#Walk1000miles

Signed up at walk1000miles.co.uk and all set? Here’s some tips for anyone nervous at the prospect of walking from Land’s End to way past John O’Groats, even if it is only 2.73 miles a day...

Last-minute tips from 2019 veterans for anyone feeling daunted.

W alking 1000 miles sounds like an enormous challenge – and it is an incredible achievement. But it’s amazing what we can achieve in one step at a time with determination and encouragement.

I’ve been doing it for four years now, and during that time I’ve learned a lot – but the most relevant to this exciting time of year can be boiled down into a few bits of advice I counsel myself with often. 1) Don’t compare your progress to anyone else’s mileages. We’re all competing in different events here – races in which the only other competitor is our alternative self; the one who yielded to the sofa and said ‘Nah’ when presented with this epic quest. 2) Do get miles in early – in the year and in the day – because staying ahead of that 2.73 miles-a-day beat, even a little, gives you a comfy-feeling cushion and an extra sort of propulsion.

3) Equally, don’t let zero days or slumping weeks dent your optimism. Even if you walked NO miles in January OR February your daily average target would still be an eminently manageable 3.27 miles. And do post and comment in the challenge Facebook group. For while it seems like a mighty river of activity it’s impossible to keep up with, it feels much more exciting and involving in a boat than from the bank! Now here’s some tips from other veterans to help you focus not on the distant, daunting target, but the doable day-to-day.

Guy, editor

“It sounds an enormous challenge – and it is an epic achievement. But it’s amazing what we can achieve one step at a time”