We love a ‘Challenge’ here at MK Nordic Walking! A chance to push yourself a little further, try something a bit different, explore a new area, improve on personal timings or quite simply ‘Just for the FUN of it’! We recently Nordic Walked The 25km Gower Ultra Challenge as a group. Our MK Nordic Walkers have also taken on the Ultra Jurassic, Windsor, London Bridges, Cotswold and Thames Path routes.

The Ultra Challenges are brilliantly organised with a dedicated app and support groups to guide you through your training and information on what you need on the day. Free Rest stops every 10-15 km under marquees with support – toilets, massage, changing rooms, medics, rest areas, hot drinks, water & snacks & much more. Distances range from 10km to 25, 50 or even 100km for the truly hardy! Making a shortlist for 2026!

We also love raising funds for a good cause! This year we Nordic Walked the 20 Mile Pink Ribbon Blenheim Walk to raise money for the ‘Breast Cancer Now’ charity, then a couple of weeks later we walked the 10km ‘Race for Life’ in Milton Keynes to support Cancer Research UK. Both incredible charities very close to our hearts this year.

TRAINING! Training…training!

I can’t stress enough, how important it is for anyone taking on one of these distance challenges to TRAIN prior to your event! We put on a series of ‘training walks’ at MK Nordic Walking, so that we could gradually increase our walking distances. Getting used to comfortably walking 20 km or 30+ km really helped on the day. Until you start walking these distances you don’t know how your body, and very importantly – your FEET, will react. Simple things like blisters can ruin your day! so, best to learn how to avoid and prevent them. Listen to your body, take time to learn where your potential weak spots may be, or indeed, find out your strengths! Do you prefer flat terrain to hills? will there be ‘inclines’ on your route? find out and physically prepare for them! Investigate your route, terrain and keep your eye on the weather on the day – this will obviously impact on what you carry with you on the day. Train with the backpack you’ll use on the day as well as your favourite shoes and socks – be prepared! then go and have the BEST TIME! ENJOY the experience!

We all used our Nordic Walking poles and would HIGHLY recommend them to everyone taking on a distance challenge! As well as giving you ‘forward propulsion’ as you walk, the poles will help support ankles, knees and hips and really keep you upright on varying, challenging terrains!

If you are interested or have signed up for a challenge then come and Nordic Walk with MK Nordic Walking. Let us help with your training, fitness and motivation. We are a super friendly and welcoming group of walkers and would love to help you achieve whatever ‘goals’ you may have. Complete a ‘POWER OF POLES Intro session’, then join our regular walks available 7 days a week, including some evenings, in and around the city of Milton Keynes and surrounding countryside of Woburn and Aspley Woods.