Prehike Training

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#1

According to Jardine, one should aim to have hiked about 500 training miles prior to the real thing. (He is a lunatic though…a great man…but a lunatic) What do/are other people doing to prepare? Maybe we could compare notes??

Ross

Ross

#2

I went on 2 consecutive dayhikes of about 10 miles each. Camped out in the backyard once. That’s it. Then I just took 'er easy the first few weeks on the trail (avg 8 miles per day). I think age and fitness can be significant factors so I’ll tell you that I was 29 and not exactly in great shape when I started (probably 35 pounds overweight).

Of course if you’re planning on setting some land speed records, you may want to do a little more.

Wedding Singer

#3

If you want to do well on the trail, you had best be doing some sort of conditioning. For the past several months I have been focusing on high rep workouts for the lower body and endurance training. My typical workouts include: 3-5 mile run followed by leg presses, calf extensions, hamstring curls, and quad extensions at 3 sets of 20, Followed by a 1 mile cool down run and 30 minutes of stretching exercises. Also, I do back and shoulder exercises which help with carrying my pack. On alternate days, I do hill workouts such as doing repeats up hills and stairs near my house. I do these workouts 3-4 days a week. On my last hiking trip I hammered out some serious miles and the hills were a breeze! Good Luck.

Andy

#4

Thought we should probably train before our 2003 hike, but we never really did. Went on some dayhikes (around 8 miles) and walked around town. Weren’t many hills where we lived, so didn’t get much experience on those. We had backpacked Isle Royale a few times before, and some other trips, too.
So basically, we got in shape on the Trail. Took it easy, planned 8 miles a day for the first week, then up to 10, etc. I pulled/injured my knee in the first week, but worked through it. Knees are the biggest problem you see starting the hike, so be sure to do exercises to strengthen them. Have to say it all worked out in the end, though!

Loony

#5

i did all my training in my nice gym for my 1st attempt. i already knew i was going to hike slow; but i really surprised myself by how good i generally just felt. I took my loaded pack (about 60 lbs) to the gym; did 2 hours on the tread mill at 3.5 miles per hour (they kicked me off after 2 hours cause i was scaring people; they said). then on odd days id do some light weight lifting; on even days i’d walk my dog outside for a mile or 2 with my pack on and go back at night for a couple hours of pick up basketball. the thing that really bothered me the most was altitude. seriously. i had the hardest time the 1st week to 2 getting air. my legs and stuff were fine.

2nd attempt was little or no training. going with more training this attempt cause i like the workout. the gym has lots of single women in high income brackets LOL

Big Boy

#6

Suggest as many day hikes as possible and some overnight weekend trips, all of course with full backpack, which will help prepare you.

All the above advice is good especially about the gym and the single women in high income brackets…Love it…LOL

Walking/jogging is also very good. Legs exercises are also great, remember it is your legs, which will carry you and your pack to Maine…so legs, knees, feet, ankles need to be up to the task, toughened and conditioned.

Suggest first week or so of attempted thru hike should be no more than many 10 miles a day max, maybe even less than that. It takes about 2 to 3 weeks to get into good physical condition, and as many to lose it. So easy does it for the first few weeks. Let your body be the judge, but expect to hurt a little, because you will. “No Pain, No Rain, No Maine.” Also as Arnold and others will tell you “No Pain, No Gain.” Best way to deal with aches and pain and stiffness in muscles is to “walk it out”-----but like I said not too fast. Remember the four too’s will put you out of business if you don’t head them and take it easy: “Too heavy, too fast, too soon, too much”.

See you out there. :cheers

Maintain

#7

i dont buy all the prehike training stuff. i rekon it only serves its purpose if you are grossly overweight, grossly unfit or have zero time in the outdoors.

(one thing i find amazing is the amount of people who attempt a thruhike with zero hiking experience!)

the only prehike training i do, is lots of squats coz i have shonky knees from too much kungfu, jumping off roofs, popped knees from tennis, etc.

oh and i’m trying to put on a little extra weight so i have some spare food for my hike… (i’m only 110-120pounds with no extra baggage to help)… my metab burns off anything i try to add extra so i’m kinda stuck…

Bloody Cactus

#8

I have little experience, been mostly a car camper who might stroll by the stream near the picnic area. Most of what I would call training has been more or less time to shake down equipment, learn skills I don’t have, and shaking the mental issues of solitude and the trudge. Thus said, i hiked 42 miles one week before my 3rd attempt to do GA and it was ok. on the 2nd attempt, I met a guy who said there is nothing you can do to train for the AT. You have to be there. It throws stuff at you that ou can’t anticipate. So now i prepare for the unexpected attitude shifts, the ability to slow down and relax. Stretching before and after a hike. oh and my biggest training asset has been my sudden swell in business, the financial side…save save save, of course i still need 2 or 3 things and maybe some more cold weather gear switches.

burn

#9

Well, there are several objectives.

First, anyting that you do to get your lower body in shape will help you out on the trail. Best is to go backpacking, but walking, running, biking, cross country skiing is all good, and better than sitting on the couch or at a computer.

Second, you need to know your gear. So, it needs to be used. Do some shakedown backpacks, or at least camp out in your backyard.

Third, it helps if your feet are conditioned to your hiking boots. So, the boots need to be worn on a regular boots.

Sure, several people start each year without training and without a clue of what they are getting into. However, the better training you do, the better your first weeks will be.

Peaks

#10

I would be interested to know what percentage of those who did train finish; and what percentage of those who didn’t train finish. I would bet those that trained had less injuries, etc. and, therefore, had a higher success rate.
Maybe.

Kyle

Kyle & Lisa

#11

Beer and burritos are best training. Put on a few extra pounds, and as long as you are tough and determined and not a big fat lazy slob, you should do just fine. No prior experience neccessary either…just Grit and a good attitude.

tam

#12

I’ve never trained for any hike I’ve been on. I sit around at a computer all day, and just jump into 20 mile days with no problems. My biggest problem this past summer on the John Muir Trail was altitude, which left me gasping for the first couple of days, but after that I was fine (until I twisted my knee, but that wasn’t for lack of training, that was from walking on talus).

That said, I do get out and walk a bit on the weekends. No more than 2-5 miles in any week, but at least it keeps my heart pumping.

I should go on that beer and burrito diet. I weigh 140lbs wet, and I can’t afford to lose any of that.

Haiku.

Haiku

#13

There is only one problem with training. Thruhiking is more mental than physical. If you train you think you are in shape, go out fast and hard, you’re injured, hike over. You drink beer and play with your gear, you go out slow, breathe hard and give your legs time to adjust. You can train, just be aware you are not helping yourself all that much.

Blue Jay

#14

advice. It’s sort of what i wanted to hear. The gist being: Don’t do to much, don’t do to little.

Haiku, I hear you re the JMT altitude. It made me laugh more than anything. Set up camp, walk about 50 yards to get water (packless) and come back puffing and panting. It was funny until i got the flu at Donahue pass base camp. That was definately not funny. Cost me 2 days at Vermillion and another 2 camping next to the San Joquin near the muir trail ranch.

Light training, focusing on the lower body and keeping those legs supple seem to be the order of the day. I’m off to Dartmoor this weekend for a 2 day hike. More to get into the wilds than to train. I love the outdoors!!

Cheers again - Ross

Ross

#15

What are you doing to try and put on this extra weight before your hike? I was also thinking that I’d like to get a little extra on me before taking off. I’m afraid I’m going to wither away into nothing before i even reach Katahdin.

C-Giddy

#16

well i’m a vegetarian soo. i cant eay 15 rashers of bacon… i just try to eat MORE. i try to snack all day on things…

even when I wasnt a vegetarian, i could eath 5 chickens and not put on an ounce. so… i dont really know. i each chocolate, hot chips, crisps, biscuits, icecream…

(as long as its veg ok, and contains no sweetner).

i know when i stopped drinking cocacola i dropped kilo’s… but i cant really afford to start scoffing coke by the 2litre bottle…

id loose my teeth before i gained a pound.

when i went to the police force i was 53kg back mmm about 8 years ago? that was… really little for me. it was the only time ive been less than 60kg since i was in my teens… for the last 10+ years, ive been 60kg… never fluctuates…

i also dont drink beer :wink: so cant get a beer belly either!

Bloody Cactus

#17

BC,

Shame about all that because i was gonna suggest eating bacon rolls cooked in beer followed by a glass of coke…3 times a day.

I’m 72kg (just weighed myself), 5ft 7". I’m not fat. I guess you could say I’m built like a rugby player. (So thats why they always dragged me onto the rugby pitch at school??)

Ross

Ross

#18

That’s pretty much what I was thinking of doing…the idea with snacking all day. Come to think of it, why am i not eating right now. Hold on a second…
Okay, i’m back with my friend Little Debbie. So anyway, I also stopped drinking cola and would rather not go back to it…water being my drink of choice now-a-days. With or without the barley and hops.

C-Giddy

#19

I think i’ll actually be meeting you right away this upcoming season. I’m leaving March 1st, and i thought i remembered someone posting that they were leaving with you on that date. Am i remembering that correctly?

C-Giddy

#20

yep. feb29 approach trail. march 1st the proper trail. i’ll be the bald blonde guy wearing a kilt talking with an aussie accent… moaning about the cold :wink:

Bloody Cactus