Nordic Walking : "If you Give Me Two Stiff - - - "

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Trip Start Apr 01, 2006 Trip End Ongoing Next
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  Prince George, British Columbia, Canada
Wednesday, September 6, 2006

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Nordic Walking: "If You Give Me Two Stiff Drinks, I Would Do It!"

One of the last things I did in Victoria, BC was to take a workshop on the subject of "Nordic Walking" at the James Bay Community Center

01-start of the Nordic Walk-- Sacred Heart

. The course was only one hour, but it had quite an impact, insofar as it changed my preferred way of exercising.

My ritual in Victoria was to ride my bike for an hour, three to four times a week, along the scenic Strait of Juan de Fuca. It was an experience I enjoyed very much due to the exercise I was getting. In addition, I was exposed to fabulous scenery, which included: the four scenic bays, the beautiful homes along the seashore, the parks, the ships on the Strait and the snow capped Olympic Mountains of Washington State to the south. I kept pinching myself wondering whether I was really cycling in this beautiful setting. This was, at the time, the perfect combination of exercise and beautiful surroundings which combined to create a memorable experience.

Last year, during our two month stay in Europe, we participated in "Volksmarches" in the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland. During these events, we saw numerous participants Nordic Walking, and we realized, it was something that was gaining in popularity in Europe, not to mention that the walking poles were sold in most large supermarkets.

A Volksmarch, which falls under the category of "Volksports", is an organized walking event along a route which could go from 10 km to 42 km

02-view along Patricia Blvd.

. through scenic countryside. It is organized by local walking clubs to be held on weekends, throughout the year. Anyone can enter after paying a small entry fee. A control card is stamped at various checkpoints and the total kilometers can be accumulated in a passport for medals and awards. The ultimate goal, for the fanatics of the sport, is to accumulate enough kilometers to circumwalk the globe.

The sport is governed by the International Federation of Popular Sports, or the IVV (International VolkssportVerband). Volkssports came to Canada in the early 1980's. http://www.ivv.org/englishframe.htm

We also did several of these organized walks in the Victoria area and they are available across Canada.

All of this pre-disposed me to looking into a workshop about Nordic Walking that was being given by Lori Clinch, at the James Bay Community Center, in Victoria. It was called Fittrek Urban Trekking Class (lori@health-adventure-coach.com) and it was what got me started in this sport. Fittrek is a manufacturer of Nordic Walking poles. (http://www.fittrek.com/)

Lori Clinch has since (January 2008) become Lori Adams and has moved to the beautiful Treasure Valley in Idaho

03-to the left, the industrial area below

. She continues to do her good work by giving Nordic Walking seminars in Idaho and much more as is described at: www.health-adventure-coach.com

Nordic Walking can be done by practically anyone. Equipment needs are simple, since all that is needed are running shoes, shorts, T-shirt, and a set of nordic walking poles which are in fact modified cross-country ski poles.

The modifications are: firstly, that the poles are adjustable and therefore telescopic, making the right height a simple matter of adjusting the poles. Secondly, the carbide tips of the poles are covered with a large rubber tip which allows for walking on asphalt.

The key to Nordic Walking is exactly this rubber tip, which is essential in allowing pressure to be applied in a backwards motion which propels the walker forward. The degree of adhesion to asphalt is amazing. No matter how hard one pushes backwards, the poles are firmly planted, thereby propelling the user forward. It is in this resistance wherein lies the benefit of an upper body workout that is part of Nordic Walking.

Walking has been a favorite form of exercise for me for a long time

04-view into a residential street to the right

. The short-coming of walking, however, is that it does nothing for the development of upper body strength. It was for that reason that I did quite a bit of swimming in Ottawa. Swimming definitely gives a full body workout but so does Nordic Walking, perhaps even more so insofar as the resistance of the arm motion can be much more powerful.

From the moment that I took my first tentative steps of Nordic Walking, I knew it was for me. Among other things, I noticed that with the poles I couldn't help but to walk upright. Since my posture is naturally poor, this was quite a revelation to me that, walking upright was a natural off spin of Nordic Walking. As a matter of course, I also walked much more rapidly than I normally do. The effort of the poles helped to propel me forward.

So in a nutshell, here are the benefits of Nordic Walking. It assists in good posture, induces a quicker walk to get the heartbeat into a training range and provides a good upper body workout. The benefits can be seen within a relatively short time.

On the web site of Excel, (http://www.nordicwalking.com/portal/nordic_walking/english/ ) the major manufacturer of Nordic Walking poles, a brief history is given

05- Patricia Blvd. already seems like a park

.

Nordic Walking was first used as a summer training program by cross-country skiers which then developed into a general fitness sport launched in Finland in 1997.

Some of the following health benefits when compared to walking are cited:

- a heart beat higher by 5-17 beats a minute
- 130 beats/minute for walking vs. 147 for Nordic Walking
- energy consumption increases by an average of 20% when using poles vs. plain walking
- consumes approximately 400 calories per hour (compared with 280 calories for normal walking)
- reduces load on knees and joints
- the lateral mobility of the neck and spine increases significantly
- muscles used are the forearm extensor and flexor muscles, the rear part of the shoulder muscles, the large pectoral muscles and the broad back muscles

Reality Check:

During yesterday's Nordic walk I made the following observations:

- my resting heart rate before the start of the walk was 60 beats/min

06-turning left on Taylor,at the Bed and Breakfast

.
- my pace was brisk, at least for me
- after half an hour, I checked my pulse at several intervals and on each occasion, it was around 90 beats/min.

How that info corresponds with the info on the Excel website is beyond me. Firstly I am at a loss to explain a heartbeat of 130 for just plain walking and 147 for Nordic Walking.

This info of course cuts the 400 calories per hour down to about 240 calories for me, when taking my heart rate vs. the 147 per min. cited into consideration.

Notwithstanding that information, Nordic Walking can be practiced on asphalt, grass or practically any terrain that is walkable. In a non-asphalt environment the rubber tips are simply removed, in seconds, and the carbide tips dig into the terrain to provide the same backwards resistance which is the key to the Nordic Walking workout.

Since I took the workshop, I have not used my bicycle again

06.1 - where are we on this map?

. Bicycling like walking does not provide the total body workout that Nordic Walking does.

It is slowly gaining in popularity, for example, the Nordic Walking World Championships are being held this year, as part of the Portland Marathon, to be held Oct. 1, 2006 in Portland, Oregon.
http://www.portlandmarathon.org/events_nordic.php

Maybe the athletes who participate in the World Championship of Nordic Walking can attain the phenomenal heart beat numbers mentioned above.


So what are the disadvantages of Nordic Walking?

I can think of only one, and it is psychological. Due to the fact that Nordic Walking is in its beginning stages here in North America, you are bound to find yourself as the only one doing it. This, of course, leads to people looking and wondering what you are doing, walking along with cross-country ski poles. It may induce a degree of self-consciousness in the practitioner of the sport

07-charming place

. Perhaps this is my own phobia and it shows a lack of maturity on my part.

When I started Nordic Walking in Victoria, I would go out around 22:00 and I would walk along the edge of Beacon Hill Park to Dallas Street and then along the walkway that borders the Strait of Juan de Fuca. From there, I would have the pleasure of walking a kilometer stretch while having in my sights the bright lights of cruise ships docked at Ogden Point. It was a beautiful sight at night and from here I would continue to Fisherman's Wharf and back along the Inner Harbour, another enchanting sight by night, to our residence on Superior Street, in the James Bay neighbourhood.

Except for walking, at Ogden Point, through mobs of cruise ship passengers returning after a night out on the town, I would encounter few people and I was lost in anonymity, enjoying my walks more and more.

My phobia was reinforced during a recent visit to Detroit, Michigan for my nephew's marriage. I was talking to a friend of mine about Nordic Walking. After listening to my explanation of the sport he also asked about the reaction of others. After a moment of reflections he added, "If you gave me two stiff drinks I would do it"

08-along the Fraser River to Fort George Park

. I think the sport has an uphill battle here in North America to say the least.

Speaking of Michigan, I have since become aware that the sport is spreading with people like
Pete - owner/founder/coach The American Nordic Walking System -- www.skiwalking.com --
promoting the sport in the beautiful Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - another great place for Nordic Walking. Sleeping Bear Dunes is located across the Bay from Traverse City in Michigan. Yes, Michigan has its nice area as well.

Fortunately, Barbara who works with her visually impaired clients and their white canes in public has no such hang-ups. This also encourages me to--just do it, and enjoy the benefits of the sport, while disregarding the reaction of others.

I shall remember Nordic Walking as my transition from Victoria to Prince George.

With this in mind, one of my first priorities in Prince George was to find a suitable walking route

09-train on other side of Fraser River

. Considering the reservations I expressed earlier, I had to find a route that did not have too many people.

We live near the intersection of Vancouver and 6th Streets, right in the center of Prince George. Because of the nature of the city, night time walking in the downtown area, like I did in Victoria, was not an option.

My first tentative step (literally speaking) before Barbara had even arrived in Prince George was Nordic Walking for an hour, at dusk, along 1st Avenue which is the last street between downtown and the Nechako River. The expansive CN tracks which form a barrier between the two are on the north side of the street. Therefore, my walk would take me in front of the VIA Railway Station, next to which the tourist office is located, south-east into a mostly industrial area-- bordering the railway tracks. It accomplished the aim of having few people around, but the surroundings left a lot to be desired.

My next attempt was in the residential area to the west of us which was nice enough but still had too many people with too many comments about lack of snow.

10-Highway 97 crosses Fraser River at this point

That's when I came upon Fort George Park and the Fraser River. Since my discovery of this park, we haven't walked anywhere else but in this general area.

Located only a five minute drive from home, we start from the parking lot of Sacred Heart Cathedral on Patricia Blvd. From here we walk along Patricia which is like a beautiful parkway to Taylor Street.

Along the way, through the trees to the left, we catch glimpses of the "city bowl" below which at this point is mostly industrial park.

To the right is a lovely older neighbourhood (Millar Addition), with tree lined streets named, in alphabetical order, after various trees starting from Ash to Ingledew Street.

After passing Ash Street we arrive at the corner of Patricia and Taylor where the lovely Bedford Place Bed and Breakfast is located. Straight out of a Travel Magazine, this beautiful house surrounded by immaculately manicured lawns, gardens and fruit trees, marks our turn along Taylor to Fort George Park

11-approaching Fort George Park

.

Taylor St. is a very desirable address because it runs along the Fraser River, the longest river in British Columbia. At this point the Fraser River becomes quite narrow and is distinguished by the tall, steep smooth slopes which erosion has created over the years along the banks of the river. Walking along here, which is part of the Heritage River Trails, with the setting sun catching the eastern banks, is one of the beautiful sights in Prince George.

Coming Soon: Fort Geoge Park - A Wonderful Place to Nordic Walk

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24-so finally, a photo of me Nordic Walking	25-a better look	27-joy of combining Nordic Walking with scenery	28- where is Fort George Park?

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