Keeping hiker fit in the south

[Wyoming]

Why dont more train by running?

It's too hard.

Running would be good cross training for backpacking, but one uses the muscles very differently when running as compared to backpacking.

Hiking with a pack in soft sand would also seem to be excellent cross training, but once again not a substitute for going up and down steep inclines.

By the way a great therapy for tender knees from either backpacking or running is swimming. Totally no impact but if you emphasize the legs when swimming it really helps tighten up the ligaments and tendons. It also makes those river fords a little less daunting if you know you can swim the thing if you fall in and have to.

[jilleann]

WOW!!! thanks for the idea, I live in Naples, Florida. Have been worried that just my plain workouts on the treadmill and elliptical with a full backpack is not enough for the mountains that i will encounter. Now i have a new workout route. Thank you again..

[Goatgas]

There is a park near Tampa that has a lot of deep sink holes with hiking trails. Forgot the name at the moment. It would be a good spot I'm thinking.

[Jake2c]

I have the same problem, live in FL near the beach. I am getting ready for a thru hike and walking 4 times a week. In the military we use a pack on the beach in boots and it works very well. Stairs are good. Running for me is counter productive. I used to run marathons many years ago and found in the long run, it was hard on my knees. I worry about being in good enough shape when I start because I am older but we shall see how it goes. Wish you luck, and good health.

[MuddyWaters]

Running will condition bones and tendons to repetitive higher stresses that just hiking doesnt. It helps you avoid tendonitis and stress fractures by being better conditioned. On top of that, it puts you in good cardiovascular shape.

Mix it with resistance training, and your covered pretty well

[Uncle Joe]

There is a park near Tampa that has a lot of deep sink holes with hiking trails. Forgot the name at the moment. It would be a good spot I'm thinking.

Sounds like Alafia.

[Back on the trail]

LNJ - we have similar lives right now. My daughter is in softball and soccer. I drop her off at practice and instead of watching her practice I walk around the field. I stay in the high grass as much as possible. I started at about 2 1/2 miles in 1 1/2 hours and got up to walking 5 miles in the same 1 1/2 hours by the end of the season. We have the time we just need to rethink our use. That work out made my NJ state hike possible and coming down of high point I made it to Gren anderson in one day. Soft sand- always walking in the soft sand with 32 lbs in the pack.

[Pedaling Fool]

...Running for me is counter productive. I used to run marathons many years ago and found in the long run, it was hard on my knees. I worry about being in good enough shape when I start because I am older but we shall see how it goes. Wish you luck, and good health.

If you have problems running then you really should look at the why, because hiking downhills are every bit as tough on the knees as running, if not more so.

I have heard people say that they use hiking poles to reduce knee pain, but I've also heard many complain about the pains they start to feel in their wrists, elbows and shoulders from relying too much on the poles. My point being that regardless it seems like we can all benefit from weight training to prepare our bodies for the rigors of hiking, not to mention the rigors of aging.

[MuddyWaters]

If you have problems running then you really should look at the why, because hiking downhills are every bit as tough on the knees as running, if not more so.

Bingo

Poles do help go slower and more gently, once you learn the hard way that it's a good idea

[Jake2c]

If you have problems running then you really should look at the why, because hiking downhills are every bit as tough on the knees as running, if not more so.

I have heard people say that they use hiking poles to reduce knee pain, but I've also heard many complain about the pains they start to feel in their wrists, elbows and shoulders from relying too much on the poles. My point being that regardless it seems like we can all benefit from weight training to prepare our bodies for the rigors of hiking, not to mention the rigors of aging.

I have looked into it. After running for many years competitively as well as participating in a high impact sport I just damaged a number of things. If I had run recreationally or to stay in shape maybe now it would be different, but after knee surgery among other things that are private, it was on the medical communities advice that I stop running, just too much pounding and there are many aerobic exercises that are just as good. Instead they recommended swimming and biking which I did much of. Going down hill is an issue and I picked my trekking poles with that in mind. I know . . . it was tough for me to finally come to realize that running may not be the best exercise for me too. At this point I don't think running is required to be successful on the AT. If I'm wrong I guess I will find out soon enough.

[Jake2c]

Oh, I should have added that I completely agree with weight training. That improves bone density among many other things. Thanks.

[Pedaling Fool]

I have looked into it. After running for many years competitively as well as participating in a high impact sport I just damaged a number of things. If I had run recreationally or to stay in shape maybe now it would be different, but after knee surgery among other things that are private, it was on the medical communities advice that I stop running, just too much pounding and there are many aerobic exercises that are just as good. Instead they recommended swimming and biking which I did much of. Going down hill is an issue and I picked my trekking poles with that in mind. I know . . . it was tough for me to finally come to realize that running may not be the best exercise for me too. At this point I don't think running is required to be successful on the AT. If I'm wrong I guess I will find out soon enough.

"...participating in a high impact sport..." what exactly does that mean?

I'm not trying to push running on you or anyone, nor am I saying that, "...running is required to be successful on the AT."

I'm just saying that it's a myth that running for years will inevitably lead to injuries that will require one to stop running. This myth is so common and it's just one of my pet peeves to counter myths.

That's not to say that some people have injured themselves for life from running, but whatever the reason it was not as simple as pounding; anyone that has run for any amount of time knows that the jarring you feel in the beginning is mostly from a weak frame and poor running form. Once one attains a higher level of physical conditioning and more experience you actually don't feel the pounding and actually feel more like you're gliding. That's not to say there is NO impact, but the body has very much the ability to withstand this impact, we've evolved that way and it's best to not shy away from impact, rather to confront it and condition yourself for it, that is the nature of nature.

Like I said, I don't care if you never run again, but if you do have some medical condition where impact is a major concern, than (as I said before) you really need to look at the why and make sure you do something to prepare for the AT, because hiking the AT ain't low impact. You can remove stress from your knees by using poles, but that will only add that stress to another location. You ain't getting any younger...

[Pedaling Fool]

I've noticed a few Florida hikers here, but some don't list what part of Florida. Just in case any of you live near the Jacksonville area this is for you...

I just heard about a really good trail running route located here. I haven't checked it out yet, been too busy, but hope to get out there over the weekend....

http://www.nps.gov/timu/planyourvisi...seveltarea.htm

http://www.usatf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=918

This is what 1st Place Sports says about it:

This trail run starts at the Roosevelt Area trail head (off of Mt Pleasant Rd.) and winds through three parks(Roosevelt Area, Spanish Pond, & Fort Caroline) and has the steepest hills, roughest trails and best natural views in Jax. You will not be able to follow it as mapped, you'll probably get lost (temporarily), but you'll have a great time if you enjoy this kind of running. Definitely a run for the cooler months in FL.



Here's a little history of the park and Willie Browne, kind of like a mini Baxter State Park of NE Florida, kind of cool http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2010-12-25/story/willie-brownes-enduring-gift-jacksonville-nature


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kdM1VZcwLw

[Dogwood]

Ok, so I live in one of the least hilly spots in the country. Before my last hike I was training at a 4 - 5 miles in a
1 1/2 hr pace; three times a week. It served me well as I got from High Point to Gren Anderson in one day.

But I just went on a 5.3 mile hike on the Florida beach soft sand in my FULL pack and hiking boots and found my new training spot. This is really just a post to remind us all no matter where we are, think outside the box and you can find great hiking training area.

Great attitude! Hiking 4-5 miles on deep beach sand with a loaded pack is good training for hiking! It's hard! Less risk of injury compared to high impact exercising too especially if you're just starting getting into shape for hiking. Mix in some walks and steps and pool work(just walking in water with weights can be beneficial) you'll likely being better shape than the avg AT thru-hiker.

[Jake2c]

"...participating in a high impact sport..." what exactly does that mean?

I'm not trying to push running on you or anyone, nor am I saying that, "...running is required to be successful on the AT."

I'm just saying that it's a myth that running for years will inevitably lead to injuries that will require one to stop running. This myth is so common and it's just one of my pet peeves to counter myths.

That's not to say that some people have injured themselves for life from running, but whatever the reason it was not as simple as pounding; anyone that has run for any amount of time knows that the jarring you feel in the beginning is mostly from a weak frame and poor running form. Once one attains a higher level of physical conditioning and more experience you actually don't feel the pounding and actually feel more like you're gliding. That's not to say there is NO impact, but the body has very much the ability to withstand this impact, we've evolved that way and it's best to not shy away from impact, rather to confront it and condition yourself for it, that is the nature of nature.

Like I said, I don't care if you never run again, but if you do have some medical condition where impact is a major concern, than (as I said before) you really need to look at the why and make sure you do something to prepare for the AT, because hiking the AT ain't low impact. You can remove stress from your knees by using poles, but that will only add that stress to another location. You ain't getting any younger...

Hmmm, not really sure what the issue is here. I didn't think I was starting a dust up. All I said was "for me running was counterproductive", it was a personal assessment. I am not trying to get into a debate on the pluses and minuses of running. I used to run, unfortunately for me, the myth affects me. To clarify, my high impact sport was competitive Shotokan Karate in the 70s and early 80s when there were no weight classes and kicking the legs and knees was quite acceptable. I competed at a fairly high level so people were hitting with intention hence the "high impact". There are of course other high impact sports. In any case, my intention is to try and get ready for the AT. All I was hoping to gain by entering into this tread was see if I might read a few imagintive ways to do that in a flat state that I could use. Unfortunately, as noted, I am not getting any younger, but then on the plus side, there is only one option I know of to getting older.

[theoilman]

In Tallahassee, FL the biggest hill to train on is the state capital building, 22 floors of stairway, between 225 and 250 feet of "elevation gain". Carrying a full pack is quite a problem because of going through security, but a day pack with water bottles (carry in empty and fill after security). 15 to 20 lbs and 4 trips in an hour. Most of the time I take the stairs down, occasionally I'll take the elevator down.

How little hill for normal walking? I did 3 1/2 miles this morning and Mr. Garmin said I only did 80 feet of elevation gain.

In Florida we have to get creative to train.

[Pedaling Fool]

Hmmm, not really sure what the issue is here. I didn't think I was starting a dust up. All I said was "for me running was counterproductive", it was a personal assessment. I am not trying to get into a debate on the pluses and minuses of running. I used to run, unfortunately for me, the myth affects me. To clarify, my high impact sport was competitive Shotokan Karate in the 70s and early 80s when there were no weight classes and kicking the legs and knees was quite acceptable. I competed at a fairly high level so people were hitting with intention hence the "high impact". There are of course other high impact sports. In any case, my intention is to try and get ready for the AT. All I was hoping to gain by entering into this tread was see if I might read a few imagintive ways to do that in a flat state that I could use. Unfortunately, as noted, I am not getting any younger, but then on the plus side, there is only one option I know of to getting older.

Goju karate myself. I've done my fair share of shin blocks/knocking, without pads of course