Today is the two-week point in my walk across Canada. I’ve walked over 770 km in 14 days, about an average of 55 km per day. Since I only intended to average a little over 40 km per day, I can only say that I’m pleased how well my body is adapting to the stress I’m putting on it so far.
On long-distance hiking trails, such as the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail in the US, thousands of people attempt a thru-hike every year, but only one in four will make it to the end. I think about that for a second. Fully 75% who start out won’t finish.
About 40 percent of those people who start will have dropped out by this time at the two-week point for various reasons – discomfort, blistered feet, poorly equipped, no money, loneliness.
The next most frequent time that people quit is by the one-month mark. These would be the people who should have quit in the first two weeks, but held on through sheer determination.
And the third most frequent time when people drop out of a long-distance hike surprises me. It is the half-way point. Psychologically, they think about how much work it’s taken to get to that point and are unwilling to do the same again.
Statistically, the odds are against me. Still, I’m pleased that I’m at the two-week point and still on the road. My body feels strong. The blisters I’ve had are healing nicely. My mind feels healthy and determined. And I’m meeting supportive strangers and friends along the way.
It feels great to have come so far. But there is still a very, very long way to go. I try not to think about the distance still to be covered because that only disheartens me.
I’m not infallible. I suffer from the same fears and anxieties as everyone. I try to avoid pain and mental anguish. Walking 55 km on sore feet, up and down hills in the pouring rain, while battling a wicked head wind the whole way, would test the mettle of any human. But it’s not like that every day, and it’s only discomfort. And when we face discomfort, it only makes us stronger.
So yes, the odds might be against me, but I have an ace up my sleeve. It’s the same ace I’ve been using since day one of this trek.
When I woke up this morning, just like every morning since I started, I said, “Dave, you only need to walk for eight hours today.” And if I do that enough times in a row, slowly, over time, the odds will turn in my favour.