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Hike Like a Mother: 20-Mile Hike Training Program

BEST FOR: Anybody up for 20-mile hiking adventure at a Mammoth March or other hiking event.

PREREQS: You walk, run, hike or otherwise workout at least 3 times a week for 30 minutes.

NUMBER OF TRAINING WEEKS: 16

This 16-week program is built to prepare you for a 20-mile hiking event so all you have to worry about on The Day is taking in the scenery and taking in your calories.

Over the course of sixteen weeks of training, we’ll get you ready by focusing on the endurance, strength, hydration and fueling necessary to complete 20 miles in 8 hours while enjoying (almost) every step of the way knowing that a day spent with Ma Nature is always a day well spent.

$70.00

  • *Race Date

    Step One: Select your race date:

    If you don’t know your race date yet, please select a date that you estimate will be close to your race date. When you solidify it, let us know and we can change it.

     
    Training Date

    Step Two: Your training will begin on:

    Mark this date in your calendar as your official start date! (If your program has already started, no worries; email us and we’ll help you jump in.)

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The Details

For sixteen weeks, you’ll prepare for the Mammoth March or another 20-ish mile adventure, then spend event day tackling 20 miles of adventure, solo or with your hiking friends.

Included in the program:

  • a 16-week comprehensive hiking program to build a strong, capable foundation to go the distance with a smile;
  • a stocked swag bag;
  • daily workouts sent to you from Training Peaks;
  • access to Coach Dimity if you have questions.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST!

Tune into this podcast, where Dimity and her three Train Like a Mother Club colleagues took on 2023 Mammoth March Arizona. The four ladies chat about:

  • how they trained to be ready for nearly eight hours on their feet;
  • the steady cadence and relaxed atmosphere of the event;
  • why trail etiquette—and good foot hygiene—matters;
  • how Taylor Swift came to the rescue at mile 18 or so.

Listen on Apple or Spotify.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW:  The workouts are a blend of brisk walks and/or easy runs; climbing workouts (done on stairs, at a stadium, or on a Stepmill at the gym); hill repeats (done outside or on a treadmill); easy cross-training sessions; strength circuits; and long hikes on the weekends.

NOTES: You do not have to run any of the workouts; you can walk or hike all of them. Most weeks have two rest days, and you can move the workouts around to fit your schedule. That said, if you’re training for an event in the spring, you will need to train during winter weather, either outside or on a treadmill.

STRENGTH CIRCUITS: You’ll have six 20-ish minute strength circuits you’ll repeat over 16 weeks. The videos are accessed on YouTube.

FITNESS EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS: The workouts utilize a stair machine or stadium/set of stairs.

You definitely need to have access to either a long set of stairs, a stadium, or a Stepmill (the climbing machine where you pick up your feet with each step). A Stairmaster (the machine where your feet stay on the pedals the whole time) can suffice, but we recommend one of the other three options.

A treadmill is also a great tool to have for winter training, if you’re in a colder climate.

We will use weights in some of the strength workouts; a set of dumbbells between 5-20 pounds, depending on your fitness, will come in handy, as will a resistance band.

LONGEST HIKE DISTANCES: One 4-5 hour hike and one 5-6 hour hike.

As you train for the Mammoth March or another 20-ish mile hike, you’re supported step-by-step with the following:

  • A comprehensive training program. In addition to detailed, efficient workouts, the program covers the gear you’ll need for your hike as well as best nutrition + hydration practices.
  • Daily workouts in a Training Peaks Account. This free training tool will help you chart the nearly daily growth of your endurance base. It also sends you a daily email with your workouts for today and tomorrow so you can plan accordingly.
  • Ask the coach. If you have any issues along the way, Coach Dimity is just an email away to answer any training questions you may have.

Upon registration, you will receive a package stocked with training essentials, including GU Roctane Drink Mix, two GU Energy items (an Energy Gel and GU Chews); a pair of blister-banishing Wrightsock running socks; a 2-oz. bottle of Sweat X Odor Eliminator spray; and an AMR sticker for your water bottle or laptop. Over $25 worth of swag!

(Domestic shipping is FREE for all merchandise and training swag packages. International shipping is not currently available but we invite you to participate in any of our online programs! Just email us at tlamclub@anothermotherrunner.com and we will help you bypass the shipping at checkout.)

QUESTIONS + ANSWERS

Great question. This 16-week program is perfect for a hike that is somewhere between 16-22 miles has about 2,000 feet of elevation or less. Most Mammoth Marches fall into this category, as do plenty of other non-organized hikes.

The Epic Hike Program is for hikes that have significantly more elevation (2,000+ feet), like a fourteener in Colorado, The Enchantments, or Yosemite’s Half Dome. The Epic Hike Program is 20 weeks long and includes more climbing (and descending) so you’re ready for significant elevation changes.

And if you’ve got the Grand Canyon on your mind, we’ve got a Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim program designed just for that!

If you’re not sure which is best for you, email us and we’ll help you out!

This 16-week program starts based on your target hike date. You’ll enter it and it will give you your starting date, which you should mark on your calendar.

If you’ve got your eye on a Mammoth March or similar 20-mile event and want to train for it appropriately so you can feel strong and capable, this is your program. Ideally, before beginning, you have a regular workout habit: 3-4 times a week of 30-45 minutes.

You do NOT have to run during this training if you prefer not to; instead, you’ll be walking, hiking, climbing, and strength training.

The workouts utilize a stair machine or stadium/set of stairs.

You definitely need to have access to either a long set of stairs, a stadium, or a Stepmill (the climbing machine where you pick up your feet with each step).

A treadmill is also a great tool to have for winter training, if you’re in a colder climate.

We will use weights in some of the strength workouts; a set of dumbbells between 5-20 pounds, depending on your fitness, will come in handy, as will a looped resistance band.

In the program, we provide a list of everything a hiker needs for a 20-mile hike. You’ll definitely want to have a pack with a hydration bladder and trail running shoes or boots with good traction.

Within a few weeks of registration, every participant in a Train Like a Mother program receives a stocked swag package with some of our favorite training essentials. Domestic shipping is now FREE for all merchandise and training swag packages.

International shipping is not currently available but we invite you to participate in any of our online programs! Just email us at tlamclub@anothermotherrunner.com and we will help you bypass the shipping at checkout.

We definitely want this to work into your life and your active lifestyle. You can email us within 2 weeks of starting the program and we will set you up with another plan or a partial credit for an upcoming challenge. We will not be able to issue a straight-up refund.

With a smart training plan, doable strength training, and advice on foam rolling and other self-care, we’re going to do our best to keep you injury-free. That said, if you have an injury or illness that totally slays your training, let us know within two weeks. We’ll work with you to get you a partial credit for an upcoming program.

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