Toddler Trekkers

While we always have a number of Trekkers carrying their little ones on the trails and heading up the pack, many of us our finding ourselves at the back of the pack going the pace of our toddlers. Towards the end of last summer, my then 2 year-old, realized hiking on his own was rather fun, and doing it with his fellow toddlers was even more so. My dilemma while on the trail with our group or in the neighborhood was, "How do I get my exercise in?" While it is so important to let our little ones go at their own pace, make discoveries and not rush them, it can be painful for us to go that slow too.

Here are some ways to get your exercise in too:

• Squats & lunges, grapevines, high knees
• Wear ankle weights
• Wear a weighted pack
• Do shuttles back and forth - get ahead of your kiddo and back doubling your distance
• Have a few races along the trail to get everyone's heart rate up 
• Every other week during the summer months we are on stroller friendly trails - when we plan on being on the paved bike trails - have your little one bring their tricylce, balance bike or bike w/training wheels so they can move at a faster clip.

I found I could also get a good workout while at the playground too:

• Monkey bars
• Step ups
• Lunges & squats
• Laps
• Pull ups
• Crunches