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...

I walk a lot but wouldn't expect others to cover that distance in that time frame.

It's ok but only assuming pretty flat and no obstacles eg gates, stiles etc. I personally would allow an extra 30 mins because when walking along chatting you might not be at optimum speed!

Did you make it, @MorganSeventh , are you still in the pub?!

She's on her 7th pint of cold cider getting ready to roll the 8 miles home.

Mmmm....cold cider.
I'd be doing an impressions of the 5th little piggy for the 8 miles home though. It wouldn't be a 20 minute mile.

I’m so glad none of my friends are walkers

Hello! Yes, I'm alive. At home having a gin and tonic. Will update once I've showered.

I walked 8 miles this morning in 2 and a half hours. A few stops for a drinks and to chat to an old man, it was quite a flat route

I've done it a couple of times recently in one go. I usually walk more than that in a day but 2 walks. My legs knew about it!

We ended up doing it in under 2hrs 20... 17 minute miles all the way around according to my Garmin.

I suggested in the group chat that we start at 9:30 but people had already made plans, so we met at 10, but as people predicted what with bank holiday traffic, and figuring out the online pay and display and general dithering it was after 10:20 when we set off and so we had to put our heads down. Fortunately, it stayed cool and overcast until the last couple of miles, because there wasn't a lot of cover and if we'd been in direct sun the whole time I think we would have struggled. As it was, we did it, but I don't remember much about the route - it was all a green blur. We arrived with about a minute to spare but hot and bothered, and desperate for the loo...

The friend who was leading it was very apologetic. In fairness to her, I don't think she intended it to be a route march. She said she normally covers that route in 2hr30, which I'm sure is true, but that's on her own, striding out, wind in her hair. And not dealing with group inertia, it being a hotter day, and having to queue to go through gates because it's the first sunny bank holiday in forever and the world and their dog are out.

To answer other questions, we were only walking one way. After the pub we had a look around the village (ie had a cup of tea in a cafe) then caught the bus back. Which is just as well, as I do not think we would covered a second eight miles at anywhere near the same pace and it was quite hot by then.

For those of you saying you regularly walk 15 miles without stopping, all I can say is you must have bladders of steel...

I walk that distance and then some but again, I'd never expect others to do so unless I knew them really well. And even then. I'm on holiday with mates in the Lakes next month. We're all walkers but one has a phobia of heights and exposure and one has gout in his foot so we'll plan accordingly.

Well done OP. Enjoy that g&t

Fuck that I’d meet her at the place for lunch via Uber !

So people drove in their car to then go for a walk?

So people drove in their car to then go for a walk?

That’s generally how a lot of walks start - unless you walk in a very narrow radius.

I would love this

@newnortherner111

So people drove in their car to then go for a walk?

City dwellers are allowed to walk in the country sometimes.

Wild wees, OP, wild wees.

Sounds like you had a good day out, and a great meal too, I hope.

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.

This is spot on, as it panned out for the OP today

Of course its doable!

Im a fast walker and can cover a mile on the flat in 15/16 mins.

Just because it’s doable doesn’t mean it’s fun. It doesn’t sound like any of you enjoyed the walk and if the sun had come out earlier as forecast it would have been a struggle.

@MorganSeventh How was your walk!

@newnortherner111

So people drove in their car to then go for a walk?

Well, yes. What a bizarre thing to comment on @newnortherner111.

Or are we only allowed to go for walks from our own home, with people who live on the route?

@newnortherner111

So people drove in their car to then go for a walk?

Only walking with your neighbours from your front doors would rather limit the options surely.

No one is stupid enough to not know that groups of walkers routinely drive to a central meeting point to start their walks