Get Fit get Hiking!

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

  • 8/9/2019 Get Fit get Hiking!

    1/2

    e

    quilibium condition of asystem in which competinginfluences are balanced

    according to the dictionary. Or -mountain health retreat inSwitzerland, not for the faint-hearted!

    th expincThe only sounds to be heard were my heartdrumming in my chest, my breath amplified bythe quiet and a cuckoo calling from above as Imethodically placed one foot in front of theother in a vain attempt to keep up withUnbreakable Angus Morison on our 2000metre vertical mountain hike! (Angus wonChannel 5s Unbreakable series, whichtested individuals ability to endure hellish,extreme SAS style challenges).

    Equilibrium retreat nestles against themountains above the beautiful resort ofVerbier in Switzerland. Their missionstatement claims to rejuvenate and re-

    energise with bespoke programmes to fit theneeds of individuals requiring weight loss,endurance training, stress management,

    toning or detoxing. The chalet can take 6 8guests, there were 8 of us - and ourrequirements ranged from weight loss to dietoverhauls and detoxing for a severe stomachdisorder. Me? I simply wanted to enjoy thefabulous mountains, push my endurance andde-stress my mind.

    My dily diy:, Wk up cll 6m feeling amazingly

    fresh in-spite of the hour, Cup of warm water or herb tea, 6.30m Yoga. Iyengar yoga which uses

    props (blocks, straps and bolsters) to helpease the body into stretches

    , 7.30m - breakfast, a bowl of fruitand porridge with water and honey.By day 3 I hated porridge so much thatI wanted to fight with it!

    , 8.15m depart for mountain hike, 12m 1pm return for lunch, or stop

    for packed lunch up a mountain, 2.30pm one hour of physical activity

    (Pilates, circuits, military style workout inthe woods etc)

    , 4pm 7pm massage. Aaaahhhhhhh!!!!Fantastic! (and time for a snooze too!)

    , 7pm second yoga class of the day. Weall looked forward to stretching out ouraching bodies.

    , 8pm dinner, 9pm we attempt to socialise and chat

    after dinner, but the fear of being tired thefollowing day sends us all scuttling to ourbeds before the sun has left the sky!

    Having a life long love affair with mountains, Iwas in seventh heaven surrounded by theirbeauty, spending all day exercising andenjoying the sun. Unfortunately I had injured myquads on both legs the week before, so wastreading very carefully for the first few days,however with icing, daily yoga and massagethey were feeling much better by day 3. I wassurprised that I was so physically challenged bythe hikes at times my heart was literallybeating out of my chest and I was unable toget it under control (day 3 was worst see boxbelow). Knowing my body pretty well, I askedfor more food as exercising each morning for 3

    ul-fIt AUG/SEP 201038

    Hiking: a leisurely stroll in stiff boots and anorak,

    or a vigorous form of interval training? We sent

    Colin Sndy to Switzerland to find out.

    fea

    tureHiking

  • 8/9/2019 Get Fit get Hiking!

    2/2

    - 5 hours on a bowl of porridge and an applemeant I was all out of energy reserves veryquickly. After adding a mid-morning banana,almonds and raisins, plus a portion of rice withmy evening meal (which was also a little largerthan those wishing to lose weight, but still uber-healthy) I felt more normal and my trainingresponse was as I would have expected.

    This was my first time walking with polesand I was surprised by how much I liked it.Over the first few days, suffering from myquad injury, they really helped as they reducedthe effort and impact through my legs and on

    some really steep, slippery terrain helped withstability and grip. Also, as you are using yourupper body (I mostly felt lats and triceps) youget an additional positive training effect.

    rsulsIn spite of asking for more food, I still lost acouple of kilos and I definitely felt fitter by the

    final day. Others in our team had great results one girl lost 9 kilos and the weight-lossshocker, a young man who lost 17 kilos!Everybody felt more toned, and relaxed andwe all had a good time. A previous client onthe retreat also shaved significant time off hismarathon time following the training.

    finl vdicHiking is much more than a ramble: thechallenging ascents are a great form of intervaltraining and the altitude enhances this effect.This combined with the circuit sessions reallytorches calories, but the physical hardness is

    softened by the massage and yoga.If you are looking to enhance your training

    (and not lose weight) be very clear about thisor you will be given the same diet as others,which although healthy, is not enough tosupport that amount of training.

    The week is expensive 2500 inclusive. Istayed in a shared room and the bathroomsare also shared, but once there you do not

    need any further cash.

    Lucky ultra-Fit readers can get a great

    10% discount.

    For more info on Equilibrium retreats

    go to: www.equilibriumverbier.com

    For more info on Nordic walking go to:

    www.nordicwalking.co.uk

    UF

    AUG/SEP 2010 ul-fIt 39

    feat

    ure

    I used Polars FT7 heart rate monitor, which gives you time spent in your fitness training zone and your fat burning zone. 99.50www.polarelectro.co.uk

    and a 'Fitbug' pedometer to count my steps & monitor my energy in versus energy out. www.fitbug.com/ukmembers

    Dy tim Clois finss zon f buning zon avg Hr Mx Hr Sps kn

    1 ssssmn dy 1 hr 32 750 37min 54min 134 180 12,988

    2 th is big hik 3 hr 56 2016 2 hr 12 1hr 43 141 178 24,750

    3 Hds dy o m Hr oo high

    3 hr 17 1918 2 hr 26 51 min 149 184 30,931

    4 th Biggy 5 hr 41 2857 3 hr 36 1 hr 33 144 179 25,102

    5 mosly l,som unning

    3 hr 26 1422 1 hr 02 2 hr 24 123 172 29,941

    6 inl ssssmn.Sm ou s dy 1pushd hd & n

    1 hr 00 705 0 hr 59 0 hr 1 167 182 14,683

    th physicl cs o hiking

    th chllnging

    scns g

    om o invl

    ining nd h

    liud nhncs

    his c