Start Walking: Tips for Beginners

Start slowly and steadily

Starting to walk is a great idea, but just like with any other sport, always exercise responsibly and gradually increase the distance and intensity of your walks. Your body needs to get used to a new sport, so be careful and build up your body’s endurance as gradually as possible. Always listen to your body’s signals. When taking up a new sport, the risk of an overuse injury is always lurking. Strength-training exercises will help prepare your body for all those steps.  

Be prepared before you go out

Heading out for a walk? Always be prepared, even for shorter trips. As a hiker, you’re out in the open and at the mercy of nature’s whims. So always check the weather forecast before you leave and make sure you’re dressed appropriately. Make sure you’re clearly visible if you’re walking in the dark. Are you hiking in an area you’re not very familiar with? Then always pay attention to the route, because getting lost is perhaps a hiker’s worst nightmare. And when you go hiking, it’s best to always bring some water and a small snack.  

Choose hiking boots in your size

Perhaps the most important item when you go hiking: a sturdy, high-quality pair of hiking boots. After all, everyone has a different body type, different feet, and their own walking style. That’s why it’s all the more important to make an informed choice when buying hiking boots. Should you choose a leather or synthetic shoe? With or without Gore-Tex? And which category of hiking boots is right for me? If in doubt, always seek advice from professionals. In addition to hiking boots, socks are also an essential part of your hiking outfit. It’s best to avoid socks made of pure cotton and instead choose socks with a good fit and as few seams as possible, preferably hand-stitched.  

Hiking trails and hiking areas: plenty to choose from

Of course, a hiker isn’t much without hiking trails. Hikers are lucky enough to choose fromthousands of hiking routes,hiking areas, and hiking events. But that can sometimes make it hard to see the forest for the trees. That’s whythe wandel.be calendaroffersahandy overview of organized hikes for every skill level and in every corner of Flanders. In addition, you’ll findplenty ofhiking inspirationon wandel.besoyou’ll never run out of ideas. You’ll also find all kinds of motivational tips, health tips, and advice on gear.

Training Guide from wandel.be

To help you take your first steps into the wonderful world of walking, wandel.be hasdevelopeda handy "Start to Walk" training guide. Do you want to walk five or ten kilometers in 10 weeks? Thanks to the two walking schedules in this training guide, you can build up your fitness gradually. These schedules are suitable for anyone who is just starting to walk or wants to get back into it. In addition, this training guide provides you with plenty of practical information and tips about walking. You can download the practical training guide via the following link: https://wandel.be/gezondheid/download-de-start-to-walk-trainingsgids/

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