[pct-l] Pre-training

[CWillett at pierce.ctc.edu (Chris Willett)]

I was in fairly decent shape when I showed up for the PCT in 2003.  I had started running a few years before and think that the running did help me alot.  The primary benefit (other than making the first few weeks easy) was from a generally tough body.  I didn't suffer any injuries during my hike, even though I tended to hike farther each day and took fewer zero days than most hikers.   I just didn't need the time off and was happier to be in the hills than in a town.  A few exceptions here.  This isn't something you can build up over a month or two.  Still, building up general endurance and leg strength will be a benefit.

I started by trying to run 1.5 miles 3 times a week.  I say try because I didn't actually make it without walking for several weeks.  Eventually, I got to where I could run this in 15 minutes.  I increased over the next few months to running 3 miles, although it took me some time to drop down to 30 minutes.  A year goes by and I'm running 5.1 miles in about 45 minutes.  Note that these are not blazingly fast times.  I'm out for a lope.  Last year it was 6.4 miles, four times a week.  This year, I've moved to the Pacific Northwest and am spending more time indoors exercising, which means an inclined treadmill.  How dull.

Suge

---------------------------
Christopher Willett
cwillett@pierce.ctc.edu
Pierce College
9401 Farwest Drive SW.
Lakewood, WA. 98498-1999

> ----------
> From: 	pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net on behalf of Blake Boles
> Sent: 	Tuesday, October 26, 2004 10:01 PM
> To: 	pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
> Subject: 	[pct-l] Pre-training
> 
> Can some old-time PCT thru-hikers give me advice on pre-training for the 
> hike? 
> 
> Karen Berger suggested in her book that the best way to prepare for a 
> long hike is to go on long hikes (of course), but if your schedule 
> doesn't allow that, any form of cardiovascular exercise will do. 
> 
> What have you guys 'n' gals done to train for the thru-hike, how much, 
> how long, and when did you start?
> _______________________________________________
> pct-l mailing list
> pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
> unsubscribe or change options:
> http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
> 
>