100,000 steps in a day, easy right?
Discussion
I generally do some form of charity fund raising each year. I enjoy a challenge, last year for example in did the triple 5k swimathon, which was 3 5k swims over the course of a weekend. I did them all in a single day.
This year's challenge made that look like a swim in the park by comparison. I took up running about 6-7 years ago and have done plenty of 10ks and half marathons. I was due to run my first ever marathon in October, however this was unsurprisingly cancelled due to the COVID situation.
Undeterred I thought about other ways to fund raise and I decided to take on the 100,000 steps in 24 hours challenge, to raise funds for Mind (https://www.mind.org.uk)
To make it a bit more 'exciting', I aimed to complete within daylight hours on Saturday the 20th June.
Other than my regular running 2-3 times per week 5-7k per time and 2 practice walks of 25k step and 45k steps I didn't do a whole lot of preparation.
So Saturday was the big day, I set off at 4.50am, I had hope to run at least a marathon distance, however buy about mile 20 my knee started playing up, so it was a very long walk from there. I hit 50,000 steps (27miles ish) before midday and 75k at about 3.30, all was well. Then around 85k I hit a wall, my knees, hips, back and even my arms were killing me, the kms trickled by getting slower and slower.
I stayed well hydrated all day, topping up my backpack with bottled water from shops, however I ran out at the start of a 3km residential road. Now 3km doesn't sound that far, however when you're hobbling along at a snail's pace in the full glare of the late afternoon sun with no water, trust me it was horrific. If you've seen the latest season of 'Better call Saul' where he hikes across the desert with no water, that's how it felt to me (pathetic I know). I did get briefly excited when I saw a corner shop about half way up the road, but the f
ker was closed! So I soldiered on until I got back to my hometown, where I knew I'd be able buy some water.
Thirst finally quenched after what seemed like an eternity (about 2 hours) I set my sights on the finish line. 3000 steps to go, my partner and children joined me in the local park where I hobbled round (getting very strange looks from the cool kids hanging about there) until 14hr 50mins after I'd set off, 100,000 steps (83.17km /51.6 miles) was completed and over £1300 raised for charity.
It was by far the most painful thing I've ever done and I'm still paying for it now 2 days later, but what a challenge!
Now I got to think up something more extreme for next year..
This year's challenge made that look like a swim in the park by comparison. I took up running about 6-7 years ago and have done plenty of 10ks and half marathons. I was due to run my first ever marathon in October, however this was unsurprisingly cancelled due to the COVID situation.
Undeterred I thought about other ways to fund raise and I decided to take on the 100,000 steps in 24 hours challenge, to raise funds for Mind (https://www.mind.org.uk)
To make it a bit more 'exciting', I aimed to complete within daylight hours on Saturday the 20th June.
Other than my regular running 2-3 times per week 5-7k per time and 2 practice walks of 25k step and 45k steps I didn't do a whole lot of preparation.
So Saturday was the big day, I set off at 4.50am, I had hope to run at least a marathon distance, however buy about mile 20 my knee started playing up, so it was a very long walk from there. I hit 50,000 steps (27miles ish) before midday and 75k at about 3.30, all was well. Then around 85k I hit a wall, my knees, hips, back and even my arms were killing me, the kms trickled by getting slower and slower.
I stayed well hydrated all day, topping up my backpack with bottled water from shops, however I ran out at the start of a 3km residential road. Now 3km doesn't sound that far, however when you're hobbling along at a snail's pace in the full glare of the late afternoon sun with no water, trust me it was horrific. If you've seen the latest season of 'Better call Saul' where he hikes across the desert with no water, that's how it felt to me (pathetic I know). I did get briefly excited when I saw a corner shop about half way up the road, but the f
ker was closed! So I soldiered on until I got back to my hometown, where I knew I'd be able buy some water.Thirst finally quenched after what seemed like an eternity (about 2 hours) I set my sights on the finish line. 3000 steps to go, my partner and children joined me in the local park where I hobbled round (getting very strange looks from the cool kids hanging about there) until 14hr 50mins after I'd set off, 100,000 steps (83.17km /51.6 miles) was completed and over £1300 raised for charity.
It was by far the most painful thing I've ever done and I'm still paying for it now 2 days later, but what a challenge!
Now I got to think up something more extreme for next year..
that's very impressive - nicely done 
HairyMaclary said:
Well done!
How much damage did you do to your feet?
My feet aren't too bad as I wore decent running shoes, just a couple of blisters. My right ankle is giving me a lot of problems now, very stiff and swollen. I broke it 20 years ago and it has never really been right since.How much damage did you do to your feet?
Mobility is gradually coming back, another couple of day rest then back to running again I think.
Edited by Richieboy3008 on Monday 22 June 17:54
Edited by Richieboy3008 on Monday 22 June 17:55
Good effort!!
I can’t imagine how you was feeling, as a regular gym goer/walker I challenged myself to do 50k in a day, the last few miles my calf’s were killing me, managed 53k steps and that was over 31 miles.
I though about trying for 100k but I don’t think I could without a lot of long walks building up to it.
I can’t imagine how you was feeling, as a regular gym goer/walker I challenged myself to do 50k in a day, the last few miles my calf’s were killing me, managed 53k steps and that was over 31 miles.
I though about trying for 100k but I don’t think I could without a lot of long walks building up to it.
ChocolateFrog said:
I can appreciate that, good effort.
Most I've done while recording was 50,000. That was trekking back from Aconcagua base camp, then missing the bus and having to hike down the road to the nearest village. That nearly killed me. So twice that is pretty impressive.
Truly amazing effort by the OP and Choc Frog. One thing I'm not sure you can compare Aconcagua with Southend :-)Most I've done while recording was 50,000. That was trekking back from Aconcagua base camp, then missing the bus and having to hike down the road to the nearest village. That nearly killed me. So twice that is pretty impressive.
Amazing result, congratulations.
Every year where i work they do 'A Big Walk' to raise money for a nominate charity. A few years ago before I started there they did a 50 mile walk and every single person I have spoken to who did it said it was the hardest physical activity they have ever done, and there are some proper nutters at work! Marathons, Lands’ End to John O’Groats bike races etc.
Every year where i work they do 'A Big Walk' to raise money for a nominate charity. A few years ago before I started there they did a 50 mile walk and every single person I have spoken to who did it said it was the hardest physical activity they have ever done, and there are some proper nutters at work! Marathons, Lands’ End to John O’Groats bike races etc.
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