Walking our London Life Hike? Here are some tips to help you walk a half marathon

On Saturday 26 September 2026, London Ambulance Charity is hosting its annual London Life Hike, where Londoners will walk either 6km or 21km around the beating heart of the capital to raise money for life-saving defibrillators and CPR training in their local community.

Most reasonably fit people should be able to walk 21km in about four hours, but if you are planning on taking on the longer route, here are our top tips for how to prepare to walk a half marathon.

Tip 1: Follow a training plan to build your mileage – gradually increase your mileage and allow your body to adapt without risking injury.

Tip 2: Aim to walk short distances for three to four hours per week. Remember something is better than nothing.

Tip 3: Get plenty of rest between training – listen to your body, if you feel overly fatigued or experience any pain, give yourself extra rest.

Tip 4: Vary your walking pace in training - challenge yourself to include more extended periods of faster walking or introduce hill walking to your routine as a form of strength training.

Tip 5: Practice good walking form – to prevent injuries make sure you keep your head up, look forward with your shoulders relaxed but straight. Swing your arms naturally with a slight bend in the elbows.

Tip 6: Make sure you have good walking shoes – you’ll be spending plenty of time on your feet, so make sure your shoes are comfortable and don’t cause you any pain.

Tip 7: Bring extra layers – the weather can change quickly, so make sure you bring an additional layer to keep you warm.

Tip 8: Have fun – walking a half marathon can be a challenge, so make sure you put on some good music, walk with friends and have fun!

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