«Don’t push yourself too soon.»
“The miles will come.”
«Don’t do two consecutive days of double-digit miles to Hot Springs.»
«Listen to your body.»
Every hiker has heard this advice. Especially newbies like me. Especially old newbies like me.
Many well-intentioned, experienced hikers looked at me and said, «You SHOULD take it easy.» (I suppose I should be a little offended by the emphasis on “you,” but ah, life is too short to be offended by others!)
But with 21 days under my belt, here’s what I’ve learned about pacing myself and listening to my body.
Every day of hiking on the AT involves injuries. Daily. No exceptions.
But I have come to call these everyday injuries “microinjuries.” I’m sure I’m not the first person to use the phrase “microinjuries,” but that’s what comes to mind every time I have one.
What is a microinjury?
That pain you feel in your left arch while you walk.
That annoying pull that appears in your right calf one afternoon.
That nervous blow you suddenly feel in your right shoulder blade due to the backpack pulling you.
That pinching sensation in your right Achilles tendon that appears out of nowhere.
That deep pain in your right hip.
I have had every one of these. And each one of them has made me say, «Oh shit, here comes my injury that could take me off the road!» Imagine Achilles tendinitis down the road. Or hip flexor tendinopathy. Your walk could be over.
But not. These are microlesions.
If you feel them, listen to your body and do everything you can to treat them. Microinjuries undergo microhealing every day.
Early Riser, and many of those who have come before me, were right. At the end of each day, be sure to warm up. Recover. (DO NOT skip a single day). Stretch those long muscles. Massage those sensitive areas. Stretch. Then stretch a little more. Then stretch a little more.
And in the morning, when you realize that this incredible human body has micro-healed itself overnight, don’t take it for granted. Stretch in the morning. Then stretch a little more. Lihat juga fdsf6. Then stretch a little more.
That pinching sensation in the Achilles tendon can be prevented with a good stretch of the calf and ankle. That deep hip pain from yesterday can be prevented today with a good leg and hip stretch. That nervous bump in the shoulder can be prevented with a good stretch of the neck and arms.
With so many other things to think about along the way, it’s easy to ignore stretching, warming up, and recovery. But don’t do it.
Microinjuries are going to happen. Daily. And microhealing will happen. If you let it. Every afternoon. The human body is amazing. But listen to your body. And don’t get over these micro-injuries. Or ignore them. They will become injuries that will end the walk. Hear. Pace yourself. Recover. And let the microhealing happen.
This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any products or services you purchase using links in articles or advertisements. The buyer pays the same price they would otherwise pay, and their purchase helps support The Trek’s ongoing goal of bringing you quality backpacking information and advice. Thank you for your support!
For more information, visit the About page of this site.
