#26 – How to Train for Mountain Hiking in the Flatlands

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man hiker with trekking poles climbing rock slab

Are you dreaming of climbing Kilimanjaro or trekking to Everest Base Camp, but discouraged because you live in Florida or Iowa or another super flat place?

You may be asking yourself, how the cheese balls do I train for high altitude mountain hiking when I live at sea level?

Friends, if you're dreaming your mountain hiking dreams in the flatlands, this episode is for you.

Today I'm going to share with you the workouts that helped me prepare for big mountaineering trips while living in Cleveland, Ohio (which is flat) and Bangkok, Thailand (which is below sea level).

I can't promise you it will be fun or easy. But is it possible to train for mountain hiking in the flatlands? 110 percent.

Ready? Let's do this.

Links/Resources Mentioned

Episode Sneak Peek

  • [4:00] Why it takes a lot of grit, motivation, and determination to train in the flatlands. And why the reward is so much sweeter!

  • [9:20] Training without a mountain: what’s the same, what’s different, and where to focus your energy.

  • [11:16] Your flatland training to-do list. Here are a few logistical items you can knock out right now to make your training season easier.

  • [15:45] The best sport-specific mountain hiking exercises for flatlanders. How to plan both in-town workouts and training hikes.

  • [20:28] How to prevent boredom and keep your mind busy during repetitive training sessions.

This episode is brought to you by Mountain Fit

If you want to level up your fitness game and tackle bigger adventures, check out my online master class Mountain Fit: Self Coaching for Mountain Athletes. In this course, you’ll learn all the skills and tools you need to become your own outdoor fitness coach. If you’re hooked on adventure, learning how to train is one of the best investments you can make in your future. So stop wasting time and money with trainers who don’t understand our sport, and learn how to get in the best shape of your life with Mountain Fit!

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