Fitness Through Living
Getting Started
Understanding Our Walking Program - There are 6 basic components to our walking program.
1. Instruction
2. Equipment
3. Walking Courses
4. Walk/Hike Ratings
5. Personal Schedule
6. Record Keeping
We always start out with a pre-activity instruction session. This is where we explain and demonstrate proper form, technique, proper setup and use of equipment, course layout, do's and don'ts, personal record keeping, the levels of pace and tempo as well as providing you with the basic knowledge of this activty. We always strive to move you along as quickly as possible but will make recommendations when it is right to progress to the next level. This is done by awarding a "Certificate of Achievement" for each level.
Walk/Hike Ratings - How we do it....
We developed a scaling or rating system that covers the particulars of each walk or hike. For the pace or tempo we call the hike by the "# of Boots" with respect to the pace and or tempo. Along side the scheduled walk we will show the number of "boots" we define the walk by as well as the distance, elevation, surface and a general overall rating.........
This pace would be consider an easy slow pace. More of a meandering pace in the range of 1.5 to 2.0 mph.
Pace/Tempo
1 Boot
2 Boots
This pace is the rate at which the average person would normally walk. It is a pace that we start our walks with and progress from there. Rate is about 2-3 mph.
3 Boots
This pace is the rate that creates an excellent "fast walk" speed where strides are lengthened and matched with a full alternating arm swing. Rate is about 3-4 mph.
4 Boots
This rate would be considered "speed walking" and would range within 4-6 mph pace. This rate we would use for short sprints alternating between 1-4 Boots.....
5 Boots
This is a rate for speed competition and one we would not use.
Distance
1 .................. > 3 miles ..... (ex: a 1.5 rating would equal 4 - 1/2 miles)
2 ................. < 3 miles....... > 6 miles
3 ................. <6 miles....... > 12 miles
Surface
1........ paved surfaces
2....... well-defined dirt trail with nothing much that could be regarded as "tricky"
3....... either a less well-defined trail (meaning that it is somewhat overgrown in places), or one which has significant unevenness or which is often slippery
More for our hiking excursions....................
4....... this is either a serious "bushwhack" meaning that there either isn't much of a trail or that it is so overgrown that you will be pushing your way through bushes and will get scratched if you are not wearing long clothing, or the trail is very rough, steep or slippery.
5....... this is basically off-trail, no defined route and/or you will need to use your hands to the extent that this is bordering on rock climbing.