Nordic Walking is like driving a Smart Car. You know it's good for you, but you can't help feeling a little silly while engaged.
A case in point.
While Nordic Walking through Omand's Creek this afternoon I was stopped by a man. I was listening to some groovy tunes so I couldn't make out what he was saying.
I stopped, removed my gloves, toque, and ear buds, smiled patiently, thinking this better be worth it, and said "Pardon me."
He said something about skis. Bewildered, I replied "Huh."
"Your skis man! I found them, they're on top of the hill" to which he emphasized with a raised hand, pointing towards the hilltop.
Even more bewildered I replied "What....skis?".
"In case you're looking for your skis, I found them, they're up there" he replied with a mischievous grin.
Hoodwinked and it's not even April Fools!
Dude, funny!
Meh.
Not to confuse the issue, but Nordic Walking is also know as Urban Poling (correct) or Urban Trekking (incorrect, trekking is more of a long arduous journey similar to Ultra-marathons).
Think of cross country ski-ing minus the skis. That's Nordic Walking in a nutshell. The poles help create a rhythmic, flowing movement of the entire body with an emphasis on arms, legs, and core. Nordic Walking is vigorous but, unlike running, there is little impact on the knees and hips. If used correctly the poles will alleviate some weight from the knees and hips. Some poles have built in shocks which help cushion the force on the arms as one plants the pole repeatedly with each step.
Urban Poling is a real workout, make no mistake. You will work up a sweat and your heart rate will raise to a sustained 70 - 80% intensity. Your upper arms will ache and you'll sleep well. It pairs very well with my personal favourite exercise regime, Good Life Body Pump.
I don't want to get into the 'how' of Nordic Walking because I'm not an instructor. The best online resource I can find is Urban Poling. There is also a small Urban Poling community in Winnipeg which one can track down online, but it's slim to non-existent. I'm more interested in the 'why' of Poling.
I'm an injured runner. I have a torn meniscus, torn ACL, and arthritis in my right knee, and I suspect my left knee is not far behind. I've been fitted for a brace which will arrive in a couple of weeks. I'm hurtin' and I miss my running routine, especially my Sunday forest runs. Most of all I miss the socail aspect of running. Let's face it folks, not running bites.
Does Nordic Walking help fill the void?
The short answer is yes. Nordic Walking satisfies my innate need to be physically active outdoors. Nordic walking allows me to enter the mystic zone, and I feel mentally satisfied after a one hour intense walk. Physically I am drained but not to the same level as running. My knees still hurt (think low grade head ache in the knees), but nowhere near to the pain I have while running. I suggest all you injured runners give it a try.
The longer, much more complicated answer, is no. Nordic Walking is excellent and I am enjoying it immensely, but it is not running.
Running allows me to enter a world of altered states; an amalgam of pain, ecstasy, sweat, joy, and tears. Running gives me inner peace and knowledge that I am all that I can be, all that I have become. Running forges friendships where talk and laughs runs freely and earnestly. Running allows for a world where age, sexual identity, profession, background, culture become meaningless. Running is a world of perfection where our heart, muscle, bone, and mind combine to make perfection.
That's all.
Yo, good day to be alive.
Mike
