No Rules!

The best thing about Nordic Walking is there are no rules. Well, ok, there are some rules, like warm up before your walk, stretch out after, and no tripping other people with your poles. But what I mean is this: You don't have to follow a set route or length of time. Because breaking the routine might lead you to new experiences.

This morning, in the early pre-dawn light, I sat in my car, waiting for my Nordic Walking buddy. I waited for 10 minutes and finally accepted she had been unavoidably detained. I got out of my car and realized the thermometer in my car had been lying. It wasn't really 31 degrees. I'm certain it was 17 below. Ok, maybe not. I nearly got back into my car and drove home. But I was already there, and I'd warm up walking. So, instead of taking the regular loop around the exterior of the park, I decided to take the wide avenue lined by towering Cottonwood trees down the center of the park.

Liberty Park covers an area equivalent to 16 city blocks. As I walked beneath the trees, I realized they must be quite old, at least a century, and wondered if they had once lined a drive to a farm house. As I walked, daydreaming of times gone by, off to my right I saw some rocks and a water fall and a little path. Curiosity got the best of me, and I found myself hiking along wide, sandstone slabs lining the edge of a kidney-shaped koi pond. I enjoyed my little detour, then looked up. Before me was the farm house! It's located in the middle of the park, probably in the middle of what was once the family farm. I will have to back some day when its open and take the tour.

I circled around the Veteran's memorial, offered up a prayer for my stepson in Afghanistan, and headed back to my car. I hadn't gone far before another intriguing area caught my attention. A small simulation of all the local canyons: Big and Little Cottonwood, Emigration, City Creek, and so on. The trails meandered and branched, overlapped and cris-crossed, eventually leading me back to the tree-lined avenue. So many other things caught my eye and demanded my attention, but time was slipping away, and I had other places I had to be.

The wondrous things I'd seen have stayed with me all day. All because I decided today's walk would have No Rules!

Happy Walking!

Elizabeth

Walking in Winter

I started my day in the best possible way: I went Nordic Walking in the park with fellow Nordic Walkers Maria and Jane: the nucleus of our Nordic Walking Community. It was brisk and bracing and an enjoyable time was had by all! As you can see from the picture, we were pretty bundled up. This morning, the temps were in the mid 30s.

The beauty of Nordic Walking is that you can do it anywhere, any weather. I once Nordic Walked 2 miles in a horrendous rain storm. Not something I recommend, but it was kind of fun. The trick to Nordic Walking in any weather is preparation. And preparation for cold weather means layers. This morning, for example, I wore the following:

* Warm Socks
* Comfortable Shoes
* Fleece-lined Leggings
* Warm Shirt
* Polar Fleece Pullover
* Scarf
* Light Knit Gloves

I was plenty warm! In fact, this morning I probably could have done without the scarf and maybe even the gloves. My point is, I went prepared and I stayed toasty. And as the weather gets colder, I will upgrade my gear accordingly, adding more layers, heavier gloves, an undershirt, my sock monkey hat. You get the idea.

My point is this: don't let the cold weather prevent you from getting out and enjoying nature and getting the exercise you need and deserve! Just "rug up", as my Aussie friend used to say.

Happy Walking!

Elizabeth

Saturday Stroll

I love Autumn; it is my second favorite season. The colors are so vibrant and ever changing, and every day presents a different image, even if you're looking at the same thing. The air is crisp and envigorating, with a slight haze which, over distance, invokes a feeling of endlessness, as if this is how Nature will stay indefinitely. Oh, I know that someday soon I will wake up to find the reds and oranges and golds of autumn have given way to the white and gray of winter's icy grip. But for now it is still autumn.

And it was into this bright, crisp, cool, colorful world I stepped this morning, with my friend Maria, to take in the scenery of the quiet neighborhood where I live and to enjoy nature. With our poles in hand, we walked along quiet streets, past gardens and yards filled with late blooming perennials and trees still covered in leaves of ever hue. It was quiet and peaceful, and it made me wonder why I don't do this neighborhood stroll more often. It was, without a doubt, the perfect start to my day.

It has been nearly 3 hours since that walk ended, and I can still feel the tingly goodness of it in my fingers and toes and all points in between. I love Nordic Walking. I love it more when I do it with a friend.

Morning Nordic Walking Goodness

This morning, I met Maria at Liberty Park and had a lovely 1-mile Nordic Walk around the park. It was SO FUN to go Nordic walking with my friend, to get caught up on what's going on in our lives, and to enjoy the peace and quiet of the relatively empty park, to watch the ducks in the pond, and to see the faint glimmer of frost disappear from the grass as the sun slowly rose over the Wasatch, the morning sunlight creating a warm, golden glow in the trees.

One thing that quickly became apparent, however, is that summer is far behind us and that the temps at 7:45 are COLD!!! While arms, legs, feet, and head were relatively warm, our fingers were freezing! Now, of course, I'm on a quest for some great gloves. I've gotten some great tips on where to look and which ones to try, so I'll keep you posted.

Nordic Walking in the morning is a FANTASTIC start to the day. I will HAPPILY go walking with anyone, any morning of the week. Interested? Just give me a call at 801-654-1059.

Happy Walking!

Elizabeth

New Beginnings

As you can see, if you cruise through previous posts, this blog has been sorely neglected for quite some time. Well, times, they are a-changing. I know a lot of what's happening with FootePath is being updated on FaceBook (www.facebook.com/FootePath.Girl), but this is going to be where all the in depth details are going to be! Plus, YOU can leave your comments here. Share your thoughts, feelings, and experiences with Nordic Walking.

Happy Walking!