NEW BOOK - 6/2/2026

I have, so far, walked more than 2,300 marathons - 26 to 42 miles per day. on my long distance walks throughout the world, I have had no back up and most were done with 50 to 60lbs on my back. Many in remote country with no emergency help - or carrying a mobile phone - often walking for 14 days without seeing another human being. I have not purposefully set out to do this, but found the on-going commitment and and continuous daily walking natural and easy! A rest day is not in my vocabulary and doesn’t do any good. You lose the dedication, momentum and commitment the exercise required. It takes a day to get back into the routine. I should add that I do not use walking poles, relying solely on my two eegs, wearing full leather boots.

My only tentative connection with the London Marathon is that on walking the entire British Coastline - 7,000 miles, doing a marathon or more each day for ten months, Chris Brasher met me on the North Devon coast to walk with me, for a day, for a feature in the Observer newspaper.

I walk all terrains - flat, mountainous and deserts - it doesn't matter. You ascend slightly slower but descend quicker! Temperature is never a problem from -40F in Norway to crossing the Mojave desert in 140F degrees walking more than 32 miles with 6i pounds on my back, and drinking no water, nor do I carrying any.. It is all mind over matter, I listen to no advice, I do my own thing.. Each night before I programme my brain with the next day’s route, irrespective of the ascent and descents. The day’s destination is the goal and it is unimportant how long it takes. It just unfolds gracefully and I never tick off the miles.

I was a gifted runner at school breaking all records but found no one to lead me on. I was running the mile, at 16, faster than Roger Bannister at that age. I found marathon walking more challenging, not reaching my peak until 2,500 miles and could still walk a high mileage for the next 2,000 miles. On the Appalachian trail in the USA I walked 32 miles a day with 60lbs on my back for 10 days, but eased off back to 27 miles fearing I would strain my feet.

I should also add that I am walking in the same body I was born with. No hips, knees or ankles replaced. I have had to have my leg in plaster, once, to stop me from walking! On my coast walk after 3,000 miles I felt pain in my right foot and it swelled up. I was ahead of schedule so I had an easy day.

and continued on the next day and did another 400 miles to Greenock. There I had my foot x-rayed and learnt I had a stress fracture, as I had walked too much! I had to have it in plaster to stop me from walking! I stayed where I was for a month and saw the specialist. The plaster was removed and foot x-rayed again. It had healed nicely and the specialist advised just doing 2 miles a day and maybe in 3 months time I could set off again! I said nothing and put my feet up that afternoon. The next day my boots were on and I climbed a Munroe. Over the next 6 days I did a Munroe a day! I saw the specialist again and told him I was setting off again next day. I admit I was limping and struggling to do 16 miles, but I walked my foot back into walking order. 3,500 miles later as I neared London on the Essex coast I had stabbing pains in my legs! Again I had walked too much but pressed on to St. Paul’s cathedral, where I had begun 10 months previously.

Since then I have walked a further 200,000 miles wearing out 158 pairs of boots but no foot trouble or broken bones!

I have walked 1,000’s miles in London, doing every long walk and countless short walks. Someone asked me if I had run the marathon but I hadn’t. I decided to walk the London marathon route to discover the history the runners passed unknowingly and had a throughly enjoyable four days in January’s  short freezing winter days. Enjoy the marathon walk and discover for yourself the remarkable history passed at 3 mph.

Marathon hiker,

John Merrill.

A5. Spiral bound, signed by author.

90 pages, 11maps,  96 photos.