I've spent that last two years and change sitting. Both literally and figuratively and I want to change that. In 2022 a lot changed for me.
The original plan was that I would have spent the bulk of that summer walking SOBO on the Pacific Crest Trail. I was still dealing with a long-term aphasic episode and recovering from a series of radiosurgeries on my brain so physically the whole PCT was a reach for me. Then, after I'd been compelled my own physical limitations to pear back my thru hiking plans, my family moved to France.
Suffice it to say I'd all but given up on my thru-hiking dreams and two years later I've all but given up on that notion.
Today my wife and I talked about picking that dream back up. The PCT is currently out of reach for me. I don't think I could physically take on a four or five month trek even if all the other pieces to that puzzle were in place. However, I live right next door to the oldest thru-hike in North America.
The Long Trail
The LT spans 272 miles across Vermont and New Hampshire and peak season for this beauty is later summer and early fall. I'm still in the early stages of forming a plan, BUT I am forming a plan to both get myself lazy self back out on trails and take on the challenge of this iconic thru hike.
For the first time in a while I've got a fire in my belly. That's why I'm here, on my blog, for the first time in a long while. Even if I have to section hike this because of my off-trail obligations I feel confident I can do this and maintain the motivation necessary to make this happen.
51
My old rear-end has been making progress. I started this spring at 235 pounds. Holy shit! I can't believe I got that big. Sedentary living at this age catches up with you so quick. My big ass can is now weighing in at 193 and it's been steadily dropping. Yes, I have more work to do. But I can do the work and now that I have a target in mind reaching ideal means long days won't suck so much on my knees and hips.
That said, I'm still half-a-century years old (*rounding down). Added to this total are all the health problems , pardon me, "challenges" I've accumulated over the years.
I know that relative to some of my peers I know I'm a) a "young pup" and b) experiencing fabulous health. But lets acknowledge the elephant in the room -- I need a training plan, especially if I'm going to expect to return to my previous pacing and distance targets.
https://www.strava.com/activities/11778322187
Here is Day Zero and a benchmark I can repeat so I can show my progress. I've got three months to get my thru-hike on. Giddy-up, let's do this cowboys and girls.
