Excited, I joined the C2C club in 1990 and was bitten with the C2C bug ever since. I'm on my 7th crossing this May, may see you then.

First time poster so Hi from me....

I am doing the Coast to Coast this year starting on May 23rd. I have never done anything like this before in my life and can't wait to get started.

Gray

I'm doing it too, but this is my 6th crossing to date. You are in for a big surprise.

Hi Gray,
It is interesting that many people who have not done much in the way of walking, choose to walk an LDP (Long Distance Path).
What was it that made you decide you wanted to do the C2C.
Was it because you heard about someone you knew that had done it, or you had seen a book, or a TV programme?
Dave.

I have been planning to do it for years after watching the Julia Bradbury series on it the other year, but never getting round to booking it up for one reason or another. But this year i have the holidays to finally get rouind to it.
When i said i have never done anything like this before, i meant a long distance path. i have walked before but not like this.
I have been up Snowdon 7 times in the past 3 years and also managed to do Scafell Pike the other year, so i know the terrain i am facing in the lakes.
So from last October i have started a little training, from October to the new year i went out cycling 3 times a week around 25-40 miles a day. Then since new year out walking, again usually getting in 3 days a week of between 10-15 miles.

Plus now i have decided to do it for charity and try and raise a few quid for good causes along the way...

You will be surprised at how many people undertake the walk with very little practice. The main linking factor in their lack of comfort appears to be ill-fitting footwear (both socks and boots) and/or waterproofs that aren't.

Sort these out and you will stay dry and avoid blisters. Don't worry overmuch about fitness unless you are patently unfit!

yeah it's the blister thing that is a worry for me. I have some Bridgedale socks and i have been wearing them for the past 6 weeks and not had a spot of bother. Today i went out in some new 'go outdoors' coolmax trail sock, which i felt quite good and whallop.... blister

Gray,
I don't think fitness will be a problem for you considering what you have already done. There is no terrain similar to Scafell Pike in the lakes en route either. The stoneyist is Loft Beck.
Take some Compeed blister plasters just on case,
Dave.

I did the 2007 C2C crossing and reached only as far as Kirkby Stephen, not blister's or lack of fitness, but a gammy knee joint and it was painful.

However, I blamed a couple of factors for that, lack of training and weight of ruck-sack, I was camping. I learned my lesson since then and in 2009, did the whole walk, no problems, did plenty of training and reduced the weight and I was camping. But, this time, it was the blister's being the bug-bear and this was due to cheap walking boots.

This year, I'm doing the C2C again and will be my C2C walk, thank god. But, I'm doing a mix of accommodation and will be going super-weight.

During the winter I use Bridgedale Summit knee socks .... although I confess that this indulges my preference for knee length ones. In the summer I move over to Horizon knee length ones. Both, I find, are excellent, although the Bridgedale are far too hot from late March to mid October.

These are supplemented by Superfeet insoles and decent boots. Never (so far) had any feet problems at all..... no matter how long I have worn them. Pays dividends in the long run (or the long walk!)