“Why I walked 34 hours”, by Connal Cochrane from the Rangers Charity Foundation

“Why I walked 34 hours”, by Connal Cochrane from the Rangers Charity Foundation

Connal Cochrane, Director of the Rangers Charity Foundation, took on a mammoth task when he decided to walk the 79 miles of the Great Glen Way without stopping. In his often very personal blog he takes us from the fear that it could never be done to the euphoria of completion.

Each year I try and take on a personal fundraising challenge for the Rangers Charity Foundation. It’s partly because I like having a challenge to aim for as part of my life, especially if it is fitness related, but also because I believe that if you are asking other people to support a cause it’s good to do your bit too.

After so many years with the Rangers Charity Foundation, one of the challenges I face now is coming up with something different! I’ve climbed, cycled, danced, swum and dog sledded during my fundraising exploits over the years. This time round I wanted to train for a number of months for an endurance related challenge. Over the years I have had various periods of depression, some more severe than others, and although I am now able to better recognise when things are taking a turn for the worse, it is still a very active and personal struggle to manage it. There is one thing I know which is helpful for me – regular exercise. It’s not the solution for everything (or everyone), but in my case it helps me feel more in control of my depression and boosts my ability to try and bring positive energy to all aspects of my life.

What I settled on doing was to walk the 79 miles of the Great Glen Way in the Highlands non-stop in under 36 hours. As I was doing it in support of the Foundation’s special Armed Forces Partnership –  for which this past season we have been aiming to raise £25,000 in support of four charities: Erskine; The Rifle’s Regimental Association’s Care for Casualties Appeal; Poppyscotland and Combat Stress – I enlisted the help of our friends in the Royal Navy.

“It’s quite exciting when you don’t know if you’re capable of something but are determined to give it your best shot.”

Lt Cdr Gary Farmer, and a small support team kindly offered to provide logistical back up and two Royal Marines would be joining me for the hike. The team tackling the length of the Great Glen Way in one go would be Tommy and Stu from the Royal Marines and I. I think when Tommy and Stu heard about the challenge initially their thinking had been to take turns walking with me over the course of the 79 miles. However, in the end they decided that they couldn’t have a “civilian” taking on such a challenge and the notoriously tough Royal Marines not living up to their name and committing to the same brutal challenge too! I’m glad that their pride and professionalism won the argument…

Back in November I joined a gym and began receiving expert twice weekly personal training sessions from Ralph Gamba. Looking back I think the challenge I settled upon was a bit extreme, but I can now see that I was making sure that I couldn’t shy away from getting fit in the gym or getting lots of fresh air on long hikes as the date of the challenge drew nearer. It’s also quite exciting when you don’t know if you’re capable of something but are determined to give it your best shot.

Fast forward to 6am in a car park in Fort William on Saturday 3 June and final preparations were underway (mainly eating bacon and sliced sausage rolls!) before the start of our mammoth hike through the scenic heart of the Highlands from Fort William to Inverness.

• Laggan to Fort Augustus – 11 miles
• Gairlochy to Laggan – 13 miles
• Fort William to Gairlochy – 10.5 miles
• Fort Augustus to Invermoriston – 10.5 miles
• Invermoriston to Drumnadrochit – 14 miles
• Drumnadrochit to Inverness – 20 miles

The challenge has raised £5,640 so far in support of the Rangers Charity Foundation’s Armed Forces Partnership, thanks to the tremendous generosity of supporters, friends and family. I’m not sure what my next challenge will be but I won’t be forgetting this challenge in a hurry. This has been a hugely strengthening experience personally and I can’t put a price on the value of that.

 ? Click here if you want to read the whole journey of Connal.