Page 51 - RADC 2016

...a chance to rest sore feet from the constant pounding on tarmac.
succeed without prior preparation and it therefore inspires longer term commitment to tness and other low level training.
The marches always start on the third Tuesday of July at dawn and cover 160kms with four separate routes circumnavigating around Nijmegen. We walked 40 km in and around Nijmegen for four consecutive days experiencing the wide range of landscapes that the Netherlands has to offer.
Day 1 took us through the Betuwe region, north of Nijmegen and traditionally seen as the orchard of the Netherlands. Situated between the
cities of Arnhem and
Nijmegen, this region
tastefully combines its
primarily agricultural
landscape with
the latest in urban
development and
architecture.
Day 2 took us
to the ‘Land van Mass en Waal’, to the west of Nijmegen in very hot weather. This polder landscape complete with windmills and dikes in true Dutch style, is nestled in between the country’s major rivers – the Meuse and the Waal. Almost all the way through we were supported by huge Dutch crowds. In the village of Beuningen, the British contingent stopped to pay their respects at a newly built memorial which marks the crash site of an RAF Lancaster bomber in the Second World War.
Day 3 had few a inclines to attack and
was seen as the mountain stage by most walkers. This route headed south and east
of Nijmegen, over the hills and through valleys, centering on the wine village of Groesbeek. The hilly nature tested our tness,
mental agility and perseverance to the limit. Along the way, marchers stopped at the Canadian Groesbeek War Cemetery for a commemorative ceremony where Brig Ian Bell, Commander British Forces Germany, laid a wreath on behalf of the British contingent.
Throughout the routes we had three rest areas; each providing food and drink as well as medical support – and a chance to rest sore feet from the constant pounding on tarmac.
The fourth and nal day of the Four Day Marches which started at 0330hrs took
us to Cuijk, south of Nijmegen. Troops of Dutch and German military engineers worked together
to build a special pontoon bridge over the river Meuse for the marchers. The river was closed to
shipping traf c so that walkers can safely cross the Meuse without any disruptions. The village of Mook on the other side was actually the start of the glorious Four Days Marches entry. Participants walked the nal 15 km, lmed by dozens of TV cameras and cheered on by hundreds of thousands of keen spectators. What an amazing accomplishment!
The Four Day Marches were physically and mentally challenging but great fun and a glorious event. I strongly believe everyone should at least do it once.
I thoroughly enjoyed this amazing event and did not get a single blister on my feet; as the old adage goes, train hard, ght easy. It was absolutely fantastic seeing people from all walks of life marching together.
RADC BULLETIN 2016 49