First PCT training post! Woohooooo.

Holding true to what I said in my last post, here’s my PCT training weeks 1 & 2 summary.

PCT Training Goals

Michael and I will head out in the Pacific Crest Trail on April 18! I’m not quite sure if it’s feasible to fully train my body to hike 25 miles per day for 120 days, so I am going to focus on increasing my cardio endurance and strengthening my body to minimize the risk of injury.

My minimum goals for each week are:

• Run x2
• Stairmill x2
• Strength training workout x2
• Yoga x1 or at least a lot of stretching
• Hike x1

Again, the goals are my minimums for each week. If I go on an extra run and bike for an hour, yippee for me!

These posts will be more of a personal training diary. I apologize in advance that they will be a little dry. You are more than welcome to tell me step it up and train harder. I’ll need it. I’m kind of lazy these days 😬

PCT Training Week 1

• December 30: This 20-minute strength workout and a 3-mile run
• December 31: 30-minute stairmill and 3-mile bike
• January 1: rest 🙂
• January 2: This strength + HIIT home workout and a 3.1-mile run
• January 3: 4.5-mile hike around Mount Galbraith
• January 4: 30-minute stairmill and 3-mile bike
• January 5: This legs + back workout with my sister

The first thing you’ll notice is that I’m currently very into workouts from Nourish, Move, Love (thanks for the recommendation, Mom). I don’t typically follow other people’s workouts, but there is something about hers that are very appealing. Idk why. Maybe because I work from home and I have zero excuses to fit in a 30-minute workout between meetings. Eventually, I’d like to start writing my own workouts like I’ve done in the past, but for now the Nourish Move Love workouts are perfect. I highly recommend checking out her site!

PCT Training Week 2

• January 6: Resistance band workout
• January 7: Half of this 10-minute at-home HIIT workout
• January 8: This 30-minute HIIT workout video with weight and a 2.8-mile run with Lindsey
• January 9: 40-minute stairmill and 15.8-mile bike
• January 10: 5.8-mile Green Mountain hike and 1-hour bike race with Michael (knocked out 15.85 mile, but he beat by .15 miles)
• January 11: This upper body HIIT workout and this 10-minute barre core workout
• January 12: Winter Trifecta hike with the Boulder Hiker Chicks – 11-mile hike to Green Mountain, Bear Peak, and South Boulder Peak

I was in South Dakota visiting family January 4-7. The only workouts I could fit in were some at-home workouts with my sister while my nephew was sleeping. Although it was less than I’d like to do on a normal weekend I never get to workout with my sister, so it was very fun!

On Saturday I did the 5th Annual Boulder Hiker Chicks Winter Trifecta. It was an 11-mile hike to Green Mountain, Bear Peak, and South Boulder Peak with over 4,000 feet of elevation gain and 68 total hiker chicks! There was also 4-6 inches of fresh snow from the night before, which made the experience more difficult and more beautiful. There is something about hiking through the snow that is so magical. I can’t explain it, so I’ll let the pictures do the talking.

Summary

Week 1:

• 2 runs, 2 stairmill, 3 strength training, 0 yoga, 1 hike, 2 bike, 1 day rest

I hit all my goals, except yoga and got additional biking and strength training.

Week 2:

• 1 run, 1 stairmill, 3 strength training, 0 yoga, 2 hikes, 2 bike

I was short on the running, stairmill, and yoga, but did a lot more hiking and biking.

I need to work on getting some yoga sessions in! A consistent yoga routine is always hard for me to start. It takes me a little bit to remember how much I enjoy it.

Thanks for following along! If you have any great workout ideas, feel free to pass them my way!