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!

Make sure you've got suitable footwear for whatever the terrain is.
And if you buy new trainers/boots/whatever, make sure you wear them in before the big day.

It's very manageable

Walking 10 miles is nothing. You'll be fine.

OP ignore the advice to not bother preparing, very irresponsible. We don't know OP's health and fitness level. If she's sedentary then no she won't be able to do it. She wouldn't finish, and/ or injure herself. At best shoes that haven't been tested could rub her feet raw.
So, yes you can do it jn 30 days. Get decent shoes from a sports store if you don't have any and start walking, as far as you can do then work up, 4 days a week, maybe add in the gym or other cardio.Good luck.

I reckon broken is right - and you'll enjoy it more if you're a bit fitter and your shoes are that bit more comfortable. Even shoes which seem fine in the shop can rub after a while.

We used to do a sponsored walk for school, and my form tutor always used to recommend rubbing soap on your feet before putting your socks on (don't wash it off) to prevent blisters, wgich seemed to work.

You could always do a training like couch to 5k, that's supposed to be 30 days. Since it's a walk rather than a run, don't worry about running in the run intervals, just choose a gentle jog or more brisk walk instead. There are various free couch to 5k apps.

I did a charity ten mile Moonlight walk three weeks ago. I do a lot of exercise classes, but hadn’t prepared by doing long walks.

I find walking boots a bit stiff, so I wore my most comfortable and sturdy trainers and bamboo socks. We did it in about three and a half hours, with a brief refuelling stop. The main problem I had was walking on different terrain and I had sore legs the following day, but I’d do it again.

If you’ll be walking on uneven ground (especially as it doesn’t sound like you’re used to it), hiking boots with ankle support would be better than trainers.

I’ve been known to do 10 miles just from walking around the hospital in a 12 hour shift in crocs though!

I run 🙂 I suggest vasaline your feet before you put your socks on 🙂 not had blisters since I did that.

Wear a comfortable supportive bra and vasaline where the strap sits. That’s my main chaffing point tbh.

Drink plenty of water in the days leading up to the walk so you are hydrated 🙂

If you are chatting it’ll be fun 🙂 I did a 10 mile walk a few weeks ago... it was an 80’s theme evening so I was dressed up and drinking cans of G&T and singing all the way 😂😂😂 even with 3 loo stops it only took 3.5 hours 😁

the only preparation I would do is getting a pair of good fitting trainers or walking shoes and a pack of blister plasters.
walk every day (you should anyway), just short walks or replace driving for distances up to a mile.

Do you use this month to start walking more. If you only have time for shorter walks add in hills but try and do some longer 2 hr walks at weekends.

If you are able bodied and healthy I just don’t get this?

And I don’t mean that horribly at all but do able bodied adults really struggle to walk ten miles?

I grew up on a farm and do a lot of sport so totally get that I’m coming at it from my own perspective but I am actually really surprised hence asking

It’s nit unreasonable to ask though. No one would want to get two thirds round and be in difficulty, and the OP is getting good input on footwear and comfort.

OP I’m fit and did a 12 mile walk last summer and it was hard on everyone’s legs. It’s worth starting a build up as soon as you’ve got comfy shoes and socks. That way you’ll get fitter anyway as well as coping better on the day.

The great thing about walking is that it’s free and the track starts right at your front door.

Good luck!

Get a fitbit or some sort of step counter. You will probably be surprised at how much you actually do a day from getting up to going to bed on a normal day, so doing a bit extra in a shorter amount of time won't seem too bad. Good luck!

I think it depends on the terrain. I can walk for miles on the flat but put a hill in front of me and I grind to a halt. If the walk involves hill walking/ jumping over streams or rock falls type of thing you will need some training.

build it up, 3 miles a day, make sure you have comfy shoes.
ten miles really isnt hard.

if you have time, do 3 or 4 miles daily, or weekly.
ten will be fine

comfy shoes = big enough at the front, at least half an inch longer than your foot. but a good sturdy fit around the ankle.

good luck

I do a 6k walk at a6% incline every night at the gym &do at least 5-6000steps throughout the day..i seldom take a day off&it just keeps me feeling able&strong&get away with eating a bit more of what i love..10 miles on flat surface is easy ifyou're used to being on your feet a lot -just make sure you have worn-in trainers&get in the habit of wearing a pedometer so you can get some idea beforehand of what 10miles'feels'like if you're not a walker.

Remember to stretch afterwards - calves, quads, hammies, etc. It’ll help with stiffness/soreness the next day.

If you want to prepare good shoes and socks. Comfy clothes. Protection/plasters for feet.

Start going on regular walks even just 2/3 miles if it makes you feel better and more prepared . It's not as far as it sounds and a charity walk will be full of people chatting etc so should go quickly. Or a good podcast/playlist if not.
Good luck you'll be fine!

Unless you really don't own any comfy trainers or walking boots don't buy new specially as there's not much time to wear in. Go for something sturdy though as I wore comfy flats on a trip round London and my soles were screaming by tea time.

I did a walking half marathon a few years ago, I did feel it in my hips by the end of the walk, though my legs were fine. I prepped by doing c25k but you don't really have time for that. I went on long walks the few weekends before and swam once a week.

Thanks again everyone.

To the poster who said that they don’t get why I’m asking this, it’s because I have never done anything like this before, had no indication of how long it should take and don’t have a great concept of how far it really is.

I appreciate the comparisons between doing this walk and walking around London on a city break but I’ve never done a walk like this before, with a dedicated route.

The terrain is mostly flat, roads/pavements but also sand and cliffs which I know will be harder.

Depends on the terrain, and your current level of fitness. If it’s fairly flat and you are reasonably active, 10 miles is nothing. If you are very unfit / sedentary/ overweight and the walk is very hilly, it will be more challenging and you will need to train and prepare.

Assuming you do need to prepare, start by getting some suitable footwear & clothing. If your boots/ trainers are new, wear them in and use 2 pairs of socks. Get a Fitbit to measure how far you are walking. Start by walking 1 or 2 miles and build up gradually each day from there. It’s summer, so walk in the morning or evening if possible when it’s cooler. Take plenty of water, use sunscreen and use Vaseline on areas which could chafe.

Good luck!

My husband did a 16 mile walk with no prep whatsoever
I think he regretted it.
He did say it was 4 miles too long and I don’t think he will be doing another one