eHow Cites Nordic Walking

Minor mention on off-season training for cross-country skiers on big website

eHow, a website with quick how-to tips on an astonishing variety of topics, recently had a post called "Ski Poles for Asphalt Training," which most cross-country skiers would consider part of the off-season dryland training regimen.  Everything on eHow is shortened to a setence or two or three.

The introduction reads: "Alpine and cross-country skiers may rollerblade, rollerski, or Nordic walk as training during the off-season. In addition to rollerblades, rollerskis and boots, or hiking boots, skiers will need poles to help them train."? Hooray. Nordic Walking made it into the suggestion box. Then, there's a bit on equipment. Again, I quote:

"Nordic Walking Poles

"Nordic walking poles are made with rubber tips and special straps designed for cross-country ski movements while walking."

And "th-a-a-a-at's all, folks!"

A Walk in the Park with Poles

Planned Rocky Mountain National Park hike becomes a Nordic Walk much of the way

My husband, Ral, our friend Dave and I set out yesterday for a 9-mile (plus or minus) hike with significant a elevation gain and several steep, rocky sections in Rocky Mountain National Park. I took my robust hiking poles and hiking boots, but part-way there, Dave realized that he had forgotten his boots.

Rather than turning back, we scaled back our plan and decided to hike to Loch Vale, passing Alberta Falls, a popular sightseeing destination. The falls' popularity means a smooth trail that, in contrast with many others in RMNP, is boulevard-smooth and wide, and therefore quite appropriate for river sandals. "Wrong" footwear and poles notwithstanding, I found myself shifting into Nordic Walking mode.

Late summer is monsoon season in the high country -- not monsoons on the order of, say, those that have tragically flooded Pakistan, but almost daily quick afternoon downpours that keep some of the pretty steams like Glacier Creek, flowing late in summer.

Alberta Falls is (are?) about 6/10 mile from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead. Click on the video below to hear them roar.

Still, the signs of fall were evident too. Late-season wildflowers, brilliant berries and the very first aspen leaves that turned to autumn gold.

The bears will soon be coming after berries, and the elk will be more evident in (relatively) low-lying valleys and in the town of Estes Park on the park's east side. The chipmunks are busy. Most of them are hoarding seeds, nuts and tidbits that visitors should not give them but too often do. We watched one trailside chipper who was working on a large mushroom. When I first stopped to look, the 'shroom seemed half the animal's size, but he whittled it down very quickly, undeterred by the people walking by.

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The trail provides one visual blast after another, including grandiose panorama.and dramatic cliffs and peaks.

Loch Vale is one of RMNP's loveliest alpine lakes, a worthy destination 2.7 or so miles from and about 1,200 feet higher than the trailhead..

When we were only about1/3 mile from the trailhead, the monsoon clouds began loosening up, and we were sprinkled upon -- not enough even to pull out raingear. However, by the time we got off the bus that shuttled us back to the intercept parking lot, the sprinkles had become a downpour. Had we followed our original plan, we would have been slogging down a steep trail at the end of a longer hike. We were all glad that Dave had forgotten his boots.

Nordic Walking for Arthritis Pain Relief

Hip pain? Nordic Walking might help -- a lot

Not a week goes by without another new revelation to parties interested in a chronic or temporary health concern, wellness issue or weight loss strategie that Nordic Walking can help achieve whatever goal. The most recent I've seen is a piece in a site devoted to arthritis relief. Called "Arthritis in Your Hips? Nordic Walking May Help You Get Rid of Your Hip Pain," the article advises those with painful arthtitic hips:

"Walking helps get all of the muscles around your hip joint strong and balanced, each with the other.Maybe you can’t walk so easily anymore. You might be able to do Nordic Walking or you simply might not. You will have to really consider your body and how you feel, and you might want to check with your doctor.

"You can watch a video about Nordic Walking at the website “Live Healthy By Walking dot com”. When you watch the video, you might think, 'They are walking way too fast. I could never do that.' Well, maybe you can’t do it right now, but if you start walking gradually at the pace you can manage comfortably, your hips will start to get happier and stronger. Using the walking poles might be a helpful way for you to begin to walk."

Nordic Walking for Rehab

No, not rehab for substance abuse but physical issues

In the early 21st century, rehab can connote yet another celebrity checking into the Betty Ford Clinic or another group injured overcoming or adapting to injuries sustained in Iraq or Afghanistan -- or just regular, non-famous people to who "something" has happened back home. Steve Crossley, who perhaps is associated with the Nordic Academy in Australia, wrote a blog post in which he discussed Nordic Walking's suitability in rehabbing for the following recuperation and chronic conditions:

• Replacement knee joints
• Replacement hip joints
• Osteoarthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Spinal injuries
• Lower back muscular pain
• Congenital hip disorder
• Ankle surgery
• Achilles tendon damage
• Broken leg
• Limited mobility and balance problems, along with the associated lack of confidence

This is nothing new to stalwarts in the Nordic Walking community, especially instructors and trainers, but it never hurts to be reminded of Nordic Walking's versatility. Speaking of versatility and Australia, I wr

Walk Strong Event Set for September

Top Nordic Walking gurus to gather and teach in Greenfield, Wisconsin

If you read this blog (ir)regularly, you've heard me describe the Midwest as a hotbed of Nordic Walking in the US. Most recently the second annual Nordic Walking Expo was held in the Minneapolis area, and coming up next month is Walk Strong, September 11-12 in Greenfield, Wisconsin, near Milwaukee. Walk Strong is a two-day event with components for the public and for fitness pros. On the schedule are certification programs for fitness pros who want to add Nordic Walking to the repertoire, specialty lessons and, importantly for the growth of Nordic Walking, free introductory sessions including use of poles. Suzanne Nottingham, who organized Walk Strong,  has designed this program with commendable inclusiveness in the spirit of two previous Expo. Walk Strong also brings together top trainers and instructors to interact with each other and with the public to instruction options for beginners and broaden the horizons of pros.

Leading Nordic Walking experts will be there, so whatever your level or interest, your meeting and learning from three of Nordic Walking's gurus: Suzanne Nottingham of Nordic Walk Now and Malin Svensson of Nordic Walking North America, both from California, and Tom Rutlin of Exerstrider, the in-stater from Madison. Promoting lifelong fitness through walking with is a passion of these Nordic Walking authorities. Jenne Goldberg (above left in Nordic Walk Now photo), who is in her late 70s, is an example of one senior who practices just that.

Saturday the 11th is open to anyone who wants to learn what Nordic Walking is about, try different kinds of poles, workshops and leadership intensives. Rutlin and Svensson will team teach two free Intro Nordic Walking sessions, open to the public on Saturday with no pre-registration required. Also on Saturday, Nordic Walk Now is offering demos of inline skating with poles. Bring your helmet (mandatory) to try this energetic, energizing workout. The organizers supply skates, poles and protective gear in two demo times on Saturday. No registration is necessary for the free sessions, but it is necessary for the NWN intensives, the Walk To Live Workshop for everyone and the four- hour Instructor Training Program just for qualified instructors. Also on Saturday is the launch of the stepping stone to the ITP, Master Fitness, an eight-hour course for individuals who have completed the NWN ITP in order to qualify for Master Fitness.

Sunday the 12th is is open only to qualified instructors. Malin and Tom will each offer a 75-minute certification prep courses for any instructor who has a teaching certificate from any Nordic Walking education organization. Pre-registration is required for these two courses at www.nordicwalknow.com,
 A $10 donation to the Greenfield Parks and Recreation Department is also required.
 
A schedule and registration information are promised soon on the Nordic Walk Now website. Meanwhile, for more information, call  760-912-4471 or email info@nordicwalknow.com.

Forest Versus Trees

Considering what really matters in fitness walking with poles

I have been following the impassioned and yet dispiriting discussion on the UK-based Nordic Walking eCommunity about whether Pacer Poles with their unconventional grips can be considered Nordic Walking poles in the broadest sense of the term. Click here if you care to slog through the discussion on the topic, "Is There A Place For Pacerpoling on a - Nordic Walking - Forum?"

I read through long discourses on why Pacer Poles belong or don't belong, a divisive thread that seems to pit purists versus globalists. I read the tangential discussion about whether the Pacer Pole people play well with others, which is totally irrelevant to an individual who wants to gain fitness by walking with specially designed poles.

Against this background, I was heartened to read a post by a Canadian blogger named Deborah who writes "The Unbearable Lightness of Becoming." I don't know her last name, nor do I care. She describes herself as "a 41 year old female living in the beautiful province of New Brunswick." She has been trying to lose weight and also seems to be a fairly new Nordic Walker who just completed half-marathon. She wrote a post titled "I choose Not to run! But I will Nordic Walk" that continued, "Which is exactly what I did do this past Sunday for a half-marathon. I am proud of myself for seeing this through because I am a great one for starting something and giving up half-way through. It was a tough ten weeks. Today I hurt in places I did not know I even had but it is worth it."

She didn't write about which poles she uses or even whether they are one-piece or adjustable, which shoes she wears, which technique she practices and whether it is biomechanically correct. She wrote about setting a goal and accomplishing it, feeling proud and strong. Her enthusiasm for walking with poles is palpable. And that, IMHO, is what everyone in the small community and smaller "industry" should be focusing on.

Exerstrider founder Tom Rutlin, who himself was long considered an outsider and renegade by the orthodox Nordic Walking community, wrote on the eCommunity thread, "Pole walking in just about any form trumps ordinary bipedal walking (for health benefits, enjoyment and motivation). Let's all  finally all begin to concentrate far more on getting more people to 'taste' this wonderful healthy activity which just happens to come in a number of flavors' -- all of which would likely to be equally tasty to those without prejudiced minds, not to mention the kind of fear and confusion arising from the endless technique and equipment debates which have too long obscured to the outside world' the simple fact that 'Walking with poles is great!'." Amen.

Nordic Walking at San Diego "Green Day" Fest

Nordic Walking fits right in with other eco-info

Jeff DeMeester, founder of San Diego Nordic Walking, is participating in the “It’s A Green Day Festival” on Saturday August 7 at NTC Park, Liberty Station, Point Loma, California. Find him at Booth No. 40a.

Events include elaborate opening ceremonies, free live reggae and blues music, fashion and activities, info on emerging and available technologies that promote solutions to environmental problems, ways to green your world by saving energy, reducing pollution, recycling, healthy living, green home products, educational workshops and eco-businesses. San Diego Nordic Walking fits right in, because it is a simple, healthy, and minimally impactful activity.
San Diego Nordic Walking founder Jeff DeMeester is a Keenfit, Fittrek, Leki and ANWA trained Nordic Walking instructor. Locals know him for his Cowles Mountain hikes and clinics around town. His hope has been to help people find ways to get out and explore, especially addressing the needs of people who may need added stability or want to add something to their everyday walk or run. The Green Day event is part of his outreach. It's a Green Day Festival is actually a multi-city campaign dedicated to connecting people to resources and information for a greener planet, life with a focus on the dawning era of creativity, and innovation in "green technology" (also known as "clean technology"). The Expos and Festivals are bringing together pioneers dedicated to the promise of a healthier planet, as well as the prospect of growing businesses that promote sustainability.



Contact DeMeester at 619-507-9835