A key ingredient for any self-improvement program is setting a goal, something to strive for.  Otherwise, it’s all too easy to throw up your hands one day and say, “All right, good enough. I’m done.”

If your goal is to lose weight, you have a target — 20 pounds by spring, for instance. If you’re trying to get in better shape, maybe you’re aim is to walk a 5K by summer. A cyclist? The MS 150 in September is always a laudable goal. And if you’re a hiker, then maybe your aim is to earn Iron Hiker status by hiking all 24 miles of trail at Umstead State Park on March 20, the first day of spring.

Last March, the Triangle Meetup Raleigh Weekday Outdoor Activity Group inducted its first six Iron Hikers. According to Terry Barclay, who founded the Meetup group in July 2008, the idea came up on last year’s New Year’s Day hike, a 12-mile figure-8 loop taking in Umstead’s Sycamore and Company Mill trails.

“The group started talking about scheduling some more longer hikes,” recalls Barclay. “The idea of hiking all the trails in Umstead was suggested by some member, don’t remember who. Being the organizer of the group at the time, I followed through with the idea.” (Barclay has since ceded the title of lead organizer, but remains an assistant for the group, which does a variety of outings — hikes, bike rides, paddle trips — during the work week.)

This year’s Iron Hike will follow a format similar to last year’s (see below). The day will be broken into five separate hikes with specific start times. That way, hikers who may not be up for all 24 miles can join in for a segment or two. A potluck lunch will be held between the second and third hikes. I caught up with Terry today to find out a little more about the Iron Hikers.

What’s the training program for aspiring Iron Hikers?

No one that I know of had any particular training plan to prepare for Iron Hiker Day. The group members that participated just did the regular hikes with the group. The group usually has a couple hikes scheduled each week which are typically 5 to 7 miles long.

Tell us a little about last year’s hike.

Last year we had approximately 20 members participate in the hikes and potluck picnic lunch. The average being 12 members per hike with 6 members doing all the hikes. … We started hiking the Sycamore Trail at 8:15 a.m. and finished the final hike, the Company Mill Trail, around 7:15 p.m. Each hike was set up to complete about 15 minutes prior to the next hike, to give members time to relax, refill water bottles, get fresh socks, etc. This worked out very well except between hike No. 3 and hike No. 4, which are on the Crabtree side and Reedy Creek side of the park, respectively. We did not allot sufficient time to commute during the Saturday traffic and hike No. 4 had a delayed start. We have added more time for the commute this year. Mother Nature was very kind to us for last year’s hike. The weather was cool and dry. Perfect weather for Iron Hiker Day hikes and the potluck picnic. This year, like last year, each hike will be started ON TIME plus or minus a minute — no waiting 10 minutes for late arrivals.

What was the hardest part about last year’s hike?

The distance. Most members of the group had never hiked over 10-12 miles in one day. So most of the hikers were not prepared for the big difference between 12 and 24 miles. It’s a lot more than just a 2x factor, from 12 to 24, as most realized by the end of the day. Members who hike regularly each week with the group still ended up tired. Some had blisters and others had sore muscles and/or sore feet the next day. No one was up for doing it again soon.

What advice do you have for aspiring Iron Hikers? (And do finishers get a badge/plaque/at-a-boy/girl?)

Start hiking regularly now to get your feet and muscles ready for the all-day hike. It’s like running a marathon, a lot less strenuous of course, but if you don’t get use to hiking prior to Iron Hiker Day you will not be able to complete the 24 miles.  Be prepared: dry socks, lots of water/fluids to stay hydrated, and some snacks to keep your energy up. Last year we were going to give the members who completed the 24 miles a framed 5×7 photo.  But we never followed through with the idea. So all they got was an at-a-boy/girl. This year maybe we actually will do something.

Interested in becoming an Iron Hiker? Join the Raleigh Weekday Outdoor Activity Group here. Or, have free time during the week and looking for people to hike with, bike with or do a variety of other outdoor-related activities with? Then join the group here as well.

Here’s how last year’s inaugural Iron Hiker Day unfolded:

• Hike No. 1 — Sycamore Trail, 7.2 miles, 8:15 a.m. start time.
• Hike No. 2 — Pott’s Branch & Oak Rock trails, 1.85 miles. 11:15 a.m. start.
• Hike No. 3 — Sal’s Branch and campground spur trails: 3.15 miles, 1 p.m. start.
• Hike No. 4 — Loblolly Trail: 5.4 miles, 2:30 p.m. start.
• Hike No. 5 — Company Mill Trail: 5.8 miles, 4:45 p.m. start.