Fitness for Kokoda: What Actually Matters

Fitness is one of the biggest concerns people have before trekking Kokoda — and one of the most misunderstood. In this episode of The Kokoda Track Podcast, Glenn Azar breaks down what kind of fitness Kokoda actually demands, drawing on more than 90 crossings of the Track and years of preparing people for the journey. Rather than focusing on speed or aesthetics, this episode explains why leg endurance, load tolerance, pacing, and consistency matter far more than peak fitness, and why mental fitness plays such a critical role in success on Kokoda. If you’re training for Kokoda — or wondering whether you’re capable — this episode offers clarity, reassurance, and practical insight into how to prepare properly.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why Kokoda rewards durability over speed
• The difference between fitness and preparedness
• Why leg conditioning matters more than cardio alone
• How load and pacing affect fatigue
• What successful Kokoda trekkers have in common

Follow The Kokoda Track Podcast for upcoming episodes covering Kokoda history, Papua New Guinea culture, and the realities of trekking the Track with respect and preparation.

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