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The moment I realized I was out of shape for my own dream hike
I nearly passed out 2 miles into a 12 mile trail in the Smokies last summer because I spent 6 months training on a treadmill instead of actual hills, and the ranger had to give me his Gatorade.
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mason_lopez4mo ago
Man, that's brutal but I bet it happens way more than people admit. Treadmills just don't prepare you for the real thing with uneven ground and carrying a pack. What nobody talks about is how much your boots and socks matter too. I switched from heavy leather boots to light trail runners and it made a huge difference on long hikes. Also, eating enough salt and minerals before you go is huge for keeping your energy up.
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rowan9694mo ago
You know what, I'm gonna push back on this a little. I ran 18 miles on a treadmill in 2022 training for a 50k and finished that race just fine, and I've seen plenty of people blow up on trails because they went too hard on their shoe choice and got blisters from those light trail runners. Boots have been around forever for a reason they give you ankle support on rocky terrain and protect your feet from roots and rocks. Salt loading is fine but I've also seen people get sick from it drinking too much pickle juice or whatever and ending up with stomach issues halfway through a hike. Its not one size fits all, some people do better with heavy boots and eating plain oatmeal before a long day out.
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wesley_jones4mo ago
I read somewhere that the whole "boots vs trail runners" debate actually goes back to the 1970s when synthetic materials started replacing leather. And you're right, I've seen the same thing with salt loading - a buddy of mine tried the pickle juice trick before a big hike last summer and spent half the day cramping up and feeling sick. It's like people forget that what works for one person can mess up another.
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