I’ve dusted off my previous page at https://www.julianwhite.uk/ldwa-100/ all about the LDWA 100 to bring it up to date for 2026.
Talking to Mira before the main event, she’s given me my favourite quote about the whole arrangement yet, “my mindedness is as bloody as ever” which I find rather inspirational.
Myself and the media team will catch up with Mira at the event, but here are a few quick questions and answers to get us started. Mira is going to recce some of the route with her friend Paul, part of the LDWA media team, over the next week. And, on the day, she’s planning to complete a park run before the 100 mile walk. That’s determination that is!
Q. How has your training fitted around everyday life this year?
A. I have a very busy life so most of my walking is done locally to me for maximum efficiency around school runs and work. Paul being my best friend and training buddy helps a lot as it means I have someone to do random DIY long walks with locally to me so it’s not all by myself.
I also hate missing parkrun so he and I often design a DIY marathon or long walk that starts with a parkrun and then continues on in that area as a day walk; a couple weeks ago we did Lowestoft parkrun and then walked from Lowestoft along the coastal path and then got the bus back to the car, we like to pack in whatever we can and every walk with Paul is an adventure walk.
Q. What do you think will be the biggest challenge for you personally during the event?
A. The relative hilliness and toughness of this years route relative to the last few years I’ve done 100s, my last comparably tough 100 route was Hadrian in 2019 and I’ve had two children since then so will be taking a lot of vitamins I and P (ibuprofen and paracetamol) I reckon to get round.
Q. How do you manage the mental side of long-distance walking when tiredness starts to take over?
A. The biggest trick I use is to tell myself if I don’t finish the event, anything hard I’ve experienced thus far will be rendered hard for no reason at all. If I complete it, at least my struggle will have had a purpose. Talking a lot of crap with people also helps as a distraction. And having something to look forward to all the time. Like ‘at the next checkpoint I’ll have two cups of tea, or I’ll change my socks’ — I tell myself that thing over and over as I get through a hard section.
I also always tell myself I’m gonna finish which is controversial as most people say ‘well IF I finish it’ll be my Xth 100’ but I always say ‘when I finish’ because I don’t like to tell myself there’s any possibility of not doing it.
Q. What food do you look forward to at checkpoints?
A. Mac n cheese , anything homemade like homemade flapjacks or cake when that appears, crumpets, pizza, little yoghurts.
A. What would make this year’s LDWA 100 feel like a success for you?
As always, getting it done. That’s the only important thing. Everything else is out of your control.
Q. If someone was standing at the start of their first 100 and feeling nervous, what would you say to them?
A. That it’s all in the mind so as long as they keep telling themselves to keep going and take the rest they need at checkpoints, they’ll get round
Never put speed over comfort or else you may risk wearing yourself out.