Walking a marathon in 3 weeks any tips?

[DryWhiteagainW]

I’m pretty fit and not too worried about the walking. Planning to walk in my running trainers that are super comfy. What do I need to take? Do I need to tape feet? Any tips?

Blister plasters are a must! Good luck

Hmm. How far have you walked in training, what's the terrain like (ie road, trail, fells, bog), and are there stations along the way for water and food? Or do you have to carry all your own supplies?

fellrunner I’ve done 19 miles once but have been doing regular weekly walks around 10 miles. It’s pretty flat and a mixture of pavement and fields (hopefully not muddy!). We have planned stops for drink and loo and are being delivered lunch so I was planning to take a small backpack.

Small first aid kit with blister plasters, moleskin (you can stick it to either your skin or any areas on shoes or clothes that start to rub), and painkillers.

I’d have a packet or two of sweets - jellybabies, haribo, uncooked jelly cubes etc. Just in case you start to flag. And water. Aim to have sips regularly. You can dehydrate much quicker than you realise.

Just go out and enjoy it. If you’ve got no particular time limit, it’s easily doable. DH and I used to go out and walk 20, 30 miles all the time pre-DCs. We’re forced to run the distance now to save time 😂

Check your socks too - chafing round the ankles can really hurt and worse cases can break the skin.

Indeed make sure nothing chafes at all, including if it's wet, and perhaps use something like BodyGlide (sold for runners) or vaseline as belt and braces

Yes, carry some fluids, and definitely snacks - include salty ones as well as sweeties.

Get your wet weather gear sorted, but also sunscreen, lip balm and a sun visor. Take a mask in case you need to pop in anywhere and a buff (remarkably useful bit of kit).

I read the title as you were walking marathon distance over three weeks and was wondering why you needed blister plasters for a mile a day

Good luck! (No tips, I’d probably struggle with the whole marathon over three weeks thing)

I read to put vaseline all over feet, then put sock on, then put vaseline on the seams of the inside of the shoe as well. Worked for me.
Mine was a night one and although I don't always listen to anything, at 5am I was really flagging and tuning into a radio station really helped. I even texted in and they read my message out! I'm just saying, be prepared for boredom and to need a motivational boost. You will start to hate your companions. We all sort of naturally took turns to power off in front and set the pace which really helped. Time your treats and energy boosts as part of your motivation.
God help me, remembering this is making me wonder why the hell I have signed up to run a marathon in October!

Oh, and if its raining, put a sandwich bag on your feet between your sock and your shoe, then your feet stay dry however wet your shoe gets.

Really hydrate in the days prior to the walk- it makes a big difference. Rockay anti blister socks are great- I always wear them on big walks now, after getting two huge blisters walking a marathon last year.

I also take a small bag (dog poo bag) and a loo roll, in case I need a wee and want to wipe. The bag is for the used loo roll. I haven’t needed a poo on a walk yet, but you never know!

It sounds as though you have company, which will help keep your spirits up at the end.

I take natural (unsalted) mixed nuts and raisins as a snack

Have a great time!

Definitely Vaseline in your feet and loads around your toes .
Good luck

@Imissmoominmama
Thanks for the tip on those socks .. I’ll be getting them for sure !

Ooh yes definitely loo roll and poo bags!

Agree re blister plasters. The moment your feet become uncomfortable check them, as long as you avoid blisters you should enjoy it.
I found sweets and paracetamol important, if you get to a point 15-20 miles in when you feel a bit achy and rubbish sweets and paracetamol will help.

I wouldn’t tape feet if your shoes are comfortable but the minute you feel any rubbing stop right there and then and put on plasters. And change your socks at least once, stopping to dry and air your feet.
Eat, even if you don’t feel like it - slow release stuff like oat cereal bars, protein etc, with sweets for quick energy boosts. Poles are helpful if the terrain is hilly, as they take some of the pressure off your knees. That said, the worst long walk I ever did was flat; it was the lack of variation that made everything hurt!

@babbi- they’re about £20 a pair, but you’ll only need one pair, as they’re bomb proof and they wash and dry really quickly. Well worth the investment!

You've done 1 19 miler, I suggest you get something in a bit longer soon. 42km takes over 7 hours, it's not the walking so much as the endurance. I try to keep to a steady pace ( for me it's about 6km/hour), one I can sustain, do not be tempted to rush off at the start (many will, and you'll pass them later on exhausted).
I ate a decent breakfast, and then took two small meals which I had whilst moving as I found I quickly stiffened up if I stopped for too long. Take plenty of water or whatever and make sure to top up as you go.

Another brand of socks to try is Hilly TwinSkin - sold for long distance runners. They may or may not be appropriate for inside walking boots, but as you said you're planning on walking in trainers it might be worth a try. If you get the socklet ones, they're way less likely to chafe than ankle socks (which IME are the peskiest length)

As well as all the feet blister proofing stuff I found a thin buff invaluable for long walks. It keeps annoying hair bits out of face in the wind, helps with sweat in the heat and keeps ears warm if it's cold!

take blister plasters and plenty of spare socks.
wrt: if you don't have hiking socks already buy a few pairs of anti-blister hiking socks.
shoes, if you have proper hiking shoes/boots then wet weather shouldn't be an issue.

oh, and in your backpack have 2 large ziplock bags. one filled with spare clothes (socks, knickers, leggings, tshirt) and one for the dirty clothes if you needed to change.

oh - and good luck!

Thanks so much everyone, this is exactly what I need. I have a list now and am off to google the socks. Great advice about pre walk eating and drinking too which I’ll do. I’m looking forward to the challenge and raising money too.

I did the Lyke Wake walk a few years ago (42 miles along north York moors)
Change your socks every 8-10 miles or so
Don't stop for too long (ie 10-15 mins only for food etc) as you'll just seize up
Make sure you have a map of your route!

If you buy any new gear/snacks for the walk make sure you try them on a few walks between now and the big day. Nothing new on race day (I'm sure this goes for walkers as well as runners!)

@Chocolateteabag

I did the Lyke Wake walk a few years ago (42 miles along north York moors) Change your socks every 8-10 miles or so Don't stop for too long (ie 10-15 mins only for food etc) as you'll just seize up Make sure you have a map of your route!

YES - I was just going to say change your socks, even just once. It makes a huge difference. The time I didn’t i lost a toenail. It changes the pressure points and makes your feet feel more sprightly!

I would also really focus on what happens when you finish and have some nice food/arrangements sorted for straight afterwards. My brother and I walk a marathon most years (a lovely annual charity walk). It’s quite doable but you are tired and stiff afterwards. We go back to my mum’s house - she lives near the end of the route - and have a proper slap up meal and a shower. Just make sure you don’t finish up in the middle of nowhere with only sad food to keep you going and an inconvenient journey home.

Tawny the finish line is a restaurant