Hiking Rhythm - Benefits of a good Walking Rhythm
An average day of Hiking will consist of periods of Hiking and of rest. The combination of good Hiking Rhythm, good Walking Speed and fixed Rest Intervals is the thing that separates beginners from good hikers. In our enthusiasm, we often tend to start off too fast, get tired quickly, take an early rest, and start off too fast again. In Hiking, there is one concept that will improve your overall Hiking performance, endurance, and pleasure: Walking Rhythm.
In this section, we will look into why Hiking Rhythm is so important and how you can learn and maintain a good Walking Rhythm:
Benefits of a Good Hiking Rhythm
- Having a steady Hiking Rhythm will enable you to stick to a fixed schedule of breaks instead of having to break every time you run out of breath and start panting. Furthermore, knowing your own Hiking Rhythm and speed will help you plan your hikes.
- Having a steady Hiking Rhythm will lessen the strain you put on your feet, legs, lungs, and overall body. Changing gear the whole time is much more tiring than staying at a constant intensity level. Moreover, having a steady Hiking Rhythm will leave you less tired at the end of the day compared to having variations in your walking intensity.
- Having a steady Hiking Rhythm is generally more enjoyable as you never over exert yourself and generally keep the physical strain at enjoyable levels.
Developing your own Hiking Rhythm
Your perfect Hiking Rhythm is something very personal and something you will have to develop over the course of many, many hikes. Here are some guidelines:
- Try a Hiking Rhythm by walking at a certain stride rhythm and speed and keeping to it. A good Hiking Rhythm is one that allows you to hike in the same intensity level for at least one hour without having to take a break.
- Adjust your selected rhythm to the terrain and weather conditions as well as the weight you are carrying.
- Make your Hiking Rhythm a full body affair where your breathing and the swing of your arms all happen in harmony with the same rhythm.
- Count along or even use a Hiking Mantra to stick to your rhythm.
- Make sure not to interrupt your rhythm unless it is absolutely necessary. Minor obstacles do not have to be a reason to change your rhythm by stopping or slowing down.
- Uneven surfaces like uphill and downhill slopes can make it difficult to maintain your rhythm. You could attempt to keep the same rhythm and adjust your stride. Often this will prove very difficult and you will have to change the tempo of your rhythm. This is not bad as long as you are able to keep at the new rhythm and adapt to it quickly while remaining at the same physical intensity level.
These are the benefits of having a good Hiking or Walking Rhythm. Hiking Rhythm is something strongly related to Walking Speed which we will look at in the next section.
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