The Yomp 2016

Welcome to “Since 1664”  2016.  2014 was a unique Yomp, coinciding with the Royal Marines’ 350th Birthday it was a Yomp to celebrate, so the South Downs Way (SDW) was extended to exactly 166.4KM.  2015 was a reprise, but not for the 350th, but with the realisation that 351 had its own challenges, was all about “growing” the event with the RMCTF to see if over three years we could see it generate a significant percentage of the RMCTF annual needs. In doing so we learned some very valuable lessons.  So for 2016, we are doing the 100 miles (some claim 103) of the official start to finish of the SDW, and then  a little bit to find suitable start/finish locations.  With the minor detours to get to suitable scran points and the inevitable getting lost we just know that all 166.4 KM will get Yomped.  There was a debate about Yomping the other way and go Eastbourne to Winchester, though that has it’s own problems.  In the end we can confirm we are still going Winchester to Eastbourne, this time finishing at Helen Gardens 200M from the Beachy Head finish!

However, be under no illusion that this is “just” a stroll in the park, even though it literally is a stroll of the whole of the South Downs National Park!  Every serving or veteran Royal Marines Commando who has undertaken this Yomp has stated words to the effect that it was every bit as challenging as any of the Commando Tests.  The climb (and decent) is the equivalent of 40% of Mount Everest but over 100 miles and in 36 hours. It is almost once around the M25, it is further than London to Portsmouth. It is a huge physical challenge, but it is an even more immense mental test.  One foot in front of the other for about 36 hours.  Throughout the challenge, you will just need to Yomp 3 miles in the next hour.  Well anyone can do that, the challenge is can you do it having done it 31, 32, or 33 times previously? Completing this challenge is something you should rightly be proud of.

Taking place over the late Whitsun weekend of 28/29 May 2016 the Yomp will test the physical and in particular the mental endurance of the toughest Yompers – 90% of this challenge is in the head.