Why Hiking Is the Ultimate Summer Workout

Workouts don’t always, or even usually, have to be work. Summer is the perfect time to choose activities you enjoy to help you stay fit‚ and maybe even try something new! Hiking is a great exercise because it hits both strength training and cardio, and it is a healthy activity you can continue to enjoy for the rest of your life. But the best part? The hike will be fun and relaxed, but you will more than likely wake up sore the next morning. So basically you are tricking your body into getting a tough workout in. We’ll take that over endless burpees in the gym any day! It might sound too good to be true, but here’s why it works: Your muscles are surprised. Your body is used to doing traditional exercises like push-ups and lunges. It’s used to your cheerleading routines. But it isn’t every day that you ask it to walk up steep hills on uneven ground or climb over rocks and make sudden turns. This works parts of your legs that you don’t hit in your normal activities. And, hiking terrain isn’t consistent. You’ll go up a steep hill for a short while, but then it will flatten or go back down a little before ascending again. Then you’ll have a few rocks to climb over, but it will be smooth around the next turn. This means it doesn’t actually feel that hard at the time. You are distracted. When you’re doing traditional gym workouts, you’re thinking about every. single. rep. You hopefully have some music on in the background and get a chance to talk with a teammate here and there, but other than that it’s just you and those 60 sit-ups. When you are hiking, there’s beautiful scenery and picturesque views all around you. And, although you’ll probably be breathing hard at some points, you can still carry on a conversation. Your body is working hard, but your mind is blissfully unaware. Follow these three tips to get the most out of your hike: Never, ever go alone. There’s a lot of things that aren’t safe to do by yourself, and wandering out into the wilderness is at the top of that list. Go with your family or take a group of friends, and be sure to tell someone when and where you are going. Find the right trail. Ask around or search the Internet to find a good trail to hike. You’ll want one with nice scenery‚ maybe even a cave or waterfall‚ and that matches your experience level. Start with a trail that’s two to five miles round trip. You probably don’t want one that’s completely paved and literally a walk in the park, but you also don’t need to be following a barely-visible trail into a thick forest. Do your research! It will only take a few minutes, and you’ll be much happier on a trail that’s right for you. Be prepared. You don’t want to haul around a heavy backpack, but you will need some supplies. If your hike is three miles or less, you will probably be fine carrying just a water bottle (as long as you put sunscreen on in the car). If you go much farther than that though, it is a good idea to pack a backpack with water, sunscreen to reapply, and a small snack like a granola bar or apple. You might also want to bring a hat, sunglasses, and bug spray, depending on the area.What is your favorite place to hike?