Shikoku88 Training

I have started training for the Shikoku 88 Temples trip.  And I have also rescheduled it for October, to give myself more training time… and better weather in Japan!

My training is very simple:  this week I am walking 2 hours a day, 5-6 days a week.   Each week, I will increase the walks by .5 hours….  working my way up to 7 hour a day walks in mid-September.   I’ll then do a 2 week “taper”… where I drastically cut the mileage prior to the actual trip.   I’m training with the mindset of doing an average of 20 miles a day during the actual pilgrimage hike.

So far, it’s going very well.    On Saturday I walked for 3.5 hours around San Francisco.  Yesterday (Sunday) I walked 2.5 hours.  And today I walked 2 hours.   The great news… my legs got a bit tired at the end of the walk on Saturday… but otherwise I’ve felt fine.  In fact, I’ve felt mentally and physically invigorated.  I’m reminded what a cure-all outdoor activity is for me.   The worst possible thing for me, mentally and physically, is to be stuck inside for hours and hours every day… sitting on my butt.

In addition to the above, I’m also doing a “300″ workout 2-3 times a week.  This consists of Turkish Get-ups,  Floor Wipers,  Push ups,  Modified Pull-ups,  Jump Squats, and Dumbbell Clean & Presses.   This helps to strengthen my core and major muscles.

However, the walks are obviously the main part of the training.  And I’m already experiencing the benefits of this “slow burn” activity.   “Slow Burn” is a term used by Stu Mittleman to describe the highly energizing effects of slow aerobic activity… which activates the body’s fat burning systems and produces incredible levels of sustained energy and endurance.    A key benefit of this kind of activity is that rather than tiring you, it tends to energize you.

And I’m definitely feeling energized.  Because I’m only operating in my body’s “slow burn” fat-burning range, my body is not becoming acidic… thus no sore muscles and no exhaustion.   [Fast/Intense exercise burns sugar.. which creates acid... and thus soreness and fatigue].  Check out Stu’s book “Slow Burn” to learn more about this.

Now that I’ve got my training plan in place, my next focus is on equipment.  I’ll be going as light as possible…..