Adventure Training

In 98 days I leave on my Big Adventure to Machu Picchu, Peru where I will hike for seven days in high altitude. I am 56 years old, moderately out of shape, at least ten pounds overweight, and a little scared about what I am undertaking. I am, however, very excited about this opportunity and I plan to make the most of it. Today I began training in earnest!

It’s not exactly like I haven’t already been training. I count the shopping trips to buy things for the trip as a pre-training of sorts. I tried on many pairs of hiking boots (apologies to salesman), bought the special wool hiking socks ($20 a piece – seriously?), and even weather tested two jackets before eventually buying the exact same one my hiking-adventure buddy purchased. The thought of us in our twin ensembles on top of a Peruvian mountaintop makes me smile! I’ve also worn my new hiking boots around the house and to walk the dogs almost daily since making the purchase. But this morning I woke with a sense of panic about really getting serious about this training thing.

It’s hard to know exactly how to begin a training program for a hike to Machu Picchu and I do intend to research this and implement a “real” training program, but today I felt like I needed to get started with or without a plan. After walking the dogs on our usual one-mile through the neighborhood trek I drove across town to a trail I’ve wanted to try since we moved here over a year ago, the Gun Club Trail. It isn’t exactly a trail yet, but according to a Facebook page it will be someday. Now it is a two mile road one has to share with automobile traffic.

In west Texas it is difficult to find any elevation, but I gave it my best shot. According to a runner who was kind enough to post the following route: http://www.mapmyrun.com/s/routes/view/run-jog-map/texas/san-angelo/60214096
I can see that the elevation is 1,968.5 feet. Not quite the 8040 feet of Machu Picchu or the 10,800 feet of Cusco, Peru where we will spend three days acclimating to the altitude. Training for high altitude climbing will be a challenge. I’ve heard there is a mask to simulate high altitude, but I feel certain I would be arrested if I attempted to hike while wearing it.

Today I hiked two miles. Tomorrow I will do more. Surely I can get myself in shape in 98 days. My adventure awaits.

Adventure

On the heels of making (and breaking) my 2013 new year’s resolutions comes examining the life I lived in 2012. The mean taskmaster side of me is horrified by the lack of accomplishment. The nice-fun-loving-hippie-earth-mother side of me says, “Chill out dude, don’t worry about last year.” (Yes, she says “dude.”) My husband reminds me of the progress I did make during 2012. Of the three opinions, I’m going with his.

As much as I want to believe my husband and the earth-mother it is hard to make the taskmaster bitch shut up. All I seem to think about are the missed opportunities and the time wasted. I began 2013 with a sense of urgency to do something to atone for slacking in 2012. But what?

A phone call from a dear friend set in motion my 2013 adventure. We are going to Machu Picchu. We are going to hike and camp for seven days. We are on the downward slope towards sixty, slightly overweight, more than slightly out of shape, and desperate to do something BIG this year.

We have spent our lives raising children, volunteering, working, taking care of others. Now what? That is the question we find ourselves asking. We are used to working in rewarding careers and have found ourselves without jobs to give us our identities. Who are we? Apparently we are women who hike Machu Picchu.

The day after I agreed to the trip I saw the movie The Hobbit. Bilbo Baggins confirmed my decision to venture out of my comfort zone and go on an adventure. Like Bilbo, I must leave the safety and comfort of my living room and go out into the world.

2013 is going to be awesome!