The seventh of January, I and two of my friends sat out to do the impossible - walk five hundred miles. Well not a five hundred, more like 80Km (~50 miles).

It was something we have been talking about since we first met back in August, but after looking at the calendar we had decided to wait until the next year to do it. All the days were occupied until November, and living in Sweden meant the weather would be terrible then. But when my friend messaged me, telling me the next weekend was available (since he forgot to bring his keys and so couldn't cycle back and forth) I knew it was ON.

The date was set, nothing could hold us back. IT'S ON, I TELL YOU - IT'S ON. It was a journey from our living counters home to our family in Stockholm. We would just "walk home".

During the week, we try to get some more friends to come along; they called us crazy. "It will be fun!" - I try to tell them, but they didn't believe me. Then suddenly - as if from nowhere - my friends tell me he got a hit. It was not for certain, but some idiot had said he was interested. What a fool - I thought, and I knew there was only one thing to do: it was time to spread rumors. I told some of the rats that "HE WAS ON!". It worked, for just a few days later he brought a backpack from home after he's Halloween party - He was officially "ON!"

The day was closing in, anticipation growing. The route was planned out, we had bought two reflectors each, headlamp and extra batteries; every second accounted for. Everyone knew exactly what to do, they wouldn't even know what hit them before we left… There was just one problem - McDonald's.

We anticipated being able to leave at about 15:30. With our anticipated speed, there was barely an hour margin until McDonald's would close, and all would be lost - for there was no other restaurant open at the time.

The clock rang - the lamp in the ceiling turned on. This is the day. This is the day Father becomes proud of his second son. This is the day we defy all odds, and do the impossible. We followed the routine: Food was ingested, room was cleaned, an unanticipated workout is performed - "shit. We already deviate from the plan". Then suddenly. The time had come.

Everyone knew what to do. We began packing our backpacks, my fellow thugs began to tape their feet in preparation. We filled our water bottles - and I my camelback. We're ready. It's time to march.

One foot in front of the other, we left the building. Down the street, with a long road in front of us. And after about 20 seconds, we stopped. After my friend went back and got his wallet, we continued on.

After an hour or so of walking, we took our first pause. We knew we would have to pause often to rest and change socks, leaving the old ones close to the body to dry. We all wore sturdy boots - everything to delay the inevitable pain from below.

After a few further hours, we met up with an even worse idiot. My friend had somehow convinced his friend to take the buss to us, to then walk home. But he would only follow us to McDonald's, then leave us so that he could get a few hours sleep until the next day.

By now the sun had gone into hiding, and the darkness took its place. The headlamps were worn, and LED reflectors at the back. The speaker screamed and moral was high. "This is fun!" I thought - "Nothing is better". We made first contact with the outside world at 19:17. We had promised to update the rest of our friends on WhatsApp about the journey and we got encouraging responses such as

• "That you did it is actually crazy (crying and praying emoji)"
• "God's hardest warriors (two 100 emojis)"
• "Hahahah, nice work"
• "You walk back as well I assume?"

At this point we were resting about halfway to McDonald's. We knew it would be a tough journey to get there in time. Next contact was at 20:50, still walking, playing encouraging music. The moral is high, dancing to the music as we walk. We got one response: "The goats".

Then finally, at 22:13; we were there. McDonald's! Our lunch were at 11:00, and now we would finally get dinner and our first long break. We of course sent an update message - only response was a fire emoji on the message. At 23:08 we continued our journey. At 23:48 we finally reached Stockholm County. We were officially in Stockholm - but still, we were only a third of the way there. Of course, we sent an update message - one response: The fire emoji.

We further sent updates at 01:16 - one response: "fighters". At 03:34 we sent an update - and we were past halfway, having walked 50Km of the ~80 needed. At 06:06 an update was sent noting that we had been awake for 24 hours.

At 07:20, an update came noting 60Km. And we were greeted with a very special friend - the sun. Until now the entire journey had been fun and exiting, if somewhat tuff. But the sun was accompanied by terrible pain in my feet, and hallucinations caused by sleep deprivation causing me to see benches where non were.

At 09:17 I sent a message to my Father. I had given up. At about 10:20, I went out of the train barely able to walk, pain burning up the side of my leg for every step. As if both my feet were broken. I continued up the stairs and to the parking place where my father picked me up. It was shame in his eyes, as if I was a lesser human. You could almost hear him scream before I opened the door - "I have no son!". I opened the door, having not seen him in two weeks. We hugged.

At 12:00 came a message from the rest of the crew. They had done it! All in all. I took 93985 steps over 67.66Km. I'm proud over the accomplishment and regret nothing.

Later the same day, at 17:30, were my high school reunion. My feet hurt a ton while driving to the train, but they were fine when I stepped off and the pain was pretty much all gone at about 19:00, even though I only got about five hours of sleep.

I have several conclusions from this experience. For one, you are capable of a lot. Do not shy away from experiences because you don't think yourself capable of them - don't shy away from experiences at all, say yes! Second, your body can heal a lot of strain fairly quickly. Third, be not afraid to give up. Do not which to give up, and do not anticipate it, but be not afraid.