One month earlier I had it all figured out. I was gymming every day, pushing and sitting up every night. I probably should’ve gone for more muscle, maybe put cardio training on the back burner, but cardio is really all I know so I continued it. None of that really matters now, because I threw my routine in the trash and substituted it for unconventional training ways.
My start date is July 1. That’s in six days. I leave for Maine in two days. My fitness level has been full on flushed down the toilet and I struggle to walk up the stairs these days. I’ve been too busy ping-ponging. I have no trouble running up 12 flights of stairs if I thought there was a beer up there – boy, how my lifestyle has changed. There’s a local brewery here with a ping-pong table that’s my absolute weakness. Signal Brewery. Sometimes I bike there so that’s quad-muscle-mountain-training, right? They also have a million people there that are pros and I can never turn down good competition. Honestly, it’s been at least three weeks since I’ve been to the gym, although I’m at a current fiv- day attendance streak at the brewery, ha. Addiction probs? In case you don’t count ping-pong as a sport, I should say I played basketball for basically my entire life. Competitively, I played one semester of OUA and four years of OCAA, which was a blast and a half. I’ll probably go into serious basketball withdrawals out there. So competition is fun, and that’s when I realized I have to give this thing a shot.
This brings me to my point: Why the heck am I doing his?
As a first blog post, this is supposed to be where you get to know me. So far you know how out of shape I am. This means there will be many trials and tribulations that will be struggled through and maybe overcome. I say “maybe” because when people ask my why I’m doing this trail I respond in a way they think I’m going to get eaten by a bear or fall down a hill.
I’ve always been a big-time traveler. The country count is up to 26, featuring myself meandering through foreign cultures experiencing as much as I can, and loving it. The most recent trip brought me to South America, where I figured out hiking is a thing, just so much as drinking beer is in Germany. I was actually trying to get from Peru to the beaches of Ecuador and Colombia, accidentally ending up in a hiking capital known as Patagonia, which also happens to be the complete opposite direction. Now that I’ve been introduced to the hiking world, though, I want to try.
I need to see if I can do it. The end.
The physical and mental challenge is just so great I have to attempt it.
I’m also done school finally, and after five years under the safety of student and jock status I’m left with the decision to find a job, or do this cool thing that I heard about three months ago. So I’ve chosen the latter, and I trained. Then I stopped training, and here I am.
The photo below is actually from a weekend hike in the Adirondacks I did with my friend, Halie. She should definitely be doing the trek instead of me, but sorry, still going. Her gear was waterproof – mine was not. She had a stove – I did not. Her bag was light, mine was heavy – yet she still carried my excess. Now I’ve tried to gear up as best as I could according to what I read, but everything is one bajillion dollars, and how does anyone afford to hike ever? Wow.
Once I calmed down, I found it might be affordable, so thanks to many people, it became possible.
Now, people, here we are, the countdown is on, and if I go to the gym then I may throw off my party routine.
But actually, though, I’m beyond excited. The hiking community rocks, and while I may not be fully ready for this, bring it on.
Knew you had my back. Bring me a vodka pineapple for the end?
HA – right on. Taxes are lower further South anyway!
You’re going to have an amazing time. You know how to do this and you’re doing it for a bigger reason than you know. Safe and happy and all the other times along your path. The downs are powerfully healing teachers, so love it all. You’ll find a way!
Enjoy the adventure Jenni. Looking forward to the blog. See you at Signal in 6 months for a beer and a catch up.
You’ve got this, Jenni! Just keep walking 🙂 See you on the trail very soon!
Glad we got to run into each other. I hope you make it to TN to see your brother. Best of luck!
Was hoping to run into you guys in Monson! Ha hope you enjoyed the rest.
bahahaha that was an excellent read 🙂 happy hiking!