Top tips from the class of 2018

Alan Li 

Foot management. Learn it and get confident with it before the start line. Wrapping, blisters etc.

Charlotte Hattersley 

Even if you “never get blisters” think about what you would do if you did… AND Bring K tape...

Claire Perks 

I brought two pairs of trainers & swapped each day. I took my insoles out as soon as I got to camp & laid them in the sun to dry and then put them in my sleeping bag at night. That way I started every day with dry shoes & fresh socks. Then I did my best to avoid water as long as possible. It definitely helped. 

Claire Perks 

I let myself have FUN! Every day I chatted with people on the trail & had lots of laughs. It helped the miles flyby & the pain forgotten. 

Ian Heywood 

Find some awesome people to share the journey with! 

Jill Sardine 

Keep positive all the way. Break each section of the route into smaller portions and just focus on one at a time! If you feel rubbish, slow down, stop, eat… have a word with yourself and remind yourself that you are so privileged to be doing it… and will never have the same opportunity to be so well looked after, to be able crack the whole route in 8 days! With kit transferred, camp set up, food delivered - all with the friendliest crew in the world!

Katherine Welch 

Bring a small journal and pen with you to write down notes, impressions, poetry, lessons learned, anything that occurred to you during the day that you don't want to forget. Every day you will have new ideas, challenges, experiences and by the end of the week everything will be a mesh of emotions. I was so glad that I had that journal to keep track of the days, what I experienced, and my thoughts about them.

Irene Evison 

Think about your mental training, how to stay as positive as possible and how to deal with the inevitable difficult times. And remember to look around you and appreciate what wonderful places you're travelling through, and the volunteers who are helping to make it possible.

Con Bonner 

Study the map for each day and take notes of when big climbs are due rather than getting a huge surprise when you appear at the bottom of a long climb and you are knackered! 

David Dean

Listen to the Race Director - "It’s better to have 8 average days then 4 brilliant days then crash out". Worked for me, I had four quiet days to start with then got stronger everyday thereafter. 

Bo Johansson 

Bring your poles, to keep pushing uphill and run with more security downhill. Practice using them. Be prepared to never give up, even when the challenge seems impossible.

Jan Nouwens 

Have a proper swim when you get to camp and find yourself near a stream. Greatly aids your recovery and comfort, even when raining and cold!

Jasiek Plewa 

When you finally start from Fort William - take it easy. Don't push too much in first two or three days. You will save your legs for next days to come.

James Slaughter

End of day admin is vital. On arriving at the end of each stage I'd eat food, cool off aching muscles in the nearest burn/loch, empty my day sack, check everything and repack it. Set up my sleeping space and eat more food. Study the map for the following day and run through it in your head. This routine helped me relax and meant I could look forward to the following day.

Emiko Kawakami 

Making a to-do list was very useful for me. When I came back to the tent, I followed the list. The benefit for a slow runner like me? You can greet everyone as you leave first and then also when people are passing you during the day! Enjoy your fab journey! Not only the race but the training days.

Michael Burke 

Make sure you know the rules! Check you have mandatory kit well in advance.

Kirsten Ejlskov Jensen 

If you are not likely to be one of the fast ones, then train walking fast on rough terrain/hills.

Irene Evison 

Make sure you're sufficiently confident about navigation. You can't rely on someone else as you might be on your own when you need to make an important decision. 

Jasiek Plewa 

Make a test before Cape Wrath Ultra. Pick a course in your mountains, plan a three- or four-day trip and cover around 40km per day. It will help to know how your body reacts, what kind of food you need and how much of it you need to have during the day of running. It can be also fantastic way to check your kit and running shoes.

James Slaughter

Practise map reading and get good at navigation and route selection. Knowing what's ahead is a great morale booster.

Michael Burke 

Train by doing back to back runs of various distances.

Paul Willis 

Practice with how much ‘day food’ you need plenty of times in advance. I packed way more than I needed for each day (and I was slow so out on the course for a long time). This seriously adds up to a lot of weight over 8 days.