Getting on with it, Nordic Walking and exercising my headspace.
My ‘Get Fit Again’ regime is gathering pace, and I’m not quite ready for it! I find myself torn between sitting on my backside and managing endless amounts of paperwork, produced by farm and family, and motivating myself to get out and about again.
The months of lying on my back have not only weakened my muscles, but my brain! The shocking weather doesn’t help. It was much easier to feel motivated on those lovely sunny days we were having. I’m having to gird myself with a ‘JUST GET ON WITH IT!!’ Only to be sent back to my chair by hail and torrential rain. Feeling pathetically relieved, but knowing I’ll have to brave it all again very soon.
An outdoor life can be very fluid anyhow. Meaning, that if a situation changes it is often easy to rearrange things and get on with the day in a different order. Or even save them for another day. Obviously, the essential ones, such as feeding livestock, must be done when scheduled. That’s part of the joy of farming, you can choose and adapt. Moving paperwork to the evenings when darkness falls on the farm. Squeezing in niceties too, such as coffee with a friend, time to join Martha at school for a recent lunch invitation. So sweet.
On the flip side, something you’ve had arranged for months will have to be cancelled if your animals need you. There will always be emergencies. Such as the time we were dressed to the nines, all ready to go to meet the in-laws for the racing at Glorious Goodwood. I was plastering on the lipstick as the finishing touch, already tottering around in high heels and my glam outfit. A call from a neighbour came. The cattle were all out of the field and heading towards the village! Heels off. Wellies on. Off we went to stop the runaways. We were 3 hours late for race day. Sob!
Yesterday was one of my treat days. I have been walking more and more every day with my dogs. To be truthful, I have been playing it fairly safe. I haven’t been down to visit our river meadows, into the gorgeous, wild woods or the furthest, most beautiful part of the farm yet. It’s so tiring! Never would I believe I would have said that. Walking down to the river means a VERY steep climb back up, and the end of the farm is a very long round trip. But it really is time to start improving my stamina.
Will power was needed here, which is a little lacking at the moment. So I enlisted some help and booked on to an instructor led Nordic Walk, starting from the atmospheric Hunters Inn (recently bought by the National Trust), to Heddons Mouth and Woody Bay via the South West Coast Path.
It was to be a two hour walk. Nothing much. I’ll be fine, I thought. Last Summer, my final walk, before taking to my bed, was a six hour walk from Countisbury Hill, above beautiful Lynmouth, to picturesque Bossington. Possibly my most favourite walk in the South West to date. It was stunning.
Well, I was almost OK on my Nordic Walk. A bit of whining towards the end, I’m ashamed to say…and no chips in the pub for lunch nearly caused a tired meltdown!! Get a grip B!
Today I am shattered. Stamina still to be built on. We have lambing coming up at the end of March, and I usually do the night shifts. Things don’t look promising!
It was a good day though. Fabulous in fact. To be back out in Exmoors National Park, with its incredible scenery, with storm clouds tipping torrential rain on us at the start, then strong winds blowing the clouds away to reveal the brightest, bluest sky. I was in heaven again.
I certainly wouldn’t have had the confidence, will power or desire to do it without the other walkers. The rain at the start was horrendous, and I could easily have abandoned the idea had I been on my own. They were a great bunch. Friendly, encouraging and a lot were there to help with their injuries and fitness too. So nice to have a chat whilst walking along.
It’s odd how, when you think about something too hard, it can seem so complicated! Nordic walking is an interesting one. It is just walking after all!
To start with you have to put some thought into the movement, so you are actively using the correct muscles. The posture and poles are very important. Combined with the method of walking with opposite arm to opposite leg creating a twisting/rotation of the spine that feels wonderful. Other areas of the body are activated in their own way.
Shoulders and head kept relaxed with head up, where it was safe to do so! Rather steep drops off the side of the coastal path in places.
Feet activated by using the toes more, when placing down, to give a bouncing energy to the step, which also protects joints from jarring.
The correct placement of the poles, depending on the gradient, pushed back into the ground to propel you along and support you when needed. It all adds up to a pretty good, balanced workout.
The best thing of all, is that it’s all done outside. Great for exercising my headspace too!
So I’ve done it! Back out walking again. Happy days.