Hit 500 miles on the AT last weekend and I’m still sore

I finally hit 500 miles on the Appalachian Trail near Roanoke, VA, and it took me about 8 weeks of weekend trips. Didn’t expect my knees to feel this wrecked after just half a year of hiking. Anyone else deal with joint pain slowing them down around that mileage?

2 comments

2 Comments

ray2107d ago

Man, that knee pain is real and it's like your body's way of telling you something's off. It's the same pattern I see everywhere people push through the initial fun phase of something and then hit that wall where the hidden costs start showing up. You might need to look at your pack weight or shoes before you wreck something permanent.

tara3456d agoMost Upvoted

Always thought knee pain was just bad luck or weak muscles, but your point about pack weight and shoes makes way more sense now. Saw a guy last week limping with a 50lb bag and beat up sneakers, figured he was just paying for bad choices later. Kinda opened my eyes to how much of this stuff is predictable if you just look at the basics.