8/6/13

yeah so I'm still walking-- about 3 hours a day, 4 laps around Nottoway Park in Vienna, VA. Its a wonderful County park with birds, deer, fox, badger, chipmunks, girls, fat middle age men and women with dogs on long leashes, about 1 mile from my house and about 1 mile in circumference. I would like to know the distance I'm stomping exactly, but the 3 hours gives me a basic idea.  I estimate in 3 hours I walk about  5-6 miles. I took today off- which I feel guilty about but I needed a rest. It gets a little repetitive and uninspiring at times. The trick is to space out a little, but its not easy to get relaxed or spaced out. The first 2 laps are wake up laps, the 3rd is a peal lap, and the 4th is a push and tiring. I've done a few 'doubles' of 8 laps and it takes about 6-7 hours---quite a push--and hard on the head. I dream of AT walking but also remind myself of how disgusting it would be with no shower att eh end of a days hiking with a pack. But thats not the real issue- the real issue is fitness or age. I just dont have the energy to walk more than 6 miles or 7. I'd want to be at least double that on the AT. I think based on my hiking 23 hours a day now that it would be very exhausting and brutal w/o a shower, very gross, to do 20 miles/day on the AT.  I wish I'd done the AT when I was 23 when I was well able to, instead of biking around Montclair and Princeton or hiking around cities in Europe. Despite this I still think its doable if I have the will and determination. I think at my age that positive attitude and will and determination is likely most of the challenge, about 75% of the battle. Walking alot is alot about your mind, it can suppress the aches and pains that are otherwise a factor.   After about  5 months I am stronger, a little slimmer, weighing 213, and less optimistic but I'll keep on keepin' on and see what happens. Maybe I'll get faster and fitter and maybe become fit enough to take on the AT next spring, starting from Bluemont?

5/22/13...nap time

its been so hot, felt like 90 yesterday, its hard to go hiking when its so hot. Its  just about 5pm, before today's 4+ laps around the Park, and I am flogging myself todothis everyday. I canceled the Tarptent Notch order today. I cant pretend to be AT manimal if walking a lousy 4-10 laps  for 3-4 hours wipes me out.

Wish I'd done the AT when I was 22. I had tons of time and I could've managed. I wasnt hypothyroid then. I hadnt had a damaging stroke yet. I was fit and energetic. I didn't have any family or job hold backs. But it hadnt occurred to me to do it.   I wasn't in the mood to launch myself into the apparently lonely green world of the AT.

Instead I bummed around southern Europe for 4 months, aimlessly. Looking back on it I no longer see as that as worthwhile or significant though I certainly did at the time. Who is right- the 23 year old or the 58 year old? Both? Neither?

I see the AT as... a challenge...yet  if psychologically I'm readier for the AT, physically I'm not able. I'm seriously old and unfit. I stopped lap swimming over a year ago, and I cant walk more than 2-4 hours ie 5-10 miles. My mind says 'its hot, bag it, go read,  or take a nap!'  

5/19 need everything.  months o' veggie burgers and granola and peanut butter....

5/10/13  getting some walking in to see if the AT is doable. I am  not ready! I went 8 miles today to Nottoway Park in Vienna in old  runners and my feet hurt...  I saw a little girl trying to throw a baseball she was like a shot putter, a bluebird and a yellow warbler -they hang out by the ballfield right field fence where there is a little mixed field and trees and few humans... I doubt this is going to work-- typing a blog is tedious!! maybe Ill just use a cell...this is a random shot of maura and me in Colorado, RMNP, ~ 2009