Know Your Body
Sushi and a practical self-assessment tool before you train for your big hike
I haven’t been able to eat sushi since my last Mt. Baker summit attempt in 2015.
The day before my trip, I ate lunch with coworkers at a favorite sushi place off of Elliston Street. I also ate leftover Chipotle for dinner.
Around midnight, food poisoning struck with a vengeance. I hurtled myself out of bed and curled intimately around the toilet for hours.
Shit.
Shit-Shit-Shit. I fly out for Baker soon. Will I have to cancel?
Eyes bloodshot. Stomach queasy. I slow-walked through the airport questioning my life decisions.
There would be heated conversation later as to the cause of said food poisoning: “The Great Debate of Chipotle v. Samurai.”
Either way—my body gets the ick anytime I’m around sushi. California Rolls I can do. Real sushi, I cannot.
My old sushi debacle got me thinking about how important it is to know your body.
Each adventure is ripe with info on how your body reacts to food, climate, clothing, terrain.
Pro Tip: After each trip, write down lessons learned regarding food you liked, you didn’t. Gear that worked, didn’t.
Honest Self-Assessment
Last week, I shared “know your mountain.”
Once you know your mountain, it’s time to do an honest, judgement-free check in with yourself.
Current Fitness Level
Can you comfortably walk 5+ miles on flat ground?
Can you hike 3-5 miles with a light pack (15 lbs)?
Do you currently incorporate regular cardio (3+ times/week)?
Can you do basic strength exercises (squats, lunges, step-ups)?
Hiking Experience
Have you done any day hikes with elevation gain (1,000 + feet)?
Have you hiked with a weighted pack before?
Have you been uncomfortable or pushed yourself physically in nature?
Have you dealt with challenging trail conditions (rocks, exposure, weather)?
Time Reality Check
How many days per week can you realistically dedicate to training?
Can you commit to 4-6 training sessions per week for 12-16 weeks?
Do you have access to hills, stairs, or elevation for training?
When is your hike date? (This determines your timeline)
Your hike and self-assessment determines your training program—structure, intensity, length of your program.
I made a ton of a mistakes on my first long hike in the Grand Canyon and earned some very attractive zombie feet.
So. To help you avoid your own zombie feet (and therapy bills), I created an iconic hike ready coaching guide and training plan.
Who is this for?
Beginner to intermediate level hikers
Current fitness includes regular cardio (3+ times a week)
Can comfortably walk 5+ miles
Familiar with basic strength body weight moves (beginner - intermediate level)
Goal hike is 15-25 miles
Hikers ready and motivated to commit to training 12-16 weeks for their iconic hike
I wrote this guide specifically with Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim in mind, but it can be applied to something like the Maroon Bells 4 Pass Loop or Teton Crest Trail as well.
If you’re ready to check it out, here’s the link: Iconic Hike Ready Guide for Beginners
Alright, signing out for now. Mt. Baker…. Here I come!
See you on the trails,
Haley + Fitz
