[pct-l] Trail Injuries

[montypct]

Darn.  There goes those facts again messing up my macho perceptions.

This last year, I think it was Bill Person (Pooh) said to an injured hiker 
simply, "Were you trying to catch up?"

No matter how much a hiker wants to stick with the group and hike with their 
"Trail Family", it can't outweigh the facts of the past.  "Trying to catch 
up" can lead to drugs (Ibuprofen) and destroy dreams (the thru-hike).

Monty


Warner Springs Monty
Pacific Crest Trail 2650 Miles .....Again.....and Again
Sign my Guestbook
www.trailjournals.com/monty
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Donna Saufley" <dsaufley at sprynet.com>
To: "'Robert W. Freed'" <robert at engravingpros.com>; <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2008 6:43 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Trail Injuries


> Well, I hope I can give you an opposite view that is intended to help you
> balance your "push on" perspective.  Mind over matter is important, but
> there are limits and realities to deal with.  Years ago when I was a 
> fitness
> trainer, we always said pain -- real pain, not the "wah, wah, I don't want
> to do this" sort of thing -- is the way your body tells you something is
> wrong.  In my experience it is always best to listen to what your body is
> telling you, even if it's not what you want to hear.
>
> Here at Hiker Heaven I've seen a fair number of hikers who had to quit
> hiking because they didn't listen to what they bodies were telling them,
> which is often slow down and/or stop and rest until injuries heal. 
> Because
> they pressed too hard for too long and didn't take care of themselves, 
> their
> hikes ended. Stress fractures are the usual culprit, but shin splints and
> plantars also take their toll. It's very sad to see this happen.  It's 
> even
> more ironic to see young healthy people who are so full of energy and
> strength but haven't learned how (or why) to pace themselves get sidelined
> with injuries while wizened old timers pass them up, slow but consistent.
> It's the classic case of the tortoise and the hare.
>
> It takes time for the body to adjust to carrying 30 (or more) pounds of
> extra weight, and for all the tendons and ligaments to adjust to walking
> many miles a day. Large muscle groups adapt quickly, but training for
> tendons and ligaments is a much slower process.  You can blow yourself up 
> on
> the first day if you don't take it easy and hike within your limits. The
> first days and weeks should be a gradual process of allowing your body to
> adjust.  There's a price to pay for most when they're too fast out the 
> gate.
>
> So, I hope this helps you.
>
> L-Rod
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
> On Behalf Of Robert W. Freed
> Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2008 12:40 PM
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Subject: [pct-l] Trail Injuries
>
> Injuries are just a excuse your body makes to trick your mind into
> rationalizing giving up.
>
>  At least that's what I'm telling myself this season.
>
>  Robert
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