In Praise of Power Hiking
Don’t knock it till ya try it
What's the difference between power hiking and walking? Power hiking is a choice. If walking is a sign of surrender for runners, a waving of the metaphorical white flag, power hiking up a monster hill (or any hill, really) is a fully conscious decision made by endurance athletes who prioritize efficiency and speed.
Power hiking signals not only intent, but also purpose. You are getting over that hill. You will have enough in the tank to get over the next hill (and the next one, ad infinitum.) You may even laugh, or at least chuckle ruefully to yourself, when you wind up passing everyone who insists on running every uphill until they drop.
Not the power hiker. The power hiker never drops. They just keep crushing vert and rolling through peaks and valleys until they reach the end, typically many miles ahead of those who thought power hiking was equated with weakness. The fools.
Power hiking also differs from walking in terms of technique. You’re not lollygagging or catching your breath. You’re freaking hammering, powered by strong glutes and wiry hamstrings firing on all cylinders. Driven by a mentally tough mindset that prioritizes constant forward motion over infrequent starts and stops.
For paid subscribers, we’re taking a deeper exploration into the art of power hiking including sample workouts and different ways to train your climbing muscles. Please consider joining us on the other side of the paywall with a paid subscription.
