Here are ten tips for success, from people who’ve already done the challenge, including the trail developers. Don’t just rely on these. Ask around, get all the tips you can on the challenge. On hiking, on the mountains. It’ll all make a big difference. Succes comes from solid planning and knowing exactly what you’re getting into.
1. KNOW WHEN TO RUN – Or at least, when to go faster. Some sections of the trail are steep and rocky, with poor, loose footpaths, all of which will require you to go more slowly. The key is to know those parts of the trail with good, solid footpaths, on an easier gradient, where you can make up valuable time.
2. CHOOSE THE SEASON – Summer is the toughest. The best windows is early spring: it’s cooler and you have the longer daylight hours, which will help you go faster, longer.
3. TRAVEL LIGHT – Don’t weigh yourself down. Travel as light as you safely can – taking all you need but foregoing a few creature comforts for 24 hours.
4. THE MASTERPLAN – Preparation is key. Know the challenge before you do it. Study it from the trail guides, and Google Earth; ask questions and devise a strategy. Know the places you can go fast; where you can get water, whether you can benefit from a camel makeinga strategic water or food drop Stumble into the challenge blind, and you’ll lose a lot of time on the trail.
5. GET IN SHAPE – 37km, 2500 metres of ascent – over a quarter the height of Mount Everest – and 2500m of descent, all on rough, mountain ground. It’s not easy. Turn up cold and you’re going to struggle. Start training before. And don’t just focus on fitness. Focus on stamina and endurance.
6. DRINK ENOUGH – If you don’t drink enough, your performance won’t be at its peak. Moreover, you run the risk of getting seriously dehydrated, which will stop your challenge.
7. RE-ENERGISE – You’ll need to eat a lot of high energy food. If you’re going faster, smaller portions, more often, works better than bigger meals. Nibble on high energy snacks like halawa, chocolate, bananas and nuts on the move, or during strategic rest stops.
8. TIME WASTING – You can lose a lot of time stopping for water, finding wood for fires, taking pictures, checking directions etc. All that time adds up. Be as slick as you can. Think about everything you’ll need on the way, and make a plan about how you’ll deal with it. E.g. to save yourself time looking for wood, take a gas stove; or even a thermos flask if you want a hot drink etc.
9. MENTAL RESILIENCE – Don’t underestimate the mental side. The moment you reach the bottom of the first peak and see the second, Jebel Katherina, toweirng up, looking huge ahead, is when the scale of the challenge hits you. There are other moments after it too. Like the moment you see Mount Sinai, when you’re half way up Jebel Katherina. Don’t get phased: remember can do the challenge – like others have done – and have faith in your ability to do it at a good, steady pace.
10 CHOOSE YOUR COMPANIONS – Doing the challenge in a group can bring benefits. It can be good for morale. Some people get a lot out of an encouraging group environment. At the same time, being in a group will mean you can’t go tearing off at your own pace – even if you could do it faster. If you want to do it as fast as you possibly can, either do it by yourself or choose your companions very carefully. That also means your Bedouin guide – some guides are fitter than others.
