A good alternative plan has been set in place by the Trail Loppet organizers for the entire Loppet weekend. All events have been moved to Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis. The well attended Luminary (2/4) is now a hiking event. Poles welcome. Still time to register. Luminaries will be in place. See more details here on the Loppet site.
We are making plans, so keep checking back. In the works is the annual Nordic Walking Open House. This year it will be held on Saturday, April 21, from 9-12 @ Christ Presbyterian Church in Edina off of Hwy 100 & 70th St. Soon, Introductory Classes will be posted, so stay tuned. This Saturday, Jan 28th, you’ll find us Nordic Walking (due to lack of snow to snowshoe) at the 1st annual Romp to Stomp located at the Arboretum. Find some pink to wear and come join us.
Tuesday October 11 will find Rhea and myself over at the Eagan Community Center for the South Metro 55+ Senior Expo. This is a free event with lots of information focused “Living and Loving the 55+ Life. The event is from 1-4pm. We’ll be talking about Nordic Walking of course! If you’ve got time, come on by for the afternoon, door prizes and refreshments included!
It’s always more fun in a group! It’s the favorite question when we do classes – “Is there a group I can walk with in my area?” It’s really wonderful when it all comes together.
The 2011 Birkie Trail Run and Trek was last Saturday. It was the 4th year for the Trek and once again they’re more walkers on the trail than last year. The common denominator was a love for walking with poles. There was great variety in the poles ranging from Nordic walking to trekking to good old cross country ski poles for those Nordic aficionados. It’s a beautiful mix of styles and techniques but it all includes poles swinging in rhythm as people enjoy the half marathon on the world famous Birkie Trail.
I missed having Rhea beside me as we walked but there were lots of familiar faces from all of the Great Lakes states and plenty of newbies that I’m sure will be back next year. It’s the community of walkers that we all strive for in our neighborhoods, all come together to share the day.
If you don’t come for the walk, you should come for the food as the Brick House (Cable, WI) made the lunch again. It was delicious! Just the thought of that pulled pork sandwich with all the extras is enough to keep you going one step after another. And remember, you don’t have to do a 21K to be part of this event, there is a 5K walk/run for anyone who thinks that 3.5 hours plus on the trail is more than they can handle.
Thank you to everyone who came to walk. The 2012 Birkie Trail Run and Trek will be on Saturday September 29 next year. Mark that calendar now! You’ll have all summer to train for it and we’ll help!
Forty plus Nordic Walkers found a perfect day day to enjoy the Trail Loppet on 9/10/11 at Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis. The top finisher Gina Lewis finished the 7.5 miles challenging course in 1:50. Others came in between 2 and 3 hours.
A well deserved break....those poles served us well on this course!
This is not your neighborhood “walk in the park’ type of course. We were on some interesting and narrow terrain. Kudos to all that attempted and finished the course. I say, if you can do the Loppet you can certainly do the 1/2 marathon Birkie Trek which is coincidentally coming up on 9/24 in Cable Wisconsin. Beginners are welcome on the 5k trail. The Fall colors will be spectacular along the old logging trail. Linda Lemke will be in attendance and lead the half marathoners at the starting point. Surely, she’ll report back to us jealous souls upon her return. Best of luck to all.
Sep 10, 2011 Trail Loppet Minneapolis Theodore Wirth Park, 7.5 miles
Sep 17, 2011 Crazy Fun 5k, Lakeville Ritter Farm Park, RSVP to TrailCalendar
Sep 17, 2011 Race for Hope McCook Lake (Sioux City, IA), 5k or 15k
Sep 22, 2011 LifeTime Trail Series, Maple Grove, Elm Creek, 5.2 miles
Sep 24, 2011 Birkie Trek Hayward WI 5K or 21K
Oct 15, 2011 Big Woods Faribault, 5K or 10K for Nordic Walkers
You are welcome to use your Nordic Walking poles this Thursday 7/28 @ 6:30pm @ Hyland Park in Bloomington. 4.5 miles. This is the first of five races that Lifetime is offering this late Summer / early Fall. All races are off trail and fully supported. If you are a Lifetime member the cost is only $15. and if not a member it is $20. You’ll receive a tshirt and beer after the race if you so desire. Come join me and others there. You’ll see me there with my poles in hand ready to go! See their website for more info and to register. http://www.ltftrailseries.com
The Heart of Summer 5K was Saturday. We had 13 Nordic Walkers in the event, women who had participated in the Women on the Move summer training and celebrated with a successful 5K walk around Lake Nokomis. It was inspiring to train and to walk with these women. Over the 8 weeks they learned bunches about how to better take care of their hearts and their lives. They were enthusiastic and energized by their goal to do a 5K event. They worked hard, pushed themselves and stepped it up on Saturday to finish before the rain hit. The wind and impending storm only added to their excitement about their accomplishment!
Congratulations to all who walked or ran the Heart of Summer!
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women, claiming more lives than AIDS, breast cancer and lung cancer combined. The Women on the Move program is coming to an end, 8 weeks of training and education to help women reduce their risk of heart disease. It’s an impressive program with over 100 women in the Wednesday evening program this year. Nordic Walking was one of the training choices and we’ve had so much fun introducing these women to the fun and fitness advantages of using poles. Healthy bodies, healthy hearts and new friends are the result of their 8 weeks of hard work.
It all gets celebrated on Saturday July 23 at Lake Nokomis at the Heart of Summer 5K Race. It is one of the most inspirational and unique events you’ll ever experience. It is a day of hope and accomplishment as we celebrate survivors, honor lives lost, and continue the mission to educate women about the role of health and fitness in the prevention of heart disease. We’d love to have you join us on the walk. Bring your poles or borrow a pair (free with ID) right at the start line. It promises to be a beautiful morning walk around the lake.
Just so you know, 100% of the proceeds from the event stay in the community.
This week there is Nordic Walking in every section of the Twin Cities. So no more excuses, come on out and try it!
Central: Tuesday June 14 6:30pm
Centennial Lakes in Edina, Nordic Walking Tuesdays with Hoigaard’s. Meet us at the pavilion below Chuckie Cheese. Free use of poles, free quick intro.
Western: Thursday June 16 1pm and 6:30pm
Arboretum Outdoors with Hoigaard’s Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Free admission (just say nordic walking at the gate) free use of poles with ID, free quick intro
Eastern: Saturday June 18 10am-12noon
Outdoors! Extra with Minnesota State Parks Gateway Trail, Hadley parking lot. Free Nordic Walk, free parking, free use of poles with ID and free quick intro
Southern: Saturday June 18, 9:10am
Nordic Walk This Way Free Nordic Walk at Ritter Farm Park in Lakeville Free use of poles with ID, free parking, option of yoga before walking.
Northern: Tuesday June 21 6pm registration, 7pm Nordic Walk.
Nordic Walk for Wolves Benefit fun 5K walk for the International Wolf Center. Register online or register that nite. $25 donation for adults
See you out there! We’ll be the ones with the poles!
