What is Speed Hiking?

What is it about running in the mountains? It exhilarates and strengthens for sure... but it doesn't half hurt sometimes!

Over the years I've found myself heading off for a big day out, dressed to run or in lightweight walking gear, with the intention of running but only when I feel like it. This lifted the self imposed mental and physical pressure, making the day out a real joy, I experienced the endorphin rush of running along and the satisfaction of a long day on the fell. Some days I hiked more than I ran, other days I ran all the way.

What I noticed on all these days out, was that yes I was mountain hiking, but faster. Unencumbered and using lightweight outdoor kit, the miles just flew by. My fitness improved dramatically without the niggling injuries a lot of my hardcore running friends were plagued with.

The use of ultra-light walking poles was a revelation to me, increasing my stride length and speed over the ground during long ascents and descents.

This is Speed Hiking as I know it. It incorporates elements of running, hiking and Nordic walking all mixed up. The key element being unhindered and efficient movement carried out at a pace you can enjoy – no matter how far you travel or how fit you are. The enduring popularity of any kind of hiking or Nordic walking has to be the enjoyable simplicity and accessibility of it all.

I’ve met all kinds of characters on our local fells who enjoy speed hiking, from an old Cumbrian fell runner (famous in his day) who used his Nordic walking poles as an aid to overcoming his debilitating knee injuries to an hallucinating ultra-distance runner, nearing the end of the Lakeland 100 mile race, who was just about keeping it together thanks to his Leki Carbonlite poles!

Whatever your motivation, give it a try and set yourself free from over specified heavy hiking boots and backpacks and go and enjoy speed hiking around the mountains more.

To find out more, click on the following titles to view our Head to the Hills articles on:

•   Speed Hiking Gear coming soon
•   The Best Backpacks for Speed Hiking coming soon
•   The Best Walking Poles for Speed Hiking coming soon