Want To Be Fit Enough For A Long Hike

(I wasn't sure which section this should go in; sorry if I posted in the wrong place.)
A group of my friends approached me yesterday asking if I wanted to join them after graduation for a long hike on a section of the Appalachian Trail. I would love to go; the sights would be amazing. The problem is that I have never really been fit, and I don't know the healthiest way to go about getting there. The hike would be in about 10 and a half months from now, and I would like advice on how to get in better shape. I don't know what information is helpful so I'll just list a little bit about me.

I am 5' 9" 184 lbs
My blood pressure is 123 over 76
Resting heart rate: 70 bpm
Mile run: 8:45
 
Get your BMI below 30 sounds like you have a good start on the rest. Run 3 to 5 mile a day,add some weight lifting for leg and body strength,work up to 10 mile with out being short winded. Get on a healthy diet. Have fun and enjoy.:)
 
fitening up for a hiking tour will be a really nice way to get fitter.

BP is outstandingly good, HR is at the high end of average so healthy. Bodyweight appears a little high but without knowing your buuild etc. I am not going to say as you could have door filler shoulders and this be perfect.
BMI is to be taken with a huge dose of salts. Genetically mine is ridiculously low and through years of training I have put myself right in the middle of the overweight band wit 15 - 17% body fat. My wife is genetically gifted for powerlifting and her BMI was always high but at her best she was lifting at European competition standard. You can figure out if you are carrying too much weight or not farly easily.

What I am going to give you as a measure of improvement could be deemed a bit excessive but I will explain it. I would like you to target the resting heart rate and bring this down in the time leadin up to the trip. The stronger your heart the more blood it can push through each beat and the less often it has to beat at rest. When hiking you will need to be able to fuel your entire body for long durations of walking while carrying weight in your pack, the main thing you will be challenging throughout will be your cardiovascular system so this has to be strong enough to keep you going.

I don't know where you live and how easy it is to get to places to go hiking but this is definately the best preparation you can do for a hiking holiday. Get a small pack load and get walking. Keep you pace constant but routes varied so the intensity will vary based on terrain and gradiant. Over time build up the pack size and distance, pace is only an issue if you will be wanting to rush the holiday.
It would obviously be more pleasant if this was done in picturesque surroundings where you can take occasional breaks to eat and drink, but if that isn't practical a varied route around streets and houses will do the same for you physically. I would say if going for the latter don't take binoculars, as bird watching is often frowned upon in built up areas.

Running and other training will help your fitness, but there is nothing beats hiking to prepare you for hiking. I have gone out with people who were very fit, a few of them marathon runners, and within 5 or 6 hours they were suffering from the packs on their shoulders and backs, tired legs, sore feet etc.
Practicing will also help you find out the best kit to use. There are some very expensive packs and boots out there, and I am fussy on the packs, but boots are always military surplus as the pricy versions give too much ankle support for me. Basically find what works for you and get it, unfortunately the price will have to be lowest priority, so if the boots you need are expensive, start saving.

First and foremost as always, enjoy it. Obviously you like good views so the hiking will be easy to enjoy, but other training can be virtually anything so if you really hate something ditch it and move to something else.
 
Crazy OM offers some excellent advice. As a long time, long distance hiker, I second the notion about training with a pack. Few things make one more miserable than a pack that is not comfortable or that you are not accustomed to. Start light and begin to add weight over the next few months. If you have the option, try some overnight or weekend backpacks and consider renting a few different packs to see how they fit and feel. A frame pack feels hugely different than an internal frame pack. I find internal frame packs more comfortable as they conform to the body, but an external frame allows for more airflow which may be better in humid conditions as are found on the east coast. Call around various stores to see what packs are available for rent and try a few out. If you are going to buy for the actual trip, work with the salesperson and try a number of different packs (with weight!) to see what really fits well.

The A trail is lovely and it has hills (depending upon your point of view and geographic location you might call them mountains - as a westerner, I don't). Anyway, you will want strong legs to tackle those climbs and for the downward portions as well.

A great addition to hiking/running in terms of training the legs are squats and lunges. Personally, I find lunges to be more beneficial because when hiking, the work is done 1 leg at a time. Step ups with weight are good too.

Good for you for agreeing to the trek and for planning ahead to have a great time!
 
You might be able to lose weight that way, depending on the duration and intensity of your walking and what your diet's like. But eating fewer calories through dietary changes seems to promote weight loss more effectively than does physical activity. If you add 30 minutes of brisk walking to your daily routine, you could burn about 150 more calories a day. (To lose a pound a week, you generally need to eliminate 500 calories a day.)
 
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