How would you win the Long Walk?
 

In Stephen King's novella 'The Long Walk', (originally published under his Richard Bachman pseudonym) the characters engage in a ghastly sporting event known as, well, The Long Walk.

This is how the story goes: 100 adolescent males, beginning near the Canadian border in Maine, walk south along the highway, probably US-1. Carefully monitored at all times is their speed - they must constantly walk at 3MPH (IIRC). If they drop below that, even for a few seconds, they are issued with an official warning...and it being Steven King, after three of these warnings, they are shot immediately on the spot.

You can see the motivation to keep walking.

The last person alive wins and can name their prize: a billion dollars, fame, fortune, whatever they like. Such is life for the people in this crazy and evil totalitarian state that it's the only way to get ahead. Overpopulation, high unemployment, and a lack of opportunities for young males means that such a quest seems desirable, right?

In King's book, the competitors, curiously enough for young males, don't really turn up fully prepared for their gruelling test. Some even make poor preparation choices!

So, how would you win The Long Walk?

Other rules to note:

1. You can have warnings removed by maintaining the minimum speed for a hour uninterrupted. So it's possible to get dozens of warnings, but never get shot, if they're evenly spaced out.

2. You are supplied with basic rations three times a day, on a belt you carry around your waist. You're given all the water you want.

3. You cannot physically interfere with the other competitors or spectators, nor can they with you. However, you can otherwise freely talk amongst yourselves. Shooting anybody with a 9mm pistol up your sleeve definitely counts as "interference".

4. Armed soldiers line the streets ensuring that you cannot leave the course. There is no excuse for stopping, even if you have to take a crap. Another warning is issued for every 1 minute you stop. The Long Walk is not delayed for any reason whatsoever, and carries on day and night until a winner is determined. The road ahead is cleared, so you're not dodging cars or anything like that.

5. The only standard that matters is maintaining the minimum speed - no extra credit for walking any faster. There is no finish line, no benefit to being ahead of anyone else, no set course length. It is a pure test of endurance and the walk continues until 99 people are shot. Therefore, it is theoretically possible to be the last one in line for all of the event and win.

6. You can bring stuff with you, if you want: a rucksack, other food if you don't like the rations, your iPod - anything you like as long as you carry it yourself, while walking, and you don't break the other rules. Similarly, you can wear what you want.

7. If you're a wheelie, you'll have to sit this one out, while waiting for the thread on King's 'Running Man' game.

Moved to General Discussion

I'm female, guess I'm out.

But if I was a male, I think that I would practice walking on a treadmill so I would get the idea of how fast 3 mph is. Actually, it's not a bad pace, I generally walk faster than that considering I can get home in about 15 minutes which is a mile walk. So I think I would have a benefit that 3 mph would feel like a crawl. I would have to invest in an iPod with more memory because my music would get annoying after awhile and not keep me distracted from the fact that I'm walking under very stressful circumstances. I would also be sure to drink a lot of water and wear light, loose clothing that dries quickly in case it rains and, well, if you can't stop to go to the bathroom...yuck.

I don't know if I would win or not, but the money would be an awesome motivator. I think I would have a great chance of winning though because so many people nowadays are out of shape and I'm used to walking everywhere I go.

I really hope I don't end up being the only one who's actually thought of this. I hope even more that I don't come off as the only despicable character.

Were I actually in the Long Walk, I wouldn't be ashamed to win by any means, possibly like Barkovitch in spite of the fact that I'm not a loudmouth. I'd be more likely to throw little things out instead of being blatent about it. If you get into the competition, you know the rules, that it's completely allowed to mess with somebody mentally until they lose it and/or get distracted enough to gain too many warnings. The thought of others dying around me doesn't seem as horrible as it might, and by entering your life almost assuredly becomes forfeit anyway.

As for my death, assuming that vague scenario doesn't work, I'd like to think I go out like Olsen (taking it stoically while realizing I did it wrong) or Parker (hoping to take out a few soldiers in spite).

It's been said that all's fair in love and war. There were both in that book, and near everything was fair. I still can't decide whether that's great or frightening.

I'd likely be shot at the getgo upon my refusal to take part in such a silly practice.

If I were to actually take part, I'd bring along a music player and lots of classical music. When I tired of that, I'd likely just stop and get shot. I'm not much for imposed competitions. :)

I certainly wouldn't be one of the people that did well. I tend to push myself physically in anything I do, and thus I would outpace them, but tire much sooner.

By the way, it's a four mile an hour walk. No less, lest the warning's begin. You're going to have to pick it up a little bit.

One would have to be fit and lucky to win. I would prefer to not have the warning policy since it would just drag the walk on longer and hope that the other walkers screw up (trip, cramp, etc..) before I do.

Yep, it is really 4MPH you must keep to.

(Was hoping nobody would notice. Then I'd win)

4 MPH is a pretty brisk walk. It would be interesting to see how long average people could keep that up, without the getting shot part although I'm sure that would make them go a lot further.

I've walked 26 miles before, and didn't take any breaks. iPods and anything extra gets left behind. You have to get into a Forest Gump like state, just one foot in front of the other. I would wear a hat and lightweight white clothes in order to keep the sun from zapping you. You need to get good shoes. And you need to stretch and train ahead of time. Your hips and knees will be sore, but the strong would survive.

I'd definitely tape my feet before starting. Otherwise it would be blister city for me. Light and comfortable but sturdy shoes and two pairs of socks. You'd be willing to get a warning to take a dump - I reckon you could walk backwards and pee if the ground was even enough...

The pace wouldn't worry me up front, but could see myself getting tired pretty quickly.

Manorfire,
If memory serves, as it's been many many years since I read the book, the participants have no idea about the shootings before they enter the race.

That makes a big difference in people's preparations.

If these young men knew the outcome was, literally, victory or death, I'm sure they would have gone to the point of inventing new shoes & possibly weapons & strategies to get rid of other participants.

I would never embark on such a quest. I prefer life over riches.

So basically, you have to ensure that 99 people die per the rules, correct? Seems to me that besides the endurance, it would behoove one to figure out how to make that happen as quickly as possible (how's that for delicate phrasing?). It seems more of a last man standing (walking) than a long-distance ability. The Richard Hatch approach.

No, they know going in it is win or die. This is an annual event and a National Celebration. This premise is set in a bleak future and there's a waiting list for a shot at that one-in-a-hundred chance to be set for the rest of your life.

How'd I'd win: prepare. Shoes tested and walked in prior to the race start to make sure there'd be no blisters. Comfortable, loose clothes. Plenty of sleep before hand. and mind-fuck the others as much as possible. You can't get emotionally close to anyone: they must be dead to you.

If I remember, (It's been years since I read the book) the winner just kept on walking at the end. I guess his mind was just fried by the end.

Damn you, now I have to go find that book and read it again.

I'm not much of a steven king fan, but this one sounds like a good read, I'll have to take a look for it.

Check out the wikipedia article on the book. WARNING: major spoilers - including the order of each character's death (and how).

Tape up my feet, lots of complex carbs prior to the race, a mixture of complex and simple during the race. Plenty of hydration. Build up some muscle mass before the race (not too much, bulk will work against you). That's all I've got.

Among training, obviously, would be the mind-destroying psychological warfare. :)

Exactamundo! :thumbsup:

I would practice by learning how to drop a deuce at a brisk 4mph.

Why is everyone looking at me... surely I wasn't the only person to think about that...

What about train for years without shoes and don't wear shoes? The human body isn't designed for shoes and if your feet are conditioned for it going barefoot is the best thing for them (Assuming they have been conditioned to have large calluses). Also what time of year is this?

Do you know who your competitors are before the race? Can you have a two way radio?

If you know who your competitors are before the race investigate them find out things to get inside their head. If you don't have a two way radio and a friend on the outside investigating the people you are racing with.

With the right comments you could get someone to walk faster as they try to get away from you, or upset them enough that they break down crying, ect.

I really liked the story, and have often wondered how I would fare. Part of the problem is that I have no idea how fast 4 mph is good socks, well fitting shoes, and an MP3 player...

** oh yes, have an enema before you start. begin fresh.

I'd bring a gun and shoot everyone I saw.

What's the Long Walk?

a lot of marathon runners pee as they run.

The only way to win a game like that is to not play at all. ;)

If the march is on a paved road, then this is a bad idea, it'll kill your joints because the ground is too unyielding. My trekking boots that were great in the woods absolutely sucked when we marched long stretches on asphalt. I'd invest in good jogging shoes, break them in and bring several changes of socks. And figure out how to poop on the march. Seriously, HOW?!? :eek:

No, they know about "getting a ticket." One of the points toyed with throughout the plot is that the kids have to realize that they really do shoot walkers; it's not a game. Also, it seems that society worships these "walkers."

The story takes from Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" in that everyone knows death is involved, but no one really is conscious of it.

First, i would make sure i was in great condition for walking extensive hours. Second, i would have a few trainers or just helpers to hold stuff for me like towels and toilet paper, water, etc.
Third, I would distance myself as much as i could from the other walkers. could probably push myself harder by myself than measuring my success by how everyone else was doing, although it would be nice to get updates from my helpers.
Fourth, take steroids/enhancers before the walk, to maintain good oxygenation of my muscles and to avoid lactic acid buildup.
Fifth, Spike my water with taurine, etc. later in the walk to keep me awake and walking longer. probably even meth at the final point

Lots of amphetamines.

hah, yep.. drugs are the answer..

meth.. youll walk in a straight line for three days without blinking "no time for chat gotta finish the race!"
ecstasy.. you won't care you're getting shot "that gun is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen"
weed.. you won't even realize you're getting shot "hey, wait, what?"

I think will's got the right idea. A gun and a lot of ammo.

How Stephen King can be so creepy has long boggled my little mind..,

...I guess I must go read it now.

Steven King is a bore, and probably the most overrated author of all time, even beating out the likes of John Steinbeck and John Crichton. IMHO.

Aiyoih. He's made a lot of haunting noise and might have scared as many people as anybody else. Is it valuable? Dunno. Is it profitable? It seems so.

Can't believe somebody stole my answer.

I guess you didn't read the OP too closely. I reckon a gun pretty much falls under this rule: