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Re: Training/speed
At 02:40 PM 4/5/96 -0600, you wrote:
> This question is to the "Speedy Gonzaleses" of the trail. I'm a
>volunteer USFS firefighter. The Forest Service is looking to adopt a new
>physical training test to replace the old one. According to the boss, USFS
>is looking at a minimum standard test, where the firefighter must walk 3
>miles in 45 minutes with a 45-lb pack. No adjustments for age/gender. This
>is on level ground (a track, etc.) with sneakers.
>
> The really fast thru-hikers could probably give the best spin on this:
>is this attainable by anyone other than a real athlete or an Army Special
>Forces candidate (my 1st impression was that someone got this out of a Green
>Beret entry qualification test)? Personally, I tend to amble along when I
>backpack--everyone passes me. I'm training for this, though, and I'm having
>to almost jog with a 20-lb daypack to hit 1 mile in 15 minutes. Am I just
>too low-intensity for this? Is getting ready for this going to mess up my
>training for a long section-hike this fall?
>
>Jim Greenway
>
>3 miles in 45 minutes is unreasonable except maybe on the street. My best
pace is 3-3.5 miles per hour on the trail. 2 miles per hour is normal over
the course of a full day's hiking. My personal opinion is that the faster
hikers are also the most often injured.
Jim