1. Bending over, using your lower back muscles to help haul you up the slope. Instead:
- lift your ribs up out of your hips;
- lead with your chest;
- keep your head up;
- relax your neck and shoulders.
- your leg muscles and glutes are the powerhouse for hills.
2. Walking on tiptoe. Instead:
- keep your heel/toe roll for as long as feels comfortable;
- switch to mid-foot to toe-off as slope steepens;
- only walk on tiptoe when absolutely necessary.
3. Not swinging your arms. Instead:
- keep your arms pumping to generate momentum;
- if Nordic walking keep a full arm-swing, grabbing the ground ahead of you;
- keep your shoulders wide.
4. An uneven pace. A stop/start approach to hills is inefficient. Instead:
- Walk at a comfortable steady pace to get into a rhythm and optimise energy.
Remember these tips and you’ll be walking up slopes and hills with ease.
Vicky
