You’re not “too slow.” You’re just moving like yourself—and that’s enough.
Let’s Get This Out of the Way First
You are not a burden.
You’re not “holding anyone back,” “too out of shape,” or “not a real hiker” just because you take your time on the trail.
Somewhere along the way, hiking got wrapped up in speed. Mileage. Elevation gain. A race to the summit or a badge of toughness. But hiking—at its roots—is just walking with intention. That’s it.
And there’s no wrong speed for walking through the woods.
The Gift of Going Slow
Moving slowly through nature is not just allowed—it’s powerful. When you take your time:
- You notice the rustle of leaves.
- You hear birds that faster feet scare off.
- You see mushrooms hiding under roots and raindrops balanced on spiderwebs.
- You feel the rhythm of your breath soften and your thoughts begin to settle.
You connect. And that connection is the whole point.
Slowing down on a trail is not a flaw. It’s a feature.
“But What If I’m Hiking With Others?”
This one’s real. When you hike with people who move faster than you, it’s easy to feel like you’re dragging behind or “making things difficult.”
But here’s the truth: good hiking partners want to hike with you—not some imaginary faster version of you.
If they pressure you to speed up, mock your pace, or constantly outpace you without checking in… it’s not your pace that needs adjusting.
Try these gentle, firm phrases:
- “I hike best at a steady pace—feel free to go ahead, I’m happy to meet at the next landmark.”
- “Let’s take a break together here—my body’s asking for a pause.”
- “This pace is my sweet spot. I want to enjoy the view as I go.”
Real trail friendships are built on respect, not rushing.
If You’re Hiking Solo…
There is so much beauty in solo hiking—especially when you move at your own rhythm.
Here are a few things to try:
- Don’t set a finish time. Set a feel.
- Leave space for long pauses. For sitting. For lingering snack breaks.
- Notice how your mind shifts when you stop trying to beat the clock.
You’ll start to find that your natural pace tells you everything you need to know about how your body feels, what it needs, and how grounded you are.
The Inner Voice That Says “You Should Be Faster”
It’s not really about the trail, is it?
Sometimes that voice is old. Conditioned. Tied to ideas about worth, fitness, comparison, or invisibility.
But here’s the beautiful part: hiking gives you space to challenge that voice.
Every time you slow down and keep going anyway, you’re rewriting the narrative.
You’re saying:
- “I am allowed to take up space.”
- “I trust my body’s rhythm.”
- “I deserve to be here.”
And those are truths that stretch far beyond the trail.
What You Might Notice When You Go Your Pace
You laugh more.
You feel the sun on your skin instead of missing it through a blur.
You stop for photos. And not just the “Instagram-worthy” ones—the weird rock, the lichen, the puddle shaped like a heart.
You connect with your breath.
You remember the hike—not just that you finished it.
Final Thought: You Don’t Owe the Trail Anything But Presence
Let the fast ones pass.
Let the summit wait.
Let the miles come when they come.
You don’t have to apologize for moving differently. You just have to keep showing up, one steady, rooted step at a time.
Your hike is still a hike.
Your pace is still a pace.
Your presence on the trail is enough.