Nordic walki
Why Should I try…?
How hiking with trekking poles could improve your running gait, strengthen your core, burn more calories and make you a better runner
Are you looking for a way to cross-train that’s kind to your joints, boosts cardio fitness, strengthens your muscles, torches calories and gets you into the great outdoors? Look no further than Nordic walking. A growing trend among all age groups, it should be on your radar if you want to become a fitter, faster runner or you’re coming back from injury.
If you’re unclear on exactly what it is, think of it as walking but on turbo – specially designed poles are used with a technique similar to that of crosscountry skiing to propel you forwards. And it can be done on roads or trails. It was originally designed as an o_ -season workout for cross-country skiers. It’s a serious form of exercise that transforms a walk into a full-body workout, as the poles recruit your upper body.
It’s an excellent form of cross-training for runners,” says physiotherapist and Nordic walking instructor, Alison McKinnon (physiobalance.co.uk). “It’s a rigorous core and cardiovascular workout and, if it has been taught properly, you recruit 90 per cent of your muscles.”