How can I keep my friend going?

[Abitlosttoday]

How can I help a friend on a 24 hour walk around a running track?? She's been walking since 10.30am, all through the heat of the day. I have a slot at 11pm to 1pm, accompanying her. She's already raised £24000. I think by 11pm she will be flagging in a serious way. How can I keep her going? I am not a natural coach, or a sports psychologist! I don't want to irritate her - I am very prepared to sit on the sidelines if she's happier alone. Just wondering if anyone can offer insight into how to motivate people doing these long-haul challenges.

Is she running outside in this heat?

I would help her by telling her to pack it in.

I’d maybe make a playlist of songs to play (on your phone) as you both are walking round. Eye of the tiger. Chariots of fire. Girls just wanna have fun, proclaimers I would walk 500 miles (etc) few things like that which might make her laugh. I did this for some friends who were running a marathon around our local area and it went down well with them!

i hope this isn’t in the South!!

Cold drinks, energy snacks, music and walk with her. Take options and hear her when she tells you what she needs, even if it’s to leave her alone!

No, she's walking. It's the first sentence of the OP.

Ice lollies? Cereal bars? Energy drinks? Nuts? Bananas? Sweets that aren't too chewy as that might exert too much energy?

She has the full support team down there, with the giant umbrellas, all the snacks, drinks etc. I guess I am wondering what ai can bring to it for her- as in what to talk about, whether to distract from the task in hand, or sympathise, or talk about how amazing it is that she's doing it...

I think this kind of thing is a show up and read how she is. She may be in really good spirits or she may be flagging. Just trust your instinct when you see her. She’s your friend and it’s lovely of you to support her and she will probably just be grateful for your presence. And also, don’t be afraid to just ask her what she will find most helpful.

I would go for distraction - if you can get her thinking about something else that would be very helpful!! Can you reminisce about your past? Or come up with some ‘what where would you go if you have a teleporter but then have to stay there for only 24 hours” or “who would you have at a dinner party dead or alive - 8 seats at the table”

That sort of thing gets your mind well away from how horrendous you are feeling

Definitely ask what she wants.

It's probably mostly about taking her mind off things. If you're not naturally talkative already, you could think of some topics of conversation that you could chat about together.