Kit preparation for the event....

As well as the already established essentials of such an undertaking (iPods, painkillers, Sudocrem nappy rash cream, etc.) I found that what I also needed some other articles of equipment centred around 3 main needs:

1. Carrying capacity
2. Good footwear
3. How to carry the necessary water

Carrying capacity: The timetable for the 2nd day meant that as I would be on my own for about 9 hours so I needed to be able to carry water, food, waterproofs and a Goretex Bivi Bag (a welcome buckshee leaving present from the TA. However I only had an old army rucksack that was far too clapped-out for my needs. As well as being new, whatever I bought had to be waterproof, comfortable and well-balanced as I was to be clambering over walls and stiles, etc. I found an excellent product at Tesco in the shape of a 45 litre rucksack for less than 15 notes - bargain! It had all sorts of wee pockets and a great assortment of ergonomic straps to keep it comfy for a long trip. Anyway - no point forking out a fortune on something from Berghaus when I've no intention of going anywhere near Mont Blanc! I'll get you a picture of this little gem soon!

Footwear: Seeing as I inherited flat feet from my Dad, I needed something to give my arches a great deal of support as well as good cushioning properties. I found that on any training run that I did over 10 miles or so, they started to ache, not due to pressure sores but simply lack of support. So I consulted Colin at work as he is a daft fitness freak (marathons, hurtling down a mountainside on bikes, etc.) and it turns out he has crap feet like me as well. He recommended some specialist trainers from New Balance - these are NB761s (see below) these were an absolute godsend for me! With firm support and excellent shock absorbing along with soft but tough linings, these puppies meant business!

I had experimented with some cheap walking boots (Hi-Tecs) but you get what you pay for - whilst they were initially quite comfortable, I soon wore through the lining and suffered from terrible blisters thereafter. Moral of the story - don't cut corners with your feet (that doesn't sound quite right does it...?)
















Water: that most important of commodities if you're bimbling about rapidly in the countryside. I initially went to Nevisport in the Boro to find one of those bottle-carrying belts that I have seen people use over the years and the salesman tried to flog me one of those poncy Camelbak water carrying rucksacks.

No siree! I wanted to keep it traditional (I was brought up on waterbottles in the TA). Get with the modern world says he! But I in my ignorance maintained I wanted bottles. Well I couldn't buy one anywhere at all.

So a week later I was in Darlington in the running and cycling shops (names I don't recall but they're both in Bondgate) and I gave in and purchased a Camelbak after trying one on. What an important piece of kit - only second in priority to the trainers! I wouldn't do anything like this again without one. My particular model is below - a 2 litre affair that is SO comfie to wear it's untrue. Bottles - pah! As well as carrying the water bladder in the provided small bag, it turns out you can remove it and put it into a larger model which was ideal for my purposes.

In addition to this, I bought some SiS GO! Carbohydrate powder as I've seen people with heat stroke as well as cramps through lack of electrolytes and it's not pretty - this stuff should help prevent that.