Back On The Hills Again!

Butcher's Dog! Regular outdoor fitness tips from the canine on creatine. Cold wet nose and glossy coat guaranteed. Back On The Hill Again! With everything starting to open up, it's tempting to jump straight in, but spare a thought for your rusty body and treat it kindly. You never know, it might even return the favour. Here's a few points to be aware of on those first few mountain days: • Don't expect to be able to perform as well as you did last time you were out. Your mind might be willing, but your body may not be able to keep up, so don't be overambitious with distance or loads. The good news is that, particularly with a relatively low intensity activity like walking, you'll regain around 90 per-cent of your previous fitness pretty quickly. • Watch your joints. If you haven't been out on uneven terrain for a few months, the connective tissue in your knee and ankle joints won't be as tough or co-ordinated as it was, so take it easy and save the skipping from rock to rock tricks for later in the summer. • Soft feet. If you've not walked in boots for a while, your footsies have probably softened up like boiled cabbage, so be aware that you're more likely to blister and pack some Compeed or similar blister treatment. Keeping feet dry with powder or anti-perspirants may help a little as well or you can always try the time-honoured surgical spirit rub for added hardness. • Stretch slowly and carefully at the end of the day, particularly if you're on a multi-day trip and want to be able to move freely tomorrow. No bouncing mind and no inflicting pain on yourself. • If you do find yourself with aching joints and limbs, the supplement Glucasamine Sulphate is now widely available and well regarded, though on the expensive side. • The mental side. Remember that you're brain is as rusty as your body when it comes to the outdoors. Double check what you pack - you've probably forgotten what you need - and think doubly hard about navigation and ropework. And be kind to your dog. Woof! The Canny Canine