Fit for Trips Workouts Train You for Tours

Endurance and Strength Coaching for Thomson, Ciclismo, OARS, Others

Mar 23, 2009

A multi-week, Web-based series of exercise routines and personalized workouts prepares travelers to get in shape for adventure hiking, biking, rafting and climbing.

Adventure travel can be especially challenging for older travelers. Now, an Atlanta personal trainer has developed a series of video and distance coaching packages geared to get them in shape for specific trips from outfitters such as Thomson Safaris, OARS and Ciclismo Classico.

Marcus Shapiro's initial “Fit for Trips” are tailored to tours from three renowned outfitters: Ciclismo Classico {road bike trips through Italy and Croatia), Thomson Safaris' Kilimanjaro treks, and a variety of OARS adventure destinations (Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Middle Fork of the Salmon, Peru) . They come in different lengths of training at the following cost per standard program:

“Tour operators are accustomed to modifying programs for clients because not everybody is necessarily completely ready for them,” Shapiro said. That’s why his company’s programs offer “a trustworthy resource” as an option for those clients well in advance of a tour.

A personal trainer with a college degree in athletic training, Shapiro says the programs should be valuable not just for conditioning but for injury prevention while on an active vacation.

Each program has a graduated cardio segment to improve the user’s endurance and a resistance training segment to help them gain strength in the weeks leading up to the trip’s departure.

Each includes videos that can be downloaded to a video iPod and taken with a user to the gym. “There’s real value in a visual image of the correct way to do these,” Shapiro said. Alternatively, programs tell users how to perform the exercises at home.

What’s in Fit for Trips Package

“Long days, steep inclines, and long downhills can be tough for even the most enthusiastic trekker ,” said Ina Steinhilber, Thomson’s sales and marketing manager. “By offering a personalized fitness program that is based on the exact route and itinerary we use and crafted by licensed fitness professionals, we give our guests the opportunity to increase not only their chances at summit success, but also their comfort on the mountain.”

Katie Cordes, the company’s manager of Kilimanjaro Programs, went through the training and found it “well-crafted and effective” with “excellent” service.

Fit for Trips expects to create partnerships with additional adventure travel outfitters. But Shapiro emphasizes that anyone planning a high-activity vacation can use one of his programs as preparation.

For a fee, travelers also can get personalized one-on-one coaching, customized strength and endurance plans and phone conferences from Fit for Trips. For more information, call 888-318-1742 or visit FitforTrips.com.

The copyright of the article Fit for Trips Workouts Train You for Tours in Senior Travel Adventure is owned by Grace Lichtenstein. Permission to republish Fit for Trips Workouts Train You for Tours in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.