Travel

How to Get Fit for Long Distance Hikes Abroad

Hiking can be a great way for you to keep fit. You can experience the great outdoors and you can also team up with people in your local area as well. If you want to take things to that next level, then hiking abroad is certainly a great way for you to do that.

Create a Goal

It is a great idea for you to look at the route you intend to take. You can also note down the distance that you are going to be walking on the longest day as well. This is a fantastic way for you to work out how fit you need to be, and it will also help you to plan out your regime. Remember that some hikes will ascend and descend, which will use way more muscle groups than when walking on flat ground. If the only walking you do is taking the dog for a stroll around the city then this may come as quite a shock, so take the time to really prepare your mind and your body for this.

Start in Advance

You should really start exercising three months before your trip. You need to increase your breathing and your heart rate to the point where you can hold a conversation if you are walking uphill. The more you do this, the easier it will be. Of course, it also helps to build up your stamina over time as well. If you go on the same walk every single day then this won’t help you out very much because your body will become used to the workout and it will plateau as well. The exercise you do will largely depend on the hike you are going on, for example, if you are booking through Kandoo Adventures then you would need to train differently when compared to going on a lakeside hike in the UK.

How to Get Fit for Long Distance Hikes Abroad
Image Source: Pexels

Cardio

Any exercise that will boost your cardiovascular fitness will most certainly help. If you need some ideas then swimming and even cycling are great options. You can even choose to take the stairs at work when compared to taking the elevator. The key is increasing your heart rate as much as you can. When you do this, you will increase your stamina as well and this can work wonders for your fitness. It will help you a lot, when you will begin your 2 day Inca Trail and it will become a truly enjoyable experience for you.

Consistency is key here, and it is far better to go for a walk once a day when compared to doing intensive exercise once a fortnight.

How to Get Fit for Long Distance Hikes Abroad
Image Source: Pexels

Take your Boots

As your fitness increases, you need to start going out more often in your hiking boots. They will take some getting used to, so try different socks to find out which one works best for you. Wool ones are great, but it is possible for you to try different thicknesses to see if you prefer one over the other. There is no one-size-fits-all option here because if you are going somewhere cold then you might want to layer up a few pairs. This will change the way that your boots fit, so it’s all about trial and error to see what you like the most.

Feature Image Source: Pixabay



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