In this episode I interview veteran adventure coach Joe Bonington, founder of Joe's Basecamp, to discuss training for adventure, the value of strength and conditioning for trail athletes and staying mountain fit while gyms are closed.

Veteran adventure coach. Trekking guide. And a real leader in the adventure community. Joe has been at the forefront of pushing genuine strength and conditioning training to Australian adventure athletes, and today he comes on the show to discuss his training philosophies.

Inside this episode:

• Joe's philosophy around training for adventure (and why you should think of your trail fitness like a Landrover)
• One area where the adventure community as a whole, do not put enough thought into
• Conditioning for adventure athletes (where people need to be putting their focus)
• Two great areas of fitness a hiker stuck at home should be working on
• A simple and effective fitness test for hikers and trekkers which you can do at home
• A few awesome online training options for adventurers and kids

Mentioned in the episode:

• Free online workouts for kids
• Free online workouts for adventurers

You can find Joe at:

• Website:https://joesbasecamp.com.au/
• Instagram: @joesbasecamp
• Facebook: @joesbasecamp

In this episode, I share with you a number of training methods a hiker can use, to keep their training at home a bit more interesting.

Training at home can sometimes get a bit repetitive. Limited equipment, space and creativity leads to workout often getting a bit boring.

So to help, today I share with you a number of different training methods which you can use to spice things up. These are dead simple to apply, but they can be a godsend for the hiker who is stuck at home, trying to keep fit but struggling with motivation.

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Need some help getting fit, strong and resilient while you are training at home?

Check out our Online Training For Hiking

In this episode, I invite breathing specialist James Fletcher on the show to discuss high performance breathing for hikers. Inside, he shares an incredible amount of knowledge about how hikers, trekkers and altitude adventurers can potentially improve their performance through breathing training.

Breathing is a subject which so many hikers are interested in. And it is a subject that I have hikers reaching out to me all the time. However, when people are talking about breathing, they generally are always centred around a few specific techniques (such as the Wim Hof method). Which I have always found a bit limited… because I know the 'one size fits all approach' doesn't work for hikers with regular training... so how could breathing be any different?

My eyes were opened to this subject when I met James Fletcher, breathing specialist and founder of Fletcher Techniques when he presented a seminar around 'High-Performance Breathing For Climbers'. When I heard the information he shared, the evidence he provided and the practical application he used, I just knew I needed him to come on the show.

In this episode:

• What breathing performance actually is, and what an athlete is trying to achieve by training the breathing
• The Wim Hof Method and The Oxygen Advantage: should hikers be following these things?
• What 'strength training for breathing' is and how it can be an incredible performance aid for hikers
• Do elevation marks work and are they beneficial for hikers?
• How breathing training can reduce shortness of breath and improve performance at high altitude
• And much, much more…

You can find Fletcher here: Instagram: @fletchertechniuqes Website: www.fletchertechniques.com

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Want to get fit, strong and pain-free for hiking? Check out our online training for hiking programs.

In this episode, I discuss one silver lining which many hikers may be able to find out of the current crisis.

It might not be much but, potentially, it could be a little sliver of positivity for many hikers to focus on in the coming months.

== Want to learn more about the Plantar Pain Program mentioned in the episode? Send an email to [email protected] with the words "tell me more" and I will send you over all the details.

In this episode, I interview adventure coach Josh Wood (straight from his self-quarantine), and we discuss physical preparation for guides and backpackers as well as some great ways to stay active and productive when stuck at home.

Josh is an incredibly interesting adventure coach. He works with hikers and guides and helps them get in a position where they thoroughly enjoy their adventures, by improving their fitness and reducing their likelihood of injury. In this episode we cover:

• Why following the fitness advice provided by your hiking company, might be setting you up for failure
• Why physical conditioning is SO important for adventure guides (plus how to incorporate it into the hiking season)
• The most critical areas for a hiker to strengthen (plus a range of fantastic exercise options for this)
• Two essential pieces of gear you need if you struggle with sleep on the trail
• How to maintain (and even increase) your hiking strength and conditioning when stuck at home
• A few great ideas on how to ensure your time stuck at home is productive
• One great suggestion on how to keep positive and adventurous during this trying time

You can find Josh:

Instagram: @coachjoshwood Website: https://coachjoshwood.com/

In this episode, I share a few simple home workout strategies a hiker can use if they are currently working from home.

Many hikers out there at the moment are stuck at home. And many hikers are struggling with inactivity.

But let me tell you now...

Physical activity and training will be incredibly important at this time. You may not be training for a significant adventure in the near future but finding some way to maintain your exercise and physical health during this time, will do wonders for your energy levels, productivity, mindset and mental health.

So today, I share with you a few simple strategies to help fit in some training while working at home.

You will learn:

• Why 'optimal' is out and 'practical' is in
• One simple method which can keep you fresh, energised and happy throughout the day
• A great productivity technique to use when working from home (which can explode the quality of your work while helping you fit in some extra training)
• How to use common 'triggers' during the day to help squeeze in some exercise

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Need help putting together a home workout program for hiking? Check out our Online Training For Hiking options: https://www.summitstrength.com.au/online-training.html

In this episode, I interview expert podiatrist Damian Gough, and he dives deep into the common hiking problem of plantar fasciitis. Inside he explains what it actually is, and the proven ways a hiker can overcome it. Plantar fasciitis is the bane of many hikers existence. We have all experienced it. And it is terrible. All too often I see hikers reaching out for help with this issue, but getting some incredibly poor information in return. So with this in mind, I invited Damian Gough, an experienced hiker and expert podiatrist on the show,to have a detailed exploration of the common issue of plantar foot pain for hikers. So if you are currently suffering from some type of plantar foot pain, if you have dealt with it in the past or even if you want to be prepared for it in the future, this episode will be a fantastic resource for you. You will learn:

• A clear explanation and breakdown of over 25 commonly recommended 'solutions' to plantar fasciitis
• What hikers should look for in recovery footwear when dealing with plantar heel pain
• One of the most important areas to look for in regards to preventing any type of foot pain
• The 'green light' approaches which are proven to work for reducing plantar heel pain
• Some great tips to ensure you get the right fit for you when buying boots

Mentioned in the episode:

• Archies thongs
• Scholl orthaheel
• Vionic
• Fasciitis fighter
• Low-Dye strapping

You can find Damien and Umina Podiatry here: https://uminapodiatry.com.au/yourfootpain/

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Need some help getting pain-free for the trail? Check out the Pain-Free Hiker Series: https://www.summitstrength.com.au/online-training.html

In this episode, I describe a few easy ways to keep your adventurous spirit alive during these tough times.

Times are tough. Adventures are getting cancelled. Many people are restricted to their local areas. Or even in their homes. And in among all of this, the very last thing on most peoples lives is an adventure.

Which is a shame.

Because as hikers, we know how important adventure is to our lives. We know how important it is for our mental health. We know how it is important it is to help up find some positive in our hectic lives. So today, I wanted to talk about keeping the adventurous spirit alive.

For those people who may have had a major trip cancelled. For those who may not be able to leave their local areas. And for those who might not be able to leave their homes. Inside this episode:

• The art of the 'micro-adventure'
• Some amazing books to keep your living the adventure (for both the books worms and those who don't like reading)
• A few of my favourite adventure movies
• One productive area where you could put your focus on
• A great thing to work on for when we come out the other side

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Want to get fit, strong and resilient from your own home? Check out our Online Training For Hiking options: https://www.summitstrength.com.au/online-training.html

In this episode, I invite online client Jen on the show, to discuss her recent adventure to Mt Kilimanjaro, how she trained for this challenging trek and how she overcame her knee pain. Inside the episode:

• The training Jen did to overcome some serious knee pain which had plagued her for years
• How she overcame a few scary challenges during her preparations (which are all too common for hikers)
• How Jen got herself to the summit of Kilimanjaro (even though she was so sick with the fly, she could barely open her own tent!)
• Two incredibly powerful mental strength techniques which helped Jen get to the top
• One piece of gear you NEED to bring on Kili

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Want to learn more about the training Jen did to conquer Kilimanjaro? Check out The Online Summit Program

If you have had your big adventure cancelled, this podcast will share with you a few simple things you can do to keep positive.

So many hikers and trekkers out there have had their trips cancelled over the last week.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Which absolutely sucks. And I have personally talked to a number of hikers over the last few days, who are really feeling at rock bottom.

And whether you have been planning these for months or years, either way, it can really get you down.

So with that being said, if you have had your trip cancelled, this episode will share with you a few things you can do to keep positive and find a light at the end of the tunnel amidst the current climate.

== Need help maintaining your training and fitness during this time? Check out our online, training for hiking services here: https://www.summitstrength.com.au/online-training.html