Gloss How To: Start Hiking

Posted on September 1, 2010 by GLOSS STAFF

Think hiking is just for the rugged, outdoorsy types? Think again. Hiking is a great activity for people of all ages and all fitness levels.

I never tried hiking until a few years ago. I thought I was just a flat pavement kind of girl, but then I adopted an active 10-year-old boy and started to do all sorts of things I’d never done before. I’ve learned how to pitch a baseball “like a boy,” I’ve got some surprisingly mad soccer skills and I’ve learned to hike. What’s more, I’ve learned to love hiking.

Here are some simple steps to get your walking feet off road:

- If you haven’t been walking regularly, start incorporating daily walks into your fitness routine. If you use a treadmill, try walking in intervals of different inclines.

- Before heading to a rugged trail, find a park or other area with unpaved walking trails. Easier, shorter walks are a great place to start.

- While shoes designed for hiking are a good idea, don’t wear your new shoes on your first long hike. Be sure to break in the shoes on shorter, more controlled walks or hikes first.

- Wear loose-fitting, moisture-wicking clothes and remember to dress in layers.

- Choose a easy hiking trail for your first real hike and go for a group hike, preferably with experienced hikers.

- Set a realistic pace and take short strides when hiking.

- When walking up an incline, remember to lean in with your upper body. When coming down a hill, don’t lock your knees.

Hiking can be a great activity for the whole family and, once you get the hang of it, it’s an excellent calorie burner. Beyond the fitness benefits, hiking brings you back to nature and is undeniably refreshing and relaxing. The flexibility of hiking is also a huge perk — relatively flat trails provide a great workout and more advanced trails can challenge the most adventurous souls.