Originally Posted by
RockDoc
Duration and intensity are trade-offs. You can go longer, happily, if you take it easy. But hard charging hikes are rough on you physically and mentally, especially if you are not young. I think it's foolish and stupid to commit to a very long hike and then be stuck with it, sort of like being in jail (as a PCT thru hiker put it to me one day).
I've stopped doing running events that went on after I wanted to stop (I used to run ultramarathons; lately half marathons are enough). Same thing with hiking. I spent a month in Virginia a few years ago, and that was plenty. More recently I did a hard 10 day section of the PCT, and got my fill no question.
So the question is, how much is enough for you to get your fill. Doing any more than that is optional IMO.
(Many hiker do way way too much and it shows in their personality, all they will discuss is how many more miles, and what they are going to eat next).