As we hiked up to the hut, I kept thinking about how hard it was, but how running was so much harder. Stopping for a snack or to catch your breath is common and encouraged and needed in hiking. Hikers don't talk about pace. It's difficult, but not as difficult. Maybe. As we summitted the 4,000-footer the following day, I kelp thinking how I'd rather be running 5 miles than scrambling up these rocks with 18 pounds strapped to my back, with no party or medal or beer wench waiting for me at the top. By the end of the weekend, I had come to the conclusion that running and hiking are just, well, different. And it took me 10 miles over roughly the same amount of hours to realize this? I have bigger issue than I thought.
The biggest difference I found was the amount of thinking each requires. Some of my best runs occur when I actually stop thinking about running and just do it (hey, that would a great slogan...any of you in marketing?). The more I think, the more excruciating it becomes. Hiking, however, requires almost constant thinking. Right foot on this rock, left hand on that tree root...it's like a really un-sexy game of Twister. If I stop thinking about hiking too much...well, let's just say, you don't hear many news stories of joggers tripping and plummeting to their death.
There are some commonalities, of course. Each can totally suck and have you questioning the sanity the first person who decided this could be "fun" or "recreational". But hiking and running both do offer great physical and mental benefits. Hikers and runners are all about their gear and gadgets (and, to be fair, shopping is my real cardio). And, I have come to learn that hiker and runners alike enjoy eating and drinking. A lot. And there ain't nothing difficult about that!
