My 12-Hour Walk.

Last Sunday, I walked for 12 hours—with plenty of breaks—covering more than 21 miles(!!!)

It was my “12-Hour Walk,” as conceived of by Colin O’Brady, a best selling author and record-breaking athlete. (O’Brady is known for—among other things—his walk across Antarctica in a man-powered trek pulling his own food and gear in a sled, as detailed in his book, The Impossible First.)

The 12 Hour Walk is not primarily about going any particular distance. It’s a challenge to spend a day with yourself and your thoughts… alone, outside, unplugged on a very, VERY long walk.

My 12-hour walk intentions.

I posted five intentions on Facebook before I left:

1) A physical challenge.

Waking is easy. Walking for the better part of 12 hours? After watching videos of previous walkers, I knew it would be TOUGH!

I wasn't sure I ever hiked more than 9 miles (and always get quite tired by mile 7 or 8)… so I knew it was going to be challenging. And I was willing to “push” myself.

2) A digital detox.

No social media, internet, or phone notifications. (I did use my phone for occasional photos and directions.)

Being unplugged was nice and definitely not my usual habit! I became more aware of how even snapping a photo or checking my mileage (until I gave that up to save battery power) could distract from being fully present.

I stopped a few times to jot down a thought or two in a tiny notebook. This did not feel like a distraction, as it relieved my mind of the task of “remembering this for later.”

3) A day of solitude.

As I’ve listened to Colin’s inspiration and others who have done the walk, a BIG part of it is simply being alone with your thoughts. As someone who enjoys solo walks and activities, this was not difficult.

There’s usually a conversation (sometimes a whole party!) going on in my head, but the noise lessened as the day wore on. After about 5 hours I felt quite grounded, and sometimes walked with an awareness only of the my breathing, timed rhythmically with my steps.

Solitude was, however, logistically impossible for brief moments. The to-go food I attempted to pick up at the start of the walk was not available, so I ended up foraging for food in a crowded farmer’s market. And I found myself saying "hello" to people, dogs and horses passing by. (Not sure if animals count!)

4) The beginning of a habit?

I may never take a 12-hour walk again… But the thought of doing something like this regularly (perhaps a monthly 5-hour walk or a weekly digital detox?) is intriguing.

5) The unknown.

The truth is, I wasn't sure what I was going to get out of the day! I felt drawn to this challenge and inspired by the book. My hunch was that my perception of time was about to shift, and I was all for that!

The Walk.

The weather was perfect and the walk was a success! I was happy with the "flexible route" I had chosen with a combination of familiar territory and exploration.

At times, I felt overwhelmed with gratitude for nature, beauty, and the opportunity to do this challenge. Walking along the Coal Mines Trail—once used to haul men, equipment and coal—drove home tremendous contrasts. Now a pleasant walk lined with Aspen, Fir and Ponderosa Pine trees, it serves as a reminder of those who labored and sometimes died in a brutal industry.

Although I did not post distance goals in my pre-walk post, I DID have some in mind.

At minimum, I hoped to walk the distance of a half marathon, 13.1 miles. If I didn’t get that far, no big deal, but it seemed quite doable!

Since that averages only 1.1 miles each hour, I thought I would like to reach 15, perhaps 18 miles. (Now, 18 miles is about double my longest adult hike! But that is still only 1.5 miles each hour.)

(Can you hear my “numbers geek” self? I can’t stop my brain from doing math!)

My “moonshot” goal was 20 miles. That was never my focus, just in the back of my mind, a goal I wondered if I could reach.

As the hours went on, I was ready to give up more than once. At 6 hours, I had hit my minimum 13.1 miles goal. I laid down to rest in a grassy park and my feet said “Enough!” However, there were still hours left on the clock and I was several miles from home. So I took a break, then walked some more!

A melody came to mind and I carried that with me for a little while. Then, a song. Then, a David Goggins quote: “Don’t stop when you’re tired; stop when you’re done.”

I felt like I “hit a wall” several times. And after taking a good break to rest and refuel, I always discovered I could go further than I thought.

Thankfully, were many little delights along the way. Wildflowers. Outdoor antiques. Yummy street tacos. Horses who crossed their paddock to say "hello" to me! New trails.

About 3 miles from home, the sound of a live band playing a Los Lobos song penetrated the trees and energized me.

Then, as I got closer to home, each step became an effort. I was “losing steam” and decided to complete the walk in my own neighborhood, not sure how many more steps I could muster. I felt like a car running out of gas.

With about 90 minutes left, I “bent” the rules to charge my dying phone while I took a break in my backyard. At this point, I allowed myself to feel my exhaustion and the pain in my feet.

I grabbed a bandaid for a blister, ate a salad and took some supplements. Then I added up my miles. (After shutting off my tracking apps, I kept brief notes on time and estimated distances). And there it was: I had walked more than 19 miles!

Now with one hour left and less than a mile to hit my moonshot goal, quitting was not an option! As a child, had I completed a 20 mile “Walk-a-thon” fundraiser. Could I go further than that?

Why, yes I could! The break had rejuvenated my body and mind. Rather effortlessly, I walked another 2.3 miles before the 12-hour clock ran out. (A total of 21.5 miles is my best estimate.)

I ended the day with gratitude, confidence and “proof” that anything is possible when you eliminate distractions and don’t give up! I also see how greater focus and fewer distractions could make a real impact in several areas of life.

I want to write more books. I want to produce a digital course version of the Retirement Revival, among other projects. But WHEN? A series of 12-hour (or even 8 or 10-hour days) would certainly get me closer! It’s all a matter of declaring an intention and sticking with it.

I’m super grateful for my 12-Hour Walk and would encourage anyone to do this, and/or to read/listen to Colin O’Brady’s excellent book. (I highly recommend the audiobook read by Colin... it's world class story-telling and wisdom from a phenomenal adventures!)

Would YOU consider a 12-Hour Walk? I'd love to hear in the comments!