Our training really started much earlier, but we approached it with much more seriousness once we reached Nedra's place in Huntsville. We had tried to walk as much as possible, yet I think the walks were just reminding our bodies that they were made for something other than sitting rather than actual making progress towards a higher level of fitness. Once we got settled in, it seemed that the clock was actually moving faster and we could see that it wasn't going to be long before we were set to be on the trail.
Pam used a gift from her dad to contract with Brandi down at Hard Body Studios to create and lead us through a work out plan that would at the very least give us a hedge against immediate injury on the trail. Brandi and Cory, the really nice guy who guided us through most of our workouts, were the only two I saw there with hard bodies and we were not going to join them in six weeks. By the time the first set of sessions were over, we knew that we were going to have to get another set. We had progressed only far enough to know that we had a ways to go to be even slightly in shape enough to not get hurt just stepping on the trail. After two sets, 12 weeks, at two sessions a week, plus a couple of sessions on our own each week, we feel stronger. Not strong, per se, but stronger. We haven't lost any weight to speak of, which can be discouraging. We're hoping that the muscle is heavier than fat theory is the cause.
In addition to the workouts, we walked--a lot. We started with no weight, just a day pack with sandwiches and water, to full weighted packs with a full load of food. We walked to the grocery. Not having a car made sure that we weren't tempted on the hot days to drive. Our first 10 miler with full packs felt like we were going to need a least a week of rest to recover. Today's 8-miler with full packs was made at 25-minute miles, which included a bathroom break at HomeDepot and some time trying to convince some horses that apples are a treat. Have you ever heard of horses not eagerly going after apples? We joined the Lone Star Hiking Club and got a few hikes in with them; two with full packs. We did an overnighter. Then we did a multi-day backpack.
We are as ready as we are going to be, as we board the bus in the morning and are on the trail in less than seven days. Away we go!
