How to Train for Long Distance Walking

Are you looking to train for a long distance walk? If so, this post is for you! Lately, I was too! I wanted to expand my reach of routes to walk around the area I live in. Thus, to explore the nature of the dunes or walk the more popular events.

In this blog post, I’ll cover topics like training schedule, what to wear/bring, how to pace yourself and more. So whether you’re a beginner or an experienced long-distance walker, read on for some helpful tips. If you’ve missed some, let me know in the comments!

The Importance of Training for a Longer Distance Walk

Before you can do a long-distance walk, you need to train. That means you need to build up your endurance so that you can make it the whole way without getting too tired. You also need to practice walking the distance that you will be doing in the real race, so that you know what to expect.

Apart from stamina, it can also be important to decrease the chance of injuries like blisters, black toenails or other foot problems. No one wants that!

By training, you’ll also learn what kind of gear works best. For example, I had to pick a different sock to stay comfortable in my shoes after a few hours.

Training Schedule for a Longer Distance Walk

When it comes to training for a long-distance walking event, there are many things to consider. One of the most important is your training schedule. What works for one person might not work for another, so it’s important to find what works best for you and stick to it. In this blog post, I’ll share some tips on creating a training schedule that will help you achieve your goals.

When you want to train for a long-distance walk, the first thing you need to do is make a schedule. You need to find what works best for you and then stick to it. This way, you will be able to achieve your goals.

There are a few things to consider when making your schedule. First, you need to find a time that works best for you. If you’re a morning person, then you might want to wake up early and go for a walk before work. Or, if you’re an evening person, you might want to go for a walk after work. This of course depends on the walk you are going to make. In the provided example, there are walks during the week that you might be able to combine with other activities.

Second, general fitness will help. It will be easier for people who already participate in other sporting activities like team sports or going to the gym. You don’t need to be the gymbro or the best in your sports, but any extra fitness level will help you out in the training we are about to do.

And third, you need to make sure you have enough time to rest. When you’re training for a long-distance walk, your body needs time to recover. This means you should take one or two days off per week.

Once you have all of this figured out, you can start making your schedule. For example, if you’re training for a 10-mile (16 km) walk, you might want to walk four times per week. And if you’re training for a 20-mile (32 km) walk, you might want to walk six times per week.

Remember, the most important thing is to find what works best for you and then stick to it. If you can do that, you’ll be well on your way to achieving your goals.

Example training schedule

Info: This might be a bit much when starting out if you are new to walking outdoors.
Target distance: 20 miles (32 km) flat ground.
Duration: 15 weeks

On all weekdays, try to do 3 to 4.7 miles (around 5 to 8 km’s).

Week 1:
Start on the Monday with the all weekdays rhythm.
Saturday: walk 5 miles
Sunday: rest day

Week 2:
Saturday: walk 6 miles
Sunday: rest day

Week 3-5:
Saturday: walk 8 miles
Sunday: recovery walk 2 miles.

Week 6-7:
Saturday: walk 10 miles
Sunday: recovery walk 2 miles.

Week 8-10:
Saturday: walk 13 miles
Sunday: recovery walk 2 miles.

Week 11-13:
Saturday: walk 17 miles
Sunday: recovery walk 2 miles.

Week 13-15:
Saturday: walk 20 miles (32 km)
Sunday: recovery walk 3 miles

Keep this going until your target date, slow down a week or two before to fully recover.

hiking gear

What to Wear/Bring for a Longer Distance Walk

When it comes to walking long distances, what you wear is very important. You need to make sure that you’re comfortable and have everything you need with you. In this blog post, I’ll cover some of the things you should bring with you when walking long distances.

One of the most important things to consider when walking long distances is what to wear. You want to make sure that you’re comfortable, and that means wearing clothes that fit well and aren’t too tight or too loose. You also want to avoid clothing that will rub against your skin or cause irritation. Learn from my mistakes here.

In addition to clothing, there are a few other things you should bring with you when walking long distances. For example, it’s a good idea to bring sunscreen, hats, sunglasses and water bottles. This way, you can stay hydrated and protected from the sun.

Depending on the length of the walk you are going on, think about food. This can be from small snacks to lunch or sandwiches. Personally, when I go on walks longer than 1,5 hours I make sure to at least have some snacks on me. And when passing lunchtime, I have something that can function as lunch but I am not too attached to. It can be nice to sit on a terrace where they serve lunch and a drink. Ideally when walking when it is cold so you can sit inside and drink something warm.

Another thing to consider is your footwear. When walking long distances, it’s important to wear shoes that are supportive and fit well. If possible, try to break in your shoes before going really long distances. This will decrease the chance of blisters.

How to Pace Yourself for a Longer Distance Walk

When it comes to training for a long distance walk, there are many things to consider. One of the most important is your pacing. What works for one person might not work for another, so it’s important to find what works best for you and stick to it. This is of course easier if you walk alone and not with a buddy or a group. When walking together, I suggest finding some golden middle ground on pacing. My partner is quite a bit shorter and has shorter legs, this means I have to adapt a bit when we walk together.

In conclusion

Training for a long-distance walk is important, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced walker. In this post, I’ve provided you with a training schedule, what to wear/bring and how to pace yourself. I hope these tips were a bit helpful for you if you are going to train for and complete a long-distance walk successfully! Missed something? Let me know in a comment!