Part 3/8:
The walker had previously accomplished significant walking challenges, but 100,000 steps loomed larger than expected. Recent preconditioning efforts of averaging 13,000 steps a day had provided a false sense of readiness for the 100,000-step challenge. With legs starting to feel the strain and the first signs of heel pain creeping in, the reality of the marathon ahead began to set in as they passed the first major milestone of 10,000 steps.
Despite a cheerful exterior, fatigue was slowly creeping into the experience, especially after crossing into the quarter mark at 25,000 steps—each segment felt longer than the last. The walker recorded firsthand an important lesson: in endurance challenges, mental stamina is just as critical as physical preparation.