The Training Begins
Current mood: determined

A few weeks ago I wrote a blog about a miserable walk from Lisbon to Jay, Maine. It was a lot tougher than I expected, but then, I was in the worst shape I'd been in for over a year. One nice thing about being a hyperactive 28 year old is that your body bounces back quick. Since that walk I've started running again as well as eating right (by "right" I mean lots and often), stretching and refocusing on my goals. I'm starting to feel like my old self again, both mentally and physically, so this Saturday and Sunday I'm going to have another crack at it.

I've scaled my gear down by trading in my big ol' backpack for an 11 oz Mountain Hardware daypack,  forgoing my sleeping bag, swapping my water filter for purification tabs, casting aside my comfy rain jacket in favor of a lightweight poncho and accepting the fact that I will be wearing very dirty, very smelly clothes by Sunday night. Upon arrival in Jay Sunday afternoon I'll hitch a ride to Farmington where I'll rest up for a week of working / training.

The plan for next week is to get in a fifteen mile bike ride each morning before work and a three to five mile run each evening. On Saturday, August 25^th I'll spend my birthday biking 26 miles to my favorite mountain, Tumbledown, followed by a trail run to the top for a dip in Crater Lake and a night under the stars.

Sunday it's off to the garden (an easy six mile bike ride away) for a light day of weeding and harvesting tomatoes. On Monday I'll resume the bike/work/run schedule for another week followed by a 40 mile return hike back to Lisbon. There I will take my seat in front of the 21^st century idiot box and regale the myspace crew with stories from the lighter side of training.

Until then, keep it simple!