I have decided to hike the Inca Trail to Macchu Picchu in Peru this September. I've never really been hiking before but I am excited to try, and I love to camp so that aspect is exciting. I am just very nervous about the fitness levels required to undertake the trek.
A bit of background - last year I travelled to Fiji with my boyfriend and family and we decided to go on a zipline tour over the rainforest. I didnt fit within their normal harness, they has to go searching for a special big harness for me to use, which was awful since I didnt think I was that big. Then on the steep walk up to the first zipline point I was so out of breath and red that I started crying with embarrassment. On the same trip, a guy at our resort told me he thought I was related to my brothers girlfriend because we "are both fat". That was the turning point for me, and when I returned to Australia I quit smoking, joined Weight Watchers and have been on the way to better health ever since.
This year I have been getting into exercise slowly. Once a week I get on the gym treadmill and go for 20 minutes on the "hill" incline setting. I also swim for half an hour once a week. Orignally I thought a good goal would be to walk on the treadmill the distance of a single day on the trail. However, the biggest day on the trail is 16km, which at the pace I walk would take me 3.5 hours!
I would like to hear from anyone who has walked the trail as to what fitness level you need to be at to make it. Also if anyone has any good tips about specific exercises that would be beneficial, or a good goal to aim for - that would be fantastic.