24 hours and then?

I already knew I wanted to walk for 24 hours but I didn't expect to make it this far...

At 4 am I continued with 4 hours and 24 minutes left to go. I figured out 120 km is definitely possible with an average of 6 km/h. The trail led me to the shore line of the Baltic Sea and followed the promenade up north to a light house. Still in the dark turning westwards I entered a small forest area with a cliff coast where I used my flashlight for the last time of this night. Leaving the forest onto the beach my mental health started to crumble. Why on earth would you walk on a soft sandy beach for miles??? (I've done it for over 40 km in the past 2 times on Sylt)
Well the first time wasn't too bad, but I wasn't fond of it. Leaving the beach I came into a small village where I tried to get rid of the sand. The sky turned into beautiful colours and the last hour has begun. The trail followed the cliff coast on a beautiful single trail only with a few sandy patches. I went off the trail into a village to the supermarket where I finally reached the 24 hours.

During the last 24 hours I kept thinking about 100 miles ~ 161 km and figured out 40 km in 12 hours could be possible. After a decent break I started with my final challenge. At first following a beautiful single trail at the cliff coast land inwards and enjoying the rising sun my mood was good. I did know there was another 3 km beach walk ahead and once I got there I took off my shoes and started walking barefoot.
The sand was cold which didn't really bother me, but there were so many small stones and rocks mixed with shells and green stuff from the sea. My mental health crumbled to nothing and I got really mad about this part. I tried to walk with sandals turning out to be way worse with sand and small stones stuck between my feet and the sole. I was crying, no way someone would enjoy walking on soft sand for miles. I put on my shoes without socks and tried to walk as fast as possible to get off this beach.
Well, I was tired, my feet and legs hurt and my mental health was crushed, so it was probably the worst time to walk on a beach where even a calming sound like waves just annoyed me. I do know how beautiful a walk on a beach can be, but not after 125 km...
Off the beach the trail followed easier paths along the coast line until I got to Eckernförde. I stopped at a supermarket, got some (a lot) food for my nerves and stopped on a grassy area at the next lake. There I had a long break until I realised, I still needed to walk 19 km and wanted to arrive before nightfall.
Walking around the lake all the food started to lay heavy in my stomach and I checked the map for the next restaurant/hotel or public toilet. It showed me a restaurant in the next village but in google maps there was nothing. I hurried into the village and asked some locals who offered to use their bathroom with the restaurant closed for years already. I was really happy and thanked them for their hospitality.
While continuing I checked the map for sleeping places close to the trail but in a relatively close distance to where I reach the 161 km. I found a nice place in a little village with toilets, power outlets and a big shelter next to a lake about 2 km off the trail. I could've walked further but my whole body told me to stop and I decided to set it as my goal with a supermarket also not far away. Right before I arrived there, I completed the 100 miles and was so relieved to have finally accomplished the challenge. With some ups and downs I was really astonished about my own body and how I felt. Of course the following days will be hard and I felt like resting for a week but with my finish line so close now I also wanted to get to the most northern point of Germany in the next week.Leia mais