https://www.tentors.org.uk/page/ten-tors-rules The Tens Tors challenge is a demanding event requiring teams of teenagers to navigate routes of 35, 45 or 55 miles across Dartmoor over one weekend. It takes a great deal of physical and mental strength to complete, but it’s also a weekend that young participants will remember and feel proud of in the years to come. My own children have taken part having participated in all 3 routes over 4 years.
Whether you’re embarking on the closing stages of your preparation for this year’s challenge taking place on the 10th -12th May or talk of the upcoming event has inspired you to take part next year, there are several things you can do to make sure you’re ready and able to get this epic achievement under your belt. Here’s how to prepare for the Ten Tors challenge…
Get The Right Kit
Anybody taking part in Ten Tors will be issued with an official kit list in plenty of time before the event itself. Make sure that you check that you have everything you need as early as possible. You’ll need most of it for your training anyway and early checks will leave you with plenty of time to go out and buy anything that may be missing or need replacing.
One of the most important parts of the Ten Tors kit list is your footwear. All competitors must have a suitable pair of walking boots to provide the feet with adequate protection across a minimum of 35 miles. A durable and supportive Gore-Tex boot is a wise choice as this type of footwear should keep your feet dry and injury-free in unpredictable Dartmoor conditions. Try and get your boots in plenty of time as you’ll need time to break them in and get used to them - we’d strongly advise against changing your boots right before the event weekend unless you have to as a result of damage!
Familiarise Yourself With The Rules
All Ten Tors challenge participants are required to follow a pre-determined set of rules when taking part. These will not only keep you and other competitors safe but also ensure that the challenge is completed in a fair and good-spirited manner. Make sure you set aside plenty of time to read through all of the rules ahead of any key training weekends and the event itself. This way, you shouldn’t need to do anything too different from what you are already used to when it is finally time to take part. If there is anything you are not sure about, contact your team manager or the event organisers directly. No question is silly if it keeps you safe and makes you feel more confident!
Train Properly
The Ten Tors Challenge is not something you can decide to do on a whim - rules stipulate that teams are ‘sufficiently trained, physically prepared and suitably equipped’ to tackle the adverse conditions of Dartmoor. At the very minimum, competitors must have completed at least 4 days of training and 2 nights of wild camping on Dartmoor, but all should follow a more structured training programme that gradually builds the high levels of fitness and endurance required to tackle the challenge safely. Your team manager should make you aware of when and where your training expeditions will take place, but if you want to train even more as an individual then any additional time you can spend walking on Dartmoor will stand you in good stead when event weekend rolls around.
Attend Important Meetings & Stick To Deadlines
From signing up in time to making payments, each team has a number of deadlines they must meet to take part. Team managers will also be required to attend a series of meetings with the event organisers. It’s not usually necessary for each competitor to attend these meetings too but it’s always worth checking with your point of contact to find out what you do need to go to and which deadlines you need to meet. Meetings with your team will ramp up as event weekend approaches so having a good understanding of your commitments ahead of time is critical.
Finalise Your Pre-Event Weekend Plans
By the time the challenge is days away, your training should leave you feeling prepared and ready to tackle what’s ahead. However, it’s still natural to have some nerves ahead of time. To manage the lead-up to the event, make sure that you get lots of sleep, eat healthily, and allow yourself to relax as much as possible. If your team is getting together ahead of the event, try and add a social and fun dimension to your meeting so that you can all switch off and enjoy each other’s company in a more relaxed setting before the challenge starts.
Lastly, don’t forget to enjoy it! Ten Tors is a real achievement and something that many young people could only dream of completing. When you cross the finish line, know that you’ve done an incredible job and you should be incredibly proud.
Should you require any more advice about how to prepare for Ten Tors and how to find the right equipment for the event, make sure to get in touch with our team who can point you in the right direction of the right footwear.
