View Full Version : JFK and the 50 mile walk
buff_jeff
09-14-2011, 21:52
Kind of piggy-backing off the "longest mileage" thread, but I thought you all might find this article interesting. It is on the 50 mile walk in under 20 hours that became a "popular" thing to do in the 1960's. It took off after Teddy Roosevelt and subsequently JFK challenged military officers to accomplish this. Pretty interesting stuff.
I'm planning on doing this along the Schuylkill River Trail in Philadelphia this weekend; should be fun.
http://www.absurdintellectual.com/2009/08/07/how-long-would-it-take-you-to-walk-50-miles-teddy-roosevelt-and-jfk-say-20-hours-or-less/
My old college, ROTC, they march from Arlington Texas (where the Rangers play, Jerry world), to Ft Hood. 126 miles.
Click Link 1 (http://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/headlines/20100310-UTA-ROTC-cadets-ready-for-march-2923.ece)
Click Link 2 (http://www.forthoodsentinel.com/story.php?id=3405)
doritotex
09-15-2011, 10:13
From what I read, they are taking 5 days to walk on level pavement with support vehicles? They are staying in high schools and every church along the way is cooking big pasta and mexican meals for them?
From what I read, they are taking 5 days to walk on level pavement with support vehicles? They are staying in high schools and every church along the way is cooking big pasta and mexican meals for them?yes. It's marching, not camping/hiking. But still, a lot of our country won't walk to the corner to catch the bus.
Blissful
09-15-2011, 11:57
After my 35 this season last week, these kinds of threads are looking slightly more interesting and not so impossible, even to the middle aged. :)
buff_jeff
09-15-2011, 12:40
After my 35 this season last week, these kinds of threads are looking slightly more interesting and not so impossible, even to the middle aged. :)
Yeah, I think that's one of the coolest things about 50 miles in 20 hours; it's far enough that it's a challenge but also very doable.
Paul Kiczek
09-21-2011, 16:01
check out my knol on this subject at http://knol.google.com/k/the-50-mile-hike-phenomenon#
gram cracker
10-22-2011, 00:11
I ran across this article a week or two ago. I've started training for it. I'll see what happens. It will be a road walk for me and with a light pack.
Kind of piggy-backing off the "longest mileage" thread, but I thought you all might find this article interesting. It is on the 50 mile walk in under 20 hours that became a "popular" thing to do in the 1960's. It took off after Teddy Roosevelt and subsequently JFK challenged military officers to accomplish this. Pretty interesting stuff.
I'm planning on doing this along the Schuylkill River Trail in Philadelphia this weekend; should be fun.
http://www.absurdintellectual.com/2009/08/07/how-long-would-it-take-you-to-walk-50-miles-teddy-roosevelt-and-jfk-say-20-hours-or-less/
Back in the 60's, 2 friends and I did the 50 mile hike (56 miles as I remember it). We were in boy scouts together and did it over a weekend, sleeping out under the stars. I was just talking about it about a month ago with 1 of the guys who lives in the area. Those were good times.
Jim Adams
10-22-2011, 17:51
I did 53.1 from Dennis Cove Canpground into Damascus in 19hrs, 35 minutes during my thru in 1990. I was 36 then....today I need to stop for a rest on the way to the fridge!:)
geek
I did 53.1 from Dennis Cove Canpground into Damascus in 19hrs, 35 minutes during my thru in 1990. I was 36 then....today I need to stop for a rest on the way to the fridge!:)
geek
You old fart! ;)
MANIAC and I went from Kinkora to Damascus under 30 hrs...took a swim and enjoyed an overnight lightning storm. Was an amazing experience/challenge. War damn
handlebar
10-25-2011, 20:50
A friend of mine did 100 miles on the NCT in two days this summer. He's much younger than I.