Training

Four weeks ago I decided to hike Pikes Peak with two friends. The route we chose to take was equivalent to a marathon, 26.2 miles roundtrip. Knowing I needed to get in shape for the hike, I tried running the 3-mile loop we found near our house. I didn't make it. I ended up walking most of the way. That day was a major wake-up call to where I was at physically. If I was going to hike 26 miles and climb 7500 feet in elevation, I was going to need to shape up!

This morning, four days before the hike, I ran 6 miles in under an hour. It's nothing to really brag about, but it shows how far I've come. I went from not even being able to run one mile to running six and knowing I could keep going! But like most major changes, this did not occur overnight.

• The first thing I needed was a goal to strive for - a vision to grab onto. In this case, it was a long, intense hike. Most people who hike this trail only go one-way. They usually get a ride back down the mountain. Hiking one-way would be intense, but I needed the challenge of going both directions.

• The second thing I needed was accountability. In this case, it was two other guys who also needed to get in shape. Of the three of us, I had the farthest to go though. One of the guys has been climbing mountains his whole life and this summer spent almost every weekend out on the trails. The other guy has also hiked a number of mountains this summer in addition to swimming and training for a half-marathon. As for me? I played slow-pitch softball this summer....not the most intense activity that's for sure!
• These guys made sure I kept at it. Whether it was a discussion at work or a text asking what I was doing, I couldn't have kept my motivation without their help. And it went the other way too! The only time I could consistently do any trail mileage was before work, so I was hitting the trail (and often dragging the guys with me) at 6am, 5am, even 4am!

• And the third thing I needed was to celebrate my progress. I needed someway of tracking my progress. I pushed myself to go farther faster, and it paid off. A couple weeks ago I tried a new trail and expected it to take me about 45-60 minutes to reach the summit of a small mountain, but it only took 30! I was at the top of Red Mountain not even out of breath, disappointed I didn't have farther to go. Last week I hiked almost 11 miles in less than 3 hours, and this morning I ran 6 miles in under an hour.

I'll let you know how the actual hike goes, but the training for it has been incredible. I have hiked more in the past four weeks than I have in the past year. I have tried new trails, explored new areas, and set new personal records.

As I think about doing anything worthwhile, those three things I mentioned are vitally important:

1. Have a goal to strive for - a vision to grab onto
2. Find some accountability
3. Celebrate your progress

Is there anything worthwhile you're wanting to do?