Are You Improving Your Hiking?

When it comes to training for hiking, most of us have some specific measures we are wanting to improve on.

Maybe it is reducing breathlessness on steep uphills...

Or being comfortable carrying a full pack...

Or improving an ache or pain...

Or a dozen other things.

Having specific goals is good!  

But sometimes, we can get obsessive over these specific things.

This is all we think about when hiking. It sticks in our minds in every adventure. 

And if you are seeing regular, clear improvements in these things, this can feel great!

However, things are not always so simple.

And sometimes, certain measures of improvement can be stubborn.

It may seem that no matter what you are doing or how much effort you put into your training, you are not seeing progress.

It happens all the time.

And if you ever find yourself in a situation like this, I have a critical piece of advice.

Take a step back and look at the bigger picture.

Sometimes, when we become so focused on one area of progress, we miss all the good that is happening in other areas.

Because there are MANY measures of improvement when it comes to hiking. And you don't want to forget that.

So, if you ever are wondering if all your hard work is worth it, I want you to look back at your past self (before you started training) and ask yourself these questions:

Can you now hike longer distances at the same level (or easier) of comfort/difficulty?

Can you now hike longer hikes at the same level (or less) of pain?

Can you carry a heavier pack for the same distance (or longer/more difficult) hikes?

Are you feeling more confident in certain situations on the trail?

Is your breathing recovering more quickly once you get to the top of a steep ascent?

Are you recovering more quickly (from pain or fatigue) after your hikes? 

Are you finishing your hikes with more energy? 

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you can be confident that you ARE seeing progress.

And even if one certain measure is being stubborn and doesn't seem like it is improving, you need to acknowledge your progress in others.

Because we are always our own worst critic. And if we get caught up in focusing on the negatives, it is a fast road to falling out of your training, losing your routine and going back to square one.   

​Which will not only eliminate any chance of you ever improving the areas you want but will ALSO stop all the other great progress which may be happening.

So, if you ever feel like your progress with your training is slow, take a step back and have a look at the bigger picture.

You may be surprised at what you are actually accomplishing.

​Yours in trekking,

​Rowan