Is a 20 mile walk difficult.?

[DeanVRS]

Right,last night whilst under some beer influence...I agreed to do a charity walk for the british legion poppy appeal.

The general Idea is to walk from outer london roughly romford in essex for those that know it,from the local british legion to the cenotaph in whitehall central london near trafalgar square.

The distance I reckon would be about 20/22 miles...just me and a pal walking,maybe some pub stops.

My question is,would i need to train or could a normal person walk this distance with just the odd ache afterwards.

Out of interest i'm 38 ,not unfit,active job and normally cycle to get a bit of exercise roughly 10 to 15 miles approx.

Also what would i need to take,and best way to dress for it?

[Steamer]

With a damn good pair of boots (ie ones that won't rub) and the will power to keep the pub-stops to a minimum you should be fine.

good luck

...my only real advice - don't take your boots off when you stop for a break (until the very end).

Edited by Steamer on Saturday 23 May 19:21

[blindswelledrat]

As long as you have a basic level of fitness/health then it is pretty straightforward (though bloody tiring).
Certainly knackering enough to give you respect for marathon runners
I walked 22 miles once when I was younger and fitter and was fked at the end of it, although certainly no training neccesary to do it.

[cs02rm0]

Don't need to train if you're even moderately fit for your age, but it may help. When I was in school, earlier than secondary school age, the kids and staff did a charity walk of about 24 miles every year.

Take plenty of water, some food.

Thin layers for clothing, perhaps a waterproof.

An O/S map.

5 hour walk? If you can run some of it you'll be done in no time.

[JazD]

Yes you do need to train. Try a few 5-10 mile walks at the weekends to get use to walking long distances and get yourself some decent walking shoes and socks.
Forget the pub stops and get the walk done. At a decent pace you should be able to it in 5-6 hours

[Not-All-Here]

Stop whining and be a man!!!

how many teens do the duke of edinburgh award!!

I did it, imagine carrying a 3 stone bag and tent combi on your back whilst walking up and down the welsh fking countryside!

Its only like 8 miles a day, but its bloody tiring!

20 miles, flat roads, okish weather and you'll be laughing. you'll be a bit tired/wobbly legged, but its not going to kill you.

[Sarkmeister]

Steamer said:

With a damn good pair of boots (ie ones that won't rub) and the will power to keep the pub-stops to a minimum you should be fine.

good luck

...my only real advice - don't take your boots off when you stop for a break (until the very end).

Edited by Steamer on Saturday 23 May 19:21

Why wear boots? If the walk is on the pavement surely a pair of comfortable trainers would be more suitable?

[rhys27]

get one of these!
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Camelbak_Lobo_3_...

as long as you keep hyrdrated you'll be fine!

[rhinochopig]

One tip I would add to the advice is to take several good pairs of socks with you. When you stop for a break, change your socks. It'll help stop blisters.

I would suggest that you do a few 10 mile walks in preparation. Your feet, will probably be ok, but what you do need to toughen up is your shoulders if you plan on carrying a rucksack with water/food etc.

[talkssense]

That's not a walk!

This, is a walk, www.parishwalk.com/2009/pw2009rules.pdf

[Mexico.]

walk fast = 13-17 mins per mile
jog = 9-13 mins per mile
run = 5-9 mins per mile

[Chris_w666]

I am a fat (bordering on obese) bloke and can manage 12-15 miles carrying a large rucksack in a day then easily do about 10 the next day so 20 with a daysack is reasonable for a fitish person.

[elster]

rhinochopig said:

One tip I would add to the advice is to take several good pairs of socks with you. When you stop for a break, change your socks. It'll help stop blisters.

I would suggest that you do a few 10 mile walks in preparation. Your feet, will probably be ok, but what you do need to toughen up is your shoulders if you plan on carrying a rucksack with water/food etc.

For a 20 mile walk?

Anyone who regularly cycles should easily do a 20 mile walk. As long as your on a steady pace it wont feel that heavy going. Admittedly you will be knackered at the end of it, but it is easily doable.

[Marcia]

Did the lyke wake walk (a sponsored walk)some 8 years ago 42 miles over the north york moors ,was fairly fit,still had massive blisters though - you need a decent pair of boots and socks.
http://www.lykewake.org/route.php

Edited by Marcia on Saturday 23 May 21:23

[Rollin]

I once agreed to do a charity walk whilst drunk too. Unfortunately for me, it was that very night at midnight. Me and mates managed about 30 miles in rain and snow. It was quite easy, although I was leathered Bogle Stroll

[becksW]

Depends on the terrrain you'll be covering. I like walking but not used to covering vast distances.
One weekend did 7 miles one day and 8 miles the next. Both walks were on uneven ground, up and down hills etc. Felt ok the next day but I think I would have struggled to do the 15 miles in one go, however I'm not good at giving up so prob would have suceeded! I was very grateful to have a comfortable pair of well used walking boots.

[Mexico.]

If you are fit 7 hours job done not including pub stop/water intake

[The_Cheeseman]

I'm pretty sure I walked the 9 miles back from the city when pissed because the soonest taxi was 1 and a half hours and I was sure I could do it in less.

I didn't, I did get home though, and it wasn't that difficult, just boring.

[chris.mapey]

You'll be fine.

I did the Moon Walk in 2007 (26 miles through London) - I'm 38 & unfit and a smoker.

I did a few (three) training walks (about 7 miles each) in the run up to the event, and did the full distance in about 7 hours (including delays to get across roads etc)

Good Luck & it's for a good cause - get a just giving page up and you'll get a few quid from me.

[MitchT]

20 mile walk should be a piece of piss as long as you pace yourself, keep yourself hydrated and fed and wear something comfortable. I'd opt for trainers if it's flat. Boots are heavy and there's no great benefit to them if you're on a flat smooth surface. I did the 26 mile Three Peaks of Yorkshire in 9 hrs 28 mins a few years ago - that's three mountains with a serious amount of walking in-between and I managed that okay.

Edited by MitchT on Sunday 24th May 08:41