Message from Race Director
Old Faithful is a route very dear to me, and its mountains make up a big part of my own personal history and attribute greatly to my success as candidate on the Special Forces 'Selection' program. I grew up on the Moors in nearby Cardington village where I first developed my taste for adventure and the outdoor life, eventually compelling me, along with disastrous 'A' level results to join the army as a Paratrooper. Four years after leaving home I found myself back in Shropshire, ready to begin my preparations for the infamous Special Air Service 'hill phase.' Although I had grown up around these mountains, the 'Old Faithful' route was passed onto me by a Shropshire SAS veteran who explained to me that it had been the training and testing ground that had served three generations of soldiers wanting to attempt SAS Selection. Inspired by history, motivated and full of ambition of self-belief, I would load my Bergen in excess of 65 pounds and train horrendously hard on all the toughest mountain slopes on my side of the valley. I would deliberately push myself to the limit, going as hard and as fast as I possibly could withstand. If my spirit wasn't crushed or body wouldn't break I would add more weight and occasionally go around a second time, just to know I really was at my limit. Frequent trips to the Brecon Beacons and Elan valley are essential to any 'Selection' attempt, but my bread and butter training was in and around the hills of South Shropshire, and 'Old Faithful' removed any doubts and gave the me the strength and confidence to know I had done what was needed. There is no doubt about it, the 'Old Faithful' route was designed with one distinct job in mind, that being to replicate as best as possible one of the six 'Test Week' marches on 'Selection.' As with any of our events, it isn't made to be easy and I want to share 'Old Faithful with you, not just because it is such a great and beautiful route, but because I know from absolute experience that it will offer each and every one of you the rare opportunity to look deep inside yourselves and to ask testing questions of yourself when the going gets tough and the mind begins to question the body's ability to keep going. I know that anyone who marches and completes the 'Old Faithful' route will be left with profound memories and a distinct sense of pride and accomplishment, and given the nature of so many endurance events out there today, that is a very rare thing indeed. I look forward to weighing your bergens and presenting each and everyone of you with an Old Faithful finishers' patch at the school Rugby field.
Ken Jones
Old Faithful is a route very dear to me, and its mountains make up a big part of my own personal history and attribute greatly to my success as candidate on the Special Forces 'Selection' program. I grew up on the Moors in nearby Cardington village where I first developed my taste for adventure and the outdoor life, eventually compelling me, along with disastrous 'A' level results to join the army as a Paratrooper. Four years after leaving home I found myself back in Shropshire, ready to begin my preparations for the infamous Special Air Service 'hill phase.' Although I had grown up around these mountains, the 'Old Faithful' route was passed onto me by a Shropshire SAS veteran who explained to me that it had been the training and testing ground that had served three generations of soldiers wanting to attempt SAS Selection. Inspired by history, motivated and full of ambition of self-belief, I would load my Bergen in excess of 65 pounds and train horrendously hard on all the toughest mountain slopes on my side of the valley. I would deliberately push myself to the limit, going as hard and as fast as I possibly could withstand. If my spirit wasn't crushed or body wouldn't break I would add more weight and occasionally go around a second time, just to know I really was at my limit. Frequent trips to the Brecon Beacons and Elan valley are essential to any 'Selection' attempt, but my bread and butter training was in and around the hills of South Shropshire, and 'Old Faithful' removed any doubts and gave the me the strength and confidence to know I had done what was needed. There is no doubt about it, the 'Old Faithful' route was designed with one distinct job in mind, that being to replicate as best as possible one of the six 'Test Week' marches on 'Selection.' As with any of our events, it isn't made to be easy and I want to share 'Old Faithful with you, not just because it is such a great and beautiful route, but because I know from absolute experience that it will offer each and every one of you the rare opportunity to look deep inside yourselves and to ask testing questions of yourself when the going gets tough and the mind begins to question the body's ability to keep going. I know that anyone who marches and completes the 'Old Faithful' route will be left with profound memories and a distinct sense of pride and accomplishment, and given the nature of so many endurance events out there today, that is a very rare thing indeed. I look forward to weighing your bergens and presenting each and everyone of you with an Old Faithful finishers' patch at the school Rugby field.
Ken Jones
The venue
We know and appreciate that many of you had it hard on the recent Fan Dance winter edition, but it was always supposed to be an authentic 'Selection' challenge, and that is what you all signed up for and got. For 'Old Faithful' we are blessed with our venue and proximity to Church Stretton town and will be in a position to look after you with greater care. The school will allow our participants use of their changing rooms and shower facilities, after which you'll be able to enjoy plenty of hot brews and a complimentary warm meal. If the weather is kind to us we'll open the Main Hall doors into the quadrangle and have a BBQ or hog roast. You can then exchange stories in good company over a bottle of 'Old Faithful' ale and we'll follow up the prize giving with an Old Faithful finishers' photo.
Travel:
Many participants had a late arrival and lined up at the start of the Fan Dance with little or no sleep. Given the start times for 'Old Faithful' and travel distances involved this might be the case again. Don’t worry, this is exactly what happens on Selection so you are getting closer to the real thing! If you have prepared then a lack of sleep for one night should not affect you too much. It is all part of tapping into your reserves. On Selection the cumulative effect of weeks on the hills is relentless and brutal. Physical fitness is the most basic pre-requisite. Much more is required. During Selection, the Fan Dance for example, comes quite early on. At this point there is not a huge difference in physical fitness between candidates however some pass and some fail. Getting to the start line is all part of the challenge.
Old Faithful and beyond:
Old Faithful, along with the forthcoming summer Fan Dance will be used to assess your suitability for a number of our future events. Two of the most notable being 'Point to Point,' which is one of the six Special Forces Test Week marches and The Fan Dance Black Edition.
Old Faithful, along with the forthcoming summer Fan Dance will be used to assess your suitability for a number of our future events. Two of the most notable being 'Point to Point,' which is one of the six Special Forces Test Week marches and The Fan Dance Black Edition.
