After being in the outdoor industry for some time, it occurred to me that there’s little overlap between the outdoors & fitness worlds, which is a real shame-- there's so much to be learned from both sides!
To the outdoors/ backpacking enthusiasts: there’s the saying “hike your own hike”, and I suspect that comes from a culture inspired by Thoreau— going into the woods to get away from it all (from society’s notions of what you should and shouldn’t do). And it breeds the idea that there’s no right way to go about hiking, which is probably why there are few great training programs. BUT, having guided numerous hiking trips, it’s become increasingly obvious to me that there are things that people need to be doing to take care of themselves while hiking.
Lots of outdoor enthusiasts believe that the only way to train for a trek is by hiking a lot (I used to be one of them), but that’s not entirely reasonable. While hiking is an important part of your training, there are many things you miss if you rely solely on hiking:
1. Most of us are strapped for time, and can’t just take off for 5 hour hikes every day. Weekend hikes are simply not enough to properly train for most distance treks.
2. It does not account for strength training needed. Most people focus on cardio, but a good strength training program is essential to prevent injuries, and is crucial to develop muscles that will support your knees and feet.
3. Stretching is a critical factor to prevent injury.
Ultimately, if you enjoy hiking and want to be able to do it for a long time, it is crucial to take care of your body and to protect yourself against injury.
To the fitness enthusiasts:
I get that “fit” implies physical fitness, and getting “fit” may be a byproduct of what happens when you do these trips, but it’s only one component of a bigger picture. First things first— getting you skinny is not anywhere in the FIT Treks core values. I am more concerned about how your body operates when you are 90 than I care about giving you the body of a 20 year old. What I mean by that, is that we’re in it for the long game. FIT Treks may get you “bikini bodied”, but this is a side effect. The end goal is to make you stronger so you can still use your hiking legs until you’re 90+.
That said, if you want to look and feel great, there are millions of benefits to exercising outdoors. Not only will you save money on a gym membership, but you’ll stimulate your brain with a change of scenery, you’ll get better oxygen and more vitamin D, and exercise will be something you crave and look forward to every day.
Even if you are in great shape, there are tons of other factors that can bring your trek to a screeching halt if you aren't prepared with the right gear and knowledge.
FIT Treks
So, this is how FIT Treks was born-- it is the art of caring for yourself, and caring for the outdoors. In 2020, we’ve got lots of traditional treks (Kilimanjaro, Mont Blanc, Patagonia) as well as some higher intensity treks (TMB Ultra and Volcano, Hawaii trails).
What treks are you training for in 2020? Leave a comment below!
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