Re: [at-l] too much exercise?...

[Nadine9799@aol.com]

In a message dated 99-02-15 21:21:55 EST, you write:

<< The newspaper the other day reported that too much exercise may be bad. 
 Researchers found that marathoners generated more free radicals than 
 other runners and were frequently sick right after the marathon.  >>

I have far more experience as a marathon runner than I do as a backpacker, so
my extraplations may be incorrect, but I don't think I'm off too much.
I never became sick after any of my 13 marathons. Three times I ran 2 within
30 days of each other, in all 3 cases the second was a faster one than the
first.
I trained with many different folks [male & female] and as one would expect we
are all different but a few things seemed somewhat constant. One of those
kinda on the subject you brought up.
For most of us the following will apply:
The start point here presumes you are a physically fit state but not at a
marathon/thru-hiking "peak" state. You are beginning training for a
marathon/Thru with a base of 35 miles per week running or 20+ walking, or
perhaps starting the Thru without getting into a 'Peak" condition.
The almost universal truth is: While you are on the uphill portion of the
"reaching peak condition" curve you can not do too much work.  [hope that came
out bold type on your end]
What that means is; no matter how hard you work today, if you rest good
tonite, you will be able to do as much or more tomorrow without "hurting"
yourself, if you take a rest day every 7-10 days.
Now the converse of this almost universal truth: Once you have reached your
peak condition, ridden out the plateau and started down the other side of the
conditioning curve you can not get enough rest.
In other words when you start down the curve if you continue
training/racing/hiking 'hard' you will get hurt or sick or both.
The secret is Know you body and pay attention to what it tells you.
I have not Thru-Hiked so the following is more expactation than experience.
An AT Thru-Hike is an average of a Half-Marathon a day for 5 1/2 months.
For most all of us, we will go thru that rise to peak condition and fall back
down, at least twice during a Thru. If while we are on the downslide we do not
take more days off, or do easier days, or in some way restup; we are most
likely gonna get sick/hurt and fall into the DNF category.
For Many I would figure the 'Virginia Blues' is really the first downside of
the conditioning curve.
BTW the major difference I have found thus far between long distance running
and long distance hiking is: In running I feel the body 'hurts' when I become
fatigued; in hiking I just get fatigued. I can hardly pick that next foot up
but nothing 'hurts' . This makes it more necessary to think about the body
while hiking; where in running I can feel what to do.
Sorry about the length of this, you ask the time and some damn fool wants to
build the watch.
Justakahike
Plum'Crazy[dick cook]     
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