Discovering Nordic Walking

Endurance and Physical Fitness Development

I absolutely wanted to try the experience because, whether as a form of foundational physical conditioning or simply for overall health, this discipline should be categorized alongside essentials like swimming, jogging, or cycling.

Then there is walking, which remains “THE” primary physical activity to recommend to everyone, as it has been an intrinsic part of our lives since birth.

From now on, I would categorize it within the group of disciplines focused on developing fundamental physical fitness, specifically the ” Nordic Walking “.

The addition of poles to Nordic walking—its most defining feature—provides greater intensity, improved technique, and more enjoyment during physical exertion; much like cross-country skiing, it incorporates an arm swing with an alternating arm-and-opposite-leg motion.

All of this requires focus, and the effort is much more manageable as a result. It is truly a win-win. I therefore traveled to the Southern Alps in Autocar Rental with a group of about twenty people, and we had a wonderful time!

I truly recommend you give it a try!

Session Proceedings

I already had some telescopic hiking poles, which aren’t exactly the same as Nordic walking poles, but they were perfectly fine for getting started.

After handing out sticks to those who had none, we shall begin with:

Checking and fine-tuning pole walking for 5 minutes

Over a short distance of 100m, walk with your arms swinging freely while holding the poles.

The hands must alternate naturally, moving in opposition to each leg: left leg with right arm, then right leg with left arm. From there, as with all physical activities:

15-minute warm-up session with sticks.

The upper body: shoulders, arms, hands, back

Lower body: pelvis, back of the legs (hamstrings), knees, calves, ankles

Career Path

As we are just starting out, the journey will be approximately

6km, or approximately 1 hour.

It is worth noting that compared to a normal pace, we walk twice as fast when using trekking poles.

As this is an introductory session, there will also be a short mid-way break to:

• Staying Hydrated
• Strength training session
• A brief 5-minute stretch before getting back to it

The route will consist of various plateaus, along with some climbs and descents that present no major difficulties

A minor technical variation was introduced: walking backward, in “reverse,” while pushing with the poles in front of you, still using an alternating motion.

The muscles being worked are no longer quite the same: calves, hamstrings, and triceps.

The discovery session concludes with stretching using sticks introducing other exercises, particularly those targeting the back and the spine.

After all that, I feel good… as James Brown would say, I feel good, euphoric, and thirsty; it feels great to get back into sports…

And my favorite link for improve their fitness and physical conditioning which you can also apply to trail running, Nordic walking, or jogging, featuring the insights of two triathletes who share their expertise on improving physical fitness and completing a 10K run with ease and without injury, presented through step-by-step illustrations.