As Stephen King’s chilling adaptation The Long Walk hits theaters this week, many are left wondering just how feasible it would be to walk at 3 miles per hour for 24 hours straight, as the contestants in the dystopian world of the film are forced to do. While the movie’s fictional setting may be extreme, we asked a medical professional to break down exactly what would happen to your body if you tried this in real life. Spoiler alert: It’s not pretty.
The Dystopian Walk
In The Long Walk, directed by Francis Lawrence of The Hunger Games fame, the premise is simple yet harrowing: 100 teenage boys are selected each year to walk at a constant pace of 3 miles per hour, without stopping. If they fall behind, they are “ticketed” and taken out by armed soldiers. The original novel by King had participants walking at 4 mph, but King himself believed that was too torturous, lowering the pace for the film.
While 3 mph might seem manageable, sustaining this pace for 24 hours could push the human body well beyond its limits. Dr. Suzanne Wylie, a GP and medical adviser for IQdoctor, explained to UNILAD exactly how your body would react to such an extreme physical challenge.
The Immediate Risks
Dehydration
The first and most immediate concern is dehydration. Even at a moderate walking pace, the body loses a significant amount of fluid through sweat and breathing, especially in warm or humid conditions. Without frequent hydration and electrolyte replenishment, dehydration would set in quickly. This could lead to dizziness, headaches, confusion, and impaired judgment. In severe cases, dehydration could cause complete collapse.
Muscle and Joint Strain
Walking continuously for hours would cause significant strain on your muscles, particularly in your legs and hips. Overuse injuries like tendonitis, shin splints, and severe muscle fatigue would be inevitable. The repetitive motion of walking places heavy stress on the hips, knees, and ankles, causing pain, swelling, and inflammation. Even experienced athletes would likely experience these symptoms after several hours of walking.
Additionally, blisters from prolonged friction in shoes and skin breakdown could occur, leading to infections and possibly impairing your ability to walk.
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The new movie is adapted from Stephen King’s first ever book (Tracey Biel/Variety via Getty Images)
The Hidden Dangers
Rhabdomyolysis
One of the most dangerous outcomes of extreme physical exertion is rhabdomyolysis, where muscle fibers break down due to overuse, releasing toxins like myoglobin into the bloodstream. This can overwhelm the kidneys, leading to acute kidney failure, electrolyte imbalances, and life-threatening complications. Walking nonstop for 24 hours would put your body at high risk of this condition, especially if dehydration is also present.
Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar)
Walking at a constant pace for such a long period would deplete your body’s energy reserves. If your calorie intake doesn’t match your energy expenditure, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) could set in. Symptoms include dizziness, hunger, sweating, and blurred vision. In extreme cases, low blood sugar can lead to seizures or even unconsciousness.
Long-Term Physical Strain
Cardiovascular Strain
Sustaining a constant pace for 24 hours could also put immense strain on your cardiovascular system, especially for individuals with any underlying heart issues. The heart would have to pump continuously to deliver oxygen and nutrients to your muscles, and the long hours of exertion could trigger heart arrhythmias or cardiac events.
Sleep Deprivation Effects
As the hours pass without rest, sleep deprivation would further complicate the situation. Lack of sleep leads to confusion, poor coordination, and impaired judgment, making injuries much more likely.
The Long Walk sees men walk at three miles per hour for as long as possible (Lionsgate)
The Bottom Line
While walking at 3 mph may sound like an achievable feat, the reality is much more dangerous. Dr. Wylie puts it bluntly: “Very few people could sustain 3mph for 24 hours without suffering significant, and potentially fatal, consequences.” The body simply isn’t designed for such continuous exertion without proper rest, nutrition, and hydration.
The movie’s brutal depiction of endurance walking highlights the severe toll on the human body, making it clear that while the concept makes for a dramatic plot, in reality, the consequences could be deadly.
