Hi Andrea — thanks for the read and your question! Everyone trains in their own way, and the most important thing is to train in the area you are least confident in. For the most part, physical training can happen on the trail as long as you leave enough time for zero days. I did make a point of doing a few completely solo backpacking adventures — backpacking had always been a social event for me to gather friends, so I had never actually spent the night completely alone in the woods, which worried me. That training gave me the confidence to go out and hike, even though it was more than 2 months into the hike before I ever slept alone. I also hadn’t done any extended trips before this — only weekend jaunts — so don’t let that worry you either. As long as you are prepared mentally, the trail provides!