Monday morning---> I hiked 8.77 miles with Hannah [or that is what Garmin told me!]
My Average Moving Speed was 3.5 miles/hr with Hannah along [or the average of 17 1/2 minutes per mile].
I did this same route in 2021 for a work out when I was just starting to really get into hiking distances. It was the same distance. I felt I had hiked the route with speed and agility for 8.61 miles. [Mapmywalk was the program I used then]
My average speed was 25:31 minutes per mile which is 2.4 miles per hour.
November 2nd 2024 I did my second longer distance hike that was solo. No dogs, no friends, just me, snacks and water.
I recall hiking hard and only stopping to pee and drink water. The distance was 11.46 miles and my rate per mile was an average of 18 minutes a mile or 3 1/3 mph. That was a tough one and I recall the feeling of accomplishing something so amazing when I got to the car.
This spring I hiked with a group and we averaged the normal speed of just walking and not hiking hard and fast. That hike was approximately 25 minutes per mile or 2.4 miles per hour. That hike was 7 hours long with the distance of 18 miles. That included 2 hours of rest time for others in our group.
Hmmm. Why do I bring all that up?
Well, I plan on doing the 18 miler again in November pre gun season or the 11 miler.
This time it is just me and my own pace. I'm not looking to keep up a 17 minute pace per mile for that length of time. I'm just looking to complete the course again but on my own.
Maybe I'm an endurance junky. I like the runner's high of euphoria after completing a difficult work out or distance hike. Forget the tired achy feet. It is the feeling of achievement that gets me.
Now for a good laugh.
How in the heck did Hannah realize that we came to the stump on Little Canada Trail that I always put her and Charlie on for photos? I set them up there and give them a treat.
So here we are marching down the trail and Hannah leaps onto the stump without a prompt and does this:
She earned her treat!
For those who might be concerned, she romped and bounced on the whole hike. She was an excellent pace setter.
Today's pace was a huge surprise to me. I was extremely surprised when I looked up the details. In fact, I was floored.
Apparently there is a sport called Speed Hiking.
We saw some beautiful scenery. I definitely have to go back this week to this trail and enjoy a quiet easy hike so we can all enjoy the sights and fall colors.
