Is walking 8 miles without stopping realistic expectation?

[MorganSeventh]

Meeting friends for a walk tomorrow morning, finishing with a pub lunch. All good. However friend who is organising it, who is a keen walker, has suggested we set off at ten and has booked lunch for 12:45.

She's sent through a map of the route, and while it's flat and on a good track, it's just over 8 miles (13k). I queried whether 2hrs 45 would be long enough to cover it, and her view was yes, as we'd walk at a steady 20 minutes a mile. Which is fine as far as pace goes, but doesn't allow any time for breaks.

Is that a reasonable expectation? We're 4 fairly fit women in our 40s and in itself 8 miles isn't a super-long walk, but 2hrs40 continuous seems quite a long time to go without stopping, for what was meant to be a relaxed amble with friends...

Sounds fun.

We do a lot of walking, 12- 13 miles is the norm, but I would find that pace tough. We usually do 25 minute miles, pause to take in the view, stop for a rest. I'd say 20 minutes miles is pushing it really hard unless on flat roads.

I'll meet you at the pub & be happy to do lifts home.

I hate being frog matched on what's supposed to be a pleasurable activity, even more so on potentially the nicest, hottest day in months & months.

It feels like your friend is in a mission to prove something, certainly not how relaxed & flexible she is 🤣

I'd assume 2-3 miles an hour in a group to allow all the dents in average pace from getting through gates/ stiles, doing laces up, changing a layer etc. 3-4 miles an hour is a normal range of walking speed, but it quickly ends up being slower from all the little delays.

I'd do this with my friends. Walking is something that we have always done through. No stopping for more than a few minutes to admire a view etc, not in an enforced march way..that's just how we all walk.

Or actually I'd say I would have done this, since being pregnant my body can't handle long/fast walks so I'd be meeting at the pub 😩

It’s a reasonable pace and perfectly doable but I’d be tempted to start at 930 to give you more time for chatting, photos, looking at views and general faffing which happens in groups! I also hate being late for anything so would want to build in a buffer before the lunch reservation.

Definitely doable. I delivered leaflets for some extra cash last week. Took just under 2.5 hours and I covered almost 14km, no breaks or stopping, so you’ll be fine,

Enjoy!

I'm 51 and do a 12k circular walk once a week with a friend. Our walking pace is about 11 mins per km ( 18 mins per mile) and takes us just over 2 hrs.

We wear gym wear and proper walking shoes and the walking pace means we work up a sweat and I always need a shower when I get home.

I wouldn't want to do that in normal clothes and then sit inside a pub all hot and sticky afterwards. If it was billed as a hike with a drink and lunch in a pub garden then I'd be fine with it.

@CuriousandReady

Definitely doable. I delivered leaflets for some extra cash last week. Took just under 2.5 hours and I covered almost 14km, no breaks or stopping, so you’ll be fine,

Enjoy!

By that logic everyone in the world could walk 8 miles in that time. Is that what you're saying, because you can do it everyone can

If the OP knew she could do it she wouldn't need to start a thread about it

We're all different, I could do it but I know fine well that some of my friends wouldn't make 8 miles if they had all day.

I think if you are all fairly fit as you say 8 miles isn't too much of a stretch, but I'd want to leave an hour earlier than suggested so you can all actually enjoy the route and stop to take photos/admire the scenery etc.

Has any of the group come up with an alternative route for your planned walk before lunch if you all don't fancy the 8 mile one?

I walk lots. It's doable without breaks but it's not necessarily going to be fun. No time to stop for a break, or to take pics or anything. More of a route march than an enjoyable hike.

I would think it can be done, and too late to start earlier, but you won't have much time to stop on the way.

My dog is a very active type, but she likes to sniff and explore so actually slows us down on walks. I agree with others that you'll have to be very brisk and disciplined to make it in time, which doesn't sound like it leaves room for chatting or enjoying the scenery. Seems more like an exercise pace than a nice walk with friends, to me.

I do 6ish (10k) most days walking the dog and can do it comfortably in 1hr 45. When you’re with friends as well you’ll be surprised at how quickly the time flies too!

dh and I regularly walk those kind of distances and I think it's a bit optimistic. I mean it's doable if you know the route, don't need to stop and check the map, don't stop to admire any views or points of interest, don't accidentally take a wrong turn anywhere, don't slow down as you're chatting etc. Doesn't sound particularly compatible with a sociable walk with friends and a pub lunch.

In the right shoes, definitely yes.

I could do this on my own, or with a friend who is also a regular walker, we’ll typically cover more than 18 miles if we’re out for a decent day’s hike, but we stop for a picnic, and we’re both pretty fit and fast.
For a mixture of my friends, I don’t think it would be doable, people want to stop for a drink, a photo, a brief rest, and chatting would slow things down.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good walk, but if I’m going with a friend who’s not a regular walker, I enjoy it just as much, but my expectations are different. I know the focus is going to be on us being together to walk in a companionable way, not the route marchI might do alone.
I don’t think expecting a group of people not to slow down and talk is reasonable, but good luck, and enjoy the pub!

Has the OP set off?

It sounds totally fine to me and I am 48, but then I walk that far or more every day! Could you ask to leave earlier so you can factor in some rests?

I walk a lot and this would be no fun for me. The joy of walking is having the freedom to stop, sit down, relax and just take in the surroundings. For this reason I mostly walk on my own. I’d swerve lunch (prefer decent breakfast and evening meal) and take extra time on the walk.

setting off at 945 would allow time for photo & wee pauses

20 minutes/mile is my normal country walking pace, that's fine

I don’t think the issue is the distance or that they will have to keep stopping from exhaustion (although this might be a factor if it is hot). It’s more that walking with friends includes stopping and chatting, looking at the view, photos, paddling in a stream, somebody dropping something etc. etc. and that all takes time.

If you're fairly fit then yes, 20 mins per mile is about right.

How are you getting back. 16 miles total might leave you aching and stiff the following day.

Do-able? Yes, probably, for most.
Desirable? No, probably not, for most.

Even things like fixing a 'setting off time' don't tend to go to plan. If you meet in a car park at,say,10, then there's the inevitable faffing whilst digging out boots from the car, rolling up rain jacket and re-packing backpack, discovering a bit of gravel in your shoe, sorting out paying the parking fee and so forth. And that's even supposing everyone arrives on time.
And is there going to be one sergeant-major-ish type in charge of chivvying you all along? Visibly twitching if you nip off the path for a wee? Not wanting to pose for a selfie or two?
Doesn't sound very relaxed or much fun to me.

I love walking and walk 5 miles weekly with a friend but doing more than that hurts my back. I’m 33 and walk 4+ miles a day (broken into 2mi stints) I wouldn’t want to do 8 miles in one go.