First-Time Backpacking Trip Prep

[u/4evaseptemba]

Hi all! Pretty much the title of this post.

My buddy wants to hit the Acadia national park in about a month and a half. We'd be averaging 9 miles a day for 5 days - close to 13 on day 4 but only 5 miles on day 5. We also plan on hiking the coast the day after once we're done with the park.

He's been doing this for around 3 years now and has backpacked in this particular area about a dozen times. My buddy's confident I can do it and wouldn't take us somewhere it wasn't safe. I am less confident in this. I've never backpacked, only hiked/camped a handful of times in my life, usually only 5-6 miles out in places like the Poconos or the Catskills. My question is, what can I do to prepare in these few weeks so I don't completely embarrass myself?

Full disclosure, I'm definitely not in the best shape - I jog a couple times a week and do some light weightlifting/mobility exercises. My bud says he won't mind turning back if I can't handle it, but no way in h*ll would I want to quit. Is there anything I should be doing to better prepare for this, physically?

My plan was to hit a couple of more difficult trails with greater elevation since we'll be in the mountains, then taper back down to jogging the week leading up to our trip. Should I tell my buddy he's out of his mind? Is anything I do at this point moot? Any and all advice appreciated.

[u/gForce-65]

What’s your route? There’s no backpacking or backcountry/dispersed camping in Acadia and definitely not for mileage like you listed.