abs and hiking

“I've heard that strong abdominals are good for running performance, thought maybe the same thing for hiking. How 'bout arm strength for using those hiking poles? Anyone exercise upper body to improve hiking performance?”

“I exersize my entire body.”

“so this pouch I wander around the woods with is really all muscle...”

“You only have ONE pouch?”

“I meant the front one.... the one in back is removable.”

“LOL!

Time to go to sleep. Gotta work in the mourning!

Best.”

“antilock breaks? i hear that helps when you're trying to slow down on icy sections of the trail, and on the steep downhills, or when you gotta stop quickly to avoid an accident... yeah, i suppose abs could be helpful on the trail.”

“simer, i thought the same thing! hehehehe”

“but seriously, someone (birch?) will come on soon and talk about the benefits of "core strength" and that how strong abs and backs make strong people--no matter what they are doing. it's true.”

“LOL at running girl. I have very strong abs underneath my belly. I love to excercise and I love to eat too so I will never have a six pack again...

I have read that lower back pain is a symptom of weal abs as the back has to compensate for the weakness.”

“Just about everything I've ever read says that abs are important in hiking/backpacking. Now, virtually anyone can put on a pack and stroll down the trail with little physical prep. However, I've always considered hiking/backpacking a SPORT, not just a leisure activity. To perform well in a SPORT you need proper equipment, practice, and physical conditioning. Hiking is a physical sport and all over body fitness is necessary to perform well, prevent injury, and increase enjoyment.

Think of a couple of softball teams: One that practices three times a week, has a good selection of gear, and works out on non-practice days. The other team is made up of desk jokeys that don't exercise and just show up come gametime. Both can play and have a good time, but which one is more likely to win the game, be able to play a double header, and NOT be too sore to move on Monday morning (and don't say the one with the most caffein and pain killers)?

Stay in shape and you'll have even more fun backpacking.

If you're new to working out here's a link to some backpacking training ideas:

http://www.bodyresults.com/s2hiking.asp”

“This whole time I've seen my hiking and backpacking experience as a leisure activity, one that I do at my own pace with the love for simply being outdoors. The day it becomes a sport to me, which implies competativeness and endurance, is the day I hang it up because it probably won't be as personally enjoyable and satisfying anymore.”

“I saw The Hulk last night. Now that guy can lay down some serious miles!!”

“Thx for the website reference. You still planning on doing he AT next year?”

“Hey, I have abs. Somewhere under these "love handles" around my gut.”

“I agree that backpacking is for the enjoyment of outdoors (and an excuse to collect gear) but hesitate to call it a sport as well. But you have to admit it is an athletic pastime. The better shape you are in the more easy miles you can enjoy!

Core strength not only assists in walking distance but balance. In addition those large muscles eat up calories thus increasing your metabolic rate.”

“I'd like a six-pack.”

“I would have liked to have had ABS a couple of times I tried to stop on the trail and slipped in the mud...”

“"A" BS? What campfire do you sit around? Their is usually plenty of BS around the campfires I visit.”

“Check out the article on backpacker fitness study in the new Backpacker magazine!”