Rock scrambling is a major challenge for many hikers. Jelly legs, instability, anxiety and exhaustion. All those (and more) can turn rock scrambling into an absolute nightmare on the trail. But the good news is, with the right training and preparation, a hiker can significantly improve this type of hiking and feel much more comfortable and confident :) So today, I share with you a video that dives into this subject in detail. It will cover:   The 'big rocks' of training will make a major difference to rock scrambling for hikers   A few great exercises a hiker can inc ..read more

If you always struggle with breathing on steep uphills, pacing is an incredibly important skill. In this episode we explore what good pacing is for hikers and how to practice and develop this skill. Episode Transcript:  ​ ​[0:00] All right, hello, hello, ladies and gentlemen. So in today's episode, we are talking all about pacing. Now, one of the biggest complaints I get from hikers who want to improve their hiking is that they struggle with breathing on steep uphills. You know, they go up in a uphill and they're constantly out of breath. They can never carry a conversation. They reall ..read more

Steep descents can be one of the worst parts of hiking. Uncontrollable jelly legs, painful knees and unsteady feet... Sometimes, they absolutely suck!   But the good news is that there are A LOT of things you can do in your training, which can make steep downhills on the trail more tolerable. One of the cornerstones of improving downhill hiking is building strength in the legs. And if you can build up your leg's capacity to support you on these sections, you will: Be less likely to fatigue early (and reduce the jelly legs) Have less chance of pain and discomfort Feel much more ..read more

Do the front of your hips often get sore, tired or tight when hiking?    If so, this is for you! The hip flexors are a funny area in the world of hiking. Many people talk about hip flexors, but they usually do so in the realm of flexibility and mobility. "Your hips are tight from sitting all the time." "You need to stretch your hips." 'Hip mobility is essential for X, Y, Z.' And there is no doubt hip mobility is important! However, for a large group of hikers, no matter how much stretching or mobility work they do, this area still gets tired or sore when they hike. One common ..read more

Yes, literally!  Strength training saved my life.  ​We never know what’s around the corner so we should never take our health and fitness for granted. As I found out on a recent hike. Heading up through the pine forest We all know the importance of strong bones and muscles, especially as women and as we age. Beyond the age of 30, our muscle mass and bone density starts to decrease which becomes accelerated during the menopause transition.  We may become weaker and at risk of osteopenia and osteoporosis which, in themselves, present high risk factors for health and longevity ..read more

When it comes to training for hiking, most of us have some specific measures we are wanting to improve on. Maybe it is reducing breathlessness on steep uphills... Or being comfortable carrying a full pack... Or improving an ache or pain... Or a dozen other things. Having specific goals is good!   But sometimes, we can get obsessive over these specific things. This is all we think about when hiking. It sticks in our minds in every adventure.  And if you are seeing regular, clear improvements in these things, this can feel great! However, things are not always so simple ..read more

Why do we demonise the poor old calorie?  Flip how you think about calories, what they are and how they work and you could free yourself from a life of restriction, potential health issues and poor athletic performance. DiSclaimer and Warning The numbers and personal references made in this blog are examples only.  Diet, nutrition, calories, macros etc -   it is all a very nuanced area of study which must always take into account individual circumstances. Please also note that there are references to disordered eating in this blog which may be triggering for some.  I ..read more

​In this episode I explore why coming up with a follow up plan BEFORE you finish your training can be so valuable.  Episode Transcript: ​​[0:00] Hello, hello, ladies and gentlemen. So in today's episode, we are covering the last installment in this mini-series, which has been 20 lessons learned through 20 weeks of training, where I've been exploring 20 different lessons that I took out of a massive training process that I went through last year, and how it relates to me and the struggles I went through, and also how it relates to many people training to a big event, a big hike, a big ..read more

​In this episode I explore how self reflection can be SO powerful when you are getting towards the tail end of a training process.  Episode Transcript:  [0:00] All right, hello, hello, ladies and gentlemen. So in today's episode, we are covering episode number 19 of this 20-episode miniseries, which is 20 Lessons Learned Through 20 Weeks of Training. And today we are talking a little bit more about self-reflection. Now, self-reflection and the act of just sitting down and thinking about what's been good, what's been bad, what's been, you know, you've been accomplishing and all of ..read more

About a year ago, I posted a blog in this group that I’d written about comparing ourselves to others.  It was called The Comparison Trap and it’s about how we tend to fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to other people. Most of us have done that despite the fact it really is an exercise in futility!  Here’s the link if you wanna check it out: The Comparison Trap Today’s blog however is similar but different.  This blog is about how we often fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to……..ourselves!  That’s right!  I hear this often from the women in my fr ..read more