So, a friend and I went for a Nordic Walking trial "taster" session this week.
Whilst it was not quite the walk in the park we both thought it was going to be, it wasn't exactly thrilling and not something we wanted to sign up for immediately either. That said, I'm keeping an open mind on it.
The thing is, I just can't get the recurrent image from my mind of a time some months back when two lady Nordic Walkers at least 15 years older (well, they certainly looked it) than me overtook another friend and I whilst out running! Admittedly we had taken it down to walking pace whilst rehydrating but still...
They had been way, way behind us initially and all of a sudden came from nowhere at great speed with those things and were like boom, gone in a flash!
Are there any fans of Nordic Walking on the forum and why? I so want to get sold on this sport if possible...
From an outsider's perspective (I never tried it) it seems to be a way to get your heart rate up while walking (as opposed to running) on a course with no elevation gain. Same idea as race walking.
I cannot get my heart rate up on a flat road; it requires too much concentration to keep walking fast. So I walk, at my normal speed, on roads which have some inclination. I find that not much inclination is needed to get me huffing and puffing, which is the objective of this exercise!
I do not know Zurich at all, but I believe that there are hills not too far from the center of town on both sides of the lake. Lausanne, of course, would be ideal for uphill walking!
We're looking to add another dimension to our current fitness/wellness program that gives an all over good cardiovascular workout. Key to that is keeping it as a low impact activity that works all the major muscle groups, elevates the heart rate and gives a good calorific burn rate.
I love running but it's particularly stressful at times on the joints due to the high impact nature of it. Time is marching on and from an age related perspective, the possibilities of injury are more increased. No getting away from that, unfortunately. As such, I am looking to scale back on the running and up the ante elsewhere with low impact activities that provide good workouts. As far as I'm concerned, if the workout does not make me break out in a sweat, no matter how hard I go at it, then it's not a workout and thus pointless.
Nordic Walking appears to tick all the right boxes in but am looking for confirmation - or not - of that from others who do it or have done it in the past.
I too find flat road and grass walking not enough to get my heart rate up regardless of how fast I do it and always look for inclines, no matter how small. Gee, do I sorely miss the literally on my doorstep vast forest options and hills of days of yore...
If you personally didn't like it (it seemed that way) I would recommend to try to find something else that ticks all the boxes, plus the one where you like it which motivates you to keep doing it.
I would find nordic walking boring myself, but I don't like walking as it is (nor running).
Would cycling, rowing (probably mostly on machines rather than actual boats though) or swimming work for you? I think they are low impact on joints and ligaments.
If you are unable to or just don`t want to run/jog, then regular good old fashioned walking, at a good pace is an excellent work-out.
Nordic walking - the training course(s), yes I actually saw a beginners and advanced course - plus the marketing of specific gear and clothes . . . is just about the biggest con, since someone decided to sell chicken wings . . and that is saying something
I didn't dislike it per se but wasn't instantly enamoured by it either. I found the poles too fiddly to handle a lot of the time although the instructor ensured us that technique will improve in time. Fair enough.
I do running (trail/grass/sidewalk) and normal/fast walking a lot and so thought logically that Nordic Walking would be an instant hit.
Cycling is definitely back on the agenda! Will have to teach my friend how to actually ride one first as she did not learn how in childhood due to daddy deeming it to be "unladylike"!
I will also make a return to Spin class cycling after not doing it for way too many years. Even the thought of going back on a spin cycle makes me feel good in anticipation!
Trained at gyms for too many years almost every day at one point, plus all sorts of aerobic classes - mainly high impact. However, I now find working out at indoor gyms boring so don't do that any more. Never could get into rowing even when I was a gym freak!
I really enjoy swimming as it is definitely a great all over cardiovascular workout and doesn't strain the joints so a return to that is defo on the cards too.
Recently I have taken to walking with nordic sticks. I have totally kn***red knees and found it really does help with balance and using arms going up and down steps, etc- really helps knees. Different situation of course- but for me it is allowing me to still have a good walk, without it being spoilt
I want to scale down on the high impact running due to repeated knee strains that leave me limping for a day or so. However, we did a light jog today on grass only and which was way more comfortable and not problematic at all. Will try that again tomorrow and see how it goes...
If I do the NW course for beginners just so I can vary my low impact working out as much as possible with maximum gain, there's no way I will buy any gear for it. Current running and other hiking/outdoor all weather gear will have to suffice!
I almost accepted a friend's offer to teach me how to play golf a few months ago even though I've always considered it absolutely boring and not enough of a workout. He swears that all that walking up and down the golf course and, of course, the arm swinging ranks up there as a great workout. Who am I to judge...
Would much rather re-learn the rules of cricket and play that as it involves much more arm/leg movement!
I had the impression I was walking mighty odd during the NW trial session and kept veering off at an angle! So yes, in that sense, my walk got "spoilt" even though I did get a workout from it.
If you like aerobics but want to avoid the "step", jumps and stuff like that you can probably try Power yoga or similar, you may like it, and you will probably sweat if the instructor pushes the class.
The recurrent knee problem is what is spurring me on to at least try the beginners course in it and see how I go. I do not want to possibly kn***er it altogether by continuing to aggravate it with too much running when there are gentler, low impact alternatives such as this out there.
I shall remain forever impressed by the two much older and very fit looking ladies who overtook a running buddy and I at great speed on nordic sticks. Okay, we had stopped to drink water but they had been way behind us up until that point.
If you don't like walking, nordic walking won't be any better.
My sister is an instructor in Scotland and has increased her following from 0 to around 100 in just under a couple of years. She doesn't push any gear as walking/running/normal workout gear is totally fine. She provides sticks and her clients normally end up buying their own if they become regulars. She also instructs Pilates, yoga and ballet fit and her nordic walking complements the other activities and she has a cross over with clients.
I have been with her numerous times and I think it is important that the instructor varies the lesson. She does drills, longer walks, walks on the beach, round the city, in the countryside so as to keep it interesting. It goes without saying as my sister she has a good sense of humour, is friendly and fun. This also helps what is essentially walking for exercise more fun.
She has a real range of clients - some trying to lose weight who have been referred to her by their GP, those with joint problems who can only do low impact, mums who have had babies which they carry in rucksacks on their backs,mpeople who had dogs and no longer do and need an incentive to walk and people just looking for an alternative type of exercise. I have seen a lesson here taking place and to be honest it looked dull. They also weren't doing it with straight arms which is the whole point of nordic walking. Read here as to why http://edinburghnordicwalking.com/about/
You commented about the poles being fiddly. They really shouldn't be. Once they are on and the strap is correctly fitted around your hand and thumb (which it has to be to push down and backwards) they are on. You get the hang of putting them on quickly.
If you are ever out and about around zug you may just see me powering up the zugerberg with my poles! Hope you get into and see/feel the benefits.
I greatly enjoy fitness walking and never stated otherwise... Which is why I was surprised at my indifference to NW at the trial session but am keeping an open mind on it, hence this thread.
I found the sticks easy to put on and hold but found them fiddly due to constantly wanting to bend my arms whilst holding them like when running and jogging. The instructor kept me in check on that whenever I did this, however!
I agree, it's important the instructor is personable, has a good sense of humour and is fun to be around. She was, so no complaints there!