How lucky are we to live in a place with over 300 miles of trails within less than a 30-minute drive?
Normally, May is warm enough to dry out lower elevation trails, making them primed for activity. Also true this year, but given the lack of snow, we’ve been able to hike, bike or trail run practically year-round.
I’m convinced that using these trails is the perfect exercise; here are three reasons why.
I touched on this last month, so you may have some catch up reading to understand reason No. 1, but being in nature is good for our mental well-being.
Compared to a concrete sidewalk, the unevenness of a nature trail, sloped in various angles, and littered with rocks and roots presents a unique experience. Say what you will about mindfulness, but being on the trails will force it upon you. Failure to pay attention will inevitably entice a surly root to grab your toe or tire and quickly bring you back to Earth.
And yet, that reminder to pay attention is part of the joy of being on the trail. It’s in those moments that we dance with the ground beneath us. A side step to the left of a root and a gentle hand hold with an extended arm of a tree to help you sway around the next obstacle.
There’s no room for worry or anxiety because you’re preoccupied with executing the flow of the dance.
In fact, you’re so preoccupied, you hardly notice how full-body movement over uneven terrain is testing your balance and building strength. Of course, balance and strength are skills for everyday life, but also critical for fall prevention.
At any age but especially as we age, fall prevention and our ability to conduct activities of daily living are a ticket for long-term independence.
Youngin’s may balk at the idea of using hiking poles, but they’re far more than a tool for accessibility. Hiking poles reduce pressure on feet and muscles, increase VO2 (how much oxygen is absorbed and used during activity), higher numbers indicate higher fitness, and engage muscles in the upper and lower body, extending the time to fatigue while burning additional calories.
So far we’ve identified mental well-being and improved strength and balance as reasons to go take a hike. I promised you three.
Last but not least, hiking involves elevation gain and loss. Hike Purgatory Flats or the Grand Canyon, and this reversed order can be deceiving. Remember: What goes down, must also go up.
Aside from great views, hiking up and down provides high intensity interval training. Short spurts of intense aerobic exercise alternating with recovery (hiking flat or downhill). This type of training is known to improve fitness and help correct dyslipidemia in many populations.
What’s dyslipidemia? It’s when your “good” cholesterol is low and “bad” cholesterol is high.
Moderate stress and improve cholesterol, strength, fitness and balance. Not to mention the views! I told you hiking may be the perfect exercise.
I’m going to follow my own advice and head off to Zion this weekend for a Ragnar race. Our team of eight will run relay style until we cover 125 trail miles and 15,000 feet of gain. We don’t do it for the sleep, and sometimes we’re not sure why we do it at all. Yet here we are for our ninth race. I guess challenges have a way of growing on you.
Nicole Clark is director of La Plata County Extension Office. Reach her at nclark@lpcgov.org.
