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Walking 30 Miles a Day Routine?
I am currently planning a one-and-a-half-month-long hike from Shasta-Trinity National Forest in California to the Black Hills of South Dakota. I've planned out my route, and have come up with a daily walking routine I think is reasonable; however, I'd like a second opinion. My current plan is to walk for six days of the week to a hotel/motel, and stay there for a day and rest for the next leg of the journey. The distance between hotels varies between 111 and 168 miles. I've planned my route to be in the middle of the US, away from the overly-hot and overly-cold areas, and I plan to start the walk in mid-March, after winter is over.
I've been training for the walk by doing 3-mph and 4-mph one-hour walks a few times a week. Considering that I'm in my mid-20s, 130 lbs, 5' 10" tall, walk comfortably at around 3 1/2 mph, and have no health issues, would the following daily routine be reasonable?
5:00 AM Wake up, wash, breakfast - 60 minutes
6:00 AM 4 mph walk - 60 minutes
7:00 AM Rest - 10 minutes
7:10 AM 3 mph walk - 60 minutes
8:10 AM Rest/Water - 10 minutes
8:20 AM 4 mph walk - 60 minutes
9:20 AM Rest - 10 minutes
9:30 AM 3 mph walk - 60 minutes
10:30 AM Lunch - 60 minutes
11:30 AM 4 mph walk - 60 minutes
12:30 PM Rest - 10 minutes
12:40 PM 3 mph walk - 60 minutes
1:40 PM Rest/Water - 10 minutes
1:50 PM 4 mph walk - 60 minutes
2:50 PM Rest - 10 minutes
3:00 PM 3 mph walk - 60 minutes
4:00 PM Dinner - 60 minutes
5:00 PM 3 mph walk - 60 minutes
6:00 PM Rest - 10 minutes
6:10 PM 3 mph walk - 60 minutes (if feeling well)
7:10 PM Set up tent, wash, etc. - 50 minutes
8:00 PM Bed
This equates to 31-34 miles a day maximum.
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@walkamileortwo I am curious whether this plan was put into action? I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail a few years ago and routinely did 25-mile days (granted that was with a lot of elevation change and on single-track trail). I think you know what works best for you. If you had to postpone or anything -- or for anyone else considering something like this -- I would just keep in mind that the first couple weeks should be lower mileage than what you want to do once you're in a groove. Walking a few hours a week will (typically) not adequately prepare you for walking 30-35 miles per day every day. To avoid injury, start out slower than your ideal schedule and ramp up over the first few weeks. Be sure to provide yourself with some rest days throughout the trip. I think one per week would be adequate, but everyone is different. I would not hold yourself strictly to food/water breaks at regimented intervals. With changing weather and route conditions, it may be better to drink and/or eat more often. Same thing for rest breaks. You have to be willing to listen to your body and its needs when undertaking such a big physical endeavor.