Training

[imike]

Training... a specific focus to improve performance out on the trails... is not a necessary component for enjoying hours out and about. Yet, if there is the time and motivation, training can serve to make trails hours both more enjoyable and more adventurous. Expanding your daily capacity from ten miles with 3,000' of climbing, to 25 miles with 6,000' of climbing opens up your range of routes to include most anything available on the standard routes in the USA. Redoubling that effort to boost it on up to a 50 mile day with 20,000' of climbing might be a bit too much... or, just the thing to rejuvenate your motivation.

I recall looking at this site back in 2008 and noting the "norm" for the past years relative to annual mileages and elevation gains. It struck me then as a bit too low. I logged an interesting year in 2009 leading in to my 60th B'day... and topped out a bit over 500,000 AEG... and that level struck me as a nice level that could include a moderate level of training mixed into the weeks of pure fun hiking. It provided a great day out on Mt. Whitney, making that climb easy. Since that year the upper levels of HAZ elevation postings have continued to climb. I have to think that the adjusted element was an awareness of the benefit of adding an attitude of training efforts mixed into the weekly schedule.

The optimum level is certainly an individual thing... conscious training is not necessary to enjoy getting out the door.

If improved and enhanced performance is desired, what is the better approach?

A very simple pattern is to log progressively higher weekly and monthly Accumulated Elevation Gains. Mileage could be the increased standard, but mileage alone, unless logged at higher speeds, may not score substantial improvements in performance levels. Oddly enough, ever increasing elevation totals, even if logged at slow paced hiking, will yield increased performance levels. If you hike steep enough trails, and hike them often enough, you will get really good.

The specific patterns of training will always be dictated by the goals desired... and the time available to dedicate towards those goals. Over the decades I've trained a variety of athletes... originally in road bike racing, then in ultra distance boating, back to biking for ultra- endurance events... then on the play side, some ultra distance running and trail events. Some aspects are common to all efforts... some aspects are specific to both the event and the athlete.

I would have to say the greatest error across the board is training too hard too soon... slow and easy is always good, at least until a solid base is laid. From there, it gets into very specific aspects to score the proper progressive improvements. Failure of effort is part of the process... it is just one aspect of the learning/improvement curve.

As I look forward into the coming year (as I always do about this time of year) I wonder what potentials lie ahead for me here in my mid 60's. I think about the 20,000' day. I wonder about a 200,000' month. I reflect on a 1,000,000' year. I can see the ease and difficulty posed by all of those, and wonder about the limits of aging on hitting any or all of those goals.

I realize that the only possible way to play at those levels, for me, is by having training as a major aspect of the hiking year. That raises the question of will it be as much fun as not having the emphasis? It will be pure fun once done... it always feels so good when you quit hitting yourself with a hammer. And, at my age, to have addressed the question of potentials with the over the top challenges will be in itself both fun and satisfying.

All hours out on trail are great hours... and, if I can give the young folk a little nudge towards ever higher standards, well, that should be a good thing... right?

Guess I'd better get out the door and get ready for 2013...

mj

[imike]

Wow... just noticed today marks my 4th anniversary on this site... time flies when you're having fun!!

[Jim]

Hey, I wasn't going to say anything. I even made a nice caption for my pic of you. ;) As we discussed, 1 of your thoughts is very doable, one probably doable, and 1 would be almost painful and probably not any fun at all. In regard to training, I wand to get back to where I was in September of 2011, just before I moved from Flagstaff to Kayenta, and was able to hike fairly tough hikes regularly and easily. Not just to do them and be in shape, but to do some Organ Needles and a C2C, and maybe another MR in a day (though in summer) next year. I think Ortega will be the most frequently used for me, and once the BBQ set up is there, I can carry a nice lunch. For a weekly goal, I aspire to return to a 5000' weekly average, and just mentioning my personal goal, I want to top back over 200,000' of AEG next year.

[imike]

thought about it... decided to forego the ego aspect in trade for potential dialogue... though I doubt there will be any. It is more a "doing" type of thing. Now, I can't wait for the new year to start!

[Jim]

Well, I can wait, but I want to "get in shape" by months end, partly for Organ Needle, and partly because I know that means I top 150,000' for the year.

[imike]

it will be very interesting to get your response and thoughts on the Needle hike...

[RedRoxx44]

Well, I am in the worst shape I've been in a while I feel, and am getting ready to tackle part of the LMT in the Inyo's from Saline Valley, with lots of elevation gain, poor trail conditions and possibly snow in higher elevations. Maybe I'll just chicken out and stay low. But that's the plan and we'll see if it happens--gotta dig out my Yaktrax--