AND WHY WE'VE BUILT DEDICATED TRAINING PLANS FOR HIKERS

If you’ve ever finished a long hike thinking “I didn’t enjoy that anywhere near as much as I wanted to”, you’re not alone.

One of the most common things we hear from hikers and trekkers is:

“I’m fit… but that absolutely ruined me."

And that’s exactly why we’ve built dedicated hiking and trek training plans.

Fitness vs Trek Fitness: There’s a Big Difference

General fitness is great. Running, gym sessions, classes, cycling — all of it helps.

But hiking and trekking place very specific demands on the body that standard fitness routines don’t prepare you for, including:

• Long, continuous time on your feet
• Steep ascents and punishing descents
• Repeated effort over consecutive days
• Carrying a rucksack for hours at a time
• Fatigue management, not just speed or strength

You don’t fail on the mountain because you’re “unfit”.
You struggle because your body hasn’t been trained specifically for what hiking demands.

The Biggest Issues We See on the Hill

After years of guiding UK challenges and overseas treks, the same patterns come up again and again:

• Strong runners struggling with long descents
• Gym-fit clients finding pack carry unbearable
• Active people wiped out by day three of a multi-day trek
• Knee, hip or lower back pain appearing after hours of walking

These aren’t motivation issues.
They’re preparation issues.

Why We Introduced Trek-Specific Training Plans

We didn’t introduce training plans to turn Chasing Summits Adventures into a fitness brand.

We introduced them because:

• Too many capable people weren’t enjoying their challenges
• We were answering the same preparation questions repeatedly
• And because good preparation makes adventures safer, more enjoyable and more successful

Training properly shouldn’t feel intimidating or extreme — it should feel relevant.

What Makes Our Training Different

Our training plans are built specifically for hikers and trekkers — not gym-goers chasing PBs.

We focus on:

• Hiking-specific strength (legs, hips, core, stability)
• Endurance for long days, not short efforts
• Progressive pack carry (this is huge)
• Repeatable days, not one big push
• Real-life schedules, not perfect training weeks

This is about preparing your body to move well for hours, day after day — because that’s what hiking actually asks of you.

Training to Enjoy the Journey (Not Just Survive It)

Most people don’t sign up for mountain challenges to suffer.

They want to:

• Enjoy the views
• Feel confident and capable
• Finish strong, not broken
• Come home proud — not disappointed

Good preparation changes how you experience the entire challenge.

Instead of counting every step, you start noticing the mountains again.

How We Support Different Types of Hikers

Not everyone needs the same level of support — and that’s intentional.

Fit to Trek Ready (Self-Guided)

For active people who want clear structure and guidance, but are happy to train independently.

A 12-week, self-guided plan focused on:

• Strength
• Endurance
• Pack carry
• Long-day readiness
• 
  

Bespoke Training Plans

For those training for specific challenges, longer treks, or who want their plan built around their lifestyle, history and goals.

Expedition & Long-Term Preparation

For bigger objectives — multi-month hikes, overseas expeditions, or major endurance challenges — where durability and injury prevention are critical.

This is structured, phased preparation with defined support and check-ins.

The Bottom Line

You don’t need to be an elite athlete to hike well.

But you do need to prepare specifically.

If you want hiking and trekking to feel stronger, more comfortable and more enjoyable — training matters.

And when it’s done properly, it doesn’t take over your life.
It simply makes the mountains feel like they should: challenging, rewarding… and worth it.

👉 Ready to prepare properly?

Explore our Fit to Trek Ready digital training plan or find out more about our bespoke trek preparation services.

Head to the Training & Hike Preparation page above for further details and plans.