Long walk tips...

[thebraketester]

Evening all...

A few of us are embarking on a rather long walk on Sunday to raise money for charity.... It totals about 57km, just over 35miles.

Does anyone have any advice/tips? Particularly regarding pacing? We have stocked up on energy bars and gels and that kind of thing.

The walk follows the Union Canal from London out to Hertfordshire so for all intents and purposes its flat.

Thanks in advance.

Rich

[thebraketester]

LotusMartin said:

Lupo tape at the first sign of blisters, or preempt them and put some on the back of your heel.

Hopefully you’ve got some nice broken in walking boots or your in for a whole world of pain.

Amazing... just ordered some of that. I have got a load of compeed plasters too.

Boots are fine I think... hope...! :-)

Thanks

[thebraketester]

johnpsanderson said:

For long distance running I’ve heard doubling up on socks helps (thinner pairs obviously!) as it means your foot doesn’t chafe against the shoe, the two pairs of socks slide over each other instead. Never tried it myself though...

Not something I have done yet. I would be a bit reluctant to try it at this late stage.

[thebraketester]

mickyh7 said:

If you are unlucky enough to get a blister on the back of your heel, I learned to stick a large piece of 'Gaffer Tape over the top and smooth down well.
I've left this on for over a week once and the blister just healed underneath.
(Not a scruffer, on a NATO exercise).
This was before the Army allowed running around in Sandshoes and buy your own comfy boots!
New Boots or shoes, the same, your socks will slide over the tape, and no blister.
I'm guessing an expensive alternative is available these days!
Good luck with it all.

Thanks

[thebraketester]

LordGrover said:

I don't know the route, but are 'walking boots' necessary? I generally find them heavy, rigid and uncomfortable.
I don't regularly walk more than ten miles, but I find 'normal' comfortable flat shoes are fine on regular paths and through wooded areas. I'd maybe look at something with more grip and support for more rough ground/hiking.

Thats a good point an I have been thinking of this.... I might well get my wife to come and find me at some point and drop of my very soft running trainers.

The tow paths are quite rough in places, or at least the are up in herts.

[thebraketester]

boyse7en said:

I did a 20 mile walk a couple of weeks ago for the RNLI along the coast path in North Devon, so very different terrain, and have to agree that looking after your feet is the biggest challenge. I got blisters about 15 miles in and had to walk on them the last five which was hard going mentally. I had completed plasters but they didn't seem to help much.
With hindsight I'd have worn my running trail shoes instead, as I don't (or haven't so far) get blisters in them.

Other than that, take extra socks (nice to swap I to fresh dry socks halfway) and walking poles are handy, especially if you get blisters.

Holy st.... I have done a bit of that coast path over the last few years (mainly around port issac, and bedruthan steps) and its absolutely brutal.... hats off for 20 miles of that..... that would kill me I think.

[thebraketester]

Thanks for the advice guys.

Sadly it’s looking like the weather is going to be shocking so I think that trainers are a no go.

We raised over 1000 so far so we have to do it now.

[thebraketester]

Well that was fking brutal!! Horrific weather. Wind. Rain. Disgusting.

We did I though. 58km. 71,000 steps. 11.15hrs walking time. Raised £1500.

[thebraketester]

Thanks guys. And yes, lights out last night. Slept like a log. I think it was around 6000cals burnt.

Feet are ok. 5 blisters, 4 small ones and the worst one is the entire pad of my smallest toe on my left foot. It started to develop at about 48-50KM and it was just too dark and wet to do anything about it. I think my feet just got a little bit damp, even though they are fantastic boots (salomon 4d 3 gtx) you soon find their short comings when they are pushed. The outers were wet from mile 1, so I guess they did pretty well really all things considered. None of the blisters are painful though as they are still intact. The worse pain is the nail on my big toe, feels like it’s gonna come off.

Legs don’t feel too bad at the moment.

[thebraketester]

mickyh7 said:

Very, very well done!

i4got said:

I wouldn't worry too much about losing the toe-nail. I've lost both through hiking. By the time they come to drop off it will be unnoticeable in terms of pain and they grow back nice and pink. A good tip is to trim them right back before setting off on a long walk (particularly if it includes steep descents) but I guess that tip never made it to this thread in time.

Oh and congratulations on completing it.

Thanks guys.

[thebraketester]

Thanks Stan.

[thebraketester]

Luckily our paces were all fairly similar except about 3/4 of the way through where were tended to drift apart.

I had to drill a hole in my big toe nail last night. The pressure under it was so uncomfortable, lots of puss/fluid (sorry). It seems much better this morning.