TRAINING
The Best Training Exercises for Hiking Season Set your mountain fitness base with these five moves BY KATELYNN VAN ENGELEN KRISTINA STEINBRING PHOTOGRAPHY Katelynn is a certified personal trainer and holistic nutritional consultant based out of Edmonton, AB. She was also named one of Canada’s Top Fitness Trainers in 2019. MS_KMFIT
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here’s nothing worse than being puffed on those early season hikes. As we approach the warmer weather, many people have their sights set on certain hiking trails. Most people don’t think much about preparing their body before they head out for a hike with friends and family. However it’s smart to set a fitness base in the months leading up to your hike. It’s not just training for higher altitudes you have to consider. Hiking requires you to build a foundation of muscular strength and stability for optimal performance. Strengthening off the
58 I Summer Outdoor & Travel Issue I IMPACT MAGAZINE
trails will also protect you against any injuries and not have your legs feeling like Jell-O. The goal for setting up a pre-hiking season strength program is to increase your strength in the primary muscles involved (quadriceps, glutes, hamstrings, calves and core) along with strengthening your stabilizers, especially your hips, knees and ankles. With this goal in mind, here are my top five strength exercises to prepare you for the hiking season.
