To think I can walk The Cleveland Way even though I'm obese?

[Brightandshining]

I'm going on holiday from work to walk the Cleveland way and this came up with a colleague who said "are you sure you'll be able to do that? Dont you need to be quite fit?"
I didnt react to it really just said "yes, I enjoy walking, it will be fine" but inside I was pretty hurt tbh and it did make me start to doubt myself a bit..
I'm 5ft 6 and 15 stone. So yes obviously fat... but im also very active. Ive never done this walk before.. its between 10 and 15 miles a day for 7 days... but there's not too much elevation.
Last summer I did the Yorkshire 3 Peaks for charity which I completed within the time limit.. it was hard but I did manage it.
I've climbed Snowdon, Scafelll Pike and Ben Nevis. I've climbed a few others of the wainwright peaks as well.
I dont do any structured exercise but I love walking and average at about 18,000 steps per day according to my phone.
Am I right to think ill probably be OK to do this walk? I'm second guessing myself now..
I do have some experience carrying camping equipment but not masses. I've been wild camping in the lakes and Scotland covering a fair distance with all my gear..
I think I'll be quite slow but we will be starting out early each day.. shouldn't be too hard to cover 10 to 15 miles?
Considering I did 28miles in 10.5 hours last summer for the 3peaks... (that was arduous and I could barely move the next day but it was up 3 mountains too whereas the Cleveland way doesnt have that much elevation)
Has anyone on here who is overweight done this walk? How did u find it?

To be clear, obviously if you were starting from scratch stuff like tent etc are the heaviest things, but it sounds like those are all bought so there may not be funds to replace, whereas volume of clothes is easy to have control over right up til you leave.

Your colleague is a dickhead, you're going to be fine.

The only thing I will say - be careful of cumulative issues becoming a problem. If you start to feel something rubbing or an area become sore, stop and sort it out.

Practice wearing your kit - I wouldn't run an ultra with new kit so neither should you

Good luck, hope you have an ace time

Can I hijack? I have a knee injury (tibial plateau fracture 3 years ago) 50 years old, slightly overweight but fit. I lift heavy weights. I did a 5 day trek in Galicia last year.

I want to do the salkantay trek in Peru next year. I'm extremely nervous about it. I also live in London so not much scope for training hikes! Any advice would be welcome!

Also agree with @Augend23

My friend has done some epic walks - length of NZ, the Haute Route. She takes only 2 sets of technical walking clothes - wash one, wear one. Including pants, bra etc. The right stuff will dry overnight or hung on the back of your pack.

One jumper, one pair of light sandals for evening to give your feet a rest from boots etc. Really minimal, nothing 'just in case'.

I am 49, did 25000 steps yesterday (which included a competitive tennis match), am just about to get up and play another one. I play around 4-5 times a week. I can’t seem to lose weight so am currently 15 stone 11. I walk loads too. I walked 10k everyday for a month for charity last year. Sounds like you will be fine. Have a great time :)

Sounds like you'll be fine. The thing about the mileages you've described is that you have ALL DAY to do them. That's a lot of time for a max of 15 miles a day.
I would get some waking poles though to protect your knees. They are carrying a lot of weight. And poles will distribute some of that force.
You sound like you know what you're doing. You've checked elevation and that's not beyond you. So go for it and have fun!

I've walked some of the Cleveland Way - was a lovely. And I do a lot of long distance hiking over several days. It's a great thing to do.

I think you'll be ok but I'd try and get a couple of back to back long walks in quite soon. I'd strongly suggest getting lightweight poles and learning to use them - they make a huge difference. I'm an ultra runner btw

15 miles with camping gear is hard work

7 days with no break is very hard work

I think there are long steep bits even if no big hills ( I've not done the Cleveland way but I do know can do a hills worth of ascent along a path following the coast )

So ignoring your weight it would be tough for anyone, anyone would need to be rather fit and strong - if you aren't at the start you will be by the end !

Given the area - I'd recommend trying to get places you can eat out rather than carrying all Your own food

Have a great trip

You sound great - and active and like you already have a lot of experience, so it sounds like you’ll be absolutely fine! As pp have said, ‘fitness has no number’ - you really can’t tell someone’s fitness level based on weight.

What an amazing achievement it will be, and what great memories you’ll make. Your colleagues just sound jealous tbh.

Have a fantastic time!

Get poles
Lightweight obs
Don't need to sue them all the time

@SparklyBlackKitten I've been overweight most of my life apart from a couple of years where I really starved myself. I'm at the heaviest ive ever been right now and just tipped into obesity according to bmi. I am a UK size 16. I certainly would like to lose a bit of weight. I used to be about 13 stone and maintained that for years, it seemed a comfortable weight for me but recently I suffered a bereavement and really did engage in binge eating and immediately after it happened didnt do any exercise whatsoever.. it was nearly a year ago now but even though I'm back averaging at 18,000 steps the last 6 months the weight isn't shifting fast for some reason... guess I'm hitting middle age! I do find it hard to diet as I do a large amount of exercise, have two primary aged children, work nights in a hospital and am also a carer for a disabled family member. So basically I'm very tired and hungry a lot so I do overeat high carb fatty foods.. I do know its an issue.. but right now im just glad I've got my fitness levels back up again. Exercise alone will not shift weight. It makes you far hungrier than not exercising... you also just won't be able to do that amount of exercise if you undereat too much so have to be careful. I dont have the energy to meal plan to that extent right now. As long as my weight isn't increasing (which it isnt) I'm just leaving it for now. I do hope to be able to get back down to my usual 13 stone at some point. Its hard tho.. our clever bodies really try and maintain our weight

@Augend23 thanks! Some good stuff to think about there.. I have hiked with my tent before and will be using mostly the same equipment I had then.. we climbed Hellvellyn that day and wild camped overnight. I was very impressed with how light my tent was. I know about having multiple pairs of socks! Luckily we aren't going to be camping every single night.. we have a few nights in hostels which have washing and drying facilities.

Weight shouldn’t affect it at all if you’re used to this sort of thing (which it sounds like you are). It’s not as straightforward as weight putting extra strain on your joints either. Your body actually adapts as you get bigger.

Go and do your best and even if you don’t finish, you will have done more than your colleague!

You'll be fine. When I was running half marathons back to back I was 16 stone. I could run a 5k in 26 mins and was bloody fit.
I miss being that fit!

@fellrunner85 - I always bow to your knowledge of running, but the Cleveland way isn't flat all the way round! The wainstones, three sisters and climb up out to Black Hamble are pretty steep!!

@Brightandshining - it may be lovely weather but equally it could also be cold and awful - especially the section along the coast if you get the sea fret so do have a hat:waterproofs with you

Take your time especially up the hills, and if you can get your packs transported between the Guisborough to Osmotherley section you might find the climby bits a bit easier?