#21 – How to Get Faster: 3 Game-Changing Workout Hacks for Slow Hikers

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fast woman trail runner in desert with mountains

Are you tired of being the hardest-working hiker among your friends — and still the slowest one on group hikes?

It's so unfair.

But the truth is, hiking a lot doesn't necessarily translate into speed on trail.

The good news is that making a few tweaks to your workout can really ramp up your speed. And it can happen relatively quickly.

So if you want to shock your friends (and delight yourself) by morphing into a speed demon, this is the episode for you.

We'll cover:

  • Why getting faster shouldn't be your first priority, especially as a beginner

  • What physical adaptations make a hiker faster

  • How to get faster by ... hiking faster (it's intuitive, but so many people miss this one)

  • The magic of the heavy backpack workout

  • Why steep, gnarly terrain is your friend (sometimes)

  • Why losing weight won’t automatically translate into speed (though it sometimes helps).

So grab a pen and paper and prepare to take some life changing notes.

Click the player above to listen right here, or subscribe to Climb Your Mountain on your favorite podcast app.

Links/Resources Mentioned

Further Reading on the Blog

Episode Sneak Peek

  • [3:48] Why getting faster isn’t important for everyone. Reassurance for slow hikers. Why beginners shouldn’t worry about speed for the first 6–12 months, and what they should focus on instead.

  • [7:32] What it takes to hike faster. The physical and physiological changes that need to happen to make you fast.

  • [11:21] Why you must hike fast in order to hike fast (and why so many people miss this obvious point.) How to test your baseline speed and assess your progress. Intro to fartlek, hill repeat, and tempo workouts for hikers.

  • [14:51] The magic of the heavy backpack workout. Understanding slow- and fast-twitch muscle fibers. How to design and progress a successful heavy backpack workout.

  • [18:21] The importance of challenging yourself with gnarly terrain. Training ideas for hikers who live in flat areas.

  • [21:08] Why losing weight won’t automatically translate into speed (though it sometimes helps).

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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