. The 100k is all-terrain. One minute you are zipping through sluggish shoppers in Kingston town centre and the next you are climbing hills and jumping stiles in rural Surrey.

If you simply pound pavements your muscles won’t thank you at the end and whilst my other exercise was hill running, it really is horses for courses. I can thoroughly recommend combining walks with swimming, cycling and even pilates, just as long as you are varying the routine.

Of course I didn’t go from nothing to 12 mile walks in one fell swoop and I built my long route up gradually. I chunked the route down in to manageable quarters and did a stage at a time until I felt confident doing the whole thing. I also carried on training after the event, winding down the distances covered in much the same way as I’d built them up.

I learnt to do this after a marathon, when I took too long off after the event and injured my left knee trying to pick up where I left off 2 months down the line; had I eased off rather than stopping altogether, my legs would have sprung back into action and not buckled.

At this stage I’d say your main priority is scheduling your training in. Think out how, plan when and get it down in black and white in a diary. Even those of us with masses of willpower will benefit from having a timetable of sorts, because it is so easy to see 9 June as ages away then wake up one morning at the end of April in a cold sweat thinking it’s now too late…and no, you can’t ‘wing’ it.

My partner last year was convinced she could and had to throw in the towel at 50k. She wasn’t unfit and she had all the kit, all the intentions and a deep desire to do it but…she hadn’t broken in her boots. The blisters got so bad that she couldn’t face the second half and I was obliged to find 2 strangers (albeit very nice strangers!) to agree to carry on and walk at my pace.

I saw a lot of people brought to their knees by blisters and cramps along the way as their feet and their muscles just weren’t ready for the strain. I’ve set myself a target of 3 walks and 2 runs per week. I never totally stopped (still doing a daily 2 mile walk to the tube plus longer at weekends) so that’s quite manageable as it factors in 2 rest days.

If you work up gradually start with one day on, one day off exercise and keep the distances short, gradually increasing them as your confidence grows. Remember the 100k isn’t a sprint but an endurance race and you don’t need to do very long walks until nearer the time. However, if by end March you have done a lengthy walk (say 20-30k) and your body has held up well, you are definitely on track, so make that your goal and work to it.