75 miles on tarmac in 20 hours - which footwear?!?

As light as possible but reasonably cushioned I'd think. People do road running shoes and the like which I'd presume decent for this?

Above all of course something you know fits you nicely!

Boots and stuff really not fun on hard packed trails, let along pavements. Not anything with a soft sole either (innov8 say) because you'll absolutely murder those.

Oh and good luck, because thats a long way

Running shoes is what I'd take.  After all, it's waht marathon runners use for 26 miles on roads so they've proven comfort pedigree on roads.

As Martin says, do make sure they fit.  I f you already have running shoes you like then I'd stick with those unless they're on their last legs.

Pete.

Hi Roger, we have an annual parish walk here on the island, where you have to walk 85 miles in 24 hours, and I can tell you now - wear trainers!!!!!!  75 miles in 20 hours might not sound fast, but believe me having to keep up your speed for hours on end can be draining.

Assuming you are fit, the biggest problem you are going to have is blisters, so get your feet sorted in as many ways as possible, including breaking your trainers in, getting the right socks and applying compeed / tape BEFORE you set off, and as soon as you feel a heat spot, stop and sort it out - its no fun walking fast on shredded feet.

Its best to have a support car who can meet you at designated spots to supply you with food and drink, but I also use a camelbak with some of those resalting packets in to help keep your body in shape. 

And make sure you can be seen at night, especially if there is no street lighting on a particular stretch.

Google "Parish Walk" and check out what people are wearing, I'm the one in the trainers...

ALoveSupreme wrote (see)

Running shoes and socks that you have worn for at least 50 miles, ideally a lot more, and are comfy in. Don't risk blisters or pain with anything new. Good luck.

I do a 40 miler every year with a target time of less than 10 hours (4mph average) I am trying this year to do less than 9 hours.

Anyway mine might not be as far or as long but the principles are the same. From experience get advice on running shoes from a proper running shop that offers gait analysis. You are not running but it the running shoe is right for you running it is right for this event. It will be light, cushioned and possibly have motion control if you need it. So that sorts your shoes out but do use them as much as possible before in your training. My advice is try to do a 20 plus mile road walk to test the shoes out in case they are not perfect as you can do stuff to make them better. I did my first one with shoes that had silver gaffer tape on the soles at the edge of them where it started to cut into the foot. I only found that out after 20 miles or so.

Next is socks. Another year (my first) I knew my walking socks (smartwool) were looking worn out. I left it too late to sort out and ended up the night before scouring the one good outdoor shop near me that I could reach in the limited time. Not being sure what to get I saw a 2 for 1 deal on Helly Hansen running socks. What a mistake that was!! It was a very wet year and about 25 to 30 miles of it was in either heavy rain, sleet, hail or showers. Feet were wet from the first minute until the 30 odd miles when I found somewhere to sit down and change them (carried spare socks - my worn smartwool ones). I found I had blisters behind the toes and in the arch of the foot. Basically the whole pad was looking like coming unstuck. The socks had pads in the wrong place and were awful. Since I hadn't tested them I had no idea if they were good. Anyway the tried and well worn smartwoll hiking socks were like bliss when I put them on. So test the socks out on the same 20 plus mile training road walk.

Above all I would do training walks on the road / tarmac and use them to test the socks and shoes. It will also break them in nicely. Also test the clothing you might use. That includes waterproofs, shorts, vest/t-shirt and even boxers. Seriously after a certain distance (that you probably have never done before in that way) your normal underwear might start rubbing. If you run then running shorts with the built in briefs might suit. Not exactly a nice subject but just passing on what I experienced.

Sorry for rambling but just thought I would make some comments so you don't do my stupid things. Whatever you wear test it on a long walk on the type of terrain it is on. Nothing beats doing a little of what you will do on the day.

Good luck BTW it will be an acheivement. I am jealous a bit. Not got the cojones to do more than about 50 miles myself. Must admit the 100miler the LDWA do each year is a serious temptation though.

Eat a little and often plus drink often too. Bladders are good for that. Also don't stop too long when you do take a break. It disrupts your rhythym and you could cool / stiffen up if you stop for too long.

Like Mike said it is a serious distance you are doing. Treat the challenge with respect and prepare.

Also if you have a "justgiving" type of web donation page set up please post on here. People might support you from here.

Lost in Lancashire wrote (see)

Also if you have a "justgiving" type of web donation page set up please post on here. People might support you from here.

Just out of interest, what route are you taking?

With out wanting to be Mr Safety Man, looking at a map I sort of fear for your safety on the roads more than I fear for your feet.

Hope you get on OK and keep us updated on the outcome. Good luck!

LOL Mike. I'm sure you wouldn't do that. Hmmm!

What charity is it for BTW?

Just to be a tad contrary -  a squaddie mate once said to me: trainers for running, boots for walking (actually he was a lot more articulate than that).  I recently ran a marathon and was fine in trainers, and they were OK for the training runs.  But when I had to walk one of the 'training runs', an 18 mile stretch, after a snowboarding accident, I had terrible blisters walking in trainers. 

On the other hand, I saw a guy walk the whole of the Barcelona marathon in trainers, 26 miles+ in trainers in 5 and a half hours, so .... who knows

I've walked 20+ mile days happily in trainers, blisters (the odd one nasty!) only really when my socks have gone wrong. I guess that walking does mean you're on your feet for much longer than even a marathon so much more scope for rubbing etc if something doesn't fit quite right.

About the actual attempt: to iterate someone else warning cf road safety. It is a genuine consideration for this because near the end you're really not going to be fully coherent. 

Rob Jones 2 wrote (see)

Just to be a tad contrary -  a squaddie mate once said to me: trainers for running, boots for walking

That's 'cos issue boots will wreck your shins if you run in the damned things. I know, for years my shins were in tatters.

Wear training shoes. I've done 100 miles+ runs, so 75 miles will not be far off the mark. Boots will cripple you.

One other word of advice - vary your pace & stride, or risk stress fractures. Off-road, your feet fall at a variety of heights as ground undulates beneath your footfall, and you shorten & lengthen your stride as the ground dictates. On roads & pavements, the ground is far more uniform & you can easily get into a steady rhythm. Fine over shorter distance, but over 75 miles, you're really stressing your body. Simply by walking slower, then faster, jogging, taking short steps then longer ones, even skipping (not when anyone is watching) will break up that regularity & reduce the risk of sress fractures.

Roger here's a tips and hints sheet for the Parish Walk - you should find it useful

http://www.scottishwidows.co.uk/parishwalk/documents/hintsandtips.pdf

by the way, "Peel" is the 32 mile mark and comes after a particularly steep climb up the sloc along the exposed top and then all the way down again, so its at this point that most people are too tired to carry on - carrying on from there is relatively flat but its a mental thing, especially when you are walking in the dark, often alone.

oh, I should point out that despite most people training heavily for this event each year, most people (about 70%) drop out at Peel (32 miles) but that's due in part to the effects of the sloc but also because its target for people who don't want to do the whole course, so of the remaining 30% only about a third of them (so 10% of starters) actually finish the course, so it has a high attrition rate and weather certainly plays a part in that.

So gets lots of training in before your attempt.

CB is totally right about road walking and pace. I only learnt it on my second longish road thing. I will be mixing up my pace a lot more this year right from the beginning. It will hurt though.

The lighter your footwear the less effort taken. Since you are on the road you don't need the support of the boot (not that I'm convinced boot support comes from the high cuff). Cushioning is good and getting the right shoe for your gait. If you use your tried and testede Kayanos then you will have the gait issue sorted I reckon. Assuming you had it analysed before you bought them. Most good running shops will do that anyway.

Blisters I've had a few over the years on long challenge walks but you just have to live with them. I do think not stopping for long is a good plan. You don't seize up and stiffen plus I think if you stop for some time it becomes harder to get going again. You don't want to make it easier to give up. The biggest drop out on the walk I do is at aboiut 26 miles and is the Red Lion. Walkers used to pop in for a pint or even a soft drink then just stay there. Of course this walk is only 40 miles in total but you get a more varied ability level on it so there are some doing it for whom the 40 miles is harder than the 75 miles is for you I reckon.

There is a club for long distance walkers, the LDWA: (Long Distance Walkers Association)

Membership costs only £13, and it might be a useful source of information.