Date: 2007-11-21
To: Warner Robins
Miles today: 0.0

Let¢s get physical.Now, let¢s NOT talk about blisters-inflamed things (pick a joint or tendon)-cramps-chaffing-and so on ad nausea. Everybody gets something like that at one time or another and they deal with it in one fashion or other. I heard of a hiker who hobbled to a finish with a broken leg, yet another who was hospitalized with an insect bite. Both returned to the trail. Others choose not to, ¢¦ and that¢s ok.Also, we are NOT talking about enduring pain nor anything associated with self-induced torture. The trail should not be considered a necessary platform for increasing one¢s tolerance for pain. Least-wise not in my opinion. If you really want to see just how ¢much¢ you can take (very macho indeed), you can always sit at the kitchen table and whack yourself with a hammer until you decide you¢ve exceeded that threshold. (there¢s also an associated stupidity threshold here). You don¢t need the trail for that.Instead I want to talk about the thrill of the physical challenge that is there for any person of any age and any gender. I made a conscious effort to extend my physical capabilities. This should not be confused with hiking big miles for the sake of the miles, but rather to search for my limits and strive for personal bests. I am convinced that a seventy-years-young person embraces the same personal satisfaction from successfully climbing Roan in six hours, as I do when I accomplished the task in less time. And my hat¢s off to that person for reaching new ¢highs¢.So, for starters, you gotta forget the idea of mountains being ¢hard.¢ I¢ve been asked time and again what the ¢hardest part¢ of the trip was. For me, it was the mental part. For the physical part ¢ well, can you breathe and walk? Then you can climb mountains. Some fast some slow. But you can do it.On this journey, I hiked fast and carried less weight (my choice ¢ happy hiker or happy camper), but the principle is the same no matter how you hike. Mountains aren¢t hard; some are just steeper, taller, or more physically exerting. Whether climbing Katahdin in Maine or walking the C&O towpath in Maryland, its still one step at a time. Place one foot in front of the other, move forward, repeat until you get where you want to be. As soon as you flush the idea out of your head that you have to go 4 miles an hour straight up a mountain, the mountain stops being hard. Of course, speed and distance are going to be different for each person, but all you have to do is listen to your body. If it¢s strenuous, then go slower. For example, my buddy Nathan had knee problems, so he went slower on the downhills and faster on the uphills. It¢s not the army ¢ a forced march is not required. You get there when you get there. If you feel that you want to make time (or miles), go fast when you can and conserve energy when it¢s tough. Or hike longer hours. Or just be happy not going as far, or get the distance on a flatter day. There are tons of strategies, and they all work. It was always interesting to me to note that quite often at the end of the day, all the hikers who set out that morning, hiked the same number of miles, yet converged at the same shelter that night, even though the hiking styles might be radically different from hiker to hiker. Amazing isn¢t it? Well, not really.My point is this: don¢t worry about the physical stuff, after a few weeks it gets easier anyways, so just stay positive. For me personally, I wanted to grow physically. That is, I had a self-imposed plan to improve my speed and endurance. It¢s a luxury I can afford at twenty-two. However, if you push yourself each day (smartly), the body is capable of truly amazing results, at any age. Drive up Mt. Washington and see if the peak still takes your breath away. It¢s not the same as making the big climb. I poured out sweat like a faucet for the last four months, and it is physically exerting. But that¢s not a bad thing. The downhills don¢t have nearly the sense of accomplishment as the uphills. Love the uphills. Embrace the peaks. The harder the better. Enjoy the hike that I know you want to do today. Get sweaty, I guarantee the views will be better. Best yet, take a family member or a friend.Thanks for reading.   ~ Dr Jekyll (Obie)   ME-GA 07PS:   sore muscles indicate that you challenged your body to do something today that you have not done recently, ¢¦ that could be called growth.