- Who is The Long Distance Walker?
My name is Daimon Walker and, for fear of sounding like I'm in a confessional meeting, I walk long distances. I run a YouTube channel and write blogs to accompany the videos that I make (and vice versa).
With a name like "Walker" and the fact I'm covering long distances, it seemed only right to name myself "The Long Distance Walker" but what sort of distances are we talking about? For some the distances I cover may not seem that far but for the layperson I believe they are the kind of distances one would prefer to cover in a car or cycle at a push.
It was 2011 when my life took this path (pun intended). Life was getting on top of me. Whilst I am sure most of us have been in situations in life where we want to runaway, I felt I had no option but to get away. That sounds way more sinister than it should do. It was more a combination of things - not getting to see my daughter regularly, my Dad being terminally ill, that kind of thing. Big things that I needed to either compartmentalise or just simply deal with. One thing was sure, I was not dealing with life and I had to do something so over a few months I gathered backpacking equipment (I was VERY naive), stuffed it all into a big backpack, and arranged a lift to Lands End so that I could walk the 900+ miles to John O'Groats.
The trip tested every part of me and broke me a number of times. Tears were shed, solitary laughter would emanate from me. On one occasion I was stood atop conquered hill in the wind and rain, arms raised shouting at the sky. I had an adventure. I gained perspective. I grew up a little bit. Most of all I found the thing that gave me respite from my thoughts. I had found walking. The most basic of motive skills most of us learn as babies had given me all of this and has become a greater, more important part of my life. Walking isn't just the thing I do to get to the car, or shops. It is the thing in me that gives me a better life.
I am happy here. I just haven't told my face.
I believe this is in other people too, they just don't know it. I would love to be a small part of that which allows even just one person to find this out for themselves.
I wrote a blog in 2011 for the LeJog. You can find that, along with all my other links in the "You can also find me here" section.
I've been trying to scratch the long distance itch ever since. I undertook a non-stop 100km Thames Path challenge organised by Ulta Challenge in 2017. I vowed never to do anything so difficult ever again. The next year I put my rose tinted glasses on, looked back at that achievement, and entered every 100+km challenge that Ultra Challenge had to offer. I completed 7x 100+ km events within a few months of 2018. The longest being a non-stop walk around the Isle of Wight (106 km).
I have done a few 50-100km walks since but nothing has topped LeJog for opening my eyes and changing my life. If you are thinking you need something different in your life then maybe walking is for you. Give it a try and see. You might surprise yourself.
I hope to see you out on the trails!
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