How to Survive a 10-Mile Hike

The Situation: You're in rural Ireland staring up at a winding dirt road that disappears over a hill of bright green grass. You're about to start walking a 10-mile hike. You don't hike. It's about 9:30 a.m. You're not a morning person. You need help.

The Background: The Irish take pride in their rolling green hills and scenic views. The government has carefully created dirt paths zigzagging through several high mountains throughout Ireland for tourists to walk through, take pictures and soak in the sights. For those who can't hike; horse and carriages are available and some roads have been paved to allow cars to drive through.

I am 20 years old. I can hike; I'm just not the "hiking type".

1 Mile In: There are perfectly divided plots of farmland in the distance with cows, donkeys and sheep walking beside you. There are massive stacked rocks creating a gray and green backdrop. Grass is growing out of places you didn't think was possible. A river flows on your left calmly around the corner. Everyone is walking at a pretty fast pace and your friends are just as out of breath as you are. Take your time and walk at your own pace. Don't worry if you look out of shape; you are out of shape. So, who really cares? You want to enjoy how beautiful it is anyway. Go slow.

3 Miles In: Your lips are chapped. The sun is being chased by the clouds and you can't keep up with the temperature changes. Beads of cold sweat break out on your forehead. It's hard to swallow or talk over your own panting. No one told you about these steep inclines. Bring a water bottle to stay hydrated throughout the hike. You might think it's annoying to carry but you're not fooling anyone if you think you can make it hiking 10 miles without water.

The horse and carriages passing by make your surroundings seem like a movie. But no one in that movie seemed to care about the stench of the horse poop. At this point, breathing is optional. The manure has created an obstacle course. You are dodging poop, focusing on breathing and hiking a mountain. Wear a scarf to cover your nose; it'll solve at least one of your problems.

5 Miles In: No one is in sight. You're almost at the top of an incline. The end of the hike has to be over this hill; you close your eyes. Your friends squeeze their eyes shut. Walking has become a slow shuffle forward. At the top, you all open your eyes at the same time. More winding dirt roads. More hills. No building or person in sight. The gray and green backdrop continues on as the river flows beside you. Nothing has changed.

You feel a blister emerging at the back of each ankle. You feel a thumping heartbeat in the back of each calf as you creep down the hill. Wincing in the pain of walking on your heels, you begin walking on the balls of your feet. Dodging the poop has become even more of a struggle. Wearing sneakers and high socks is a necessity for hiking. Stop for stretch breaks along the way to ease the pain.

7 Miles In: A tiny waterfall trickles from the top of a stack of rocks into the river. "That would look really pretty if it started raining right now," your friend says. Rain begins smacking your rain jackets and turns into hail. The waterfall isn't even visible through the huge rain drops. Wear a rain jacket regardless of any weather report. It can rain in Ireland even when it's sunny.

You spot a cottage up the road and you're sure this is the end. The Irish lady inside tells you that there is still three more miles until the end. You collapse to the ground.

The End: You are convinced you missed the group's stopping point somewhere. You swear that you will never make it back to civilization. And then, you see it. As you shuffle past the last batch of trees, Kate's Cottage is there; it's not a hallucination. You made it to the end.