Outdoors

Pick up pace with poles

Nordic walking gains traction as a total body workout, with none of the fuss of shoveling snow.

By TERRY TOMALIN, Outdoors Editor
Published December 28, 2007

Brant Bowers uses his Leki Nordic walking poles for more cardiovascular benefits while walking about 4 mph at Lake Seminole Park in Seminole.
	[Martha Rial | Times]

ADVERTISEMENT [Jim Damaske | Times (2002)] If you like less of a beaten path, take the ferry from Honeymoon Island over to Caladesi Island's trails.

PINELLAS POINT

When you walk with ski poles through a suburban neighborhood at 5 a.m., be prepared for smart alecks. The hecklers love to ask if you've lost your cross country skis; another favorite, "Do you think it is going to snow?" Get used to it. While Nordic walking may look strange, devotees say the health benefits are worth any snide comments they may get from passers-by. If you are looking for a way to shed weight, get in shape and enjoy the great outdoors, this may be a sport for you.

Thank the Scandinavians

Northern Europeans have long produced the best cross country - or Nordic - skiers in the world. In the early 1900s, a Finnish ski coach was looking for a way to keep his athletes in shape during the offseason.

He decided to have them train in the summer the same way they did in the winter, minus the skis. Over the years, other athletes began to cross-train with ski poles because, unlike jogging, Nordic walking works your upper body as well.

"We started teaching classes about two years ago, and it is obvious the sport is growing," said Leslie Stallings, Wellness Director for the North Pinellas Branch of the YMCA. "If people are already walkers, you can transition right into Nordic walking and burn more calories."

High-tech ski poles

Nordic walking poles are similar to those used by skiers and hikers. Made of light, super-strong materials such as aluminum or carbon fiber, the poles weigh just ounces and are practically impossible to break.

Stallings, herself an accomplished triathlete, said the arm/foot coordination may seem awkward at first, but after a few minutes, the rhythm comes naturally.

"People might look at you a little odd, think you are crazy, but once they find out that you are burning up to 40 percent more calories per hour than regular walking, they are more understanding," Stalling said.

After an hour of Nordic walking, you will feel the burn in your biceps, triceps, shoulders, back muscles and abs, as well as your legs. "It is really a total body workout," Stallings said.

Getting started

The first thing to decide is whether you want to start Nordic walking on paved or well-groomed pathways or begin trekking, which is usually done in the woods on the same trails hikers use.

"Trekking poles are built with the tips out in front so you can use them to improve balance and stability," said Brant Bowers, an avid Nordic walker who sells the poles at the Bill Jackson Shop for Adventure in Pinellas Park. "Nordic walking poles are built for propulsion, so the handles are shaped differently."

Trekking and Nordic walking poles can either be fixed in length or telescoping. The telescoping poles are easier to store and transport, and generally better for beginners because the length can be changed as you become more proficient.

The German company Leki www.leki.com is the leading manufacturer for both Nordic walking and trekking poles. Prices start at $99 a pair.

These lightweight poles are always great to have on the trail. They help keep snakes at bay. They also come in handy for picking up litter.

For more information, visit the Web site for the American Nordic Walking Association at http://anwa.us/

Terry Tomalin can be reached at tomalin@tampabay.com or (727) 893-8808.

Where to hike, trek or Nordic walk

Hillsborough River State Park: Located just a half-hour north of downtown Tampa, this is not only one of the finest hiking trails in the Tampa Bay area but the state as well. Look for red-shouldered hawks in the sky above and otters in the river below as you hike along the banks of the Hillsborough. Be sure to take the "rapids" trail, a rare treat in a state that is as flat as a pancake.

Lettuce Lake Park: Another great park trail along the Hillsborough, it takes about an hour to explore the floodplain forest, oak hammocks and pine flatwoods that line the cypress swamp. The park, located off Fletcher Avenue near the University of South Florida, is ideal for children. A boardwalk allows visitors to get close to the alligators and snakes. But don't worry. They can't jump.

Honeymoon Island State Park: Located at the extreme west end of State Road 586 in Dunedin, this 2.5-mile nature trail offers the best chance to see osprey nesting in Florida. The raptors love the 80-acre slash pine forest, a reminder of what Pine-ellas County must have looked like at the turn of the century. The park has great interpretive signs (be sure to pick up a map at the entrance station) and clean bathrooms and picnic tables.

Caladesi Island State Park: You can only get there by boat or ferry, but that is a good thing. The island's remoteness keeps visitors to a minimum. The ferry from nearby Honeymoon Island takes about 20 minutes. Private boats can moor for the day at the 99-slip marina. The 2.9-mile trail will take about an hour and a half to complete. Most visitors bring a bathing suit for afterward because you won't find a better swimming beach in the state.

Sawgrass Lake Park: This Pinellas County park, located off 62nd Avenue N just west of Interstate 275, offers the best of both worlds: a boardwalk through the uplands and a trail through the uplands. A lush, green park, fern fans will find it to their liking. Give yourself an hour to complete both trails.

Boyd Hill Nature Park: One of the true gems of the city of St. Petersburg, you'll find this park on Country Club Way South, off Dr. Martin Luther King Street (9th Street).The 2.1-mile trail traverses a variety of habitat, including floodplain forest, freshwater marsh and pineflatwoods. Boyd Hill has a educational nature center, so leave yourself a half-hour for a self-guided tour.

Fort De Soto Park: Voted "best beach" in the nation in 2005 by Stephen Leatherman, a.k.a. Dr. Beach, Fort De Soto has more than blue water and sugar sand. There are four hiking circuits to choose from, the best being the Arrowhead Nature Trail, located at the north end of the park, along Bunces Pass. The ranger station offers free maps to guide you through the natural communities.

Fast facts

Burn 'em up

Nordic walking burns about 400 calories per hour. How it compares to other activities (200-pound person doing activity for 60 minutes):

Activity Calories

Fishing 276

Walking (2 mph) 252

Kayaking 456

Hiking 540

Mountain biking 768

Canoeing 840

Swimming 888

Source: www.healthstatus.com

[Last modified December 27, 2007, 21:05:57]