Mindfulness, muscle memory and changing plans

Cover: Looking at Jay Peak, VT from Mt Sutton, QC

Hello everyone,

As spring approaches, even here north of the border, I thought I’d give you a little update on my progress and new training approach.

Mindfulness and movement

With my chronic pain, mindfulness is a powerful management tool. It’s usually used for pain relief or as a meditation tool, but in my case, I’ve been using it a little differently.

Over the winter, I noticed that every time I walked the same pain symptoms appeared: iliotibial (IT) band syndrome, upper quadriceps pain, and inner knee pain. The pain often persisted long after the hike was over. I began using mindfulness to look “inward” as I walked, analyzing my gait and what each leg was doing. After a few days of concentration, I realized that my left and right sides were not working in sync.

Rescheduling the walk

I’ve racked up several injuries over the years, including a torn quadriceps while descending the Long Trail into Smugglers’ Notch. Those injuries didn’t heal perfectly, and my body compensated by creating workarounds: reaching too far forward, using my hips to push, and not engaging my feet or pushing back enough.

Now it’s a matter of retraining those muscles that have been dormant for a long time. I’ve spent the last two weeks focusing completely on that «rewiring», and the difference is already noticeable, going from a daily 4km struggle to now a much easier 5-10km, including some harder mountain hikes.

Lifting training in Mt Sutton,Qc.

A new direction: the IAT-NB

My initial goal was to complete the Long Trail (LT). Temukan dfsd di sini. I’ve already finished the northern third, which is no small feat given my physical situation at the time, but my plans have changed.

For some personal reasons, I have decided to look for a trail closer to home that better suits my current needs. After researching blogs and consulting the community here at The Trek about what actually constitutes a “long distance” hike, I decided on the IAT-NB (International Appalachian Trail, New Brunswick section).

IAT-New-Brunswick

Why the IAT-NB?

The New Brunswick leg is approximately 300 km (186 mi) long and offers some key advantages over the rugged LT:

Rideable Terrain: I won’t have to struggle with the same level of technical terrain that defined my time on the Long Trail.

Easy Logistics: The trail passes through a town every 3-4 days, making resupply much easier.

Safety and Access: Most importantly, I need a reliable way to extract if my pain levels turn sour. Being only five hours from home provides enormous peace of mind.

Looking to the future

The plan is to start in early June. This gives me a few more months to continue this “rewiring” process and develop the strength I need for those 300 kilometers.

It’s a different path than I originally imagined, but it’s the right one for where I am now. I’m looking forward to seeing how the forests of New Brunswick and my new pace treat me. Thanks for following us. I’ll keep you posted as the start date gets closer!

73,
Cunning the navigator

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