Building Endurance for an Epic Quest!?

UpEarly

I would like to hike across the state of Virginia along the Appalachian Trail (550 miles) this spring. I can take four weeks off work to tackle this goal. This means hiking an average of 17 miles a day, every day. That may sound crazy/impossible, but most AT hikers cover anywhere from 12-25 miles a day... especially in Virginia, which is easier terrain than Maine or New Hampshire.

I'm already an avid hiker and hike several days a week with a weighted pack. I do circuit style weight workouts about two days a week. I also do interval training with Tabata cardio drills. I also throw in some step aerobics or cardio equipment from time to time to mix things up.

I know I can hike 20 miles in a given day with no problems, but I've never done more than three days of long hiking in a row. I'm a little worried about doing lots of miles, day in and day out. I'm looking for advice from anyone who participates in an endurance sport. Are there other types of workouts I should mix in? Anything I should know? Words of wisdom?

(And just to make 17 miles a day sound like small potatoes... the Appalachian Trail speed record holder is a woman named Jennifer Pharr Davis. She blew away previous records this summer by hiking an average of 47 miles a day: http://www.mensjournal.com/jennifer-pharr-davis-beats-appalachian-trail-record)

hllamaster

Good luck...wish I could help...sounds like a fun adventure add me as a friend I would like to follow your training

Jers43

sounds pretty awesome! I have no idea how to train for something like that . Let me know how it goes!

cbirdso

I have a girlfriend who is, I believe, way less fit than you and for a charitable event decided to tackle a similar task. She suffered mightly afterward, but what got her through (she says), was her mental determination. I'm thinking you have that, too.

UpEarly

I have a girlfriend who is, I believe, way less fit than you and for a charitable event decided to tackle a similar task. She suffered mightly afterward, but what got her through (she says), was her mental determination. I'm thinking you have that, too.

I have heard that it's more mental than anything! :-)