Thames walk

Hiya one and all

Need some help . . . I'm doing a charity walk next month with a friend.  West coast of England to the source of the Thames then along the thames path to Southend Pier, Essex.  Roughly 240 miles.  We aim to do this in ten days.  We also aim to camp/bivvy out each night and are aiming to do this on only 500 calories each, a day.

I've been maticulously planning point to point and camping/bivvy grounds etc but the point from Thames  Barrier to Southend Pier (north side of the river) is a bit of a  mystery to me.  Is there a path that runs the whole way?  Does anyone run this particular area?

Any advice or help would be brilliant.  I intend to pop by that section with a bike in next couple of weeks and scout about but your advice would be very helpful too.

I've done a few stupid things like this before so am well averse at "stupidity" (eg 2 x London Marathon dragging tyres behind me, 4 day food deprivation yomp over the lakes at 75 miles - no food at all, 3 months walking the length of Amazon (before leaving) - approx 800 miles with 35kg . . . and many more).

The walk is for charity, for all those who are interested.  Its for the www.thushafund.co.uk .  The little five year old girl who got caught in a gangland crossfire shooting last year and is now paralised from the waste down.  Our FB is facebook.com/ThushaAppeal

Thanks to all 

Luke

NB Our 500 calories will consist of high protein diet consisting of measured amounts of mushrooms, spinach, broccoli, carot, beetroot, an apple, banana and biltong, joy.

Oh my days that's mental!? How do you do it!? Definitley an incentive to give to charity when people hear you're doing things like this!

On 500 calories - how? I thought immediately.

Then I read the other things you've done.

You're a star !

Blimey you've done loads! sorry, I'm can't help you with the question about the path.

Ive walk roughly 100 miles of the south west coast each year in about 4 days but on at least a zillion calories!! And i find that tough enough! Good on you!

Wowww. This boggles my brain. Legend!

wow this does sound amazing and very far too!

Reading about people who take on these amazing challenges definitely changes my mind set when I'm in the mood to moan about a measly 5k or a half hour swim!

Never under estimate any effort.  I only do these stupid exersises because I believe I'm too lazy to run (or swim).

I whinge and moan whenever I try to go for a run so secretly, deep down, I'm in awe of anyone who does it.

Besides which, when I end up eating my co-walker/friend due to hunger . . . it won't be that amazing anymore.

Thanks though

I reckon walking past pubs with food cooking etc is going to be the most tortuous part of it all.  But I'm hoping, like at the end of the food deprivation exersise I did in '07 that my wife will be waiting at the end of Southend Pier with a table full of chocolate and food!

Cool.  Did you camp out?  How was it?

Ouchhh I think I'd definitely cave!

500 calories! no way could I survive on that

This has inspired me to start pushing myself further in terms of health and fitness! What made you decide to do it on only 500 calories? I bet you lost loads of weight. Did you go super slim?

I love it everytime! We probably should camp out, but we go for b+bs the best way ;)

Sadly Laura I sustained a foot injury that I didn't manage properly so couldn't complete.  We bailed on the fourth day after only 75 miles.

It had been torential rain too which compounded the potential to suffer injuries.

I gained a blister that got too big and bad to be able to continue - rather gutted really.  However, we are reconvening our efforts next year.

We would have lost a noticeable amount of weight but nothing serious.  The body's process in breaking down proteins and fats (called gluco-neogenesis) would have been refined and become uber efficient.  Much like we would have been in more Paleolithic times.  As it was, we were doing 25 miles a day on only 200 calories before eating the rest as an evening meal.  Little or no hunger pains. 

However, I did insist on multi vits each day and the use of a dyrolite sachete every 2lt of water drunk.

Watch this space . . . next time

you can't argue with that.  hmmmmm, what do you choose, sleeping in the rain, with snails and slugs or have a warm bed and a hot shower.

I know what I'd choose! Camping is not my cup of tea.

I love camping! But when you've walked 25 miles some how it loses its appeal...

Aw, sorry to hear that. How is the foot now? Good on you for trying again next year. How many of you went? Good luck with it!