The 100 km Plan: No, I’m Not Hiking It All in One Day (Let’s Be Real)

When I casually mentioned my goal of hiking 100 km, I noticed a few raised eyebrows and concerned looks. I could practically hear people thinking, “Is this guy okay? Does he know how far 100 km actually is?” Let me clear the air: I’m not some wilderness survival expert or a human embodiment of a mountain goat. I wasn’t planning to tackle the entire 100 km in one go. That would be ridiculous. I mean, I’m all for pushing myself, but I’m not trying to actually get airlifted out of the woods.

Reaching 25 km will be the first big milestone. Future me, don’t forget to celebrate (and stretch)!

The plan is to break it down into manageable chunks—25 km per day over four days. Yes, this is a solo, overnight hiking adventure with all the camping, sweating, and probably swearing that comes with it. It sounds a lot more reasonable when you say it like that, right? Still ambitious, but not the kind of thing that makes your knees weep just thinking about it. Of course, just because I’m not doing it all in one day doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy. There’s still a lot of training, preparation, and mental fortitude involved. So, let’s talk about what this 100 km journey actually looks like (and why I’m both excited and terrified).

Why 25 km a Day?

Here’s the thing: 25 km a day is no casual stroll through the woods. It’s a solid challenge that requires stamina, determination, and the ability to ignore the voice in your head saying, “You could be at home eating chips right now.”

Breaking it into four days makes the goal feel achievable without completely breaking my spirit—or my feet. Plus, it gives me time to rest, refuel, and maybe even enjoy the scenery instead of just grimacing my way through it. It’s also a chance to test my overnight hiking skills, which, let’s be honest, are currently somewhere between “enthusiastic amateur” and “guy who accidentally sets his tent on fire.”

Training with Hiking in Mind

Training for this isn’t just about wandering aimlessly through the woods until I hit a magic number. I’m preparing with the 25 km/day goal in mind, which means focusing on a few key things:

1. Building Endurance

   
   

   Let’s be honest, my current endurance level is roughly “hike to the fridge and back.” So, I’m starting small and gradually increasing the distance I hike each week. The goal is to get my body used to moving for hours at a time without collapsing into a heap of regret.

   
   

2. Carrying a Pack

   
   

   Since I’ll need to carry everything I need for four days—tent, sleeping bag, food, water, and probably way too many snacks—I’m training with a loaded backpack. It’s not just about the weight; it’s about getting used to feeling like a pack mule while still managing to put one foot in front of the other. Pro tip: load your pack with snacks. If nothing else, it gives you something to look forward to.

   
   

3. Terrain Training

   
   

   Hiking 25 km on flat ground is one thing. Hiking 25 km on rocky trails, steep inclines, and uneven terrain is a whole different beast. I’m making an effort to train on a variety of surfaces so I’m not completely blindsided when the trail decides to throw a rocky tantrum or an uphill battle my way.

   
   

4. Blister Prevention

   
   

   Let’s talk about blisters—those tiny, evil bubbles of pain that can turn a pleasant hike into a horror show. I’m experimenting with different socks, shoes, and anti-chafing products to figure out what works best for my feet. Because the last thing I want is to tap out on Day 2 because my toes staged a mutiny.

   
   

What 25 km Actually Looks Like

This could easily be me in one year if preparation goes wrong. Looking at map that has a bit of a challenging scale.

For context, 25 km is roughly 31,000 steps. That’s a lot of steps. It’s also about 5-6 hours of hiking, depending on the terrain, your pace, and how many times you stop to question your life choices.

To make it manageable, I’m planning to break each day into smaller sections with regular breaks. Hike 5-8 km, stop for a snack, repeat. It’s not just about pacing myself physically—it’s about keeping my brain from going into full-on “Why are we doing this?” mode.

The Overnight Factor

This isn’t just a hike—it’s a four-day solo adventure, complete with camping in the great outdoors. That means I need to be prepared for the whole “sleeping in the woods” part of the equation.

• Setting Up Camp: I’ll need to find a spot to pitch my tent each night, preferably one that doesn’t scream “bear buffet.”

• Cooking in the Wild: I’m practicing with a portable stove so I don’t end up eating cold granola bars for four days straight.

• Staying Safe: Solo hiking means being extra cautious—letting someone know my route, carrying a first aid kit, and keeping an eye out for wildlife that might see me as an oversized snack.

  
  
  
  

The Mental Game

Speaking of the brain, let’s not underestimate the mental challenge here. Hiking 25 km a day for four days isn’t just a physical feat—it’s a test of patience, determination, and the ability to drown out the voice in your head that’s begging you to quit.

To prepare, I’m trying to focus on the why. Why am I doing this? What do I want to prove to myself? And, most importantly, how many snacks can I justify bringing along?

The Goal: Survive and Thrive

At the end of the day (or four days, in this case), this hike isn’t just about covering 100 km. It’s about pushing myself, stepping out of my comfort zone, and finding out what I’m capable of. Sure, there will be challenges—blisters, sore muscles, and probably a few moments where I curse the trail and everything on it. But there will also be incredible views, moments of peace, and the satisfaction of knowing I did something I never thought I could.

So, here’s to the 100 km hike. To the sweat, the snacks, and the sarcastic inner monologue that will undoubtedly keep me company along the way. Let’s do this.