AIBU to think I can walk 100km?!

[NE14T]

I've signed up to the Oxfam 100km trailwalk in the midst of a mad 13 hour night shift at work!

I'm of very average fitness. I walk a lot and swim once a week but that's about it really. Walk isn't till end of July. I can do this can't I?! Very mixed reviews online, some say most people are able to do this with good training and others report grown men crying and army members dropping out.

I've bought myself a couple of pairs of decent trail running shoes and have researched equipment I might need but I mostly just need a bit of a 'you can do it!' boost as most of the people I've told are quite negative and wtf about it....

[user1484226561]

I've done it quite a few times, it took me about 26 hours I think. lots of breaks and meals. There were always army type people jogging with heavy back packs! They did it much faster

[cluckyhen]

Of course you can do it - I was support crew last year for my hubbies team and we watched a 70yr old cross the line!! Remember, you don't have to run it, you can walk it!

Biggest advice - core training, you need the strength to keep your muscles going. Don't have long rest periods as this will tighten your muscles. Learn how to tape your feet, make sure you have several pairs of trainers that you have worn in as you will need to swap them - even if it is hot and make sure you have a shit hot support crew so that every check point flows for you!

Good luck xx

[QuiltedAloeVera]

What will the terrain be like? How much weight will you have to carry? Food? Water?

I enjoyed reading Scott Jurek's book Eat and Run, but it put me off long-distance events!

When you say 'walk a lot', what kind of distance/terrain are you talking?

[sycamore54321]

Sorry to be a downer but I don't think you have enough lead time to do yourself justice. You more than likely could do it and hang on in there to finish it and probably never do another long walk again. Or you could defer to next year, build a really strong base from now on and follow a tailored training plan, meaning you would do a great competitive time and be far less likely to risk injury. It depends if you want to do this sort of thing just once ever to say you could, or if you want to give it your best shot and make it part of your lifestyle etc.

[anonymousbird]

You need to train, train, train, for sure, and yes it is doable, it will be tough.

I did 35 miles (in the days before kilometers!) and despite quite a lot of training - but probably not enough - literally staggered over the finish and could barely walk the next day.

Prepare, mentally and physically, and you will be fine. But tired!

Good luck.