Hiking can be a rewarding outdoor activity to enjoy. In addition to being a great form of exercise, hiking down a nature trail may turn into a cathartic experience. People truly discover themselves when hitting the trail with their hiking boots.

Rushing out to go hiking without the proper preparation might not be the best plan though. You want to be in great shape when planning to go out on a hiking adventure. Being in top physical form makes hiking more enjoyable. “Huffing and puffing” due to poor cardio make you want to quit. Plus, poor physical and cardiovascular conditioning increases the risk of injuries. To get the best benefits out of hiking, look into these activities to improve your conditioning.

Interval Training with Walking, Jogging, Sprinting

If your knees and overall health permits it, taking part in interval training could give your cardio and endurance a boost. Even though you mainly walk when hiking, bringing things up to the next level by jogging and sprinting during exercise session build up your “wind.” And you don’t want to tire out on the trail. So, boosted cardio is a big positive.

People commonly perform interval training on a treadmill. If you don’t have access to one, don’t worry. The track at your local park will do fine. You aren’t training for an athletic competition. Just get a few minutes of interval training done somewhere and reap the rewards.

Lift Some Weights at the Gym

Don’t assume weightlifting solely involves “pumping iron” for the sole purpose of looking like a bodybuilder. Lifting weights helps boost strength and durability. You do want strong muscles, muscles capable of handling tough workouts, when you hike.

A series of lower body exercises could help build up the leg muscles sufficiently for hiking excursions. Leg presses and squats would be two all-purpose leg exercises. Don’t assume you must lift heavy either. Lifting lift weight for high repetitions could be workable. Even low impact exercises for bad knees can support strength improvements. If you have bad knees, be sure to ask your doctor for recommendations for exercises. Maybe you could even work with a physical trainer. Just don’t do anything that might make your knees worse!

Go A Few Rounds of Rock Climbing

No, you aren’t required to try and scale the side of a steep mountain. Rock climbing no longer requires a real mountain. A unique exercise machine mimics the experience of rock climbing. Many local gyms have these types of devices available for client use. Check out the regional fitness centers in your area. If one is home to a rock climbing machine, see if you can do a drop-in here and there. A few rounds of rock climbing could help your conditioning. Also, the machine provides a somewhat similar terrain to the not-always-smooth trails hikers experience.

What can you do if no gym near you is home to a rock climber? Spend some time on the Stairmaster, a device virtually all gyms present to members. A Stairmaster delivers a decent similar experience capable of aiding conditioning.

Make It Social

Hiking is a lot of fun, but it’s a fairly dangerous activity to do alone. Hiking in the wilderness leaves you prone to many dangers such as wild animals and injuries from tripping and falling. Whether you go with your best friends, coworkers, your significant other, or someone else, making hiking a social activity makes it an even greater experience. It’s a great dating opportunity as well. Since hiking can be a lifelong activity, try taking people with you as a way of seeing if you really like them. Dating after divorce can be especially hard, and hiking is a great way to remove the stress of a dinner date while still getting to know someone.

Try Not to Rush Things

Getting into shape for hiking requires consistent effort. Starting a program a couple of weeks before a hike is better than nothing, but don’t try to rush things. That is, avoid upping the intensity level too high. Doing so could lead to problematic results.

Doing the exercises intended for improving your hiking part of an overall healthier lifestyle. Incorporate them into regular workout sessions during the week. A side benefit exists here. By performing these workouts consistently, you may find yourself always on the verge of peak hiking performance conditioning.