[pct-l] Trail Injuries

[Donna Saufley]

We talked about this in the thru-hiker panel at Trail Fest -- how the
psychology of social attachments to one's group causes issues of various
types.  Trying to keep up with a group is one potential hazard.  Separation
from the group is another, sometimes devastating, form of mental anguish
that sometimes leads to people quitting.

Social bonding is a really powerful thing, and we see "cliques" all the
time, whether the members of the clique realize they are in one or not.
Separated from their clique, they are like fish out of water, and don't
assimilate easily into a new group (perhaps the new group puts out subtle,
unconscious barriers to potential new members). 

On the panel, Basmati emphasized the need to be flexible in this and other
regards.  Don't let the desire to be with a group force you to hike outside
your physical limits, and be open to change should you need to alter who
you're hiking with -- or if you have to hike alone.  

L-Rod 

-----Original Message-----
From: montypct [mailto:montypct at gmail.com] 
Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2008 6:51 PM
To: Donna Saufley; 'Robert W. Freed'; pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Trail Injuries

Darn.  There goes those facts again messing up my macho perceptions.

This last year, I think it was Bill Person (Pooh) said to an injured hiker 
simply, "Were you trying to catch up?"

No matter how much a hiker wants to stick with the group and hike with their

"Trail Family", it can't outweigh the facts of the past.  "Trying to catch 
up" can lead to drugs (Ibuprofen) and destroy dreams (the thru-hike).

Monty


Warner Springs Monty
Pacific Crest Trail 2650 Miles .....Again.....and Again
Sign my Guestbook
www.trailjournals.com/monty
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Donna Saufley" <dsaufley at sprynet.com>
To: "'Robert W. Freed'" <robert at engravingpros.com>; <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2008 6:43 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Trail Injuries


> Well, I hope I can give you an opposite view that is intended to help you
> balance your "push on" perspective.  Mind over matter is important, but
> there are limits and realities to deal with.  Years ago when I was a 
> fitness
> trainer, we always said pain -- real pain, not the "wah, wah, I don't want
> to do this" sort of thing -- is the way your body tells you something is
> wrong.  In my experience it is always best to listen to what your body is
> telling you, even if it's not what you want to hear.
>
> Here at Hiker Heaven I've seen a fair number of hikers who had to quit
> hiking because they didn't listen to what they bodies were telling them,
> which is often slow down and/or stop and rest until injuries heal. 
> Because
> they pressed too hard for too long and didn't take care of themselves, 
> their
> hikes ended. Stress fractures are the usual culprit, but shin splints and
> plantars also take their toll. It's very sad to see this happen.  It's 
> even
> more ironic to see young healthy people who are so full of energy and
> strength but haven't learned how (or why) to pace themselves get sidelined
> with injuries while wizened old timers pass them up, slow but consistent.
> It's the classic case of the tortoise and the hare.
>
> It takes time for the body to adjust to carrying 30 (or more) pounds of
> extra weight, and for all the tendons and ligaments to adjust to walking
> many miles a day. Large muscle groups adapt quickly, but training for
> tendons and ligaments is a much slower process.  You can blow yourself up 
> on
> the first day if you don't take it easy and hike within your limits. The
> first days and weeks should be a gradual process of allowing your body to
> adjust.  There's a price to pay for most when they're too fast out the 
> gate.
>
> So, I hope this helps you.
>
> L-Rod
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
> On Behalf Of Robert W. Freed
> Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2008 12:40 PM
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Subject: [pct-l] Trail Injuries
>
> Injuries are just a excuse your body makes to trick your mind into
> rationalizing giving up.
>
>  At least that's what I'm telling myself this season.
>
>  Robert
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