The White Horse Nordic Walking Club began life in January 2007, at the Kent County Council’s White Horse Wood Country Park (hence the group’s name), opposite the Kent County Show Ground at Detling, near Maidstone. There are almost 20 members in the group, and we meet every other Sunday morning, to do a Nordic Walk of around two hours duration, in the countryside in mid or north Kent (eg, White Horse Wood Country Park, Shorne Wood Country Park, Trosley Country Park, Hucking Estate, etc). Mid-week walks are being planned.
Very briefly, Nordic Walking was devised by cross-country skiers to keep fit in the summer months, and entails the use of two poles to propel yourself along (four-wheel drive walking!) - they are not hiking poles, and use a completely different technique. It is a wonderful means of exercising the upper body, as well as the lower body (about 90% of core muscles are used), while burning more calories (good for losing weight), increasing the heart rate, and reducing strain on the back and lower limb joints. Generally, you can walk further, or faster, than you would while walking without the poles, but you also feel less tired. All this, while having fun and enjoying the fresh air, and views of the Kent countryside, and the company of a really nice and interesting group of people.
You must have already attended a suitable Nordic Walking course, to use Nordic Walking poles on my group walks, however, non-Nordic Walkers are also most welcome to join us – they may even feel inclined to sign up for a Taster Session, when they see just how good it is! These regular Club walks are now chargeable, through membership of the White Horse Nordic Walking Club. Also, you may have to pay parking charges at some of the venues.
Doug began Nordic Walking in August 2006, following a very serious illness, and soon gained a better level of fitness then he had had for many years previously, as well as losing a lot of weight, as a bonus.
He was so enthusiastic about the joys and benefits of Nordic Walking that he became a Level 1 qualified Nordic Walking Instructor in March 2007, and successfully completed a Level 2 Instructor’s course, with Nordic Walking UK, in August 2009, where he met Julie Wraight, and, shortly afterwards, they became business partners, running White Horse Nordic Walking together. They each hold an Emergency First Aid qualification, and appropriate insurance, and Julie is highly qualified in fitness and exercise.
Taster Sessions, which last approximately an hour, are usually arranged on fixed dates, or as and when there is sufficient demand, and include pole hire, as well as the instruction, and cost £5 per person.
On completion of the Taster Session, we then offer a four hour course (run on the basis of an hour per week, for four weeks), to learn, and practice, all the techniques.
If you are interested in this fast-growing form of exercise, then please contact us (see contact details above – press Ctrl + Click on the email and website links), to obtain full details of dates, prices, etc.
Doug Baguley and Julie Wraight
Nordic Walking Instructors
Doug’s Tel: 01622 205782 Mobile: 07984 614233
Doug’s Email:
doug.baguley@blueyonder.co.uk
Julie’s Mobile: 07903 839292
Julie’s Email:
julsw@blueyonder.co.uk