Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Trip Planning Forum :: Conditioning for us geezers
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jsmithxc |
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rtallent |
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ockycamper |
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bennojr |
Everyday is leg day for a longer healthier life. |
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TrailZen |
TZ |
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4keys |
So besides increasing slope on the treadmill, I’ve been going up/ down the steps more often, starting some upper body/ shoulder exercises, and now that our snow is gone, I’ll be adding weight in a pack while walking the dog. I don’t want to rely on the sherpas for too much (my son and his wife). |
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deerfoot |
Myself, I prep for the coming season by walking and swimming laps year round. And I am about ready to start carrying a 60# canoe around the local nature center. I start out carrying the canoe for shorter distances and use a few rests, working my way up to non-stop portaging for 1/3 mile. I have found this does a lot to prepare me for portaging and general conditioning for tripping. This routine has served me well for the last 8 years, so I will continue it as long as I am tripping. At age 76 I am most concerned about the arthritis in both hands/wrists. |
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dogwoodgirl |
ockycamper: "What is it you guys do in your 60's and 70's that takes that much conditioning?" My son and I go on 2 week trips into some of the less traveled areas. We don't push THAT hard, but we do work ourselves. And I take 4-14 day solo trips. Hoping to still be able to solo into my 80's, so I'm wanting to maintain muscle mass and strength/agility as I age. I'm 65 now. For me that looks like a mix of cardio and strength training. Typical routine would be to load 20# in a pack, do 3 sets of 8 reps on bicep curls and overhead presses using a 15# dumbbell in each hand, with 2 laps around the track in between sets as my "rest". Then move on the some of the weight machines at the gym, and finish with loaded "step ups" using a big wooden block that is just below my knee level. |
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Ahahn366 |
Allen |
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Blatz |
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YaMarVa |
Lunges, lots of lunges. |
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Fearlessleader |
I’ve recently started carrying a pack with 30 pounds or so when I go on my walks through the woods just to keep my legs in shape, but just wondering if any of you have found it worthwhile to do any upper body conditioning to help with paddling/portaging? Never spent any time in a gym since I grew up on a farm and then worked in delivery. |
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ockycamper |
Argo: "ockycamper: "What is it you guys do in your 60's and 70's that takes that much conditioning?" My wife has a question she asks me when I try to do something I did in my 30's: "what has this taught you?". I still go to Planet Fitness every day and ride my bike when weather allows. But I accept that you can get your muscles in shape. . . but your bones, back, etc are still (in my case) 67 years old. In my 30's I rafted the class 5's on the Gauley River in West Virginnia each September in a wet suit. I don't do that now. I go with a group of guys that are all around my age. Most of us are trained in survival, wilderness camping, and emergency first aid/trauma. But for me, I am not hanging on to doing what I did in my 30's. We now base camp, and spend the days fishing, exploring (on the lakes around our base camp), and/or just hanging out around camp. Miles are no longer important for us. What is important is taking the time to enjoy nature and one another's company. If you guys can still pull this stuff off in your late 60's and 70's my hat is off to you. I operate now on my wife's rule "what has being 67 taught you?". (I also don't want to hear what she would say if I came home hurt trying to do something I used to do in my 30's!) |
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bobbernumber3 |
ockycamper: "What is it you guys do in your 60's and 70's that takes that much conditioning?" Solo Hunter Island loop last fall. Twelve days, 153 miles, 35 portages, at age 67. Is what I do. No extra conditioning. |
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Argo |
ockycamper: "Argo: "ockycamper: "What is it you guys do in your 60's and 70's that takes that much conditioning?" Agree to an extent. Our trips used to be to move every day. Now we move every second day. Portages are double portages now. No complaints. |
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TrailZen |
ockycamper: "My wife has a question she asks me when I try to do something I did in my 30's: "what has this taught you?"." Within limits, my wife & I are trying to do things we didn't even know existed when we were in our 30s! Here's a shot of my wife/bow machine during our week of via ferrata travel in Italy, summer of 2022, our 50th anniversary year. What did it teach me? That if we want to do it and give it an honest try, we can probably do it. TZ |
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ockycamper |
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papalambeau |
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Blatz |
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dschult2 |
Blatz: "I would also add doing lunges with or without holding weights is very functional and helpful. During portages you often find yourself stepping up and over rocks and logs" Yes to this and weighted step ups are also very beneficial for portaging. |
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RetiredDave |
I'm 5' 6" tall and weigh 150, not really a Grizzly Adams, so I have to distribute weight and triple portage on my solos. During the year I do pushups, or lift 30 lb weights (like curls) every other day. Each day I do crunches. I run (well, jog) 3 miles 5 days a week and then there's Ellie, our coonhound/lab. She takes me another 3 - 4 miles at least each day. Oh, and I make a daily habit of stretching for five minutes - a great time investment. I wish all of us continued health and enjoyment on the water, and in life, for as long as possible. Dave |
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Sunburn |
Other than that, I focus on core strength and balance exercises. |
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Argo |
Building muscle is key. I would focus more on that than cardio - particularly if you're trying to shed pounds. And make sure you get plenty of protein in in your diet. Maybe 1g per pound of your ideal body weight. Not easy to do. Further to that, don't ignore nutrition and metabolic health. Avoid sugar in all its 230 forms (and names) as well as seed oils. Shop on the perimeter of your grocery store to avoid ultra-processed foods that are replete with these ingredients if you want to lose weight and avoid type II diabetes and all of the wretched limitations it will saddle you with. It will extend your years in the woods. |
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Argo |
ockycamper: "What is it you guys do in your 60's and 70's that takes that much conditioning?" It's called aging past your prime. Proper nutrition and exercise will help slow it down. These are the years when you can't afford to coast - particularly when your goal is continued adventures in canoe country. Edit: I just noticed from your profile that you're about seven years "more experienced" than me. I think I see your question from a different perspective now. |
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TrailZen |
ockycamper: "What is it you guys do in your 60's and 70's that takes that much conditioning?" Our typical 10-day trip covers 100+ miles and may include more than 40 portages, which we currently single-walk. Conditioning (legs, core, and upper-body) will let us keep that up for several more years. TZ |
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Blatz |
jsmithxc: "Sixty eight here. Worry less about training for a trip but incorporate fitness into a year round lifestyle. Large gaps in being active get harder to get past when you are older. The bottom line for all of us is that we are going to face health problems eventually and the more fit you are the better you can handle and recover from these events. Some years ago I had major emergency surgery that was life threatening. After it was over I asked the doc if my lifestyle (I cross country ski and bike race competitively), brought on my condition. His response was absolutely not, however he said, it is the reason you handled the surgery so well and recovered so quickly. Use paddling as your motivation to stay fit year round and you will reap great health benefits."Well said |
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WesternHills |
Argo: "don't ignore nutrition and metabolic health. Avoid sugar in all its 230 forms (and names) as well as seed oils. Shop on the perimeter of your grocery store to avoid ultra-processed foods that are replete with these ingredients if you want to lose weight and avoid type II diabetes and all of the wretched limitations it will saddle you with. It will extend your years in the woods. " 100% agree |