Booked into Preparation session on...

Saturday 21st February
We plan to do a walk along the first section of the route before we go to the training preparation session in the afternoon. This will be interesting as it is the first time the team has walked together. We have no idea yet about the pace we each walk at, how many breaks we will need and how long for. I guess these are only some of the many reasons why we need to train together! If you are interested in seeing the route we will take for the event than have a look here:
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/get_involved/fundraise/trailwalker/index.html

On the 21st we will be walking up to the first check point at Harting Down from Queen Elizabeth Country Park. My guess is that most teams will be doing much the same. The more we can train on the course the better, especially for the sections we willl walk at night; the last thing we want to happen on the day is to go wrong and have to retrace our steps 100k is far enough! For our practice walk I think we shall try and follow the advice we have been given and take 10 minutes in each hour to rest and see how we go.

I went along to a preparation session in May 08 to get more of an idea of what is involved; as much as I have tried to impart information I think it is important for all team members to attend. The chance to talk to past participants is invaluable.

We will keep you posted on our progress after the training session.

Just received an information pack from Oxfam

This contains a fundraising guide, a treasure map (friends and family please note - I'll explain what these are in a minute), sponsor forms, and a Timeline leading up to the event.

Treasure Maps:

These are world maps with a grid of 100 numbered squres which are sold for £2 each. The winning square is announced and a £50 prize is given to the winner. What this needs to work is a person who works in a large company and is willing to act as a promoter on our teams' behalf, you need to secure permission from your employer to run this for us. There are various rules and regulations which are very clearly explained on the back of the map. Oxfam print the maps and will send us as many as we need, so all you family and friends who think you may be able to help us raise £150 in sponsorship please get in touch with one of us. Thanks.

It's official ...

Life's Voyagers are registered as a team! Though we've had a minor hiccup in that we only have 3 team members committed to the walk, our fourth walker unfortunately had to pull out. Nevertheless we remain positive and hopefully this situation will get resolved early in the New Year. Oxfam are meant to be sending me some posters to put up in my local gym etc to drum up some interest. At least now we can start training and fundraising in earnest. The Justgiving site has been set up and a link to it from here has now been added; at last we can start to publicise our blog and fundraising page http://www.justgiving.com/lifesvoyagers

This is all a bit new to me

Yesterday I attended a preparation session arranged by Oxfam for those intrepid participants of this years Trailwalker endurance event. I went along on behalf of the other team members to see what we had let ouselves in for, for next year. Do we really want to do this? I learnt that the distance is equivalent to two and a half marathons and includes, so I'm told, a total ascent equivalent to that of Ben Nevis!

I obtained lots of fantastic information last night - that I have yet to pass on to the team members - one of the ideas being to create a blog. So here we are and I'm trying to find my way around setting this blog up. I shall probably play with the settings and layout to start with as the site evolves - so please bear with me in this fluid design period.

Better go now as I have to pass on all that wonderful information about training, kit, sponsorship, support team etc ...