European & US events lure Nordic Walkers
Details on some of the overseas events are somewhat elusive, but if you’re in the vicinity, do some research:
Switzerland
September 5: The fourth annual Appenzeller Walking Event in the town of Speicher in eastern Switzerland for serious and strictly recreational participants includes the option of three distances (7.2 kilometers, 14.1 km and 25.5 km). If you want to understand how serious the Appenzellers are about Nordic Walking for health and fitness, consider that there are seven Nordic Fitness parks in the canton with 21 marked loop trails each with 11 link trails — 1 marked blue (easy), 1 red (medium) and 1 black (challenging) in terms of length and elevation difference. Speaking of Switzerland, it’s a tad late to sign up for Adventure Women’s hiking/walking/Nordic Walking trip for this year (it’s coming right up on September 4-13), but take a look at the itinerary and consider it for the future.
Italy
September 11-13: Here’s what I found on a website called Arrive2 about an upcoming international meeting in Trasimeno region of Umbria in Italy. You have to figure it out: “On the program stand for health in each age as well as meals with national typical specialities beside various Nordic Walking – routes for a risers and geübte runner, warming up gymnastic and night excursions the participation in the conference sport -.With the international Nordic Walking – meeting wants to show Umbrien once more the fact that the region is not only for sportily ambitious guests an ideal destination but likewise with genuine nature, singular art and cultural properties as well as with deliciousnesses from kitchen and cellar to score can.” The post says that there is supposed to be an online registration form at an Umbrian website, but there isn’t.
United States
September 26. The seventh annual American Birkebeiner Trail Run, Trek and Relay in Wisconsin is ever more welcoming to Nordic Walkers. Register for the 5K run/walk or the 21K, a Nordic Walk event added last year. According to Birkie executive director Ned Zuelsdorff, “Nearly 100 walkers participated in this event in its first year and we are expecting even greater participation this year. Nordic walking continues to increase in popularity as people realize the numerous fitness benefits of this great activity.” The Birkie Trek will begin at 9:00 a.m. at the Birkie Trail Head (County Highway OO in Seeley) and end at Hatchery Creek Park. As a prelude to the main event, Linda Lemke of Hoigaards will conduct a free Nordic Walking clinic on Friday, September 25, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., with loaner poles available for both the clinic and the Birkie Trek itself. Register online for the event or phone 715-634-5025.
United States
October 3: The 2009 Portland Marathon – the one in Oregon, not Maine — again is the pre-eminent US for Nordic Walkers, with three specific events, the new competitive 5-miler, the fourth Annual Marathon Distance Nordic Walking World Championship and the wonderful 10K Mayor’s Nordic Walk. In order to be judged and to be eligible for the 5-Miler or Marathon Nordic Walking Championships awards, competitors must check in at the Racewalk/Nordic Walk registration table the Expo. Also, participants in the non-competitive fun fitness 10K walk , participants should check in at the Mayor’s Walk Table.
