Training and Racing with a SplashMap adds a new dimension of adventure to keeping healthy.  The SplashMap weighs only 60g and for many adventurers just replaces a headscarf or bandana… so really it weighs nothing and can be taken anywhere.

I’ve found it invaluable in training for the John Austin Half Marathon this Sunday with regular runs in the South Downs national park and my night rides with NewForce.

18.5 miles of muddy fun on Tuesday. Need winter tyres really!

I planned this weeks night-ride in advance, marked it in with a SplashMaps pen, then, after we’d covered 1/3 of the ground in less than an hour, we decided to extend the route (the extra few miles on the right in the picture).  This gave us a chance to get up to Cheesefoot head and follow the clearly marked bridleways to get close to Upham.  We could experiment in the confidence that we can find out way home using our clear and indestructible map.  A real sense of mucky discovery!

By the end of the ride we’d noted that the GPS trace on Dave’s phone hadn’t worked, so measuring our route on the map against the simple scale rule was needed.  18.5 miles was measured in the same time it would take to open an app;-).

Earlier in the week I tested myself on the full distance run, a 13mile run in the Downs again following the map and finding more adventure.  Needing to bring my time down I’ve been doing more this week.  9 miles was my last run this morning.  My legs will now be rested until the big day.

I’ve copied the route onto my New Forest SplashMap and will follow it on Sunday!

The John Austin Route looks great (see left)!  Barely a knee shattering road section in it!  Though I bet the aerodrome will be exposed.  Come and watch us and buy a map whilst your there.  And if you’re quick enough you could even win one of these fabulous fabric maps!

Sunday 10.30 start.  Come and visit us before or after and during the prize giving at Brokenhurst College.  But don’t expect me to reach the finish before 12.10!

David