Advice for first timers doing the Suncoast East Coast Radio Big Walk
Is it your first time doing the Suncoast East Coast Radio Big Walk? Here’s what nobody warns you about
So… you signed up for The Suncoast East Coast Radio Big Walk.
Maybe you’re feeling excited. Maybe your friends convinced you. Maybe you saw the vibes online and thought, “How hard can walking be?”
Walking sounds easy… until thousands of people are doing it together.
Your alarm goes off before sunrise, and your legs begin negotiating with you halfway through the route.
If this is your first Big Walk experience, here’s what nobody really tells you beforehand.
ALSO READ: Your ultimate Suncoast East Coast Radio Big Walk survival guide
The wake-up time will feel illegal
You’ll question every life decision when your alarm rings while it’s still dark outside.
There’s something deeply offensive about voluntarily waking up that early on a Sunday.
Yet somehow, once you arrive and see the crowds, music, excitement, and energy, the sleepiness disappears. Mostly.
The start feels like a festival
The atmosphere at The Big Walk is half fitness event, half Durban street party.
People are laughing, dancing, stretching dramatically like professional athletes, taking selfies, blasting music, and somehow already sweating before the walk even starts.
There’s an energy you can’t really explain until you experience it yourself.
Your outfit confidence might disappear quickly
That stylish outfit you planned? Cute at the start.
A few kilometres later? You’re rolling sleeves up, adjusting shoes, questioning your choices, and discovering muscles you didn’t know existed.
Comfort wins every single time.
Random strangers become your support system
One of the best things about The Big Walk is how friendly everyone becomes.
Complete strangers will:
- Motivate you
- Hype you up
- Tell you “we’re almost there” (sometimes dishonestly)
- Start random conversations mid-walk
There’s something oddly wholesome about suffering together as a community.
The finish line feels AMAZING
No matter how tired you are, crossing that finish line feels like a movie moment.
You’ll suddenly forget the sore feet, the exhaustion and the regret from kilometre 7
You immediately start saying things like:
“We should definitely do this again next year.”
ALSO READ: Durban man conquers 52KM Chatsworth Ultra Marathon
Final advice for first-timers
- Wear comfortable shoes
- Stretch properly
- Hydrate constantly
- Don’t start too fast
- Enjoy the atmosphere
- Take pictures
- Laugh through the pain
Most importantly, have fun.
Because The Big Walk isn’t just about fitness; it’s about the vibe, the people, the memories, and proving to yourself that yes… you actually CAN do it.
HOW TO LISTEN TO EAST COAST RADIO
1. Listen to East Coast Radio on the FM (frequency modulation) spectrum between 94 and 95 FM on your radio.
2. Listen live to ECR by clicking here or download the ECR App (iOS/Android).
3. Listen to East Coast Radio on the DStv audio bouquet
4. Switch to the audio bouquet on your OpenView decoder and browse to channel 606.
5. Listen to us on Amazon Alexa
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