With the release of The Long Walk, Stephen King’s chilling first novel brought to life by director Francis Lawrence (The Hunger Games), fans are buzzing about the dystopian contest at the heart of the story. In this brutal game, 100 teenage boys must walk at a steady pace of three miles per hour—without stopping. Drop below that speed too often, and you’re “ticketed”… permanently.
Sounds dramatic, right? But what if someone actually tried it in real life? Could a person really walk at 3 mph for 24 hours straight? To answer that, Dr. Suzanne Wylie, GP and medical adviser for IQdoctor, broke down what would actually happen to your body—and spoiler alert, it’s not pretty.
Dehydration Hits First
Even at a walking pace, your body loses a surprising amount of fluid through sweat and breathing. Without constant water and electrolytes, dehydration sets in quickly, leading to dizziness, headaches, poor focus, and eventually collapse if severe. According to Mayo Clinic, even mild dehydration impacts physical performance.
The new movie is adapted from Stephen King’s first ever book (Tracey Biel/Variety via Getty Images)
The Pain in Your Legs and Hips
Your hips, knees, and ankles would take a serious beating from the continuous motion. Overuse injuries like shin splints, tendonitis, and swollen joints would be almost unavoidable. Add in blisters from hours of friction, and every step could feel like torture—just as King envisioned in his story.
The Long Walk sees men walk at three miles per hour for as long as possible (Lionsgate)
Rhabdomyolysis: The Silent Danger
Here’s where things get scary. Extreme exertion without rest can cause rhabdomyolysis, a condition where muscle fibers literally break down. These proteins flood the bloodstream, putting massive strain on the kidneys and potentially leading to acute kidney failure. Combined with dehydration, this is a life-threatening risk.
Blood Sugar Crashes
Walking burns energy—lots of it. If your calorie intake doesn’t keep up, you risk hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Symptoms include blurred vision, sweating, dizziness, and confusion. In severe cases, it could lead to seizures or even unconsciousness.
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Other Risks: Heart and Mind
Walking for 24 hours nonstop isn’t just about your muscles. The strain on your heart and circulation could be dangerous, especially for anyone with existing heart problems. Add in total sleep deprivation, and your brain starts to fail you: confusion, clumsiness, and impaired judgment all make accidents more likely.
Bottom Line: Fiction vs. Reality
While The Long Walk makes for a thrilling story, Dr. Wylie makes it clear: “The body simply isn’t designed to keep going at 3 mph for 24 hours without rest, food, and fluids.” In real life, very few people could survive such a challenge without serious, possibly fatal, consequences.
So, enjoy the movie when it hits theaters, but maybe stick to a casual stroll in the park instead.
