Walking-our most primitive form of transportation

Right now I am supposed to be finishing up Christmas shopping but the events that just went down at work have made it impossible to do anything but type. Today a naysayer, upon learning of my future endeavor, asked what I was doing to train for the trail. I explained that I hike when I can. As I said this he was shaking his head. “How far do you walk every day?” he asked. I joked and told him from home to work which is all but 0.1miles. He was not amused. I reiterated that I hike occasionally. Again, the head shake. “How would you prepare for the trail,” I asked. According to him I should walk two miles everyday for one month and double it every month till June. A novel idea, however with a semester left and a thru hike to fund I will be spending most of my time studying and working and hiking when I can. According to Naysayer, I need to practice walking everyday for six months in order to build the muscle I needed to carry my bodyweight for the six months I’ll be on the trail. Were we not designed to carry our own body weight? I thought. Yes, I will have a pack, which will be no more than 30lbs, however, we were designed to walk. Since when did walking, our most primitive form of transportation, become exercise? The other thing he told me was that I should walk coming down on the balls of my feet, otherwise, coming down on your heels you experience the shock up through your spine. Now there is another innovative thought…not. He said, quite confidently, “What’s gonna happen, is your feet will be hurting so bad and you’ll have so many blisters that by the time you get to Massachusetts, you’ll get off the trail.”  I assured him that I was hiking the trail in its entirety. To which he responded rather dryly, “Time will tell.” He even so boldly handed me his card and told me to call him when I get to Georgia. I know one thing, I’m going to accomplish my dream whether or not someone thinks I can do it. I’ll thank Naysayer for one thing…a post.