Preparation - Physical and mental stuff

Preparing for an undertaking like Te Araroa has, I’ve discovered, a number of different facets.

Firstly, and most obviously there’s the physical requirement and ensuring enough fitness to both reduce the chance of injury and also ensure the experience is enjoyable from the outset. In the past when we’ve been embarking on lengthy hikes in Nepal or shorter hikes here in New Zealand I’ve trained intensely carrying my fully laden pack up pretty much every hill or mountain within an hour’s drive of home. The go to being the Hakirimata Summit which consists of about 1500 stairs and a 330m climb and never gets easy!

View from the Hakarimata Summit

This time I’ve taken a slightly different approach. At the end of the first lock-down my daughter and daughters-in-law took me along to one of their F45 training classes and I loved it. So, I joined up and used this as my main fitness until the last three weeks. As a consequence, I’m probably a little underdone in the carrying heavy packs stakes but have definitely built strength in my legs and improved cardio capacity. What I am noticing is my dodgy knee(s) are far better than in the past when carrying my pack downhill, something I’m putting down to the strength I’ve build around the knees.

I’m also thinking that while the first few days may be pretty tough with limited hiking training, I’ll build endurance for this as I go. A bit of a shame though that days 2,3 and 4 are recognised as some of the tougher days in the whole trail!

The second area of preparation is the logistics of being away for up to five or so months, some of it in areas without reliable communication. Late last year and early this I resigned a number of positions planning on travelling with Marie and friends and generally having a reset year. Well fair to say that worked out different to what I expected!! Obviously, no travel but nevertheless a good year to regroup and now do Te Araroa.

Being away from home for such a period has required a bit of planning but as the time to go nears I’m confident things will be good, and Marie will get great support from both our family and friends.

The last thing has been the mental stuff. Trying not to get overly concerned about small details and as the time to depart has got closer not worrying, especially in the middle of the night when things always seem worse. It really is a very strange state being excited and worried over the same events at the same time.

Anyway, I’m off in two days now and it will be what it will be, so here goes!