By the Wild Women Team
You’ll never forget your first Coastrek.
That feeling of exhilaration mixed with exhaustion as you cross the finish line creates a glow that lasts for weeks and a sense of fulfillment that can last for years.
But getting there’s not always easy. In fact, it’s awesome because it’s really hard.
But there are ways to make it easier, less painful and a whole lot more fun. Fewer blisters, more energy and a solid team will make all the difference when you’ve been walking for 25km and you’re STILL not finished.
If you’re not sure whether Coastrek is for you, these tips might help you make the decision. Because you CAN do it. And with our help, you can enjoy the journey, too.
Here’s Wild Women’s top tips for enjoying Coastrek:
1. Train (even if you think you’re already fit)
Training isn’t just about fitness or spending time on your feet. It’s about gear, friendship and getting outdoors every week. It’s about prioritising you and your wellbeing. It’s about having FUN!
In training, you can test out different undies, socks, shorts and shoes. You can see if you like trekking poles, and if coffee suits your stomach on a long walk. You can check out tricky areas of the route so you don’t get lost on Event Day. You can gauge the fitness levels in your team to see who needs a little extra support. You can chat about your fundraising and brainstorm epic event ideas.
Training is not just about improving your fitness – although that will happen, too. It’s about building a ritual of movement with your friends that takes you out of the gym and into adventure.
2. Learn how to take care of your feet
It might not be sexy, but happy feet are possibly THE most important thing to have during Coastrek. Seriously, blisters make walking HORRIBLE. You can be fit as anything, but if you’ve got a bad blister, it can – and will - cripple you.
You want to prevent blisters at ALL costs.
Learn how here.
3. It's a mental challenge, not a physical one
Most people can physically walk 60km. If your life, or your kids’ lives, depended on it, you’d do it without hesitation. So it’s normally not your body stopping you… it’s your MIND.
Now, that’s not to say you should push through pain or create injuries unnecessarily, but for most of us, Coastrek is really a mental challenge. It’s about putting one foot in front of the other and just keeping on walking. Every step, every step.
In training, practice stuff that’s hard. Run up and down stairs a bit, until you’re feeling really annoyed at the damn Coastrek people for making you do this horrible torture. Good. The more you do stuff like that, the more you’ll breeze through when it gets hard at 55km (or 25km… it’s all relative). You’ll also breeze through things such as: annoying children, pap smears, performance reviews, long lines and partners who leave the toilet seat up. Hurrah! Thanks Coastrek people!
4. It’s ALL about the team
We could be an individual event, but we’re not. We’re a TEAM challenge, and that’s very important to us. Being part of a team makes some things easier and others harder, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. Humans are designed to connect, and achieving a goal together brings an exhilaration that’s hard to beat.
But, as you probably know, working with others can be a challenge. People clash. People walk at different speeds. Some people talk WAY too much. Others never bloody say anything. Some people faff around heaps and make you wonder if you’ll EVER get there. Others walk so fast you feel you can never keep up.
Working through these challenges is what teamwork is all about. Here – as in most relationships - communication is key. During your training, you can iron out these kinks, and ensure you’re all on the same page.
Ask your team:
- How long do we want to take?
- Do we want to cruise through coffee shops and stop for lunch, or will we eat while we walk?
- Do we need allocated quiet time?
- Do we need some games to help facilitate conversation?
- Who’s in charge of First Aid, maps and time keeping?
It all depends on the team dynamic, but keep communicating because Together, Everyone Achieves More.
5. Read the emails we send you (we make them fun!)
I know, it sounds boring, but it’s one of the most important things you can do to ensure you’re getting all the best information for your adventure. Our emails will tell you about compulsory gear, maps, race bibs, discounts and prizes you can win. It’s our only way to tell you what’s going on and what you need to do each week, so please read them and stay in the loop with what’s going on.
