Oxfam Trailwalker 100km - proven kit list and experiences

Proven Kit List:

Chung Shi All-Weather Boot and Chung Shi All-Weather Shoe - no blisters

Feelmax Coolsport Toe Socks - no blisters

Superfeet insoles - relaxed feet, no blisters

Leki Nordic Walking Poles, Leki 1/2 finger Nordic Walking Gloves, Leki Pad Butler, Leki Silent Spike Pads - light on feet and knees

Solidea Silver Wave compression shorts - no chafe

Falke Lightweight 'Jersey' trousers, Falke Full-Support bra - breathable

Icebreaker Superfine 190GT long and short-sleeve pure merino wool tops - wicking with no pong

Patagonia Stretch Latitude Jacket - dry, warm and comfortable no matter the conditions

 

Chung Shi All-Weather Boots and Oxfam Trailwalker UK 2008 

A date indelibly imprinted on my memory – 19 July 2008 – the day our team ‘Corporate Soles’ began their adventure across the South Downs in aid of The Gurkha Welfare Trust and Oxfam.  Organised and enthusiastic, we stood in the 6 am gloom, in a well-known campsite close to Petersfield, alongside 2000 other ‘Trailwalker UK’ mad walkers.  I say walkers, but the first finishers RAN the 100km course – they were finished by the time we reached checkpoint 5 of 11!  Pipers saw us off, and we disappeared into the heavy drizzle. 

Snug and dry inside my beloved Patagonia Stretch Latitude Jacket, which has seen off the worst the Brecon Beacons, Peak District and the Lakes has had to offer over the years of product testing, we began the long hike towards Brighton.
It was really interesting to see what others wore, carried (or not!) and how they began the endurance event in terms of their gait pattern – given my life is all about wearing and carrying the most versatile and appropriate products, and moving in the most biomechanically sound and efficient way possible. 

We Nordic Walked the course.  My team mates (all blokes) were very sceptical during the first training walk, until they saw how easily I scaled the hilly bits of the Chilterns (and there are some real killers around Chequers!).  Soon they had all trialled the Nordic Walking poles and there was no going back – they didn’t actually ever mention the poles and how good they were – they just never returned them!!     

We were alone in our Nordic Walking – bar one other lovely lady Claire who had come to the shop 2 weeks prior to the event (now training for Trailtrekker 2009, in the same gear we kitted her out with last year!) … and envied by many as we strode out with an even 4 mph stride even after 60 miles.   At that point, with so many miles under our belts, but still too many to go, it was wonderful to be able to take so much weight off our legs by driving through the arms and upper body. 

What is incomprehensible to me is why the UK in general hasn’t embraced Nordic Walking.  One pole has never made sense to me – we have 2 legs and 2 arms and should move evenly, not lop-sidedly – and pulling yourself along is much harder than pushing from behind, so why ‘trek’?  With so much positive research behind Nordic Walking (britishnordicwalking.org.uk) in terms of more muscle activity with less perceived effort, less pressure through the joints, improved range of motion with neck and shoulder issues, safe for heart patients, etc etc, you would have thought that Nordic Walkers would be two a penny – like in many other European countries.  Time to try it?  Give us a call!

With the back-up of our amazing support crew, we slowly ticked off checkpoint after checkpoint.  At each, we changed toe socks.  Yes, toe socks!  Another of Ten-Point’s great discoveries – this time, from Finland, where they have perfected the intricate knitting techniques required to make Feelmax technical seamless toe socks in 6 size ranges.  We all wore the very thin Feelmax Cool-Sport with Aerosilver for maximum coolness and wicking.  No blisters!

Solidea Silver Wave compression shorts kept chafe away meaning lube wasn’t necessary (that would have been a tricky job in the spatially challenged portaloos!), and blood circulation going - swollen feet were simply not an issue. 

And finally, our piece de resistance, the amazing Chung Shi All-Weather Walking Boots and Walking Shoes - physiological footwear from Germany, using gentle angles either side of a clever ramp to achieve postural tone, postural improvements and great, efficient gait, allowing feet to relax and the body to be dynamic. 

If you are attempting distances, biomechanically the goal has to be to use your body efficiently, with dynamic use of the larger muscle groups in the body, and enabling feet to be used solely (pardon the pun) for the business of covering ground as lightly as possible.  And the Chung Shi All Weather Boot and Shoe help you do exactly that.  No heel strike, no toe off, a soft roll through the feet and because of the improved body alignment, an enhanced use of the engines of forward motion - the hamstrings and buttocks. 

I completed the Oxfam Trailwalker 2008 challenge, 2.5 marathons back to back, coupled with an equivalent climb of Ben Nevis in my Chung Shi All Weather boots and shoes, striding out after 23 hours and 100km at 4 mph, with no blisters, no red skin, not even sore feet.  This is compelling product testing!

In support of these life-changing, worthwhile challenges, Ten-Point also offers team discounts on the necessary gear to help you achieve your goal.  Please contact the shop for more details.

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