ABOUT

Welcome to The Hiking Coach

I’m Laurie, founder of The Hiking Coach.

We’re here to help everyday people and passionate hikers build the strength, fitness and confidence to take on more in the mountains.

I’ve been hiking since I was a child and strength training for almost two decades. My mountain career has included setting the unsupported Wainwrights record in 2021, becoming the first person to climb every English mountain in a single winter in 2021–22, and becoming the fastest person to climb every English mountain in 2023.

Throughout that time, I’ve seen how well strength training and hiking can complement one another. Yet I’ve always been surprised by how little practical information there is about training specifically for the demands of hiking.

The Hiking Coach is here to help change that.

This site is for beginners, improvers and experienced hikers who want to train with more purpose. Maybe you’re dreaming of bigger days in the hills but feel your current fitness is holding you back. Perhaps you want to feel stronger on climbs and descents, or you’ve simply never trained specifically for hiking and don’t know where to start.

That’s where I can help.

Drawing on evidence-informed training principles and years of experience in the mountains, I break down strength training, conditioning and movement into practical, accessible advice designed around the physical demands of hiking.

Whether you’re preparing for your first big mountain day or looking for new ways to support the hiking you already love, my aim is simple: to give you the knowledge and tools to train with purpose and become a stronger, fitter and more capable hiker.

Let’s get to work.