Walk it or Run it – 50 miles, 1 day
Will4Adventure will once again be fundraising for Action4Diabetics (charity no. 1166447) with their True Grit Challenge 2020: Walk The Peak District. This will be an insane 50 mile sponsored walk/ultra marathon through the Peak District National Park to be completed inside 24 hours. A shorter family friendly route of 25 miles is also available.
When and where?
This event will commence on Saturday 25th April 2020. It will finish on Sunday 26th April at 7am … or when walkers can walk no further – whichever happens first! (Ultra-marathon runners and faster walkers are invited to start at the later time of 0830).
There are two challenge routes available:
Gold: 50 miles – 0700 start – King Edward VII Lower School, Sheffield, S10 5RG
Silver: 25 miles – 0930 start – Nether End pay and display car park, Baslow, DE45 1SR
Wherever you stop: we’ll pick you up. How far will you go?
True Grit Challenge: Walk The Peak District 2020 is a continuous sponsored walk – with no opportunities for sleeping, or for separate team members to walk separate stages – it is purely a case of walk … as far as your legs will take you! With regular marshals and support drivers you have the option to walk as far as you can up to the maximum of 50 miles inside 24 hours.
To that end pick up points will be located along the route. After 25 miles, walkers will need to continue in small teams (minimum pairs) and be supported by vehicle checkpoints at key locations.
Why get behind Action4Diabetics?
Around 400 million people in the world live with diabetes. More than half live in Asia. Many of these people don’t even know why they’re ill. This charity has a simple and easily achieved aim: Action4Diabetics (A4D) helps to provide life giving medical care and essential development support for young people with Type 1 Diabetes in emerging countries in Asia. They make a difference and change lives for the better.
The Routes
An outline of the three routes can be viewed on MapMyRun. Click on the routes below to see where they go.
Silver 25 miles – 648m height gain – Silver route – print off your route card HERE
Gold 50 miles – 1381m height gain – Gold route – print off your route card HERE
This is for you to get an idea of where your route goes – but it is not so good for navigating by on the day. While these routes are not overly hilly, it is in the Peak District – so there will be hills to walk up and down: though nothing too steep. The routes follow footpaths, bridleways, and byways, and some roads. They should be easily navigated and pleasant to follow.
Marshals will be located along the way to help point you in the right direction. All walkers are expected to print off and to carry the detailed route description which will be available 2 weeks prior to the event. Having quick access to it on your smart phone on the day will also help since many key locations are hyper-linked to online maps.
Maps
OS Landranger 1:50,000 sheet numbers 110 and 119.
Entry Fee
Adult individual – £50
Adult team (up to four people) – £100
Junior individual (under 16) – £25
Junior team (up to 4 people per team) – £50
What does the fee include?
- Route notes (emailed)
- Refreshments on the route
- Hot meal at the halfway location
- Vehicle lift back to start (for anyone who can’t quite make the full distance)
- Finishers’ certificates
But we hope you will fundraise too …
If you can raise £400, this will be enough to support one child for a whole year with essential medication and support. So we encourage you to please try to fundraise as much as you can for this very worthwhile cause.
Event Support
This entire event will only work with the help of volunteers. We are also looking for kind souls to fill these jobs:
* drivers to ferry people back to rendezvous points (day and night shifts)
* stationary marshals to check people through the check points
Let us know if you are willing and able to help us out and please do ask around if you know anyone that may be able to help. Your assistance will be vital, and we assure you, you will totally enjoy being a part of the team on this great day. Think you can help us out? Please contact us using the form on the right. We will be hugely grateful.
Runners
Runners are welcome to apply for a place. We can only accommodate you though if we have enough marshals on the day to support you. (Everyone is a volunteer for this). Please do get in touch.
LDWA
Please note that this is not specifically an LDWA event – though all are welcome. Certificates are available for finishers.
Some Rules …
Participants must follow the route as described in the route card.
Gold participants need to make it to the half way station inside 11 hours and to Calver (37 miles) by midnight in order to continue beyond those points.
Unless agreed beforehand, walkers will not be allowed to walk beyond the halfway point alone.
This route covers some sensitive areas of the Peak District during nesting season. To that end, we’re really sorry but dogs are not allowed.
Please be exceptionally polite to everyone supporting this event: they’re a volunteer giving up their time to make this day happen.
Family Friendly True Grit Challenge – Walk the Peak District
Action4Diabetics are really keen to get children outside and engaging in challenge events such as this. And, especially, children with T1 diabetes are encouraged to sign up for the challenge: you are the kids that can be the role models for those kids in Asia who the this charity strives to help and supply with the essential medication they need. To that please note that this event comes a family friendly routes of 25 miles. Sign up and walk as far as you can.
Further Reading
- Training for challenge walks – guide to get fit
- Top Tips For Footcare
- Fifty Mile Walk: It’s no Mean Feet
- Act Now: Seize the Day
- Underestimating My Daughter
“This was a 50 mile walking challenge across the Peak District. Despite the weather (gale-force winds, lashing rain), we had a great day. Will’s route was first class, marshalls were always positive and support was there when needed. Looking forward to next year!”
“I did the 50 mile walking challenge in April 2019, after having participated in one of Will’s shorter challenge walks last year. It was wonderfully organised, beautiful route and all the marshalls were very friendly and supportive. Excellent atmosphere despite the terrible weather. I wouldn’t have dreamed to even attempt walking 50 miles in 24 hours without this team.”
“If you want a walk that is challenging this is definitely 1 to try. Fantastic event, even though the weather conditions were dreadful this year. Superb organisation and such fantastic marshalls supporting all walkers throughout the course. would highly recommend.”
“Amazing experience despite the horrendous weather, so well organised and supported. Will be back next year for another attempt. Thank you to Will and his team for the time and effort to deliver this challenge.”
