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Training and Getting Fit

I guess that some Challengers are out on the hills and backpacking pretty frequently throughout the year, and so do not need to have any special regime to get fit for the Challenge.

However, I was wondering what other folk do. Those who know that their underlying fitness is insufficient to backpack for long days over rough terrain for a fortnight.

I'd be interested in the approaches that different Challengers take. Especially those like me who are vaguely aware that "middle aged" may soon be an optimistic description of the stage they have reached in life (it's my 60th this year so please e-mail me if you want my address to send me an expensive present).

So, how systematic is your training, if it is at all? How often do you get out, what sort of distances do you walk, how much is in the way of steep uppy bits, what about overnighters, do you load up your pack with heavy books or baked bean tins etc etc? Or are some people just rolling up on the west coast of Scotland in May after the odd dog walk and a few trips to the bar?

Re: Training and Getting Fit

The start of each of my Challenge crossings has always been accompanied by a feeling that I should have done more preparation. I'm always overweight and unfit and wishing that I'd done more training and started it earlier.

However, I have always made the effort to do something even if it's not as much as I'd have liked.

I start feeling guilty round about the end of February and begin to take any opportunity for exercise. This could be by joining in team sports where possible or by occasionally going to the gym. It's all a bit half-hearted, though. By the time the hour goes forward in March I can motivate myself to go for a walk after work a couple of times a week. This will only be up to 5 miles, and it's pretty flat round here, but at least I'm getting out of the house and walking. I'll carry a small pack which contains a few heavy extras that I don't really need - like a couple of litres of water.

At the same time I'll be trying not to eat as much so that I can lose a few pounds from round my waist. It seems sensible not to carry an unnecessary kilo either in my pack or on my tummy.

In March and April I'll take any opportunity to go for a few camps. These may just be overnight bivis with only a small pack or could involve my full Challenge load but I'll try to find somewhere rough and hilly and put a few miles in my legs. This also gives me the chance to try out any new kit, too, so that there are no surprises on the Challenge.

So, in summary, it's probably all too-little-too-late with me but I think it makes a slight difference to how well prepared I feel. The first day on the Challenge is always fine .... but days 3 and 4 can be hard work. By day 13 I feel like I could turn round and walk all the way back to the West coast. I also tell myself that I'm now going to maintain that level of fitness all year round. (I never do )

Re: Training and Getting Fit

Judith,
How nice to know it is not just me who doesn't do enough preparation despite good intentions! I think you were being a bit modest as when I have met you on the Challenge you always seem to be doing fine - and you've completed quite a few now.

In response to the original question, yes, you do need to practice some uphill walking and several days in a row. On the real thing, day 3 is often the hardest because you are tired, have a few aches and pains and if the weather is bad you can feel very down.

I would suggest that you should go off for 4 days with all the kit you intend to use of the Challenge, set yourself at least 30 miles with some rough ground as well as a few hilly bits, camp the 3 nights, and get used to the routine of just getting from A to B every day and looking after yourself. If you can do that in March it will give you some confidence and the opportunity to adjust kit, routine etc, and practice again before the Challenge.

Good luck, and maybe we'll meet in May.

Re: Training and Getting Fit

Kirsten Paterson
as when I have met you on the Challenge you always seem to be doing fine - and you've completed quite a few now.

Ah, but the greatest strength I possess is between my ears. I can keep going mentally when my body is ready to give up. "Just another km then I'll have a fig roll". That mindset keeps me going and counteracts my lack of physical preparedness.

Re: Training and Getting Fit

David,

Living far from the hills I seldom see a hill day. But for the Challenge I use a cross trainer and kettle bells at home to build some core fitness, and I walk between 3 - 6 miles a day Monday to Friday. Then add in some training walks and make them multi-day trips. We have one each month planned up to the Challenge.

Also this link might be handy for you: http://www.adventurealan.com/quick-and-efficient-training-for-backpacking/

I would suggest you work on core strength as much as hiking miles. Happy training for the Challenge David.

Re: Training and Getting Fit

Or are some people just rolling up on the west coast of Scotland in May after the odd dog walk and a few trips to the bar?


Yes, except I don't have a dog.

Re: Training and Getting Fit

Phil Lambert
Or are some people just rolling up on the west coast of Scotland in May after the odd dog walk and a few trips to the bar?


Yes, except I don't have a dog.


And this is why Lord Elpus and I make such an excellent team.

All this puritanical stuff about angry trainers, Russell Hobbs (I never did like that boy - he nicked my football boots) Big Ben, and 'core strength' (What *is* that, exactly?) is beyond my ken. And as for walking for four days with a jerry can strapped to your back... Well!

Phil's had half his innards removed as a sop to going lightweight and I've had some extra stuff added as a handicap.

David: You'll be fine. You're walking with two unhealthy old blokes who struggle to get up to their bedrooms after being kicked out of the bar at the start hotel. With your bl**dy great legs it's us that will be struggling to catch you, Sir. And besides, we have a weekend in the Lakes together with like-minded bon viveurs to get our drinking arms fully trained.

Toodle pip.

Re: Training and Getting Fit

I start off by eating as much as I can, ballooning up to 13 stone and then walk it off on the Challenge.

Pre-training? What's that?

It's just a stroll across Scotland over two weeks.

Re: Training and Getting Fit

I've found in the past that the first week is excellent preparation for the second!

Re: Training and Getting Fit

I think for me it's the head that needs a bit of training, or at least a reminder about what might come it's way.

It's so easy over the winter months to just pick an choose those dry or crisp cold days to pop out in the hills, and although you can pack in the miles and the ascent, there's generally a cozy vehicle and a warm bath at the end of it. So I tend to pop out on the same day every week (Sunday), no matter how awful the weather or how I feel. I don't always look forward to it, but it reminds me that on the TGO I'll have no choice if I wake up and it's another wet horrible day ahead. I can't just have a duvet day.

The other head thing, especially if it's a high TGO route, are those demoralizing descents and re-ascents you get in Scotland, more than elsewhere in the UK. Going high is great, but there's nothing can quite take the wind out of your sails than climbing 3000ft, only to see that to get to your next target you've got to loose all that height and re-climb it all over again. On a map, sat in front of the fire in January it all looks great fun. But in the flesh, and to actual scale, it looks like it's going to tear the muscles from your calves. Somehow the Lakes and Snowdonia never really prepare you for this.

Sometime around Easter I often put in a stupid weekend, something beyond the hardest 3 days on the planned TGO route. It makes me feel so unfit that the TGO comes as a pleasant surprise.

Re: Training and Getting Fit

Walk your own walk David; its your route and your pace. Remember that FWAs can also stand for Fatigued Walker's Alternative. Its not a competition and the only standard is your own. There's been a lot of good advice about taking your kit out and getting used to it. Long Distance Walking is more about good personal administration and planning rather than fitness. Keep your carrying weight as light as you can comfortably manage. Make sure you know how to look after your feet and that your footwear (shoes and socks) fit well - there is no correlation between fitness and blisters. Food, fuel and water can be killer weights - break your journey into sections and plan ahead for resupplies of food, fuel and water so that you minimise what you are carrying. Daylight hours are pretty long so plan your day's walk to take advantage of that, with breaks for water stops / eating / socialising. If your pace permits it, reward yourself with a rest day (take a 'zero')at the half way point. And finally, avoid getting lost - 'bonus' miles can be tiring! Enjoy!!

Re: Training and Getting Fit

Thanks everyone for your replies. I was particularly interested to hear what YOU do as opposed to what I should do! I will, no doubt, continue to do my own thing whether it is effective or not. It worked for my first three challenges but there are, I am sure, far better ways out there. I always wanted to know if anyone really does not do much in the way of preparation. It seems that Mr Lambert takes this approach, him not owning a dog! I suspect he will still walk the legs off me come May when we leave the Strathcarron Hotel together. Together, that is, if he and Mr Sloman have not abandoned me before 9.00am on the Friday for being a lightweight on Thursday evening.

One idea I did really like from the replies was John Sanderson's weekly walk, which is ALWAYS on same day so he doesn't dip out if the weather is not so good. Perhaps that should be part of my routine.

Re: Training and Getting Fit

I have two terriers. Excellent for cross-training.

Re: Training and Getting Fit

David, I set off for my first four Challenges carrying around 42 lbs more about my person than I do now and after having walked between 0-3.14 miles a day, 0-5 days a week, with a grand total of 26 feet of 'up' each walk... I survived all bar my third Challenge, from which I was forced to retire due to an unfortunate encounter with something furry that I was allergic to...
The last 2 Challenges I have had 42 lbs less about my person ( ) and have been walking around 25-35 miles a week, with a minimum total ascent of 300 feet. I have found the last two Challenges much easier. Well, apart from '15, when I sprained my ankle badly when blown off a peat hag (not enough ballast...) and then threw myself in a pot hole and knackered my right knee.
So, actually, being fit or unfit, doesn't make a lot of difference!

Re: Training and Getting Fit

Hello David,
My preparation is quite low-key, and living in Holland there is not much hillwalking to get. But I do walk about 90-120 minutes each day. Combined with walks in the weekend that takes me to about 80 kms or 50 miles per week.

Add to this two sessions of fitness (30 minutes rowing machine, 30 minutes strength circuit) in each week, plus a long walk of about 20-40 kms each month to get me over the fatigue threshold. All this without a backpack at the moment....

I must say I feel much fitter since I started this regime. Time on the TGOC wil tell if it has served its purpose :-). Enjoy your preparation and I hope to meet you on the hills or over a pint!

Greetings from the Low Countries!

Re: Training and Getting Fit

Such an individual question, and a lot of it depends on your existing fitness and choice of route. I'm a believer in the hike your own hike mantra, some people prefer gentle strolls through glens appreciating the wildlife, whilst others are ploughing up peaks until they collapse on their sleeping mat - and of course everything in between.

In general for LDW I'd say cardiovascular fitness is useful for challenging routes, yet the most useful I've found is mountain running over uneven ground, letting your ankles and knees strengthen.

Personally, my prep is more individual fitness, I do strength training 3x weekly, row daily, and we will do a couple of weekends away prior with full gear to test our kit choices and remove whatever is an excess.

I'd say the most useful prep is getting yourself out on overcast, rainy days and putting some serious miles under your boots. Everyone understandably tends to gravitate to the nicer days, and the psychology of being out in the middle of rain, high wind whilst still navigating and feeling warm and comfortable will make it easier to do later.