Episode 158: What Happened After My Longest Hike Since Illness

In this episode, Anna shares the experience of completing her longest hike since chronic illness — a 21km hike lasting almost 6 hours — and reflects on what the following 72 hours revealed about recovery, capacity, and nervous system regulation.

This is not an episode about pushing harder.

It’s a conversation about what late-stage recovery often really involves:

understanding load distribution

preparing the body appropriately

supporting recovery intentionally

and learning how to take on bigger physical challenges without overwhelming the system.

Anna explores:

training and pacing considerations

planning around wider life stress and menstrual cycle timing

fuelling and post-exertion recovery

sleep and nervous system support