Before I first signed up to take part in the Nijmegen Marches for Walk the Walk, I was planning to do the challenge just once and thought that would be it. Then I got hooked. I’ve now completed the Marches twice and love it so much I will definitely be signing up again. And again!
My Walk the Walk journey started with The MoonWalk London, back in 2017.
Again, I it was meant to be a one-off. However, I made so many wonderful friends and had so much fun, I couldn’t keep away and now take part every year. I still absolutely love The MoonWalk, but over time, I realised I needed to take on a bigger challenge. Something which would show my sponsors that I was pushing myself even further – a challenge with a real wow factor.
And that’s where the Nijmegen Marches came in! Many of my MoonWalk friends had already done Nijmegen a number of times. I started to get quite jealous of them and developed a real fear of missing out. My friends kept on telling me how incredible it was walking 40km a day for four days with the Walk the Walk team through the Dutch countryside, alongside 47,000 other people. They said I would love it!
Although I’d done some-long distance events previously, they hadn’t involved walking on four consecutive days. There was no need to worry, though as Walk the Walk provide an excellent training plan. I’d say you definitely need to have completed a marathon (or as good as) before taking on the Marches. Walking four days in a row doesn’t come easy, but it is very doable when you prepare well!
For my first Nijmegen, I followed the training plan to the letter and arrived in Nijmegen feeling really well prepared. The plan had got me into the right habit – my legs knew what they were doing and I felt ready! By training properly, you recover so much better from big walking challenges like this. After my second Nijmegen this summer, I came home with literally one tiny blister (I taped my feet each day of the challenge – my big tip!) and I didn’t have a single ache in my legs. That was all down to the training. I have a very busy life with lots of commitments, but I made the plan work for me. I was quite creative fitting in my miles, often walking the three and a half miles each way to my office several times a week.
Once the training is done, arriving in Nijmegen itself is quite something!
The atmosphere on the startline every morning is electric and so friendly, with everyone raring to go. 47,000 of us gathering together, to set off on this weird, wacky challenge! The local teenagers, who have been up all night partying, high five you as you start walking and there are so many people supporting you along the route too –sometimes you’ll see the same people on consecutive days.
Young children are constantly offering you sweets and pieces of cucumber. The music along the route is incredible – you never get to the end of a song though, as you are constantly walking between dozens of sets of speakers and numerous live bands. You’ll find yourself singing throughout the day – when there’s finally a quieter stretch with no speakers or bands, we sing together as the Walk the Walk team, or sometimes with the military or police teams, belting out their marching songs. We all just bounce off each other. The event is fun from start to finish – even though we’re walking 40km a day for four days!
On the final day of the Marches, the atmosphere ramps up even further.
For the last five miles, along the “Via Gladiola” the crowds are so huge, it feels like you’re in the pack of lead runners at the London Marathon. There are crowds five, six, seven deep, celebrating what you’ve achieved. You just can’t take the smile off your face – I felt like I danced my way through the whole four days!
Taking on the Marches as part of a team was absolutely wonderful too – I think it makes completing the challenge so much easier than on your own, giving you focus and purpose. You’ll get to know your teammates really well over all those miles and make new friendships, which is so enriching. The time passed so quickly and we were constantly looking out for each other, which made such a difference.
For anyone thinking of taking part in the Nijmegen Marches for Walk the Walk, I’d say just do it! I was planning on taking part just once, but I’ve now completed it twice and, with no plans to stop any time soon. Sign up and experience the absolute joy of this unique event. You definitely won’t regret it.”
Thank you for sharing your story Kim.
Register your interest now for The Nijmegen Marches 2026!