BIKE SALES HAVE GONE THROUGH THE ROOF, LONG WALKS ARE THE NEW ‘GOING OUT’ AND RUNNING HAS PROVIDED MUCH NEEDED HEADSPACE DURING LOCKDOWN. BUT MAYBE IT’S TIME TO UP THE ANTE A LITTLE, GO ONE STEP FURTHER THAN A GENTLE STROLL OR A RUN A ROUND THE PARK. MAYBE IT’S TIME TO HIT THE TRAIL!
WE ALL KNOW that fresh air is good for a healthy mind. And researchers have found that being in nature can do magical things to the part of the brain linked to mental illness, by reducing the mind’s tendency to focus on negative thought patterns associated with anxiety and depression.
It’s no wonder that so many of us have found pounding the pavements, family bike rides and long walks a lifesaver during lockdown. Indeed, bike shops have recently seen an unprecedented spike in sales (Halfords reported a 23 per cent jump in share price, while Brompton reported a fivefold increase in online sales since April).
Exercising in fresh air has done wonders for our mental and physical health. “Being active outside has all sorts of additional benefits on top of keeping you fit - helping you to de-stress, giving you a sense of freedom and helping you reconnect with yourself and nature,” explains Ragna Debats, 2018 double World Champion in Skyrunning (mountain running above 2000m) and Ultra-Trail.
All this comes as no surprise but what if we pushed things a little? Stepped outside our fitness comfort zones and went for a more extreme version of our daily exercise?
TRAIL WALKING
NEW SKILLS
WHAT IS IT? Hiking or trail walking is long, energetic walks over some tough terrain
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
If you’ve ever felt out of breath walking up a hill, then you can see why trail walking is a great way to get - and stay - fit. Research has shown it can boost cardiovascular performance, core strength and endurance, and that’s before you get onto the mental health benefits. Being immersed in the great outdoors can increase attention span, improve our problem-solving skills and help us reconnect with ourselves and others.
WHAT’S THE BENEFIT?
Hitting the trails is is a great lower-body workout for your glutes, quads, hamstrings and calves, but it’s hiking downhill that will tone your muscles the most. As you descend, your glutes and quads have to stabilise your knees and hips. As they resist gravity against your bodyweight, the toning effects go into overdrive.
Research by Stanford University found that hiking increases the energy your body uses by 28% compared with walking on the flat, due to the subtle shifts in the way your leg muscles must lengthen or shorten. This helps to strengthen different muscles in the hips, knees and ankles that we don’t usually use. Walking or hiking on uneven terrain like a nature trail, beach or other uneven surface means your body has to work harder, so your heart rate and m
