Stop putting it off - 8 reasons to join that hiking group
“I’m worried I’ll be too slow, too unfit and I’ll hold people up.
I’m worried that I won’t be able to make the distance.
How bout I train by myself to get fit enough to come along to the group?”
Sound familiar? It certainly sounds familiar to me, in a whole load of activities, from bike riding to hiking and everything in between, I was always so scared about joining a group, and being absolutely certain that the group members would get angry at me for not keeping up. But you know what I have realised over the years?
"If left to my own devices, there's a good chance I won't do much at all. Hiking by myself? Where would I go? I might get bored." The process of "getting fitter to join a group" defeats the purpose - use the group to improve your fitness in a fun way!
Most hiking groups don't meet to go as fast or as far as they can. They usually meet for friendship, accountability, shared adventures and mostly just having fun with like-minded people. In fact if someone wants a "smash yourself speed fest", they will go out and do it alone or do it with a specific group, they won't do it in a social group. But if you are still worried about the level of the group get in touch and ask them.
Many of the people in the group will recall what it was like coming along for the first time, and you will most likely find that you will always have someone at your side, not matter what your pace
New people in a group are exciting! They bring new ideas, and a new personality to the group, which is fun for everyone.
Fake it till you make it! Walk in, stand up straight head high. Smile. Introduce yourself to people. Look around you might even see someone there who's trying it out for the first time, talk to them and make them feel more comfortable. Its amazing what tweaking our posture and a smile does for our confidence.
What's the worst that can happen? So you realise its not the right group for you. Its no reflection on you, or a reflection on the group. That's what life is about, trying things out, they won't all be a perfect fit. But it is absolutely no reflection on your worth or your ability. Put it down to experience, and find another group
What if its amazing? What if you fly? What if you meet some amazing people, and you feel stronger, and more uplifted than you have ever experienced? Think about how much you will kick yourself for wasting all that time by not joining earlier?
Just remember - it will very rarely be worse than you build it up to be in your head. Take a risk, escape your comfort zone, you will be glad you did.
I run a body positive hiking adventure group for here in Melbourne, Australia. All of our Escaping Your Comfort Zone hikes take it one step further.
All of our hikers started from scratch, and we all came alone, so we all know what its like.
We walk at the pace of the slowest in the group.
There's always someone there with you if you are at the back.
We chat, we laugh, we try to find mushrooms, and take lots of pictures. We stop regularly for a breather, whether we need it or not.
We take more photos.
We encourage each other, and make sure that all new hikers are comfortable and welcome.
We aren't there to be the fastest, or to walk the longest distance.
We are there to see some amazing sights, meet kangaroos, walk our fur babies and catch up with new friends.
And we are there because we CAN, we are proving to ourselves that we are capable of anything we want to do, and we know we can cause we have the support of the rest of the group.
The encouragement from this group is absolutely amazing!