Improving your level of fitness is the most important preparation you can do for the trip. You need a mixture of endurance and strength to carry yourself and your stuff up the mountain.
We have planned several day hikes and overnight trips to prepare our youth for the climb. With regard to fitness, these trips are only checkpoints or milestones. They should not be the only exercise sessions you do in your preparation. These trips only give you an idea of how you are doing.
Please make some sort of plan. Write down just enough of this plan to keep you motivated and give yourself direction. Here are some pointers for your exercise plan:
- Plan to exercise at least 3 days per week. 6 days is best - but 3 days should be your minimum. Sunday is an ideal rest day.
- Focus your efforts on moving under your own power over long distances. Doing some in-place strength training is always a good idea! I do this at least 3 days per week. But keep in mind that your goal is to hike about 6 miles and climb over 6,000 vertical feet (over 2 days). Walking, running and hiking should be a primary focus with your workouts.
- Gradually increase your intensity. Increasing your intensity means either moving faster or going longer (greater distance). Start with what you can do now. Work hard and step it up each week. One rule of thumb is to increase your weekly mileage by no more than 10%. More on that later.
For reference, here are the basics of my current workout plan:
Monday - 4-5 mile run
Tuesday - Weight Training
Wednesday - Run - intervals
Thursday - Weight Training
Friday - 4-5 mile run
Saturday - Long Run and Weight Training
Sunday - Rest!
Again, this is just for reference. The key is doing something! Every day!
More details will come. But for now - just get moving!
Posted on 4/13/2019
Posted on 4/13/2019
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