Manchester Canals Trek

Why book with Charity Challenge?

• We are a multi-award winning challenge events specialist with over 25 years of professional experience organising and leading challenges worldwide. 
• High quality route design that incorporates major landmarks and undiscovered highlights
• Fully supported walking challenge. Checkpoints, walking leaders and support vehicle.
• The very best leaders, who are fully qualified, highly experienced, knowledgeable and fun. They will do everything to help you complete the challenge and have a great time doing it!
• Thorough safety management systems in place (Challenge Safe).
• Engraved medal at the finish. 

Difficulty

This challenge is graded as challenging. This is the perfect challenge for participants who are of an adventurous spirit and an open mind, but who perhaps haven’t taken on a strenuous challenge event before and are hoping to push themselves out of their comfort zone. 

Training

Our challenges are long, sustained events of up to 12 hours and cover varied terrain. They require a good to high level of fitness and you should not underestimate the importance of training beforehand. Even if you are active and exercise regularly, it’s good to adapt your training towards your chosen challenge. This is vital in building strength, cardiovascular stamina and muscle endurance for the endurance challenge ahead.

We recommend you start training as early as possible, ideally at least 2-3 months before your challenge. Make sure you check the distance, ascent and terrain of your challenge and create a training plan that builds up to this. Whilst you could start with short walks in your local area, it’s important to build up towards walking the distance of your actual challenge and being out and active for several hours at a time. Make sure you also check the type of terrain your challenge will take place in and plan your training to include similar terrain. Whilst an hour in the gym can help, you should ideally be training in a similar environment to that of your actual challenge and for several hours at a time.

For marathon distance challenges in more urban environments, we recommend training in similar urban environments. Focus on building up the distance walked so you are comfortable walking long distances with limited breaks. You should aim to walk at 4kmph as this is the speed we usually walk at to complete our urban challenges.

Training with the kit you will be using on your challenge is important so you can test it out beforehand and make sure it’s fit for purpose. This includes wearing in any walking boots or shoes and experimenting with the socks you wear so you don’t get blisters on your challenge. Make sure you also get used to walking with a backpack with at least 2 litres of water in. It’s very important to test out your waterproofs (both jacket and trousers) in the rain as there’s nothing worse than finding out your waterproofs leak 2 hours into your 12 hour challenge!

A healthy balanced diet is as important as your physical training. Make sure you fuel up on energy giving carbohydrates and muscle-repairing proteins before a long training session and test out the snacks you plan to take on your challenge as you walk. Not everyone gets on with energy gels, but most people can benefit from a slow energy release banana or a quick sugar hit from a jelly baby!

We provide plenty of additional information and guidance in your personalised login area, including warm up, stretching, cardiovascular training, exercise intensity, cross training, resistance (weight) training, cool down and the hazards of over-training.

How is this event managed?

This is a leader-led challenge and you will be accompanied by our challenge leaders at all times.

We employ experienced and fully qualified walking leaders to accompany and lead you. The walking leaders are first aid qualified and have extensive experience in leading challenges throughout the UK. They will be ultimately responsible for the running of the itinerary and the safety of your group. They will be carrying safety equipment and first aid kits with them at all times.

This challenge is designed and run as a team event and we encourage everyone taking part to support each other throughout the trek. This challenge is not designed as a race for individuals. 

Partway into the challenge you will have begun to spread-out into your natural walking speeds. For larger groups, once you reach the first ‘checkpoint’ you may be allocated into a small group and designated a walking leader. These leaders will then be responsible for your safety. If you have any problems or need to join a faster or slower moving group, then please speak to your leader.

If you wish to walk together with friends, colleagues, family etc then this is no problem. Please just ensure that you all keep together and reach the checkpoint at the same time so that we can ensure you all get allocated together.

Your leaders will be aware of several important cut-off times at locations that we need people to reach by a certain time so the group can complete the challenge. Your leaders will manage the group pace and keep you informed about these and your options if they think you might be struggling to achieve these times We ask everyone to respect the leaders decisions. They are made with the group’s safety in mind.

Please note that this route will not be marked by event arrows, nor is the event designed as an event for individuals to race. It is designed to be a team event, with like-minded people, all raising money for charity, supporting each other throughout the challenge.

Weather

As you know, the weather in the UK can be highly unpredictable and at times erratic, so being prepared is the key! Please check the weather forecasts to ensure that you bring suitable clothing and equipment for your challenge. We recommend you come prepared for any weather, which means bringing waterproofs and warm layers even if rain isn’t forecast.

We will monitor the weather in the lead up to your challenge and make adjustments to the itinerary as required to ensure your challenge can take place as safely as possible. If a significant change has to be made to your challenge itinerary due to the weather, we will inform you as soon as is reasonably possible.

For challenges taking place during a heatwave, we will ensure there is plenty of water available for you to keep your water bottles topped up or, if this isn’t possible, we will advise you where you may need to carry more yourself. In extreme cases, we may need to adjust the itinerary to ensure the group can walk at a more suitable pace and have more rest breaks.

Terrain

Despite its location in the UK, the difficulty of this trek should not be underestimated as it includes one long day of trekking.

Challenge Timings

Please note: Precise details and timings will be made available in your Final Details that are sent out 1 month prior to the challenge.

You will need to be at the registration point at 6.30am on the morning of the challenge for a mandatory safety briefing. The trek will begin at approx. 7 am. The total time to complete this challenge should be between 10-12 hours for the marathon distance and between 5-6 hours for the half marathon distance. We will aim to have everyone finished by 6-7pm.

Please note: Whilst we shall do all we can to stick to this finish time, please make sure you book flexible return tickets as delays can occur and we cannot guarantee a precise finishing time or be held responsible for any missed transport.

Getting there

The registration point for this challenge will be in Sale. There are plenty of options for trams, trains and buses to here. You will need to aim to be at this start point for 6.30am.

The challenge finishes near Manchester city centre. We aim to complete this challenge by 6-7pm. There are lots of transport options to get you home.

Please note: We will send you precise instructions about how to get to the registration point, and the timings of the event, one month prior to the challenge. We reserve the right to use alternative registration points and finishing points when necessary.

Accommodation

No accommodation is provided for this challenge.

Food and Drink

The following meals are included in the cost of this challenge:

• A packed lunch will be available to you during the day. This usually consists of a sandwich, fruit, crisps and a snack bar.
• At each checkpoint there will be water and checkpoint snacks available. These typically include a piece of fruit, crisps and chocolate/cereal bar per person per day.

We advise you to bring enough bottles to ensure you have 2 litres of water on you at all times. We would encourage you to also bring some of your own preferred snacks to keep you going during the challenge.

Please ensure you have had a substantial breakfast before arriving and that you arrive with your water bottles already filled.

If you have a severe allergy or dietary need, such as a severe nut allergy, please ensure you provide as much detail as possible about this when booking on the challenge (e.g. whether you need an epipen, whether it is an airborne allergy or not etc). If you have informed us of any allergies or special dietary needs as part of the challenge booking process, we will endeavour to ensure appropriate meals and checkpoint snacks are available to you. However, we would encourage you to also bring your own favourite snacks with you to ensure your energy levels stay topped up throughout the challenge. Please be aware that it may not always be possible for us to cater to special dietary or allergy needs – we will get in touch if this is the case.

Clothing and Equipment

This is a tough challenge and to give yourself the best chance of successfully completing it please make sure that you have consulted the kit list carefully and that you have all kit marked as essential. No spare kit will be provided on the challenge.

Footwear

The most appropriate footwear for this challenge is a pair of walking shoes or trainers.

On our urban challenges then sports trainers are allowed as we recognise that many people find them more comfortable to walk in when walking on paved paths and city streets. 

If you are buying new footwear, it is important that it is the right fit for your feet. We recommend seeking advice from your local outdoor retailer and trying several different brands and models out to find the pair that you find most comfortable. Remember to check how waterproof they are.

It is particularly important that you make sure that your footwear is well worn in, that you have tested them out with suitable walking socks and that you have any blister plasters that you may need.

Waterproofs

As the weather can change quickly in the UK, it is important to make sure that you bring an appropriate waterproof jacket and waterproof trousers. Make sure you test these out before your challenge to check they can keep you dry for 10-12 hours at a time – you don’t want to find out your waterproof jacket is too thin partway into your challenge!

Personal First Aid

Your leaders will carry an appropriate group first aid kit on the challenge, but it is a good idea to bring personal first aid items along for yourself. These may include blister plasters or physio tape, any personal medication and any knee or ankle supports.

If you carry an epipen, please make sure you bring two and that your leaders know where they are kept.

Please click here for a full kit list for this challenge. As a Charity Challenge participant, you will get members only benefits and/or discounts at a wide range of clothing and equipment suppliers including Outdoorhire, Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock, Water to Go, Sporttape and Nomad & MASTA.

Toilets

You will be made of aware of designated toilet points by your walking leaders. 

Money

During the challenge, there are limited opportunities to spend any money. We would advise you should need no more than £20.00, excluding your joining and returning home travel costs.

Safety

Charity Challenge considers the safety of all of our participants and staff to be a top priority, and as such we have set up ‘Challenge Safe’, a thorough safety management system. ‘Challenge Safe’ formalises our ethos when it comes to safety, and brings together the procedures and risk management strategies that we use to audit all aspects of our challenges, from vehicles to accommodation to the challenge activity itself. Your welfare is absolutely paramount!

Here are a few important points that you should be aware of:

• Don’t underestimate the difficulty of an urban challenge
• 42km is a tough and challenging distance
• Walking a marathon distance means you will be walking for approximately 10-12 hours so you should ensure your training has been tailored towards this
• Despite this being an urban challenge you should still make sure that you have all appropriate clothing and kit

Emergencies

Your leadership team is trained to deal with emergency situations and will be carrying mobile phones and radios in case the emergency services need to be contacted. The event is not run as a race and you will never be encouraged to walk at a pace ‘beyond your ability’. There will always be a wide variety in people’s walking abilities which will be carefully managed by the leader team. This team will keep the group together for maximum safety and set a sensible pace for all to achieve this challenge within the planned time frame. Should you find yourself unable to continue for any reason, then our support team, including our support vehicle, will be able to assist you coming off the challenge.

Pre-Existing Medical Conditions

We do not professionally vet your medical details. Please assess for yourself whether you are fit and able to take on the challenge. Please review the detailed Trip Notes and itinerary to get a better idea of what is involved. Please speak to your doctor or specialist if you have any concerns about taking part. If you think that there are things we can do to make the challenge more accessible/comfortable for you, it is your responsibility to let us know, and we will then let you know if we can accommodate your request.

Medical Support

First Aid qualified staff will be provided with the medical details that you give on your booking form but please note that they are on the challenge to support with medical matters related to the challenge environment and terrain itself, i.e. heat/cold and so on. They will deal with any incidents and accidents (cuts, sprains, breaks and so on). They are not intended to continue any ongoing specialist medical care that you receive in the UK for pre-existing medical conditions, and should not be assumed to have any professional experience of your specific medical condition.

If you have any specific needs around pre-existing medical conditions, you should discuss these with your family doctor or specialist in advance and then discuss any advice given by them with the challenge leader.

Responsible Tourism

Charity Challenge believes that all of its challenges, whether in the UK or overseas, should have a positive impact on the communities we visit. We are committed to sustainable and responsible tourism and always aim to make sure that we minimise our impact on the local environment.

You can help us to achieve this goal by:

• Adopting a policy of ‘leave no trace’. You can read more about this here.
• Taking all litter off the trek with you, including fruit peels and skins.
• Using public toilets when available and taking any tissues from ‘wild wees’ home with you.
• Stick to the footpaths at all times and avoid walking on their edges, to help prevent erosion from spreading.
• Only using the car park(s) designated for your event, and not parking on the local streets.
• Keeping noise to a minimum when passing houses in residential areas.
• Leaving rocks, plants and other natural objects as you find them. Please don’t take these home with you.
• Avoid transporting and introducing invasive species by cleaning your outdoor gear regularly.
• Contributing to the local economy by paying for parking, staying an additional night in the local area or enjoying a local meal out.
• Being patient and understanding if at points you have to wait or slow down due to others being on the same path.

We ask you to think carefully about any memorial type activities you may plan for your challenge. We fully appreciate the emotional importance our challenges have for many of our participants and encourage you to mark that special moment in your own way, whilst ensuring that the natural beauty and protection of the environment you’re in is maintained. Leaving photos or other memorabilia or writing on stones is contrary to the leave no trace principle. Remember: ‘Take only memories, leave only footprints’.

For more details about our responsible tourism policy then please click here.