Most CureSearch Ultimate Hikes take place in the fall… meaning that hikers are gearing up to train and prepare now. We asked a few of our experienced Ultimate Hikers for their most important tips to share:
Hike is hard. Train harder.
Ultimate Hiker Keri Fitzgerald says, “Don’t skip the prep work.” Training properly for hike is absolutely essential for your body and mind and it is also a great bonding experience between hikers. Fitzgerald says, “Training with the group is fun!”
The trail is not a red carpet.Ultimate Hike is not the most practical event in which to debut a new outfit. With that being said, don’t hike in something you have never worn before. Ultimate Hike coach Robin Waddell recommends wearing familiar, well-worn clothes in order to better avoid blisters and unnecessary discomfort.
Pack lightly.
Don’t overpack on the trail. We know, it’s tempting to try and stuff everything in sight into your comfort bags, but resist the urge. Fitzgerald says, “I brought a lot of stuff for my comfort bags last year and it turned out that I didn’t need most of it. [CureSearch] is there at those aid stations with everything anyone could ask for.” Stick to essentials such as boots, socks, trekking poles, duct tape, trail mix, a hat and batteries.
But don’t forget this!
One thing that you can never bring too much of is a positive attitude. Remember who you are hiking for — the 43 kids diagnosed with cancer every day. Stay strong and positive.
The more the merrier.
Make sure to tell your friends about Ultimate Hike and encourage them to join you on your journey. Waddell says, “You can make it on your own, but it is better to have a friend to share the good and the bad and help encourage you.”
There’s an app for that.Ultimate Hike coach Holly Frazier uses training apps during hikes in order to get the best experience. Popular hiking apps have features such as reminding hikers to drink water and stay hydrated or calling out each mile a hiker completes in order to keep them motivated.
Cue the confetti!
When the hike is over, don’t forget to celebrate your achievement. Waddell says, “Whether you hiked one mile or 28.3, you are awesome! You have trained hard and raised money for a very worthy cause and you should be very proud of yourself!”
To learn more about how you can tell children’s cancer to “take a hike” visit curesearch.org/UltimateHike.
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