Welcome to - The Pathfinder March

Is an annual 46-mile long-distance challenge walk around the four main Airbases. It takes place as close to the 21st of June as possible to get the maximum amount of daylight. Walkers set off at 4a.m. with 20 hours to complete the Walk. It is a gruelling test of strength, stamina and map reading skills. The masochists amongst you try to run it, they set off at 8a.m. The participants have a ‘walkers card’ which is marked off at eight checkpoints around the walk, and your progress is recorded.

It was inaugurated in 1997 by Sqn Ldr Gavin Sugden, to commemorate the Pathfinder Force which operated out of RAF Wyton, RAF Gravely, RAF Oakington, RAF Warboys and their satellite bases from 1942 to 1945 (and because it was becoming apparent there were less and less members attending the annual reunion at RAF Wyton). Flying Halifaxes, Lancasters, Mosquitos, Stirlings and Wellingtons (the latter two replaced by Lancasters and Mosquitos), the Force had twenty squadrons and flights in the three years of its existence (including the Light Night Strike Force). Of the Force, only two squadrons are still flying in operational service today; 7 Sqn, Royal Air Force (one of the original five squadrons) and 405 Sqn, Canadian Forces Air Command.

If you complete the walk, then you can pat yourself on the back for a job well done.

Participants have several ways of completing the March;
They can walk the route, either on their own as part of a group

Relay Walk the route - several persons each walk a part of the route (nominally checkpoint to checkpoint earlier on, maybe two checkpoints nearer the end as the checkpoints get closer together.

They can run the route in the same manner as a full distance walker
They can Relay run the route in the same manner as a Walking Relay Team

Runners and a Running Relay Team requires some logistical prep as Checkpoints are on only open for specific times windows, and runners timings need to take this into account.
There are three versions of each form available on the 'How to Enter' page, a Word 2016 version, a Word 2003 version and a Libre Office version. The links on the RHS of the page are for Word 2016. The links at the bottom of the page are the individual versions.