RE: [Philmont]: Physical Condition

I've been 39 for about 7 years now but will comment anyway...
 
I started worrying about my physical condition at least a year in advance of going to Philmont. That didn't do any good so I started actually exercising about 6 months ahead of time. I tried to get to the local health club 3 times a week but failed to make it a real regular habit. When I did make it there, I did alot of Stairmaster work as well as jogging and walking on the treadmill (working the incline up over time to 15% - the max). I lifted weights as well for upper body strength. I did lots of hikes on my own and with my son carrying an ever-increasing pack load (reaching about 55 pounds) and increasing distances. I'd much rather hike outdoors than on a treadmill so I did quite a few hikes even in the winter. I tried to get our scouts out weekly for a 5 mile (or so) hike but with limited success (I found that most of the hikes I did alone or with my captive audience - son).
 
I think my biggest mistake was walking primarily on flat ground most of the time. We did a couple very good shake down weekends in hilly areas in Wisconsin that were very helpful. I learned that hiking faster than you're capable is dangerous and you need to control the pace of the whole crew. 2 months before leaving for Philmont I injured my Achilles tendon on an 8 mile up and down hike with our 2 crews. A couple of the scouts kept up a high pace and by the end of the day I could hardly walk.
 
I spent the next 2 months fooling with boots, physical therapy, medication (anti-inflammatory) and orthodics. I ended up with heel lifts in my boots which helped a lot with the heel (but I felt like I was walking down hill most of the time and real downhill hikes were difficult). I was very worried that I might have a heel problem while hiking at Philmont but in the end, the therapy, drugs and orthodics worked great and I didn't have a problem. We had 3 other adults in our crew so I wasn't too concerned about a problem having a serious effect on the crew.
 
At Philmont I found that I was not the fastest hiker by far but not the slowest either. I didn't feel particularly winded except in a few cases so I apparently acclimated to the altitude change OK (we live in the Chicago area somewhere around 800 ft and of course very flat). I'm sure all the training I did made a big difference but I'm also sure I could have done more. Overall, I felt I did better than expected.
 
Don't wait till the last minute (particularly if you are 39 too). None of the scouts in our crew had a problem with being prepared, not because they worked hard to get ready specifically but primarily because they were/are in good shape due to their youth and involvement in other physical activities such as sports. I wish all us old guys could have the same benefits.

Randy Pfeifer

(847) 632-5563

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-philmont@troop47.com [mailto:owner-philmont@troop47.com] On Behalf Of MelMetz@aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2004 7:42 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list philmont
Subject: [Philmont]: Physical Condition

With 2004 Philmont season drawing to an end. Would like to hear from adults, especially those over 40, on how you prepared yourself for Philmont. Just hiking with the scouts does not make it happen and some of you found out the hard way.
 
Mel Metzler T320
Dayton, OH
 

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Received on Wed Aug 4 18:32:45 2004