Caitlin graduated her Venture Scotland programme in 2023. In April, Caitlin took on the 22.6 mile Mighty Stride in Glasgow for Venture Scotland. Since then, Caitlin has become one of Venture Scotland’s newest Ambassadors and now she’s looking forward to the Edinburgh Kiltwalk on the 15th of September. We asked her to reflect on her experience and give us her advice for making the most of your Kiltwalk event!
- Walk and walk and walk. It might seem obvious but trust me, the Mighty Stride is a big challenge and training for it makes a huge difference.
- Take care of your feet in the lead-up and especially after! Wear good, comfy shoes – not brand new – make sure you’ve broken them in and plan to rest a lot after the Kiltwalk.
- Get a good night’s sleep. Not only the night before but for the full week leading up to it, make sure your body is well-rested and ready for the challenge.
- Pack plenty of snacks and water of your own. The Kiltwalk provide some at the pit stops but the queues can be long, so it’s always best to have some as a backup!
- Only take short breaks. Longer breaks make it harder for you to get moving again and you risk your muscles seizing up.
- Don’t compare yourself! I took more than 7 hours to complete the Glasgow Kiltwalk! Everyone’s walking their own Mighty Stride at their own pace and for their own reasons; try your best and be proud of yourself!
- Don’t underestimate the challenge ahead. I thought if I could climb hills and mountains then this would be a breeze – but this isn’t a trail, these are miles of pounding pavements and requires different kind of training.
- It’s Scotland so prepare for all weather! Suncream and layers are always a good shout! You’re going to be outside for a full day, make sure you can keep yourself comfortable!
- Either bin or take your rubbish home! Respect the environment, we’ve only got 1 planet! 🙂
- Have fun and enjoy the atmosphere – what you’re doing is amazing, and brilliant and take it from me, a new Ambassador for Venture Scotland – we’re all so grateful for you taking on this challenge!
If Caitlin’s top tips have inspired you, you can still sign up for Edinburgh Kiltwalk here, or you can support Caitlin’s challenge, here.
If you’re interested in taking on a fundraiser for Venture Scotland, but the Kiltwalk doesn’t feel quite right for you, drop Katie an email (katie.bruce@venturescotland.org.uk) she’s always delighted to hear from people with ideas about ways to support our work with young people, and will be delighted to find a way for you to fundraise to Change Young Lives Outdoors!