Common Mistakes We Have Observed
A common mistake is believing that just because you run 10km every other day, you don’t need to train. Low-speed marching is an entirely different matter than running. Running is not bad, but you must realize that marching presents entirely different problems. Everything takes longer, and it wears you down both mentally and physically in a completely different way.
Not stopping training in time. As strange as it sounds. When the calendar hits July, you should stop walking long distances; it’s too late for it to do any good. On the other hand, there is a great risk of sustaining an injury that won’t have time to heal, such as a simple sprain. The last time I sprained my ankle during a refresher exercise, it took several months for my foot to return to normal. Slow running sessions on GOOD SURFACES and short walks are enough in July. Focus instead on boosting your hydration levels, especially the last week.
Arriving in Holland without your hydration balance in check. Start filling your body with fluids at least one week before, specifically water. There will be a climate shock for us Northerners, meaning we risk drying out if we haven’t consumed extra fluids beforehand.
Listening to advice from those who have never walked Nijmegen but still know how it should be done. If you haven’t completed Nijmegen, you have no idea what is coming. It is an achievement that not many have completed.
Poor planning of practical preparations. Everything from booking flights to packing your bag counts here. If you book flights late, they become expensive. The same applies to hotels and potential financial challenges. Sort out all practical matters once you decide to participate to avoid that expense during the costly months at the beginning of the year. Hotels can be booked cancellable, and the same goes for flights. The undersigned books flights and hotels in September and has those expenses out of the way when the large electricity bills arrive.
Checking in marching gear on the flight. It can be tempting to put everything in the bag you check in, but bags get lost. Several people have had their trip ruined because their bag was still in Lebanon on Tuesday morning. So, critical equipment as hand luggage and the boots on your feet when flying.
Not arranging family and work in time. It is almost always possible to negotiate with your employer, provided you do it in time and are willing to make sacrifices. Bring it up at work at the end of the year and negotiate taking some other unpleasant work week instead of the Nijmegen week. The family should also be aware of what you are getting into; it affects them more than you. You will be away training many weekends in addition to the week in Holland. Discuss it with your partner and, if necessary, negotiate there too.
Not budgeting for costs during the trip. This mainly applies to younger individuals who haven’t yet realized that it costs €300–€400 in cash to be away for a week. If you leave the camp, everything from bus tickets to food must be paid for, and evening life at the camp costs money unless you go to sleep at 7:00 PM.
Arriving at the camp too late. You miss out on a lot if you arrive late on Saturday evening or, even worse, arrive on Sunday. It is during the days before the march that you have the opportunity to socialize and experience something other than walking.
Eating everything that the children hand out. It is very tempting to eat everything that is handed out, but think about how it is handled. Children who might be handing out candy they have been touching all day with runny noses. You really don’t want to finish the march in a hot porta-potty on the last day.
Believing that the marching is everything. I usually say that the walking itself is only 10% of the Nijmegen March, and 90% is what happens around it. Unfortunately, especially as a beginner, people tend to focus solely on the 170km they have to walk. In doing so, you complete the Nijmegen March instead of experiencing it.
