50k walk

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Glaucus

Glaucus

Glaucus

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Has anyone done a 50k walk?
And does anyone have any training plans?, I can only really find ultra marathon training plans.

If one charity event is enough, they given me free registration on a 50 or 100k walk, trying to decided if take them up on the offer or not. As I have 20months to train for the other one, but 50k walk is in September. I'm very unfit although walking isn't an issue, regularly walk 3-5miles. Not the fastest pace.
 
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I done 100miles, stupidly done no training.

I was ****ed. Not fitness wise as I'm pretty fit anyway. But had shin splints and feet were in agony. Back was destroyed as we carried weight too.

Most important thing is good boots, socks and feet care. Comfortable clothing is a must too.

You don't need a training plan really, just put as much time on your feet as possible to get them toughened up. Build up the miles every week, add 10% or so.

Surgical spirits on your feet every night helped mine toughen right up. Ended up like leather. Though took a few months.

edit - to add this was one of the most horrible things I've ever done. I would honestly rather run it before walking it ever again!
 
I did a 25 miler (so ~40km) a few years back - the Woodhead MRT Grin & Bear It. The route has changed since I did it, with the long route now listed as 23 miles now. From memory took me about 8 hours including food stops.

I remember hauling ass big style up from the start at Langsett Reservior. There was an old bloke in front who went up hills like a mountain goat. I got home that night, had a beer whilst I soaked in the bath and felt so rough went straight to bed about 7pm (couldn't face tea). Slept straight through for about 14 hours.

What's the terrain like? For the GaBI you needed boots for the climb up Mickledon Edge, across the bogs of Harden & Langsett Moors and down to Dunford Bridge. After that I'd have been happy with approach / trail shoes with them being lighter.

I'd been in the Lakes the week before so had spent a few days on the fells but hadn't specifically trained for it.

Good thing about walking is you can munch whilst moving. Flapjack or similar is too heavy and difficult to eat when running but it's easy to chew on when moving slower. A hydration bladder is also essential IMHO so you can drink without stopping.
 
I'm doing a 52 mile overnight hike in June. My training plan is basically increasing distances until then - done a few hillwalks in the snow recently which is great for improving fitness. You'll ideally want to change your wool socks ever 15 miles or so - makes a huge difference. And get a good pair of boots if you don't already!
 
Thanks guys, so you recon to increase distance about 10% a week?
How does this plan look.

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I'm getting more tempted to accept this offer.

Oh and it's not anything stupid like through mud, it's along the Thames path.
http://www.thamespathchallenge.com/
 
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With the walk being along the Thames path you may find it more comfortable in trainers especially if the days turns out hot (unlikely I know :p). Most of it is hard paved with some sections in compacted gravel/rock. Saying that having a comfortable pair of boots is still a must unless you want to spend the next six months walking on pavements!

My only advice for training is find something you like as walking takes a really loooong time. There are loads of nice walks in and around London and plenty of walking clubs if you fancy company.

I think you'll be surprised how quickly you can work up to 30 miles. Once your feet harden up and your footwear is broken in you'll soon be walking all day (assuming you don't have any medical problems).

Another thing you can do if you find yourself limited by problems other than blisters or exhaustion is spending as much time as you can standing. Many of us have tight hip flexors, hamstrings and poor posture from sitting too much. On long walks these issues tend to start surfacing.
 
jamief said:
Modern boots generally don't need breaking in.
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They don't require "breaking in" in the sense of old style leather boots but there is a period of where your feet and the boot conform together and become nicely comfortable.

I can guarantee any new shoe or boot I wear will initially give me blisters if I walk a few hours in them.
 
Agreed all shoes/boits need breaking in, maybe not like they used to, but theres still a huge difference. Allready got a pair of comfy hiking boots so that's allready sorted.

I've never got on with trainers for anything long distance. Maybe it's because most of my jobs I've had to wear boots for so just very use to them. A few years(probably 7) ago I climbed snowdon in my work steel toe cap boots.
Got some Merrell Men's Archeon now.
 
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How fast do you walk at best?

Unless you're that unfit I don't see that you'd benefit from the shorter distance days in that plan unless really pushing your pace. Particularly as you say you're already quite content to walk that sort of distance.

Although I'm not sure I'd get too stuck on the distances either. Work out roughly how long it should take you to do the 50k and focus on increasing the time that you're out for.

Do you live near any decent hills? Do you have a bike? Just long days out doing anything.
 
MrMoonX said:
Run it you big Jessie
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Pfffftt, I let you try that especially with the weight I need to lose. I would get shin splits after 1k.

Thought I would see how far I could go to day. First long walk in probably 18months+
Managed 14.36miles in 4:42:56 which translates to 19:42miles. First 8 miles was averaging 18:10miles. Feet starter hurting after 4.8miles but quickly put that to th back of my mind and hit a brick wall at 10.5miles where it just went slower and slower.
Between shoulder blades hurt, base of back hurts, base of toes hurt and the most painful is the inside thighs.
Happy with that though, almost half the distance on first outing and 6months to train and lose a few stone which will help.
 
Fourstar said:
They don't require "breaking in" in the sense of old style leather boots but there is a period of where your feet and the boot conform together and become nicely comfortable.

I can guarantee any new shoe or boot I wear will initially give me blisters if I walk a few hours in them.
Click to expand...

I bought some Soloman Quest 4D GTX, walked 18 miles the first time in them - no blisters. Assuming you wear decent socks (i.e. wool) and change them if your feet get damp, you won't get blisters.
 
Just thought i bump to say it was yesterday and i completed it.
Was hoping to do it in 12hours. Did it in a few seconds under 11hrs, didnt stop the app till after i finished so that has an extra few minutes on, i hope the official time is under 11hours, but there was a few of us came in at the same time, so not sure if i got scanned intime.

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Mile 18 was a rest point, didn't spend long there, quick sit down while I drank a lucozade.
And another reststop at 23miles where i stopped for probably 10minutes.
 
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Well done, Glaucus. Did you feel broken by the end of it? I think the furthest I've ever walked in one go is about 15 miles. It was up in the Lake District, so I stopped quite a lot, including for lunch etc. and I was knackered afterwards.
 
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