This event is a team event so try and train as a team as much as possible. Whether it’s orienteering or cycle fitness, you are fortunate to have the spring ahead with plenty of long evenings coming! This event is mentally and physically challenging so to draw the best from you and other team members it is best to do some preparatory training.

All team members need to be running fit and if individual members haven't been on mountain bikes for a while then you need to also plan to ride on some rough terrain.

Running Fitness

Ok, it’s not a marathon distance but it needs to be appreciated that the area covered will be hilly, so get off the road and run on tracks and forest trails to get your limbs prepared and enable you to try out footwear – always run at a steady pace and allow your body to adjust to the strains.

Cycling off-road will enable you to get comfortable with steep ascents, descents and narrow paths. Learning to cycle over broken uneven ground will be helpful. Bike maintenance is essential; please learn how to fix a puncture, use tools, make adjustments and set the saddle height properly for your size.

Kayaking

This activity normally falls into the category of maximum fun and affords a "superb break" from the legwork of cycling and running.  The distances are short and the efforts can be reasonably controlled.  The key is to be paddling in unison and in the correct direction as these are double kayaks and there-in lays the team working skill! For those that will find it difficult to ever practice kayaking then here is the key tip: The secret is in rotating your upper body at the waist and using your shoulders to pull the paddle through the water rather than your biceps - you can practice that with a broomstick in the garden!  

Rope Work

There may be rope disciplines as part of the event, which will be managed by a team of qualified climbing specialists and closely supervised. All equipment will be provided.

Navigation

The best practice here is to obtain an Ordnance Survey 1:50 000 map of your area, familiarise yourself with the legend then go out and practice some navigational challenges set by your team mates. As soon as you can relate the mapped features to the terrain around you then there will be a sharp ramp in your progress. Add the use of a compass into this practice and you’ll soon be a going in the right direction ALL the time.

Transition

When you enter a transition area the event clock does not stop and you are in real time, so your kit has to be well organised – transition means a change of equipment, eating / hydrating, fixing your feet or changing shoes or simply just grabbing 10 minutes rest. 

So plan some time to think about the kit you will need in your Transition Box and plan to be slick when changing from running kit to bike kit. Good transitions can make considerable differences in team completion times and mean that you can often relax a little on the trails – recommendations for kit / transition will be provided on the website prior to the event.

Hydration and Food

The basic principal is that teams should be fully self-sufficient for the duration of the event and responsible for managing their own food and drink requirements, so you will need to bring all your own food and fluids for duration of the event.

The key to maintaining your body throughout the event is in understanding how much food and fluids you will need. Everyone needs different amounts of body fuel, with most people getting it wrong through poor hydration; this should occur before, during and after exercise with a constant cycle of eating and drinking.

Make sure you carry enough food and drink and pre-pack plenty for your Transition Boxes. Remember you know your body best so pack food and energy fluid that you will like. Sandwiches are allowed and give you some normality in your day!

Additional information will also be published on this website providing more details as we get closer to the event date.