Almost Out of the T-200s

This week begins Week T-202.

That means I am almost out of the T-200s.

When I first started this training plan, the numbers felt almost theoretical. T-213 sounded far away from anything real. The Appalachian Trail was still years out. The plan was on paper. The website was still being built. The walking was just beginning.

Now there are 11 completed weeks behind me.

Eleven weeks of getting up.

Eleven weeks of logging steps.

Eleven weeks of sustained walks.

Eleven weeks of learning what my body can handle.

Eleven weeks of trying to balance training with work, law practice, family, finances, faith, recovery, and the ordinary weight of life.

I have come a long way.

Not just in steps.

Not just in miles.

In belief.

At the beginning, I was building the habit. Now the habit is starting to become part of who I am. The walks are not always easy, and I do not always feel motivated. Some days I am tired before I even start. Some days the drop foot reminds me that every step requires focus. Some days life feels heavier than the training.

But I keep moving.

The Phase I chart now shows more than numbers. It shows evidence.

It shows that progress can be built slowly.

It shows that consistency matters.

It shows that a hard day does not erase the work.

It shows that recovery, faith, discipline, and patience are all part of the same trail.

Week T-202 has a new goal: 13,500 steps per day, with a weekly goal of 94,500 steps.

That is not small.

But neither is what has already been done.

I am not at the mountain yet.

I am not at Katahdin yet.

I am not even out of Phase I yet.

But I am closer than I was 11 weeks ago.

And that matters.

Forward still counts.

One step at a time.