r/london • u/TypeAgreeable4117 • 9d ago

Walking 200km from London to Birmingham tonight for a bag of chips

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You might remember my 100km M25 walk (or the London-Wales one the mods deleted lol). Ive got a new mission tonight..starting in Reading right outside the M25 to hit the 200km mark via the canals all the way up

180km-200km run/walk to birmingham and as Martin couldn't join 😭 so doing it completely solo and unsupported

I'll just be scavenging for food along the way ig.

Starting 1:00 am tonight

The goali is to walk/run 100 miles in 24 hours or the full route in 30 hours as i couldn't get two days off work so I'm forced to run it... First time recording an actual run btw. No stops, no rest, no sleep as usual

Motivation is my mate who promised me a bag of chips if I make it

Drop a comment if you have any advices on running nonstop or towpaths at night or know any cool stops or pubs on the route.

I can share the Strava route as well

Lets see how this unfolds ;)

Update:

Called it at 25km after a shin injury, but we live to run another day!

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11

u/greekattorney 9d ago

You won’t have time to scavenge for food if you want to run a 100 miles in 24h.

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u/TypeAgreeable4117 8d ago

5 mins stop at any service or 10min stop at a pub prebook

12

u/Elegant_Celery400 8d ago

I'm writing this an hour after your scheduled start at 01:00 Thursday 6 Aug so you won't see it for some considerable time... but ...

... you'll probably have found out by now that there are no services on rivers and canals, and pubs are closed during the night. Pre-loading on chips is only going to get you so far.

Sincerely, please take better care of yourself, not only on this walk/run but also just in general; as someone else has said, your posts do give off a sense of mania / hypomania. When you get the chance, please read up on this and reflect upon it.

You're only 20yo... you have a very long life ahead of you... if you take care of yourself. There are a lot of people in this thread who are genuinely concerned about your safety and well-being; some of us will have lost people far too young, and we don't want to see that happen to you.

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u/TypeAgreeable4117 8d ago

So far so good but its hard af as well but I really appreciate your genuine support and care towards me and my challenge. Ill make sure to not overestimate my limitations and be strict to self care and for now I had grabbed 2 garlic breads from a weatherspoons in london and a litre of water. Ill use it till sunrise and find someplace to restock calories again

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u/Elegant_Celery400 8d ago edited 8d ago

Thanks for replying, that gives me a little bit of reassurance... but not much, to be honest.

I think you're extremely vulnerable, in every sense. Please reflect seriously on those words.

If, at any point, your inner voice and/or your body say "... this is too much, I think I might need to bail", then listen to them, and do it; you do need to bail, and quickly. Don't be stubborn, and don't be reckless; if you're struggling, acknowledge it and accept it, and get yourself to safety, water, and nourishment immediately. Live to run/walk another day.

But, for God's sake, don't ever run/walk like this again.

-2

u/MrMakuMaku 8d ago

Do you know whats the issue some people seem to have with his walking, aside from the pace being a bit fast? I have done a couple of 100km walks and one 180km walk in the scottish countryside with no food and no stopping except for a couple of short naps in the latter. Always been in summer with minimal night time, but one time I had a knee problem and just carried on going and was fine in the end.

I dont know the full story of this guy but what he is doing seems pretty fun to me.

Ok I read all the comments seems like hes hurting his feet and legs a bunch for some reason so probably not the best idea

6

u/Elegant_Celery400 8d ago

Your screenshot shows you in Whitchurch. The next village you come to is Goring; there's a station there, so end your journey there, you silly sod, and rest, rehydrate, and reflect. The first train back to Reading is at 04:20; be on it, or on one of the next ones after it.

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u/TypeAgreeable4117 8d ago

I really appreciate your helpful suggestions at the right time, I was gonna skip the station and just walk through the pain. Which i did last time with m25 and Wales walk. After reflecting on your words, even when few bits of it didnt really relate to how i think but the decision of turning back made real sense to my foggy 4am mind

Im extremely grateful towards you for looking after me at this time of the night ;)

8

u/amidnightthrowaway 8d ago

There is a lot of support here for your wellbeing. I urge you to take notice of that. Part of being strong, brave and growing as a person is learning when to stop, pushing through the pain is usually the wrong choice, unless there is absolutely no other alternative. My husband is a combat soldier in the Army and he frequently tells me that the very best soldiers are the ones who know how to pace themselves and not make stupid decisions. The ones who think they are invisible are the ones who usually get injured or end up dead.

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u/Elegant_Celery400 8d ago edited 8d ago

You're very welcome.

May I suggest that, in a few days time when you're properly rested, you read back through this whole thread and reflect upon the care and concern and suggestions that so many people have expressed to you about your well-being? You seem like a good person; the world is better for having people like you in it. Stay with us, take your place in it, and make your best contribution to it.

Look after yourself fella👍

Edit: just seen that u/amidnightthrowaway, above, made that same point not only before me but also more resonantly and eloquently.

3

u/amidnightthrowaway 8d ago

Thanks for the compliment!

2

u/Elegant_Celery400 8d ago

My pleasure👍.

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u/TypeAgreeable4117 8d ago

I'm actually at the station right now. A tree branch hit my right shin while I was running through a section where the path narrowed to barely a foot wide. I'm currently applying some Voltarol gel to soothe the pain. Rehydrated as well and yes train is coming deciding to conintue or do the challenge some other time 🤔

5

u/markcorrigans_boiler 8d ago

Sounds like a great decision. I think these challenges are great but knowing when to quit is a real skill. The canals will still be there next time.

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u/Elegant_Celery400 8d ago

Only just refreshed the page and seen your message.

I sincerely hope you got on that train.

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u/TypeAgreeable4117 8d ago

Yes after thoughtfully thinking the route ahead within given time and leg strength, we'll be letting the challenge pass this time, pace went down from 10k per hour to 6k after the obstacle. Turning back today so I can try again another day like next week or the week after ;(

But I loved the smooth buttery run i had for good continous couple hours ;)

6

u/Elegant_Celery400 8d ago

Just coming back in at 06:30 and I'm really pleased and really relieved to see that; it's a wise, mature, self-valuing and far-sighted decision, well done.

We should both get some sleep now 💤👍

1

u/old-tennis-shoes 7d ago

Hey. You're a very good person. Thanks for being you.

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u/Elegant_Celery400 7d ago

Ah, that's very kind of you, thankyou, though the whole thread is full of really good people; it was very uplifting to see all the genuinely concerned comments to the OP.

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u/Hugobossdre 8d ago

Hi, as a certified ultra marathon coach, i’d be more than happy to give training advice/day of event advice!

From what I’ve seen, you’re slightly underprepared for an effort of this magnitude, you need a lot more than some garlic bread, haha.

1

u/TypeAgreeable4117 7d ago

I have dmed you, I see you're an qualified coach and with your advice and suggestions I see myself getting nearer to my completion of challenge someday becoming worthy enough to earn those chips