Ecuador Training Guide

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Ecuador Training Guide

In true Kandoo style, our Ecuadorian trips are jam packed full of adventure, which is exactly how we like it! But how fit do you need to be to complete an Ecuador Volcanoes trip? Well, whilst a high level of fitness will make the steep climbs a lot easier, they by no means require super human fitness. That being said, if you are joining our Volcanic Adventures or Peaks of Ecuador trip, we would recommend at least a 3-4 month training plan to build up your leg strength in particular, allowing you to better prepare and give you more opportunity to enjoy yourself when you're slogging up to the summit. But it isn't all about physical fitness, often summits are achieved predominantly through the high levels of grit and determination within the team. Summiting Chimborazo and Cotopaxi are challenging, multi day grinds so having the determination to do just one more step even when you are tired can go a long way to helping you get to the top. For those completing the Peaks of Ecuador trip we would also recommend gaining some experience with ice axes and crampons prior to your trip, so this isn't a new process in an already challenging environment.

If this feels at the very top of your ability then there is nothing to say you can't still succeed, you will just need to put a longer length of training in place to ensure you feel more comfortable in this environment. The bare facts are that for the majority of days on our Ecuador Volcanoes trips you will probably be walking 6-7 hours per day with an ascent of anywhere from 300-1400m of ascent! This means it is really important that you are able to trek over difficult ground for consecutive days, perhaps build up from a weekend, to a week of walking everyday and get your body used to the strain.

Practice Hiking

The best training by far is to get your walking boots on and get lots of miles under your belt. Whether this is two to three hours walking locally or full days away on your nearest hills, you just need to clock up lots of hours on your feet as more than anything else it is just the amount of walking that people find tiring. And the best cure for this is to have spent lots of hours just walking.

Hiking practice allows you to understand the stress your joints will be put under and how well you can deal with this. It also allows you to wear in your boots as this takes some time and can often be uncomfortable. Start with a comfortable distance that suits you and slowly try to work your way up to a 5-6 hour trek. If you can do this a few times then you'll be in good stead to join our volcanic adventure trips.

Aerobic Training

Aerobic (or cardio) training will be a key factor in allowing you to enjoy your trip to Ecuador. Aerobic literally means 'requiring free oxygen' and refers to the use of oxygen to adequately meet energy demands during exercise via aerobic metabolism.

Aerobic exercise builds up your cardiovascular system allowing you to process limited oxygen in a more effective way. Aerobic exercise, unlike anaerobic exercise, requires oxygen for elongated periods of time. Examples of aerobic exercise would be lane swimming, long distance jogging, walking and cycling.

One crucial thing we tell our customers is don't rush up the mountains! Trying to ascend too quickly is a huge mistake. Because of the altitude your body needs time to adjust - no matter your fitness levels! However, having a good cardiovascular system will help with this. We recommend putting the slowest hiker to the front of the group.

Depending on fitness, we recommend a 3-4 month training plan. If you're using a treadmill remember to set an incline to ensure you are working the correct muscles for your climbs.

Strength Training

Any training plan should also include strength training. Although not as important as your aerobic training, strengthening your upper body, your core, and your legs will greatly increase your chances of success. To strengthen your legs we recommend doing the following exercises:

Squats
Front and reverse leg curls
Lunges
Step aerobics

Remember when doing these exercises to keep watch of your technique. Exercises done with poor technique will more often than not harm you instead of help you.

Building upper body and core strength is also crucial as you'll not only be standing for hours, but you'll also be carrying gear.

We recommend the following exercises to strengthen your upper body and core:

Shoulder presses
Back and shoulder flyes
Sit-ups
Kettle-bell rows / swings

Remember to stretch after all exercise sessions! Increasing flexibility will allow your body to recover more quickly overnight after trekking all day. No one wants to trek for 7 hours after waking up with stiff joints aching all over!

The importance of stretching

Most sports injuries occur due to poor stretching. This is particularly true on mountains where repetitive movements over tough terrain put a lot of stress on joints and muscle. To loosen your muscles and increase suppleness we recommend adopting a regular stretching regime. Spend 10 minutes every morning stretching your main muscle groups.

So get that date with destiny booked, put on your boots and get out there walking!

Mental Stamina

Just as important as physical stamina is mental stamina and attitude. There always comes a point (most often during summit night) that you will want to quit and just head back down the mountain. Keeping a positive attitude and digging deep to push through is incredibly important and a valuable skill.

Training your mental stamina is no easy thing, but there are ways to accomplish it. You essentially need to construct an activity that pushes your body to what it thinks is its limit, then you need to push past that to reach your goal.

A great way to achieve this is long distance running such as half marathons and full marathons. A marathon will push you to your limit whilst having an achievable goal in sight - the finish line. If you can do this with a friend or training partner then all the better as you will both push each other to achieve more.

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