[pct-l] Prehike Exercise

[Hiker97 at aol.com]

As  you know prehike planning and exercise is very important.  I am in 
training  for my 2012 PCT thru hike and would like to pass along some training  tips.
 
1.   Begin by standing on a comfortable surface where you have plenty of room 
at each  side.  With  a 5-lb. potato sack in each hand, extend your arms 
straight out from your  sides, & hold them there as long as you  can.
 
Try  to reach a full minute, & then relax.  Then start walking slowly  
increasing your distance up to 5 miles.

2.   Each day you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit 
longer  and walk a little longer.  

3.   After a couple weeks, move up to 10-lb. potato sacks.   

4.   Then try 50-lb. potato sacks.  

5.  Then eventually try to get  to where you can lift a 100-lb. potato sack 
in each hand, & hold your  arms straight - I'm  at this level and feel great. 



After  you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each of the  sacks.  
---------------------------------------------------------------
 
Cheers,  Switchback the Trail Pirate, Stinker the Trail Skunk, and Piney the 
Hybrid Car  PCT Support Vehicle
 



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