Advice please! Can I prepare for a 10 mile walk in 30 days?

[ClandestineAdulation]

As above!

One of my friends wants to do a 10 mile walk for charity and has asked me to do it with her. I have never done anything like this before!

Can I prepare for it in 30 days and what do I need to do?

Any advice much appreciated!

Course you can!

How much walking do you do in everyday life?

It's not that far really. Do you walk much generally?

A healthy adult with no disabilities should be able to walk ten miles with no preparation at all

It’s nothing really....
in fact , easy to do that in a morning sightseeing in London without realising. Enjoy!

It's not very far, would probably take around 4 hours at a steady speed (eg not too fast).
Wear good walking socks and boots so your feet don't get sore as that would be the main issue.
Are you very unfit and that's why you're worried?

It a 3 hour walk if its flattish. Most people can walk for 3 hours.

I do a 5 mile walk most days, takes under 2 hours, it’s no probs

What’s the terrain? Wear trail running shoes unless it’s up a mountain

Think you'll be fine unless you're v unfit, might be worth doing a few longer walks.

For context my 8yo DD and 68 yo DM and I did a 5 mile walk yesterday with no problems, relaxed speed, looking around at the lake etc, took a couple of hours.

I'll assume you're not very active at the moment. Do you have a comfy pair of trainers? If you're not used to walking far, the first issue will be blisters, so don't do too much at once and take some plasters with you!

If I were you, I'd begin by starting off with a brisk 20 minute walk round the block for the next few days. Then I'd up the time by 10 minutes every 3 or so days.

An average comfortable walking speed is about 1 mile in 20 mins.

I think most people could do this fairly easily - a day of sightseeing or at a theme park is probably about 10 miles of walking. I would focus on making sure you have good footwear and something to stop thigh chafing.

You should easily be able to walk three miles now, assuming no more than a very basic level of fitness. Get some comfortable walking shoes and aim to walk a little further each day until you've built up to ten miles. You don't even need walking boots, imo. A decent pair of trainers should do it. If you buy them now you have time to break them in as you build up your mileage. You'll need comfortable clothes as well, ideally loose cotton trousers and loose shirt or top that covers you enough to prevent sunburn.

I did 15 mile walk for charity with no training. Up hill and down dale. I'm not fit. My advice is get a pair of light weight walking shoes/trainer type and wear them to break them in, but two pairs of walking socks, one to wear and one to change into if your feet get sweaty. If I can do it you can, best bit of advice I was given was " if you feel ready to give up, remember all you have to do us put one foot in front of the other"

In addition to the above advice, make sure you've got a reasonable amount of water, especially if it's warm.

As long as you're in good health it shouldn't be a problem. As others have said it's the equivalent to a city day out.

Just wear decent trainers and take sunblock and water. If it's hiking then maybe some poles.

easy to do that in a morning sightseeing in London without realising. - This.

When I go on big walks up mountains and stuff, I make sure I don't go too fast at first. I imagine I'm walking past shops having a nose at all the window displays. That fast. After an hour I've done 2 miles for seemingly no effort.

And take care of your body. A slight rubbing after a mile will be dripping with blood after 5. Have a dress rehearsal to check clothes and equipment and trim toenails. Take plasters.

Have fun.

Thank you all. I’m not the fittest but it sounds more manageable now it’s been put into perspective. I’ve never done anything like this before so I think it sounds like a more difficult task than it is!

No prep required

Yes, you can do it. It'll take about 3 - 4 hours.

Depends if it is 10 miles round a park, or 10 miles up and down a mountain - it is the going up and coming down that kills.
As long as you aren't going to drip feed that you have mobility issues and that you never walk further than 50metres at a time, then 10miles shouldn't present much of an issue.
It should only take you about 4 hours at a leisurely, ordinary pace.

If you want to, then you can prepare by walking for an hour 3 - 5 times a week, as and when you can fit it in.
Make sure you have 'broken in' the shoes / trainers you will wear beforehand.

I walked 21 miles once with no training. You'll be fine.

Don't wear new shoes, make sure you've worn them in first.
I walk a lot, I find trainers the most comfortable (thats on pavements, not hiking).

If you can walk a mile just do that instead. Ten times.

You'll be grand. DS age 9-10 has been doing 10-13 miles with us now and then, no probs. Amazon warehouse workers walk that distance every day during their shifts, poor sods