Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more
General => General Chat => Topic started by: micmon74 on June 07, 2011
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Hi
I'm doing the seven sevens for charity split over two days with a wild camp overnight in the middle of July. I'm a newbie to all this and would appreciate advise on getting hill fit for the trip. I did my first wild camp at the summit of bearnagh a couple of weeks ago and went up donard on Sunday just passed.
I absolutely loved it and plan to spend alot of time up them hills...... but i won't lie, I found it tough going At times and had/have muscle soreness for a few days afterwards. Shortness of breath wasn't really an issue so What's the best way to get fit for these sort of trips ? Should I just hit mournes every chance I get ? What sort of miles and how many ascents should I be doing per week ? or do i get running close to home? Is jogging good for hill walking ? Any help or advise would be cool.
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You are the opposite of me, shortness of breath is my problem, muscles don't give me too much bother. Do you use walking poles? they will help with the long walk and stop the muscles getting too sore.
Also do you live in a house or bungalow? get up and down them stairs a few hundred times (daily ;D ) to build the muscles up. Do it with a heavy rucksak on too.
Good footwear (with good socks) will make all the difference for the 7 7s. I mostly use an old pair of cheap trainers but with a pair of 1000mile socks (the ones with an inner pair sewn in - they guarantee no blisters :o )
I can only assume the jogging would help, i considerable myself to be a fast walker but a shit jogger (can't run more that 3 miles) But hitting the mournes every chance you get sound like more fun, do one of the sevens each time and get used to the route.
Why am i trying to sound like i know what i'm talking about, i'm new to this mounatin game as well ;D
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Cheers Liam..... Was that your landrover parked at donard car park on Sunday ?
I was looking for more walking than running as I can't run the length of me. I can get down to the mournes once a week and good idea about the stairs. There are some steep steps and hills in Bangor I could pound the rest of the time.
feeling inspired by those guys that ran past me on the way up donard I downloaded the 'couch to 10k' programme for my iPhone. Running fills me with dread but I really like the easy build up this programme suggests. So I might give it a go too.
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Anything involving Cardiovascular exercise will help.. Cycling, running, swimming, walking..
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Was that your landrover parked at donard car park on Sunday ?
wasn't mine
i hate running on tarmac >:( i've joined Murlough AC, they run through the sand dunes each saturday morning at 9.30am, i usually run the bit away from the mournes then walk back towrads the mournes slowly taking in the glorious view :)
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I find Jack Daniels always helps no matter what training your doing :o
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As said any cardio will help, but try to include intervals of high intensity: it gives much better workout and will help the body deal with the 'burn' going up hills (google any tabata, HIIT or hill rep info).
If you can get down each week, carry all the gear you will be carrying on the trip (or a little more) to strengthen the legs and back... also have this for your stairs, squats or local walk workouts. It may look weird, but who cares. I walked around Belfast with 18Kg rucksack training for everest base camp. Used to go over to City Hospital and do reps of the tower stairs. Only carried 8Kg when I was out there, but I figured with 50% oxygen it would feel like 18! ;)