It’s
time to get your trainers on and dance down to this year’s ‘Strictly Parish’
evening for expert advice on how to prepare for the Manx Telecom Parish Walk. At
this time of year many walkers are starting to train in earnest for the big day
on June 20, and the Strictly Parish allows walkers to get expert advice from a
panel of coaches, physios and race walking champions whoanswer questions from
the audience. It’s being held at Keyll Darree Education and Training Centre
near to Noble’s Hospital on Tuesday February 24 – doors open at 5pm for a 6pm
start.
The
event will last around an hour, and everyone who
attends the evening will have their names entered into a free prize draw to win
a Polar Loop activity tracker generously donated by Intersport Isle of
Man. The tracker is a 24 hour activity bracelet that records steps, calories
burned, and an overall activity goal for each day – as well as telling the
time! Entry to the Strictly Parish evening is free,
and tea, coffee and biscuits will be served.
On
the panel will be Steve Taylor, Olympic race walking
judge; Ben Scott, sports therapist and ultra-distance athlete; Dr Dave Walker,
a doctor at Noble’s Hospital and a Parish Walk finisher; Richard Gerrard,
Parish Walk winner in 2012 and 2014 and the joint record holder with a time of
14hrs 42mins 32secs; Lisa Motley, a Parish Walk finisher who is Endurance
Events Fundraiser at The Children’s Centre; and Dale
Farquhar, a Parish Walk finisher.
Ray Cox, Manx Telecom Parish Walk
Race Director, said:
“Strictly
Parish is an excellent opportunity to find out about training, nutrition,
footwear, and to get tips from the top walkers on tackling the biggest walking
challenge on the Island. There’s something for everyone– from novices getting ready to take part in the walk for the first time,
to more experienced walkers who have set themselves new targets to achieve this
year.”
The Strictly Parish evening is also an ideal
opportunity to find out more about special Manx Telecom Parish Walk training
sessions being organised by Manx Harriers. The sessions are on Sunday March 1
and Sunday March 22. Both sessions start at 9am– meet at the Manx Harriers
clubhouse at the NSC.
Entries
to the Manx Telecom Parish Walk are coming in fast, with numbers up by around
200 on this time last year. All entries must be made online at www.parishwalk.com.Right now, entry costs
£35, but it is£40 after March 31 until the final entry deadline on May 10.The
Manx Telecom Parish Walk 2015 will start as usual from the NSC and finishes on
Douglas Promenade for those completing the full distance.Certificates will be
awarded to all walkers who complete the full 85-miles in under 24 hours. Sub 18
hour finishers receive a gold certificate, 18 to 21 hour finishers receive
silver, and 21 to 24 hour finishers, bronze.
There is a Corporate Team Award for teams of four walkers who are
all from the same Isle of Man based company. Teams may include no more than one
walker who has previously completed the full 85 mile distance. The winners will
be the team with the highest aggregate distance covered by all four members. In
the event of a tie on mileage, the fastest aggregate time for the four walkers
will determine the winners. The Overall Team race is for four walkers and
cannot include more than two previous finishers who have completed the full 85
miles. The rules for determining the winners are the same as those for the
Corporate Team Award. All participants in the team competitions must enter
individually and include their team names.
Younger
walkers aged 18 to 21 can also compete, with prizes for the first male and
first female competitors to cover the 32.5 miles to Peel. There’s also a
competition for teams of three in the same age group over the same distance.
The winners will be the trio with the fastest combined time, and there are
separate prizes for men’s and women’s teams.
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