"Training" for my 2010 thru??? Any advice or critique?

[Lone Wolf]

Bottom line. The more physically fit you are when you hit the trail, the less mental and physical stress you'll have to endure on the trail --

kinda like the more you sweat in training the less you bleed in war

[ShelterLeopard]

Yep- I'd rather sweat now than bleed later.

[Jester2000]

If nothing else, a bit of training and being a bit more fit will give you a bit more confidence when you hit the trail.

[take-a-knee]

I lived on the top floor of a 3 story apartment building. I put three 25# barbell weights and 4 gallons jugs of water in my pack plus a sleeping bag or two to keep it stable. I walked up one side of the stairs, across the walk way and down the other set of stairs making a small loop. I did it almost everyday for minimum of an hour, sometimes much more, for about 3 months prior to my hike. I only taught night classes at the time, so I had plenty of time during the day. I also ran 2 or 3 times per week, but not far. Maybe 10 or 12 miles per week. My neighbors thought I was "crazy".
CT

Doing the same workout repeatedly, especially everyday, will almost certainly inflict overuse injuries of some sort. You most likely took these to the trailhead with you. Climbing stairs with a weighted rucksack is excellent training, one or two days a week, combined with runs of varying distance and intensity, combine that with bodyweight and barbell circuits that leave you breathless.

Most people don't realize that we do not get stronger, faster, or more fit from training. We achieve those goals by RECOVERING from training. If we do something to sabotage that recovery, all our efforts are for naught. Most fail at a physical goal and attribute it to lack of proper genetics (I just could never do that) when the culprit is overwhelmingly crappy programing and poor diet and rest.

[emerald]

Is Milford completely flat? No steps or public buildings with steps?

[emerald]

Yep- I'd rather sweat now than bleed later.

The best way to avoid bloodshed is to watch where you're going.

[ShelterLeopard]

Actually, we do have a severe deficit of buildings with steps- we're a small town with small buildings (though maybe the church...). Milford is pretty flat itself, but there are hills leading into it, so I may opt to spend time at the gym and just hike on the roads when I can (because that way I wouldn't have to make a huge deal out of it and drive far away and all).

[Jim Adams]

Just go walk with your pack on. In 1990 Mule trained on a stair climber with his pack until he could do 5 hours nonstop. He became very depressed initially in his hike because everyone else was still out climbing him on the trail.
Want to get in shape for hiking?...go hiking.

geek

[ShelterLeopard]

Thanks all for your advice- I think I'll alternate. (Gym days with just walking everywhere with my pack; and I'll try to actually get onto some real trails as often as I can)

[Blissful]

My thoughts exactly, bullseye. So y'all can stop telling me ta stop excersing! (By y'all, I meant a couple of you...)

Exercising is fine (for mental aspects if anything) but there is no duplicating to the muscle torture on your body hiking long distance in monstrous elevations day in and day out (and usually with not that great nutrition either nor the adequate rest to recover minute tears in muscles that happens every day). I ran, walked, hiked, and everything beforehand but I was still in sorry shape for an actual "thru" hike. You cannot duplicate it by exercising or walking a pack around the block (I've been there). You still have to get in shape while you are out there. I've been there (and yeah I was still overweight by 20 lbs and made it. My son was very overweight, a couch potatoe - he didn't do ANY exercise at all - and he made it). I think people vastly understimate the mental aspects of this journey. You can be slim and trim and marathon runner with the right pack and not make it.

[Blissful]

Want to get in shape for hiking?...go hiking.

geek

Precisely...

Don't get hung up about it. Just go and do it...when its your time

[ShelterLeopard]

I'm not trying to kid myself blissful- I know I can't duplicate hiking for weeks in the mountains, but I'm doing what I can. I figure the more I do know, the easier (though only slightly, I'm sure) it will be then. And besides, it's good for me. And I figure, the more excersise I get now while I do have very good nutrition, the better.

[Lone Wolf]

I think people vastly understimate the mental aspects of this journey. You can be slim and trim and marathon runner with the right pack and not make it.

that's pretty much it in a nutshell. i've run ultramarathons where runners were 10 times more "trained" than i was but i beat them cuz i was mentally tougher. lotsa hikers and runners are pain weenies and quit over minor ailments

[Blissful]

The best way to avoid bloodshed is to watch where you're going.

Ha - even that doesn't work.

You WILL FALL on the trail.... (like that sign I see at amusement parks that say - you will get wet) Plenty of blood and sweat to go around. Whether you get injured or not - 99% do in one form or another (from blisters to sprains to even stress fractures).

[Blissful]

I'm not trying to kid myself blissful- I know I can't duplicate hiking for weeks in the mountains, but I'm doing what I can. I figure the more I do know, the easier (though only slightly, I'm sure) it will be then. And besides, it's good for me. And I figure, the more excersise I get now while I do have very good nutrition, the better.

Well what you got going for you is youth on your side. You've got muscles and ligaments that are young and raring to be used (not like us over forty). That's why mental is really the key here. You're gonna face all kinds of situations that you are NOT going to like at all - and you will wonder WHY am I out here doing this? This is crazy. And that's where you make or break it. (Again from someone who wanted to quit different times, and even when I got to Maine - yeah, Maine, of all places, 2 weeks shy of the end. It gets tough. So glad for my hubby who kept me going)

[ShelterLeopard]

Thanks blissful- I'm sure it will be hard sometimes, and we'll see how it goes. In the meantime, I'm going to stick to my "training" plan.

[Doctari]

I have done 6 section hikes at various levels of fitness, from no exercise to Moderate exercise, last trip I was fittest, & enjoyed the hike more than any other. I was NOT in any way hiker fit, I had only added a 2 mile walk 3 times a week 3 weeks pre-hike, but I could do more, got trail fit quicker, had an all over better time. This was also a good time to sort out my hiking gear (shoes, kilt, pack, etc) an opportunity which I arrogantly did not use, "Oh, I'll be fine", yea, I paid for that mistake with the worst blisters AND foot pain I have ever had. New, shoes, tested for about 2 miles,,, Yep, I knew better, nope, moleskin didn't help.

[ShelterLeopard]

Yep doctari- I'm using my excersising to break in my new boots. I've had too many blisters already (from my old boots, which stretched out and hated me), and they're too painful and annoying to be allowed to accompany me on my hike. (Although, I've figured out by now how to succesfully get rid of blisters.)

[Spokes]

....... "Oh, I'll be fine", yea, I paid for that mistake with the worst blisters AND foot pain I have ever had. New, shoes, tested for about 2 miles,,, Yep, I knew better, nope, moleskin didn't help.

Enter the Dragon...............

I'm tellin' ya the best way to prevent blisters, besides properly fitted shoes/boots, is to soak them puppies in a strong tea solution twice a day for 30 minutes to toughen 'em up (rant over).

[ShelterLeopard]

Yep- you posted that on one of my other threads, and I definitely plan to do it. Just a stronge black tea solution? Any special temp?