I’m getting ready to get back out on the court after my leg injury. We don’t know what the injury was yet, but it seems likely that he has leg cramps. People ask me if I’m worried about bears, people, giardiasis, and many other things. I really only have one fear about the road: not finishing. So I made some changes to minimize the chances of re-injuring myself.
Managing my body
Most physical therapy advice I found suggests not increasing more than 10% per week. I can’t find where this number came from and I suspect that, like drinking 8 glasses of water a day, it’s just a random number that people keep repeating. But slow increases of a certain amount seem reasonable. While I plan to get back to running 20+ miles a day, starting around 10 miles a day and building up slowly should help. Additionally, my stretching routine neglected the tops of my feet and the fronts of my shins. I added elements to cover those areas and changed a section that unnecessarily burdened them. Lastly, I had to address my shoes. At 100 miles, my original shoes caused noticeable overpronation. The inner sole had collapsed enough to cause my feet to visibly lean at an angle, even while standing still. I bought a different brand that doesn’t alter my gait.
Cutting weight
The only big gain available would have been my backpack. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get a lighter backpack in the time I had, despite my attempts. However, through many small changes, I managed to shave almost a pound off my backpack. The full list of new equipment is here, but here’s what I changed:
- First Aid Kit – Reduce half an ounce when repackaging
- Tums: I used to wear them a lot when I walked, so I carried too many
- TP – Carry half
- Garbage bag: replaced with UL garbage bag
- Cup – Cut
- ISO: changed to 4 oz can
- Wet Wipes – Cut
- Rain Gear: jacket replaced with lighter poncho
In a week, my trip resumes.
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