Most recently updated February 14th, 2020
– – Training Week 5 started with another 8.5 mile morning hike combining the Company Mill and Sycamore trails in Umstead State Park to create a big figure-8 shaped route across the center of the park.
This route is rockier than the Loblolly trail, and has more elevation gain, especially on the return trip to the trailhead.
It’s a beautiful hike alongside the creek for a good portion, with a few bridges and step-stone crossings.
For a little change of pace, I took us on the MUT for about .5 mile on the return trip.
This allowed us to take a break and also admire the wonderful trailside wood carving!
The length of the long hike this week was the same as last week, but I had 5 lbs more in the pack, and the trail had more elevation gain.
I was doing just fine until we got to the last mile or so on the return – which is all uphill! I admit, by that point the extra pack weight was kicking my butt….
My extra pack weight for Week 5 was 15lbs on the Company Mill-Sycamore route, and I upped it to 20lbs for the shorter Lake Crabtree circuit.
My Strength-Building hike, the second posted hike this week, was around the lake on paved greenways and natural trails in Lake Crabtree County Park.
Total distance was about 6 miles.
This route can get very muddy after hard rains, and sometimes they close access to the natural trails.
When that happens I come around from the other side – starting on the paved greenways – and if I’m lucky the trail won’t be too bad and the park’s access gate will be open by the time I get around to that side!
If you do this, there’s a chance you’ll need to turn around due to trail conditions and end up hiking more miles than you planned. I got lucky this time 🙂
Along with the usual kick-boxing a few times, short runs and a gym trip, this week I took advantage of the Spring-like weather to get out on my bike and ride some of the paved greenways in and around Bond Park.
FYI, just in case you’re new around here, I’m spending the next 8 weeks training for an awesome hiking trip to New Zealand.
My NZ trip itinerary includes a day of biking in the Karangahake Gorge, so I need to do a little bike training, too!
I’m not one of those all-spandex-all-the-time bikers, but I do ok 🙂
I just need to remind those muscles how to ride a few times before I go.
And as scary as biking a gorge sounds, this particular bike route is a very scenic but pretty tame rail trail for a good part of the way.
Tame is fine with me – I got my share of biking steep hills on the Dingle Peninsula in Ireland a few years back!
Week 6 is coming!!!
TAKEAWAY LESSON: The weather can have a big impact on your workout plans! Always check the weather and trail conditions before you head out.
I hope you’ve found my Training Log ramblings to be helpful- or at least amusing! 🙂 To see more of them go to my Training Log.
You could also take a look at my 8 Weeks to Awesome Training Plan post, if you want to see what kind of training I’m doing.
Thanks for stopping by – see you next time! LJ
LJ has spent much of her free time as a single Mom – and now as an empty-nester – hiking in the US and around the world. She shares lessons learned from adventures both local and in exotic locations, and tips on how to be active with asthma, plus travel, gear, and hike planning advice for parents hiking with kids and beginners of all ages. Read more on the About page.