contessa20

I frequently need to shake things up or I get restless and bored really easily. I like new things; challenges. I like having something that I can hyper-focus on.

Yesterday I decided to sign up for the 14-mile Hike Across Delaware, which will take place on November 1, 2009. I've done a LOT of walking in my day but never any really serious hiking and not quite 14 miles in one fell swoop. I think the most I've done was an 8 mile hike around the lake path a few years ago.

Last night I sat down and hammered out a bit of a training plan for the next 4 months to get me prepared for the hike. I think if I follow this plan I'll be MORE than ready to hit it in November.

Goal - 14 mile Hike Across DE
Deadline - Sunday, November 1, 2009
Official Training Start Date - Wednesday, July 1, 2009 (because I like nice round numbers, however, for all intents and purposes this starts TODAY )
Available Training Time - 4 months (130 days)
Training Mileage Goal - 500 miles

This is my starting plan.

Total Body Weight Training - 2 X week
Pilates - 1 X week
Walking - 7 X week (2 weighted hiking, 5 regular walking with 1 - 2 days being very relaxed in pace)
Hiking (with weighted pack) - 2 X week (1 long, 1 moderate)

Rebounding, kickboxing, belly-dancing, bike riding and other cross-training exercises - as the mood strikes ;)

Eventually I'll up my weekly hikes to include more days, more hills, more weight in the pack, longer distance etc. However, this is my starting point. I want to get in 500 training miles before the 14-mile hike in November. That averages out to be about 4 miles per day, however, with some days being long hikes I'll be able to fluctuate even lower on the really easy days.

Realistically speaking, as a stay-at-home mom who doesn't drive (and has a 10 yr. old and no reliable babysitter) the twice weekly hikes are going to be tough to fit in. However, I have a pretty high-end treadmill and can do distance walking including hills on there. Easy peasy. It's not like getting out there on a real trail, I know that, but it'll have to suffice for a good majority of the time. I'm going to try to get out on a real trail either at the county park or one of the state parks at least once a week though. We have TONS of really great hiking trails in the state parks here, it's just getting there that takes a bit of forethought given that I don't drive.

Onward! :)