For a number of years now, on most Fridays you can see a group of Nordic Walkers head out around Rushcliffe County Park at 10am.
Walking energetically, but not especially quickly, with poles, they walk for an hour, covering about 3k on average. The walk starts and ends with warming up/down stretches and is punctuated by short stops for balance exercises, coordination challenges and healthy lifestyle tips.
The group is led by Instructor and CEO of British Nordic Walking, Catherine Hughes, who’s passionate about the many health and wellbeing benefits of this low impact, total body exercise.
Developed by cross country skiers in Scandinavia to help them stay fit during the summer, Nordic Walking is an all year-round activity. Rushcliffe Country Park with its varied paths, tracks and trails is ideal, which means the group can get out in all weathers, apart from the wettest or snowiest days.
The weekly group size averages between 8 and 12 women and men of varied ages and degrees of fitness. As well as an hour of excellent exercise, it’s very much a social activity with plenty of chat to accompany the walking. Some walkers meet for more chat and coffee afterwards.
The technique is straightforward but is a specific skill, so new members take part in a 60 minute workshop with Catherine before joining the group walk. Poles (which are different from trekking poles) can be borrowed to start with, so you can decide if it’s something you want to take part in regularly.
Once you’ve been taken through the technique class, you can join in ‘as and when’. There’s no need to book in advance; just turn up as often as you can and pay on the day.
For more details, please visit www.midlandsnordicwalking.org/learntonordicwalk and contact Catherine through the website. Or you can email catherine@midlandsnordicwalking.org or text Catherine on 07940 575 758.
In the meantime, if you’re in the park on a Friday between 10am and 11am, look out for a sociable band of Nordic Walkers and perhaps consider trying a new activity.
Dorothy Martin