Well I did it, hiked 50 kilometers yesterday (31.1 miles)

[charlie and algernon]

It took me 10 and a half hours to complete. It's run by the Sierra Club of DC. They also have a 100K option (62 MILES). The people walking the 100k start at 3am, while those doing the 50k start at 10am. In fact just as we were starting the 50k, the leader of the 100k-ers was just getting to us. Just so you know, we're starting 30 miles ahead of the 100k start. So this guy just walked 30 miles in SEVEN hours! He probably walked/ran all 62 miles in 14 hours. :wow:

There were about 175 people starting the 50k with me. We started off with a 4.5 mile out and back, then continue to our destination in Harpers Ferry, 26 miles away. I think being with a lot of people sped up my pace as I completed the firs 10 miles in 2 and a half hours. To ensure that everyone keeps a decent pace in order to finish by midnight, they have food stands at certian places on the trails. Each stand has a cut off time and if you can't get to the stand before the cut-off time, they ask you to withdraw. I managed to get to each stand at least 2 hours before the respective cut-off times.

I definitely slowed down, but I still managed to average 3 miles an hour. The last few miles are definitely the toughest. Afterall, by that point, we've already walked an entire marathon, with SIX more miles to go! By the way, the 100k people walk TWO MARATHONS, plus 9 more miles. The worst part of the hike, might have been the last mile going up to the community center. As soon as you cross the bridge to Harpers Ferry, you then have to walk a mile up hill. Mind you, the trail is all flat, with ALL the elevation coming in the LAST mile.

But it was fun, certianly VERY tough, but fun. Talked to lots of great people and there is definitely a great satisfaction of FINALLY reaching the end, knowing you just walked 31 miles. I might, might, do it again. I'm pretty sore now with a half dozen blisters on my feet, but I wouldn't be opposed to trying the 50k again, especially knowing what I know now.

[Gormy Cuss]

1. Congrats!

Be kind to your feet today and stay unshod as much as possible -- give those blisters some time to deflate on their own.

:toast:

[charlie and algernon]

4. thanks!

got plenty of moleskin on right now, lol. Luckily they don't hurt anymore, so need to actually pop them.

[Blue_In_AK]

2. I'm impressed.

Good job. :thumbsup: How was the terrain? My husband and I did a 15-miler a couple of years ago, but it was HARD -- quite a steep climb and descent that just wiped us out.

[charlie and algernon]

5. this was mainly flat, hard packed dirt and gravel

the ONLY rise in elevation came in the last mile as we had to go UP Harpers Ferry. X(

Heh, that was the only time I hated the organizers of this VERY smoothly run event.

[kayakjohnny]

3. Congratulations! That's huge!

I've done many thousands of miles of backpacking and I know just what a big day is like.

My hat's off to you and all the rest of that crowd.

That's a big day at the office.

The last few miles probably seemed like the worst, huh?

Cheers.

[charlie and algernon]

6. the last 5 or so miles SUCKED

they were BY FAR, the longest miles I've ever walked, LOL!

where have you gone hiking? I think my next project will be the Maryland section of the Appalachian trail. That's a 41 mile trail with of course lots of elevation changes. I'll probably divide that over two or three days though.

[fishwax]

7. sounds like a challenge, but a fun one

Good job! :toast:

[Name removed]

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