Nordic Walking took me by surprise. I came along for a very wet and soggy taster session and was somewhat dubious about ‘walking with sticks’ but I soon was hooked. It was so different to what I thought it was going to be.  It engages the upper body muscles and the poles really push you along.  I soon was enjoying feeling fitter than I had felt in ages – and pushed myself to join the faster Workout Walks.  I have trained for 4 half marathons with the Norfolk Walking Team and also completed the 18 Mile Bury to Clare Challenge in 2021.

I joined the team in 2018 and love leading walks.  I am also a City of Norwich Tour Guide so have led some memorable (non-Nordic) historical walks for our walkers – always ending with a pub lunch!  If you feel curious about what Nordic Walking can do for you, come and try it out.  You may be very pleasantly surprised.  I was!

I am passionate about exercise and always have been.  I simply love being outside and embracing the elements – whether on foot, on my bike or in the past, as a long distance runner.  When I started to suffer from “runner’s knee” as a result of training for marathons I looked at other options which would give me the buzz of running but without the impact on my joints.  That is when I came upon Nordic Walking, and I haven’t looked back since!  In fact I loved it so much, I gave up my job as a full-time teacher to set up Norfolk Nordic Walking in 2017 and it’s just gone from strength to strength from there….

I love waking up each day and walking in some of the loveliest places Norfolk has to offer with amazing, wonderful people.  I enjoy motivating people to come outside, engage in nature’s green gym and to love the ‘feel good’ factor of exercising together, in all weathers.

I offer varied sessions to cater for all different fitness levels. We are all different so ‘one size’ does not fit all.  From Well Being Walks to Workout Walks via Cardio Zoom Workouts, there’s no doubt that at NORFOLK NORDIC WALKING we offer a brilliant variety of activities, six days a week.

This really is the best job in the world!

I took up Nordic Walking as a way to motivate myself to lose weight and get fit.  When I started, I used to be at the back of the group, but I loved the chat and the hour just flew by.  Soon I was coming twice a week and I found I was often heading up to the front and enjoying renewed energy.  I even found myself signing up for Half Marathon training with Rebecca – which I would never ever have dreamed of doing. It was like a new me was emerging.

In 2019 I could see Rebecca’s groups were expanding so I volunteered to help in what ever way I could. I started off back marking, but soon Rebecca suggested I lead an walk once a week, and it just started from there.  I now run a regular group over in Reepham every Wednesday and I’m always up for recce-ing brand new walks in various locations across Norfolk.  Favourites include: Dead Man’s Gully, Gressenhall – Wensum Valley and my Marriott’s Way Circulars.

I love being part of the NORFOLK NORDIC WALKING team.  It’s brilliant.

My sons run marathons and I used to watch and cheer – never in a million years thinking one day that would be me.  But, I took up Nordic walking and everything changed!!!  I work full time so I can only walk twice a week (early Tuesday mornings and Saturdays) but I found my fitness improve almost immediately – and that got addictive.  The longer the walk, the better!  I took part in my first Half Marathon with Rebecca – there was a team of about 12 of us.  It was brilliant.  We did another one and this time went for a better PB.  That was when Rebecca asked if anyone wanted to train up for a full marathon and I was up for it.  We were on our own but that didn’t stop us.  Now fast forward two years and we have gone from strength to strength. We have two marathons, two 18 mile races and an Ultra 50K under our belts. We are also training for another marathon and Ultra!  I have subsequently trained to join the Norfolk Nordic Walking Team and now lead two Saturday walks a month.  I cannot endorse what a life changing and lovely thing Nordic Walking is.  You walk in fantastic places, meet amazing people and you get fit.  And that feels great. My sons are really proud!

I have always been an outdoors kind of person.  I am not put off by bad weather – you just layer up don’t you?  There are so many places to discover in the UK but Norfolk in particular is a gem.  Such diverse terrain and countryside.  I like nothing more than packing up my camper van and heading out onto the open road with my walking boots packed and ready for action!  We are lucky to live here.

I took up Nordic Walking to see what all the fuss was about.  I immediately got it.  I like to walk briskly but this felt exhilarating – and I definitely could see how it turns the walk into a cardio workout.  I also liked the fact there are so many walks to choose from in the NNW Weekly Schedule. I soon was finding I was joining at least 3 a week.

I became a Walk Leader in 2020.  Being part of the team is fab.  We share ideas, workshop new routes and share a passion for Nordic-ing. It’s great!

Nordic Walking took me by surprise. I came along for a very wet and soggy taster session and was somewhat dubious about ‘walking with sticks’ but I soon was hooked. It was so different to what I thought it was going to be.  It engages the upper body muscles and the poles really push you along.  I soon was enjoying feeling fitter than I had felt in ages – and pushed myself to join the faster Workout Walks.  I have trained for 4 half marathons with the Norfolk Walking Team and also completed the 18 Mile Bury to Clare Challenge in 2021.

I joined the team in 2018 and love leading walks.  I am also a City of Norwich Tour Guide so have led some memorable (non-Nordic) historical walks for our walkers – always ending with a pub lunch!  If you feel curious about what Nordic Walking can do for you, come and try it out.  You may be very pleasantly surprised.  I was!