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Need2Know: May walking bring us together
If you love to go a wandering around the world, the International Marching League was formed with you in mind.
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The IML was founded in 1987 as an international nonprofit organization to promote good health and encourage friendship between people all over the world. Their slogan is “Nos jungat ambulare” or “May walking bring us together.” Walkers participate in the 14 sanctioned events, getting stamps in their International Walker passbooks and earning medals and designations as International Master Walker and European Walker.
IML events are not races, but neither are they cakewalks. Each event is held over two or more days, with the walkers required to complete 20 kilometers or more each day to earn the event credit and award.
The granddaddy of these events is the Nijmegen Vierdaagse (4-day) Walk in the Netherlands. This was one of the charter members of the IML.
At Nijmegen, the regulation distance for men under 50 is 50km a day, and for women under 50 it is 40km per day - more than a marathon distance for the men. It attracts over 35,000 participants each year. The IML works with local event committees to judge whether an event meets the standards for admission as a yearly IML event.
Each country is allowed one IML event per year, In the USA there is one on each coast - one at San Antonio and one at Arlington.
The one in New Zealand is held in March each year in Rotorua. This year the event was postponed until Novemebr 5 and 6 due to Covid restrictions. Next year it will be held on March 18 and 19 2023.
The walks are not competitive - everybody is a winner and can earn the certificate and medal by completing the distance.
Each event has its own entry fee, but prices are modest compared to many racing events. As a result, many groups form teams to come and participate.
At Nijmegen there are many military units which march together in full gear and backpacks, a true test of endurance.
The start/finish areas provide camaraderie of meeting other international walkers, food for sale, entertainment, and a place to rest and repair the blisters.
The International Walker passbooks are available at the events for a modest price - $3 - $4 US equivalent. The walker buys an International Walker Passport at his/her first IML member walk.
On completion of the walk, a special stamp for that particular walk is placed in the passbook. After obtaining stamps from three different IML events - each in a different country - the walker may purchase the International Walker Medal.
As the walker completes groups of three events they earn the bronze, silver, and gold levels. After completing the second set of three different walks, the walker may purchase the number two in bronze, after the third series the number 3 in bronze.
In the fourth through seventh series the medal and numbers are in silver, and after the seventh series in gold, after the tenth series in gold with laurel leaves, and after 25 series the blue with gold medal may be obtained. That’s 75 IML events!
After each IML walk in one of the affiliated countries, the walker may purchase a bar on which the name of the country is inscribed. This bar can be attached to the medal ribbon.
Once a walker has earned an IML stamp in each of the founding member’s countries: Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Austria, and Japan he/she has the right to the title of International Master Walker, an entry into a register, a unique certificate, and an inscribed clip in silver or gold for attaching the medal ribbon.
On completing IML walks in eight of the European member countries, the walker is entitled to the European Walker title, certificate, and clip.
