Training for Treks

Are you rising to the challenge and doing a trek for charity? Do you plan on walking one of our wonderful national walking trails with friends or colleagues? Is this the year that you are finally going to have that walking holiday?

Whichever one you are opting for, it will be the most enjoyable if you are fit, well and totally prepared. If you are a regular walker you may need to up your training and get out there more often but what if you are a beginner? Unfortunately, there is often little information about training provided as I found on my own walk, and as friends and colleagues have also experienced. Worry not, we can help you plan your training either on a one to one basis, in couples or in a group.

We can run sessions for a group of you who are doing the same event or can put you in touch with some of our local walking groups. We can also put you in touch with buddy walkers. Flexibility is the key and we try to provide as much as possible with the main aim of meeting your needs. Just call me on 020 8220 6919; 07941 246619 or email me to take it further.

'Very much centred on you - the' customer-walker', and your needs and goals, Heather's main aim is to meet your objectives, and ensuring that the journey's end is a happy one.' Cathy Bye

'Heather is a very friendly, very caring and approachable walkers' coach. She makes sure she goes round the whole group at different stages in the walk to check that we are all okay and not struggling at all, and she makes time to chat to us all whilst also leading the walk. I like the fact that she builds into the walks places where people can duck out if they are struggling and get the tube/bus/train back home. I like the fact that there are variations on the walk and it can change as we go along, depending on how people feel.' - Lindsey Smith

As part of his honeymoon, Gary Spinks and his new wife Jane headed off to conquer Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. Here's Gary flying the flag on the summit of rugged Mt Meru, a couple of days before the ascent on Kili. Mt Meru was part of the acclimatisation. To read their adventure click here

This was a dream come true as I had wanted to do this trek for years. What made it even better was being able to go out with a group of 5 other women who are all very special to me. It was fabulous experience, took me outside my comfort zone (as it should) and now I'm working on the next one. Where will that be?

As well as training for this walk myself I ran training walks for women locally who are doing the walk too. This was a wonderful experience in so many ways for all of us and a great privilege for me to see people improve in their walking and really step up to the challenge.

"I started my walking with the intention of getting fitter whilst also training for the 60km walk for Breakthrough breast cancer. I had not realised how much fun it could be. I met so many wonderful new friends and we didn't realise the long distances we covered as we talked about all sort of varied and interesting things throughout our walks - sometimes very deep and meaningful things.' - Usha Chudasama

I travel from Reading to South Woodford on a regular basis to do the training walks. I have such a great time with the team each week that I would miss not doing it. We have bonded really well as a team, and I have made some really good friends. I hope these friendships will continue after we have completed the Breakthrough Walk. Walking in a team is much easier than doing all the training on your own because you can give each other encouragement, have a good old chatter and put in the miles at the same time.' - Lindsey Smith

'When I decided to take part in this charity walk for Breakthrough Breast Cancer, I did not realise how much training would be involved. Joining Heather's group really motivated me to walk and at the end of every walk I can't wait for the next one. Walking in a group is definitely more enjoyable than walking on my own, as there is always someone to chat to, so you cover a larger distance than you think. - Lena Chudasama, the youngest of the group aged 17

Before Christmas 2005, my friend Pauline asked me if I thought she would be able to do a trek in the Himalayas with the National Autistic Society. She said she was not a walker but as her son is autistic she wanted to do something to make a difference and the challenge beckoned. It sounded a great walk and I have to admit I was tempted to go too. Pauline and I discussed the length of time she had to get fit and how she might do that so she registered and started training.

She did really well mixing walking with trips to the gym but it was all rather lonely and when I started my training walks in April, I invited her to join us.

' Thanks so much for letting me walk with you. I am now walking further than I did at any time when I was training on my own and with all the chat, the time and distances pass unnoticed. I now feel truly prepared for Nepal'

While Pauline was away, I was able to keep in touch with her husband and to hear how she was getting on. One thing that made me smile was the fact that regularly she was out front and the organisers were inspired by all her energy. Pauline tells me that is all down to the training she did with me and the group.

'I have never done anything like this before and I was very suprised at how fit I got in such a short time. The night before we started walking, the trek guide was telling us how hard it was going to be. As a result I was very nervous on the 1st day but when I had completed that day I knew that I could complete the whole trek without any problems. A lot of people could not believe how much energy I had. I have really enjoyed it and met so many lovely people. I would love to do another trek in a few years.'

It was training for my sponsored walk along parts of the Great Wall of China that really got me into walking in a big way. We were given a little guidance but no real structure so it was left to a friend and I to decide how to go about preparing for the event. Because we knew that the wall had numerous steps and it involved lots of climbing up and down as well as walking over uneven ground and narrow paths, we made the decision to do lots of our training in the Lake District. As I headed off to China I felt well prepared although that doubt still appeared on the eve of starting. I need not have worried, we were among some of the most able and had no blisters, sore knees or aches and pains and were able to help those who did, as well as being able to enjoy every minute.

Enjoy every aspect of your challenge by planning your training and taking on board the tips and techniques that will result in an experience of a lifetime.