Advice
Preparing for your Trail Blaze mission
Trail blazing should be a highly enjoyable experience. But there are a few things you can do to make the experience even better.
Footwear
Trail shoes are most suitable for trail blaze courses. Road running trainers will not give the necessary support and grip for off-road running. We recommended that you wear them well to avoid possible problems with blisters and discomfort. All the team here at Endurancelife use Inov-8 trail shoes such as the Roclite 315.
Good trail shoes fit even better with the right socks. There is a risk of blisters unless you have good quality socks. Inov-8 Mudsocks are among the best available. We also recommend trail gaiters, which help to keep dirt, grit and water out of your shoes. We recommend Inov-8 debris gaiters.
Clothing
Consider the time of year and weather conditions when selecting your clothing and bear in mind that the environments you are passing through will change as you go. Whatever the weather we advise that you carry a light-weight wind proof jacket such as the Montane Marathon Jacket as well as a hat or buff and a pair of lightweight running gloves. In all but the warmest of weather full length running tights are advisable as these will help protect your legs from brambles etc.
Hydration
It is vital that you stay well hydrated. Always take enough liquid with you. Hydration bladders or water bottles are ideal, but make sure they are full before you start and make sure you have studied the course map and identified the places where you can re-fill en-route. On some courses these water stations may be very few and far between – never pass one without topping up. Also, be aware that although we've tried to give you rough timings for each course, you may well be out for longer than you think.
Nutrition
Make sure you keep your energy levels well maintained whilst trail blazing. The nature of the activity means that you will expend a considerable amount of energy over a prolonged period. Make sure you take some energy bars, gels or snacks with you and don’t forget to use them.
Maps
In addition to the detailed route map we have provided, you might want to print out a larger scale map to help navigate to and from the start point. Sometimes rural roads can be confusing if you don't know the area.
Compass
You might find it useful (and interesting) to take a compass with you in case you get lost or want to double check the directions.
GPS
All the course routes are available as GPX traces, which can be downloaded to your computer. For people with Garmin GPSrs, we recommend that you install the Garmin Communicator plugin on your PC or Mac, which will enable you to download the trace automatically.
Emergency kit
We strongly advise that you take a mobile phone, light weight foil wrap and basic first aid kit with you at all times while trail blazing. It is also essential that you carry an emergency whistle. These are generally inexpensive, very small in size and weigh practically nothing but could save your life. Many trail packs have them built into the buckles as a feature, but if you don’t have one they are available from the Endurancelife store.
Safety
Animals
Footpaths, bridleways and byways are all legal rights of way. That means you have a right to use them even though they go across privately owned land.
Please be aware that although most landowners keep their routes clear, at certain times of the year there may be some problems. Where paths cross fields used by grazing farm animals, try to keep away from any young. Young creatures often have over protective parents! If this means straying off the route within that field, so be it.
The National Farmers Union says "Our advice to walkers is if you have a dog with you, keep it under close control, but do not hang on to it should a cow or bull start acting aggressively. If you feel threatened, just carry on as normal, do not run, move to the edge of the field and if possible find another way round the field, returning to the original path as soon as is possible. And remember to close the gate."
Electric fences
Electric fences are often used by farmers to keep animals in enclosures. Landowners are required to put up warning signs where they are in use near footpaths, and to insulate them where the wire crosses a stile. Temporary electric fences use a white mesh conductive tape. Where they cross the footpath there should be a black non-conductive handle attached to a fence post, which you can use to lower the tape to get through.
Clifftops
Be careful near the edges of cliffs. The bases of cliffs often get worn away by the sea, leaving an overhang. These may not be stable, and can crumble into the sea without warning. Very often the state of the underlying cliff is not visible from on top (although it might be clear from the shore line), so stay away from the edges.
Country Courtesy
Respect
The English countryside is primarily a working environment. Although you have a right of access in designated areas, you need to understand that for the farmers, gamekeepers and woodsmen the countryside is their workplace. Please keep out of the way of tractors or other heavy machinery and don't wander into outbuildings. Being respectful of the countryside working environment will only enhance your enjoyment of it.
Gates
You will encounter a variety of gates, styles and footbridges. Please use these rather than finding your own way between fields. Leave gates as you find them (open or shut, and maybe latched or tied as well).
Litter
The old saying goes, "leave only footprints and take only memories”. While we agree with the spirit of this zero impact philosophy, we would like to go one better and encourage you to adopt a positive impact philosophy and collect up any litter that you see en-route. This way you will leave the landscape cleaner than you found it.
Privacy and Noise
The pretty villages and quaint cottages which are scattered through the British countryside often look so extraordinary that we might think they were theme parks rather than living, working, communities. But they're not. So please remember that showing consideration and respect for other people makes the countryside a pleasant environment for everyone.
Traffic
Small country roads are not designed for speed - they have "grown up" from cart tracks. So slow down, be considerate of other road users and watch out for wildlife. Be careful when parking and don't block driveways, gateways or field entrances.
Dogs and Livestock
You may wish to take your dog with you when trail blazing. The Countryside is a great place for dogs. Not only do they get great exercise, they are out in the fresh air experiencing all the smells and sounds and excitement of their ancestors. As a result they can get overexcited. In particular, all dogs, even well behaved ones, cam go a bit crazy near livestock or wild animals. So keep your dog on a lead near farm animals, nesting birds and wild deer.
Remember - farmers are entitled to destroy a dog if it injures or worries their animals.
And, of course, clean up after your dog.
Support the rural economy
If you can, buy your supplies from local stores, use the local pubs, and pop in to the farm shops - they can be surprisingly good value!
Conservation areas, SSSIs etc
Some area of the countryside contain rare plants or wildlife, or cover a particularly precious ecology. Such areas are clearly signposted. If you go into such an area it might not be obvious to the unskilled eye just what it is that is special - it may be as simple as a patch of moss, or grasses which encourage the breeding of a rare butterfly.
So the general rule is, don't stray off the footpaths in these areas, and keep dogs on leads.
Many thanks and congratulations on another life-enhancing event. The many elements of the Challenge came together to make a truly excellent and memorable couple of days. We competitors were fortunate with the weather and the tidal stream, but even without that it would have been such a well organised and good-natured (though competitive) event that it was well worth the pain of the last miles of hill up to Princetown and pace-sapping unevenness of the coast path to Prawle. Thank you for your unstinting good humor and support.