Supporting the RAF Pathfinder March

You just can’t beat the atmosphere of a charitable event whether it’s a 5k run, marathon, or Race for Life.  Thankfully I don’t personally have to put myself through any of this pain, but I do like to do my bit for charity and provide massage support on these occasions.  Recently I did something a little different – a gruelling overnight event called the RAF Pathfinder March.

The Pathfinder March was inaugurated in 1997 to commemorate the Pathfinder Force which operated out of RAF Wyton, Gravely, Oakington, Warboys from 1942-1945.  Flying Halifaxes, Lancasters, Mosquitos, Stirlings and Wellingtons, the Force was instrumental in the outcome of the second world war.

The historic event is an annual 46-mile walk/run with a route taking in the four main RAF bases in the south east.  Walkers set off at 4am, and the masochistic runners get going a couple of hours afterwards.  It’s a gruelling test of strength, stamina, mud-wading and map-reading skills!

The swiftest runners chasing their personal bests started to come through to us at their second rest-base at about 10.45 am, where the majority of them took advantage of some relief to their aching leg muscles and backs.  Some of these guys were carrying full combat backpacks and were grateful to disregard them for a short while.  Also on hand were the RAF medics, thankfully relieving us of blister duty!

A fantastic 250 out of 300 of the walkers and runners made it through to the finish-line after lunch and into the evening.  What a brilliant outcome!

If you know of an event that would benefit from free post-race massage then you can make a nomination by contacting me with a brief outline.