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?