Debunking "hiking myths."

When I first started hiking, I went through a bit of an imposter syndrome phase. I remember getting ready to hike a trail and as I pulled out my tennis shoes, and my $15 dollar backpack I found on the clearance section at Marshalls, I couldn't help but feel like an hiker imposter. Not only did I not look like the hiking women from a hiker's magazine or websites, I sure didn't have the cool looking gear either. Some of the articles I read or "hikers" shops I visited only made me feel worse about my new hobby I had taken up. I thought to be a hiker was to be super fit, knowledgeable about trails and all things hiking, wear and have the latest gear before I even dared to hit the trail. I even thought that I was doing hiking all wrong. I should be practically running to the finish line to gloriously say, "I hiked eight miles today and going for another four later." I thought, "that's a real hiker."

Wrong. Having to be physically fit, own all the fancy gear and hiking eight miles vs two miles, does not make you an "official" hiker. Of course, being physically fit is a good thing. Not only will it help your endurance, but you'll enjoy the hike much better and able to hike without being out of breath and get through a hike more easily. However, as one starts to hike and you find yourself going on hikes more often, it becomes a great way to get physically fit and build up your endurance too. The myth is, you don't have to be physically fit to hit a trail...just start and watch your fitness level improve as you continue. I'm glad I didn't allow this myth to stay in my head, otherwise, I would've missed out on so many hikes and memories with my trail SISTAS. It's also a myth that you have to have all the latest gear to start. Wrong. Use what you have. I hiked in my tennis shoes many hikes and still do. I eventually invested on some trail shoes. I mean unless your going to hike some major hiking trail that screams, wear hiking boots, then absolutely, but don't let not owning certain hiking gear, keep you from hiking. Another myth is hiking a two mile hike vs a seven mile hike isn't really hiking. Listen, if you hit a trail and start walking, you're hiking, whether it's a two mile trail or seven or whether you completed the trail in record time or practically almost crawled back to your car. You hiked it. That makes you a hiker. So, my point is, don't let myths keep you from getting on the trail. Debunk those myths, come as you are and hike your own hike!