Each to their own… or not?

 

I must confess I wanted to post this before the end of February, as I promised to write two posts a month. Then I had to remember my advice. The past few weeks have been hectic as I became a grandma at the end of January. This left less time to do most things, including writing – and I’m not complaining. And that is just how life goes. Occasionally, we are reminded that we are not in charge and that it’s okay to slow down when necessary. Anyway… here we go!

My attempt at healthy living started with joining an aerobics club a few years back. Except for the high-impact exercises, which included step, we did a bit of weight training and toning. It was beautiful, and I enjoyed that. My body, even though it was much heavier when I started, did a good job of carrying me at the time.

I was later introduced to other forms of exercise and even joined hiking. I then realised that no amount of jumping up and down at the gym would prepare me for what the mountains have in store for me. Hiking requires stamina, and walking uphill on varying terrain plus long distances demands strong cardiovascular endurance. I needed more. I  needed to walk more to build my endurance for long distances and develop my cardiovascular strength. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned hiker , you cannot afford to slack on your fitness. I learned that the hard way!

Walking is an effective exercise that's also gentle on your knees.

My friend and I once pulled a very costly stunt. We decided to join a hiking trip to Monk’s Cowl, in the Drakensberg - straight from our coaches. Our guide, having taken us to another trail in the berg, trusted our fitness and told us, “You girls have what it takes!” Boy, did we have a rude awakening! We arrived last at the camp, and the guide was kind enough to let us know that, throughout his guiding career, he’s never had anyone reach that camp after sunset. Ouch!  And that was not the only time we were last. We (the same friend and I) once registered for a half marathon (walking) at a night race, and we were so behind that we had to be escorted. By the way, these are stories often shared around the fire during a hike.

And we continue to explore divergent terrains, this time armed with the requisite fitness.

Anyway, this piece is not about hiking fitness but rather about whether people should stick to one sport (for lack of a better word). I’ve made myself a messenger here because I’ve heard people questioning why some people run, cycle, hike, and swim, among others. My question is, why limit yourself? Okay, I do not run! I do not have knees for running, and since I’m also aware that there may be no spare parts for my model, I try not to do anything that may require replacing some of my body parts. So, you can imagine how much I cringe each time I see people running on trails.

A fellow hiker says human beings are not made for running. And that’s him justifying why he would never run in his life. And another fellow hiker feels running on a trail is just madness. And he doesn’t understand why some people think hikers are mad for leaving their homes to torture themselves in the mountains, exposing themselves to a lot of danger in the process. In the same way, other people don’t understand why people would just chase the wind for so many kilometres. That it doesn’t make sense to you doesn’t make it stupid. You find someone questioning why you hike, yet they walk for hours trying to get a small white ball into a hole. I can go on and on. And people pay a lot of money to watch some of those seemingly ‘stupid’ sports.

So, should golfers not hike, or runners not play golf? I think we all have different tastes and limits. My experience is runners are used to speed; they get bored on hiking trails. They just want to get to the end, while for me, hiking is about taking it easy and making time to absorb nature and smell each moment. Would I have the patience to hold a stick and practice a swing to hit a small ball, hoping it will land in a hole or somewhere closer? Nope! And I have nothing against those who do that. In the same way that I do not have issues with people who cycle. I know my bum, well-cushioned as it is, doesn’t like repetitive movements, so no saddle for me! But for those whose bums are happy with the saddle, knock yourselves out!

I admire those who do triathlons. I admire runners, and I know my teammates (I just joined a work athletics club) look forward to me graduating from walking to running Comrades marathon. I may attend the Comrades marathon at some point but only to support them!

At the end

We are diverse, and so are our choices. We choose what works and makes us happy. I am all for ease and happiness. If it delights me, I will give it my all. If it feels like punishment, it’s not sustainable. Choose your poison and find a mix of what makes your hiking better. One step at a time.

Td