Tried my first 100km hike challenge and made a guide for beginners!

[Nat26]

Hey everyone!

Just wanted to share a bit of my experience in case it’s helpful or inspiring to anyone here.
I challenged myself to complete a 100 km hike in under 24 hours — with no sleep, just short breaks and lots of determination. It was the most intense and transformative thing I’ve ever done, especially as someone who only recently got into hiking.
I wasn’t super athletic or experienced when I started training — just motivated and a bit stubborn But through months of trial and error, I learned a lot about preparation, gear, mindset, and how to keep going even when things get tough.
Since then, I’ve written a short guide based on my journey, mostly to support other women or beginners who are curious about pushing their limits too.

There’s even a free mini version if anyone’s interested — just let me know and I’ll DM you the link!
Would love to hear from anyone else who’s done a long hike like this — or is thinking about it.

[FrankPS]

Do you think there are other people that want to do 100 km in 24 hours? Hard to believe that's even possible.

[The Other Tom]

Do you think there are other people that want to do 100 km in 24 hours? Hard to believe that's even possible.

There's a thing between PCT hikers that they call the 24 hour challenge. You hike as far as you can in 24 hours. Yes, 100km is possible, and even more. Homemade Wanderlust (aka Dixie) documented her challenge on her youtube channel. She did around 62-64 miles.

[Wandering Daisy]

Distance itself is meaningless unless you also put in elevation gain, trail tread, and other real factors for actual hiking. 100km going downhill is totally different than 100km uphill. So where exactly and when did you do this "challenge"?

[ebfm]

100km in a day, or more like half a day, is really common over all kinds of mountainous terrain. Just swap “hike” for “ultra” - they are happening all around you. Seems like more of a mindset shift than anything. No need for a bunch of gear when you’re not sleeping or eating real meals!

[thegib]

If it's just a 'mindset shift' I've got a chance.

[c9h13no3]

If it's just a 'mindset shift' I've got a chance.

It's a mindset shift, and some squirrel's nut butter.

[ebfm]

That’s the spirit! You can get started next weekend

https://www.bishopultras.com/

[Schleppy]

100km in a day, or more like half a day, is really common over all kinds of mountainous terrain. Just swap “hike” for “ultra” - they are happening all around you. Seems like more of a mindset shift than anything. No need for a bunch of gear when you’re not sleeping or eating real meals!

Agree that as an athletic event, this is no different than a 100k mountain ultra. Big achievements, but not terribly uncommon. Many training plans have been developed. Just lots of time and dedication.

Do you think there are other people that want to do 100 km in 24 hours? Hard to believe that's even possible.

There's a thing between PCT hikers that they call the 24 hour challenge. You hike as far as you can in 24 hours. Yes, 100km is possible, and even more. Homemade Wanderlust (aka Dixie) documented her challenge on her youtube channel. She did around 62-64 miles.

A thruhike of the PCT is effectively daily, all-day, endurance training for months on end. In most respects, PCT thruhikers are bona fide endurance athletes after a few months. Many are doing a marathon every day on mixed terrain with thousands of feet elevation gain/loss. With a backpack no less! It's easy to understand how they are physiologically capable of remarkable things. Most normal people would be able to do the same, given the same circumstances and drive.

While I'm not a thuhiker or an ultra marathoner, I start feeling like I'm something special after a full season. That delusion is always crushed in the spring with the fatigue I experience on early season trips and their comparatively low numbers. Try as I might, I've never found the time, energy, and strategy to carry that late-fall fitness over into the next season. It's hard just to hang onto some of it.

There’s even a free mini version if anyone’s interested — just let me know and I’ll DM you the link!
Would love to hear from anyone else who’s done a long hike like this — or is thinking about it.

Hi Nat. Congrats on your personal accomplishment.

As a hiker who does not want to train for a 100k ultra, and does not have the freedom of leaving home/work/family for months of daily dedicated endurance training in the moutains––AKA thruhiking. I'm always looking for practical ways to increase my range for the 2-4 day pushes that are the bulk of my summer trips.

Please PM me your boilerplate version. I'd be glad to gain any insight from hearing about what you did to prepare. Thank you.