10 years ago I looked at putting a cadet team in for the Nijmegen Marches. This is a four day event with military participants having to march 40km every day over four days with 20Kg of kit. I started back in 2006 with a team of 14 cadets and one adult.
We also have to do qualifying marches of 2 x 40km with kit at RAF Cosford over a weekend to be eligible for the main event in Nijmegen as a military participant for the UK. I went to RAF Cosford two weeks prior to the qualifying event to take part in a Team Leaders course. I had on a normal pair of military issue boots for the weekend and ended up nearly crippled with blisters, how I drove home I am not sure? I did not remove my boots until I arrived home and was shocked at the damage to my feet. I had my reservations as to whether the cadets would make it. We did make it round with a lot of taping, strapping and pain killers and I vowed to get myself new boots and break them in before going to Nijmegen.
I bought a pair of Lowa Urban GTX boots which were a bit heavier than I was used to but with some training and breaking in off we went to Nijmegen. The poor cadets suffered with blisters, but with medics on hand I soon learnt how to tape feet using different methods to protect from and aftercare for blisters. The team got through with no dropouts and I thought to myself, do I really want to do this again? Yes I did!!
The next year we started training in January with a half day teaching team members how to look after their feet along with nutrition and hydration. We have kept this training programme up every year to date. I then bought another pair of Lowa boots as I found that the boots which were Gore-Tex had a tendency to make my feet sweat during the summer marches so I got the Lowa Desert Elite boot, what a difference. I have to say I have now completed the march, training and the qualifier for my tenth time and the boots have been outstanding, they are not designed to be waterproof but with the correct care and conditioning I have found they shed the rain so my feet do not get wet at all. I recommend that all the cadets, if they can afford them, to get LOWA boots as anyone in the team who has had them seems to suffer a lot less with blisters than those who do not. This saves me a lot of time with foot care. The Lowa boots I have worn for the marches and all Cadet related activities have stood the test of time with the soles only now starting to show signs of wear. By buying one pair of Lowa boots the saving in terms of pain and blisters is money well spent. I highly recommend Lowa but do not forget you also need a good pair of walking socks also.
After the buzz from last year’s event the demand for places was high on the first trial weekend in December, held at the Army Reserve Centre, Millbrook. The 30 selected cadets received lessons in foot care, nutrition and hydration and also completed a short test march around the centre. The veteran cadets and adult instructors sharing the benefit of their experience. The course was received well and spirits were high as they all chatted about getting on the first practice weekend proper in January.
Mid way through January we all convened at the Hants & IOW Cadet Training Centre near Longmoor Camp to put the theory into practice. This would be the first opportunity for the new cadets to experience a lengthy march and to test and break in their boots and other bits of kit.
A typical day with the Marching Team starts with breakfast at 0700, followed by personal admin (checking equipment, boots, socks and taping feet). After this it is straight out onto the range road which is 10km in distance, with hills and the cold weather this was really a taste of things to come.
After the first lap, at an acceptable pace for first timers, it was heartening to see a real team spirit starting to show. With the old and the bold helping and encouraging the younger and less experienced cadets along, all the while singing and laughing.
It was then time for lunch and a hearty range stew was the order of the day. This also gave the cadets the opportunity to treat any blisters etc. Unfortunately, some of the boots being worn were clearly not up to scratch as there were some that simply fell apart and others which were letting in water like a sieve. Needless to say the cadets and adults with Lowa boots were getting on just fine.
After lunch it was back out on the road and time to crack on and get some more miles under the belt. The lunch break had strengthened their bodies and fuelled morale and the singing was louder than before. The pace was steady but the real test was just towards the end when many thought that they were getting back to a nice warm training centre. About 200 yards from the end it was decided that the scenery was a bit dull and to spice things up a bit we would turn around and do the route in the opposite direction (the range road being circular). Needless to say not everyone was thrilled but this is where team spirit comes in and everyone completed the next 10km with a determination and fortitude which Hants & IOW ACF have come to expect and admire in our cadets.
After this it was back to the training centre for a wash and brush up followed by personal admin (cleaning boots etc…) and then dinner and a relaxed evening program of training.
It was shown that the advice given on the December weekend was wise indeed and many vowed to invest in a pair of Lowa boots as soon as they could. Everyone, now, is looking forward to this weekend for more of the same, a better pace with more miles under their belts.
If you are doing the Nijmegen Marches please look out for us, I am the one who is walking tall with a smile.
