It’s that time of year when many of us take stock, look toward the future, and make resolutions for the New Year. Mary Tweed, podcaster of Walking on Air and INWA-certified Nordic walking instructor with East Anglia Nordic Walking, with has been sharing her podcasts in our group, and she was kind enough to do a special Tour de Friends webinar.
Join us on December 15 at 7 PM (19:00) United Kingdom time when Mary shares some lessons from her podcasts to help us reflect on our Nordic walking journey and inspire us to make our new year extraordinary.
The Zoom link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82627463477?pwd=NUpFQzJVaEFDWlNXZmFqdlR6VkFKUT09.
Time converter is at https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html.
Tell us about you and your group:
- What is the proper name of your group? Nordic Walking East Anglia
- What are the links to your group’s website and social media?
- Website: https://www.nordicwalkingeastanglia.co.uk Also, http://walkingonairpodcast.co.uk
- Social media:
- Facebook: WalkingOnAirPodcast or Nordic Walking East Anglia
- Instagram: walking_on_air_podcast
- How did you get started in Nordic walking? I tried it because a friend was setting up a fitness business and wanted some guinea pigs. I was skeptical beforehand, but immediately felt the benefits.
- Why did you want to become a Nordic walking coach? I had been looking for a business to fit in around children and part time working for my husband. I wanted to work with people and this was the ideal fit.
- Where is your group physically located? I run five classes:
- 3 are in Clare, Suffolk
- 2 are in Milton Park, Cambridge
- Share links to articles you have written, etc.
- My blogs can be found at https:// www.nordicwalkingeastanglia.co.uk/articles/
- The one on Backwards Walking is here: https:// www.nordicwalkingeastanglia.co.uk/article/backwards-walking
Tell us about what your group does:
- What is a favorite group excursion? What makes it a favorite? I love walking around Clare Park. It has the remains of an 11th century motte and Bailey Castle as well as the best preserved collection of Victorian railway buildings within the boundary of the park. There is also a river, which is home to swans & ducks, as well as the castle moat. The scenery is constantly changing with the seasons.
- Do you have a funny/memorable/poignant story you can share about your group? I once taught a beginners workshop in a blizzard. At the end of the session, I realised that my car keys had fallen out of my pocket. Several participants ran around the park with me looking for the keys, as the snow fell thick & fast. Luckily a tiny blue tip of the key ring was sticking out of the snow and one of the others spotted it. Amazingly, five years on, most of those people still attend my regular weekly walks and we still laugh about that incident.
Tell us about Nordic walking and what makes it so great:
- Why should beginning Nordic walkers seek out professional coaching? Unless you walk with a mirror it is impossible to see your own technique. A good instructor will correct bad technique before it becomes ingrained into your muscle memory.
- How have Nordic walkers managed their meetups during this pandemic? I recorded videos for my groups, so they could do warm ups and cool downs on a theme. They then went for walks on their own. As restrictions were lifted we were able to start meeting in groups of 6 people.
- What advice do you have for Nordic walkers who would like to start a local Nordic walking group with friends and neighbors? Go for it! Having a group means that you are more likely to show up, as you will be accountable to the group. One person should ideally be properly trained in the technique and in walk leading. I have found that the best venues have good car parking, toilets and a cafe.
- What are some life lessons people have learned as a result of Nordic walking? That they are capable than more than they think.
- What are some memorable outcomes people have experienced as a result of Nordic walking? I have had people losing significant amounts of weight, others overcoming mental health issues, another with an organ transplant, who has seen her body as something with potential rather than something that lets her down.
Any last thoughts or advice for Nordic walkers? Try and share Nordic Walking with others; it will help you stick with it and multiply the enjoyment.