For those of us who love adventure, the outdoors and the freedom it brings, lockdown may have been a difficult time, especially for those in countries with strict lockdown rules that have meant that daily movement has been minimal.
As some of you may know, I am also planning to summit Mount Everest in 2021, so not having the ability to train as I had previously hoped has been challenging and I’m sure many of you out there are in a similar position!
However, there is still a lot we can do to ensure we keep ourselves fit and train for future events; we just need to be a little more creative to ensure we are mountain ready!
Have a read of some of my top tips for training for a hiking trip during the lockdown period.
Hiking or Walking With A Pack
Dependant on where you are in the world, you may only have been allowed up to 1 hour or outdoor exercise per day, so it’s important for us to make the most of this time!
If you are allowed out locally, then make the most of this by visiting local trail runs, or even hilly areas if you are in a more urban area. Wear a weighted pack (say between 5-13kg) and head to your local parks or trails.
You’ll be amazed at what you can find near your home! I have discovered some beautiful areas near my home that I wasn’t even aware of until lockdown.
Getting out with this heavy pack is going to help build stamina and endurance for future hikes.
Tackle the Hills
All you need for this is a hill! If you’re lucky enough to be surrounded by nature, find yourself somewhere in the local woods or park. If not, a steep street is still perfect and will do the job!
Short, intense intervals are a great way to improve your fitness, so set yourself a time goal and try to beat it every day (or as often as you’re able to get out!)
I would recommend hiking or running uphill for 3-4 minutes, then turn around and head back down. This will enable you to regain your breath and have a rest, before heading uphill again! I would aim for a minimum of four repetitions and a maximum of whatever you can handle!
Online Strength Training
We’ve been conditioned to believe we need weights or the gym to build strength. Whilst this may help, it’s definitely not the be-all and end-all!
It’s amazing what you can achieve with just bodyweight exercises and a decent resistance band or heavy household items (think 2-litre bottles of water or a chair!)
You can find some incredible free online workouts on Youtube and feel as though you’re in a gym class! There are also some incredible Instagram fitness gurus you can follow such as Courtney Black. Courtney offers free live workouts each day over on her IG Live (trust me, you’ll be sweating as though you’ve been in the gym once you’re complete!) If you’re unable to make the time of her free workouts, you can also subscribe to her app here.
Make it a Family Affair
With school being off-limits and many people furloughed, we’re all stuck at home together. So why not make your fitness goals a family affair!
Head outside with your loved ones, whether its for a walk, playing badminton over the park or a bike ride with the kids.
Maybe you could even set yourself a group challenge, such as the coach to 5k as a family! Anything that allows you to get up and move your body is excellent.
Get on your Bike!
Lockdown is the perfect time to dust off the bike from the garage and get outside!
Cycling is a great way to build up your lower body strength as well as your endurance. The roads are also super quiet, meaning for those who are nervous cyclists, you do not need to be as worried about vehicles on the road.
Cycling is also an incredible way to appreciate the nature around you and explore new areas which would probably be too far on foot. I’d also recommend hitting some hills to build up a sweat!
Don’t neglect your Flexibility and Balance
This is such an essential aspect of training, yet very often forgotten about.
When we’re out hiking and navigating those pesky ridge edges or climbing over boulders, we need our flexibility. Try an online yoga class, or there are so many free videos to follow on youtube!
All you need nowadays is your laptop or phone and a little bit of space.
One of my favourites is Yoga with Adrienne, who boasts over 7 million subscribers! You can check out her channel here.
Want to know more? Check out my other posts for training for an upcoming hiking trip!
How to Train for a Hiking Trip: Everything You Need To Know!
What To Pack For A One-Day Hike
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