The Hare and the Tortoise- Pace Hiking
                                                by Jim Blackburn
 

Do you remember Aesop's fable of the hare and the tortoise? The hare, much the faster, raced ahead and then rested to catch his breath and cool off while the tortoise plodded along. But at the end of the race the hare was the exhausted loser while the tortoise was the relaxed winner.

On hikes I'm often reminded of the fable. Enthusiastic hikers race ahead, then need to rest to catch their breath and cool off while the more experienced hikers and mountain climbers, the tortoises, set themselves a pace, keep moving along and enjoy a pleasant outing.

Rest stops do allow me to catch my breath and cool down but I've also noticed they allow me to stiffen! I've been training myself on pacing so that my breathing is more uniform. I can even carry on a conversation while hiking uphill.

Pacing means a steady rate of stepping out, of breathing and exertion. If the terrain is flat or slightly downhill, then a long stride is appropriate. If it gets steep, I shorten my stride but keep the same pace. My stride can be shortened even to half a shoe length!

It's the big exertions on the leg muscles that are tiring. I'm told the most exhausting climb is up long stairs where you need to lift the body in large amounts on each step. It's better to just lift a little on each step. I don't step onto the rock uphill if I can use several short steps to shuffle around it, keeping my pace steady!

Years ago my buddies and I often fished in the Rio Grande box canyon in New Mexico. The trail, like all fishermen paths, was straight down about a thousand feet. We'd stash a beer at the top in the morning before our descent as an incentive for the climb back up in the evening which took several rest stops.

When I related to my boss at work what a great weekend we'd had fishing and also the onerous climb out, he described how mountain climbers use pacing to good advantage. So on my next fishing trip I paced myself. My buddies scurried ahead, stopping several times to catch their breath and cool down. I'd catch up and just shuffle on ahead, keeping a steady slow pace with no stops. At the top they were sweaty, exhausted and ready for that beer. My pacing worked! I found I was not nearly as exhausted - but of course enjoyed the beer anyway. A real revelation on climbing .

It's been hard to discipline myself to pace. Going uphill I'm still inclined to take that big step onto the next rock, to race to the top to see what's ahead and to take rest stops, but I'm learning. Perhaps in old age this hare can metamorphose into a tortoise!