[pct-l] speed hiking, zero days and crawling along slowly

[Brick Robbins]

On Dec 2, 2007 5:48 AM, g l <gailpl2003 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> But one thing I've professed since my thru in '91, and that gets overlooked
> time and time again is this:  If you carry a 20lb pack, your body adjusts to
> a 20lb pack.  If you carry a 45lb pack your body adjusts to THAT!!!  Over
> the course of a thru, I believe the hiker carrying the heavier pack will be
> stronger than the one carrying the lighter pack.

Yes, and No.

I've been running for a long time, and I've watched new runners come
into the sports. Paying attention to their advances, and their
injuries, it seems to me that the following "fitness" progress happens

First 4-6 weeks, increase in cardio/pulmonary fitness.
6 weeks-1year increase in muscle fitness
1.5 year-2.5 years increase in connective tissue fitness

This progression leads to predictable types of injuries among newbie
runners, depending on how long they've been running.

I think the same applies to hikers, so while muscles of the heavy
weight pack hiker may be stronger, during the time frame of a thru
hike, the heavier weight pack is much more likely to cause
knee/hip/ankle problems.

Also I don't think the "heavier makes stronger" will work unless
adequate rest days are taken. Rest is an essential part of any
training program, and most Thrus don't take enough rest to recover
from serious stress - that is why lighter loads, which lead to reduced
body stress, reduce injury.

> I will admit to this:  When I finished my thru, it took 2 YEARS for my knees
> to get back to normal.  In other words, for 2 years, every time I bent down
> at the knees, they would hurt like crazy.  Then it went away.

It looks like the "rest of your story" supports what I was getting at.

HYOH

Brick