How hard is it to hike/walk 26 miles?

[Bemyclementine]

I've had a leaflet come through the door fir the "mighty hike". A half or full marathon distance.

I'd LOVE to challenge myself to do this, and there us one very locally.

I'm am currently not fit and overweight.

I have previously been very fit, but chikdren and single parenthood plus a couple if health issues kind of put it on the back burner.

I do at least 10k steps a day without really noticing and can walk 6 - 8 miles at ease (but dont do it often.

How hard would it be? How would I train for it? I used to run a lot, up to 10 miles, so I guess train in a similar way, just walking and upping the distance/varying terrain?

I’ve completed a Mighty Hike before. I’m relatively fit but with young children didn’t have time to train. I managed it no problem. The biggest challenge when I did it was that it was difficult to keep your own pace at tile due to the number of people on the route. Also it was a bit stop and start at time due to having to queue to get into fields.

The benefit of doing the walk is that they provide all food and drink during the day. The catering was really good with so much choice. I only carried a small backpack with water for in between the stops, which were around every 7 miles.

if you already comfortably do 10,000 steps a day I’d say go for it!

I recommend Hilly twin skin socks - brilliant for avoiding blisters. https://www.ronhill.com/collections/hilly-twin-skin

Grassy photo is the rise out of Sheringham (westbound), second photo is the Weybourne shingle.
I've seen the walkers at Blakeney the last two years (2022 in third photo, they're coming in from Cley on the raised footpath). Both times it was fairly warm and some looked exhausted (overdressed probably). The majority were in good spirits though.
The Morston - Wells section, particularly around Stiffkey gets boggy.

If it's been dry, then much of the coastal path is hard packed, and without the softer topsoil, the rocks stick out more (likely with the numbers walking through).

I did a walking marathon for MacMillan and my left hip has never been quite the same since.

I advise lots of training walks, building up in length and intensity

I would recommend the Camino de Santiago.es website. Although that walk is over many days, very often people do around 20 or more km per day. It has a forum which I found great, with packing tips, blister prevention and care, sock, footwear, backpack, training advice etc. it might give you some pointers.

Plenty of training walks, good boots or shoes, and a bit of cross-training too. You don’t have to do bonkers, but your body will thank you if you can build up your core and flute strength, and hip and ankle mobility. You may find sports massage really helpful while you’re training as well, to keep on top of any little niggles and also to be looked after a bit!

Also don’t discount hiking poles - they can help with your knees as they take some of the strain. Takes a bit of practice to get the rhythm, but they can be really good.

Good luck, you can do it!

If you're near a pebbly beach, do some practice walks on pebbles. It's harder than walking on a solid surface so it tires you out quicker and really helps build the strength and flexiblity of your ankles - it will help prevent sprains and pains during your big walk.

Sounds brilliant - good luck!

*glute strength, too late to edit 😳

@Spudlet haha I got it. I think my core is quite strong from riding.

I think it's a good idea OP

Like every one has said build up gradually.

Do you have to do it in a timescale or can you walk it at your leisure?

Just looking at the website, they estimate between 7.5 and 12.5 hours to complete. I dont know if there's a cut off though.

There will be a cut off OP, there’s also a bus that picks people who want to drop out at various points along the route. I usually manage 10.5 hours including stops, and I’m in the top third of finishers - that’s on the level 4 and 5 ones though.

I would say that’s about right. From my memory there was a cut off and a bus went round picking people up who couldn’t go any further or who weren’t going to finish in time. The 20-22 mile mark seemed to be the main point people dropped out.

Perfect, your hip rotation should be pretty good as well if you’re a rider. All that will help to support your back and avoid knee pain. (I’m a sports massage therapist btw!).

There are cut-off points along the way and last year they were:-
Weybourne 11.40
Blakeney 15.35
Stiffkey 17.55
Finish 21.30

I always go for the earliest start time possible and, as a first-timer who did no real exercise before training for this event, did it in 10 1/2 hours including stops.

I hike reasonably long distances every 2 weeks, and did the Ullswater Challenge a while back. It was honestly the upper limit of my endurance. I didn’t have blisters but my feet were sore, even in good walking boots that were well broken-in. The last mile or so was absolutely brutal. I would definitely recommend training, and doing a few 18-20 mile walks beforehand if you can. 26 miles is a full long day of walking even on relatively flat terrain: it will be tough. Good luck!

@MyLibrarywasdukedomlargeenough Do you have any tips for getting rid of plantar? I love hiking but now I can only hobble!

@Wetellyourstory so you have to finish by 9.30pm? And the earliest start is 6.30am I think.

I think earliest start is 6.50.

Don't like the look of that shingle, but I hike the SWCP all the time, and taking your boots off towards the end of a long day to walk a half mile stretch on hard wet sand is an absolute joy.

I have a slim but notoriously unfit friend who lives in East Anglia and is looking for a sponsorable challenge- guess what I'm going to recommend her on the strength of this thread?! :)

Oh damn, maybe not, I've just looked it up and it's for Macmillan, whereas she wants to raise funds for the charity she works for. Never mind.

I've done a longer walk (Keswick to Barrow 40 miles) and would definitely say the key is good socks and footwear. Training wise, we would walk a fair bit during the week, with a longer walk every Sunday - essentially just getting dropped off further and further away from home each time.

@lesdeluges Would you be able to link the Camino website please? I can’t seem to find it.

Like the OP I am looking at doing a long walk but DH wants to do the Camino. Unlike the OP though, I am obese and not fit so we are talking about doing it in September 2025 so I have time to build up and a goal to aim for.

Good luck OP! This thread has been full of great advice, and sounds like you’re in a decent position to do it.

I've been out for my duration "training walk". I might start a new thread and share my progress 😊