[pct-l] Training PCT

[Scott Williams]

Walk, walk and walk some more, as much as your injury will let you.  I
agree with Gary, doing the activity itself is the best way to strengthen
the muscles you'll need.  Start slowly but be consistent.  Do it a lot.  I
try to walk somewhere nearly every day.  Mostly I just like it, and I sleep
so much better when I've gotten a good walk, it's kind of daily
biofeedback.  If I don't sleep well, it's usually when I've done nothing
physical the day before.

Let your legs and your body be your trainer.  If it hurts, don't do it.  Do
only as much as you can without pain and then keep increasing your effort.
 With an injury such as yours, starting now is not too early.  It may even
help in the healing, who knows.  Hike with a light pack and over time,
start to add in some hills, and then some weight to the pack.  When you
can, find some even tougher hills, to keep slowly increasing the difficulty
level without hurting yourself.

I met Helen Thayer at the Dinsmore's in WA a few years back.  She's the
first woman to solo trek to the North Pole and has many other wonderful
adventures to her credit.  You'll find her books in any REI.  She was 73
when I met her and her husband Bill was 85 years old.  They had just
returned from a 900 mile (if my memory serves right, and it often doesn't)
trek across the Sahara with camels.  Helen and Bill both walked like young
people!  They blew me away.  I asked her what her secret was and what she
could share with others and she told me that people need a goal, (you've
got that) and then they have to work persistently toward accomplishing that
goal.  They trained regularly in the Cascades where they live, and their
goal was to always best their timed hikes on the same trail.  She chuckled
and winked and said so far they had been able to do it.  Just some of the
wonderful folks there to meet on trail.

Good luck in making it to Canada!  You're on your way.

Shroomer