Hiking is becoming a more and more popular sport, we can practice it in summer as well as in winter, we just need proper preparation and proper equipment. One of the important elements of hiking is fitness, thanks to which we can cover even very long distances. On the route, we can meet different people, who have a faster and slower pace. Maybe you have wondered how to catch up to a faster hiking friend on a hike?
So how do you catch up to a faster friend on a hike? It’s not just about our speed, it’s also about our fitness so that we can cover long distances. It is also important to gradually increase the length of the routes and to cover them.
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What are the benefits of hiking?
There are several types of hiking, such as hiking, trekking, and speed hiking, and they differ in intensity, the equipment needed and long distance to be covered. Hiking itself is not a very difficult activity, it can be done by practically everyone – also in different seasons of the year. It is an ideal form of active recreation for people who do not want to, or for some reason cannot participate in other more demanding sports. Hiking has positive effects on:
- Strengthening immunity
- General improvement in fitness
- Strengthening of the circulatory and respiratory systems
- Improved oxygenation of the body
- Working all muscles
- Reduced stress levels
- Better well-being
This is why people who do a lot of hiking are less likely to fall ill. The sport is ideal preparation for people who want to do sports, and it takes regularity and improved fitness to catch up to a faster friend on a hike. In this article, you can read why you feel sleepy when you return from a hike or even a long walk.
How to endure a long hike?
Hiking is a hike that we can treat as a pastime, but also as a regular sport. As our condition improves, and we generally have more strength, our legs will take us further and further. Whether you can catch up to a faster friend on a hike depends on several things, mainly the regularity of the sport in question, and sheer persistence. We have some tips for you on how to improve your performance when it comes to trail long distances.
So, to work on your endurance and cover long distances, you should:
- Graduate the difficulty, don’t choose difficult and long routes to start with, it’s best to choose a given route according to our abilities, and then gradually, increase the long distance and the difficulty of the terrain.
- Rethinking the split of the route, there may be situations where you want to do a very long route over several days. It’s important to plan your journey well in advance and divide it into stages; not everything can be done at once. Remember to have regular meals and rest.
- Hike regularly, regularity is the best way to improve your performance, also learn from your mistakes, and rule out what doesn’t work. Even if you are slower than your companions, in time you will catch up to a faster friend on a hike.
- When it comes to hiking, shoes and comfortable clothing are the most important things. Increasingly popular are trekking boots, which make hiking easier by relieving pressure on the knees and spine. Remember, good and appropriate equipment can make it much easier for you to achieve your goal.
Of course, these are just a few examples of how you can improve your hiking performance. Just as important as regular training is the approach to the goal you set yourself. Even if you hike with people who are faster than you, it is not a foregone conclusion that you will one day be able to catch up to a faster friend on a hike. Be persistent in what you do and strive step by step towards your goal.
What is worth bearing in mind when hiking?
It is difficult to go trekking without the right equipment, especially if you decide to go for a few days. The number of necessary trekking accessories will depend on the form of trekking, place, and season. We will equip our backpacks differently when we decide to go desert trekking and differently when we decide to march in the Arctic.
The basic equipment includes trekking shoes. It is advisable to buy boots that, despite the ankle stiffening, allow free movement and are breathable and waterproof. There are many models on the market, at various prices, so everyone can choose something suitable.
When hiking, it is also important to remember about:
- Thermo-active clothing, especially now in winter, will be very practical. It is also worth choosing thermo-active underwear, which is lightweight and impermeable to wind.
- Warm and waterproof jackets and sweatshirts. Depending on what time of the year we are going on the road, or what region we are going to visit, it is worth remembering about the so-called onion clothing.
- Jacket or raincoat, very important, especially in places with changeable weather conditions like mountains.
- Trekking poles, which are becoming more and more popular even for a simple walk, as well as for longer hikes. Apart from relieving our joints, they help us maintain proper body posture and balance or better does our strength.
- First aid kit, not everyone remembers about it, but let’s remember that on a field trip we may encounter various injuries or cuts. It is worth having such things as bandages, plasters, hydrogen peroxide, etc.
Depending on where we want to hike, whether, in valleys or mountain tops, we will need the appropriate equipment. One of the elements of a successful expedition is proper planning and good equipment. It is also a good idea to go on longer trips with several people, as this is much safer and easier. Take note of these few points, and you will certainly be able to catch up to a faster friend on a hike one day.
In Summary – How To Catch Up To A Faster Friend On A Hike?
Hiking is one of the sports that are suitable for anyone who enjoys long hikes. Depending on which region and time of year you choose, you need to prepare the right equipment. Another important element of preparation is regular training, and endurance exercises to get better and better at tackling long distances.
Even if you are not the fastest or tallest hiker, it is possible to catch up to a faster friend on a hike by practicing fitness and endurance or even surpassing him, but maybe you don’t know what you should count as long-distance hiking? Then make sure to check out this article about “Is Hiking 10 Miles A Lot? – (5 Hiking Tips)“.
