Fun fitness ideas for the great outdoors
If getting fit helps you live longer, then why do I feel like I’m about to die? This is the question I ponder as I limp through yet another instalment of Couch to 5K, bright red and miserable and dripping with sweat.
Like so many others, I’ve embarked on a half-hearted fitness kick, desperate to shed the pandemic pounds.
In the absence of gyms and classes, my options are limited: it’s run, walk or cycle. None of these spark joy.
Which is why I’ve been thinking long and hard about how to change up my workout. With that in mind, I’ve been on the hunt for some slightly left-of-field fitness ideas – the sort of things that’ll get me in shape, but also make a great party story.
Nordic Walking
Nordic walking isn’t just strolling with added poles. It’s a special technique that requires careful practice, with everything from the angle of one’s poles to the line of one’s back calibrated to increase speed.
Intimidating though this sounds, I’m reliably informed that anyone can learn to Nordic walk – although the best way to do so is by attending an introductory class.
Surrey Striders is a brilliant place to take your first, pole-propelled steps.
Established back in 2009, it offers taster sessions, beginner’s classes and technique refreshers for the lapsed walker.
Once you’ve mastered the technique, you can join a local group, or take part in one of the weekly guided walks through the beautiful Surrey countryside.
The major pro of Nordic walking is that it offers a full-body workout, burning far more calories than your average stroll.
There’s also the fact that your lightweight poles will propel you faster and further than you’ve ever walked before, allowing you to explore unseen corners of your local area.
If you love walking but you’re not sold on the Nordic method, you could consider joining The Ramblers.
This UK-based charity promotes walking, protects beloved walking routes and maintains paths. You can join a local Ramblers group – the Surrey Ramblers or Richmond Ramblers are active and friendly options – or you could consider volunteering by maintaining your local paths.
If you need a little inspiration, check out Ramblers Routes, an easy-to-search collection of nearly 4,000 walks across the UK.
Canicross
This is an interesting one. Canicross is the practice of walking or running with your dog, aided by specialist equipment (a waistband for you, a harness for your dog, and a line suspended between the pair of you).
You can buy this equipment from DogFit, a Cobham-based business that also provides canicross training sessions across the UK.
I, for my sins, have two dogs. When I walk them, they’re two manic blurs in the middle distance – and that’s how I like them to stay.
When I imagine being roped to them, I see myself being dragged helplessly through lakes of mud while they chase after unsuspecting wildlife. It simply doesn’t appeal.
But I may be wrong to take this gloomy view. When I talk to Ginetta George, co-founder of DogFit, she explains that using the specialist equipment means that your dog won’t be able to pull you over (however hard it may try).
Not only that but exercising alongside your dog can improve its behaviour. Your bog-standard walk may tire out a dog’s little legs, but a session of canicross engages its mind, teaching it to respond to your signals and to work as a team.
So there we go – a form of exercise in which your dog, of all things, is your trainer.
It’s suitable for runners of all abilities, including complete beginners (your dog will tow you along, making running easier and faster!)
There’s also the obvious pro that canicross saves you time – instead of walking your dog and working out separately, you can kill two birds with one stone.
Please don’t try canicross with dogs under 12 months old.
Treasure hunts
I come from a family that loves walking, and as a child I absolutely hated it. What was the point? What was the goal? What were we walking for? That residual bitterness is what inspired my next ideas, which are ideal for children who need a little encouragement to get out and about.
First, there’s Treasure Trails, a company that provides inexpensive self-guided treasure maps for walks around the UK.
There are 17 trails to choose from in Surrey, with routes across Richmond, Kingston, Guildford, Reigate and more.
Each map comes complete with mysteries to solve and clues to crack.
When you’ve finished your walk and solved your puzzle, you can enter the Treasure Trails monthly prize draw for a chance to win some real treasure (£100).
Geocaching
Next, there’s geocaching, a different kind of treasure hunt.
The aim of the game here is to find a cache – a hidden container stashed away in a secret location.
These caches could be anything from a Tupperware container to an empty can of baked beans, concealed in a secure but unobtrusive spot.
Use the free Geocaching app to track down your local cache; a quick search reveals hundreds hidden in town centres, woodlands and parks around Surrey/ Richmond/ Berkshire and the surrounding area.
And what’s inside a geocache? Well, that can vary. There’ll be a logbook to sign, and perhaps a trinket to take home with you (though geocaching etiquette dictates that if you take something, you should leave something of equal value in its place).
Because caches are hidden and maintained by members of the community, geocaching can give you a pleasant sense of connection in a socially distanced world.
And though hunting for treasure may not be the most strenuous workout, it’s great for imparting a sense of adventure to even the simplest walk.
Orienteering
Orienteering is a workout for the mind and the body. Not only will you be working up a sweat in the great outdoors – you’ll also be navigating and route-finding, map and compass firmly in hand.
So how does it work? The aim is simple.
Orienteers must find their way between two points on a map, sometimes visiting landmarks along the way.
To get involved you’ll need to brush up on your map reading skills and be prepared to go off the beaten track in pursuit of your elusive point B.
If you’re already confident in your navigational prowess, you may want to try competitive orienteering.
You’ll compete to complete a given course in the shortest possible time, by charting the most efficient route to your destination, navigating seamlessly – and also, possibly, by sprinting.
Even in its competitive form, the sport is fairly accessible: TrailO competitions are a brilliant option for those of any physical ability, including wheelchair users.
If you’d like to give orienteering a try, the first step is usually to join a local group. There are plenty of options, including the Guildford Orienteers, Mole Valley Orienteering Club and the South London Orienteering Club.
Joining these clubs usually requires a small membership fee, but will give you access to fun local events and competitions. Those who’d prefer to go it alone should look to the British Orienteering website for advice and routes.
See more at www.britishorienteering.org.uk.
