Wirral Walking Scheme to be Extended

A popular walking scheme based on the Wirral peninsular, Merseyside is to be extended in 2012. The ever-popular Wirral Health Walks scheme is to be expanded to include a regular weekly walk. The scheme is aimed at those who currently take little or no exercise, offering walks for beginners and is part of the national Walking for Health scheme. This additional walk will begin in the picturesque town of West Kirby each Wednesday, starting at noon.

Get out and Get Active

According to Chris Meaden, Wirral Council’s cabinet member for culture, leisure and tourism, January is an ideal time to effect a positive change in your lifestyle, and that by donning your outdoor clothing and getting active, you are heading in the right direction. “New Year is always a time when people start thinking about exercising off their festive excesses,” commented Meaden. “A decent walk is the best way to start exercising, especially for those who aren’t used to regular exercise.” There are a number of walks taking place across the borough, so there should be walks that are “local for everyone” confirmed Meaden.

Further Afield

The national Walking for Health scheme supports and operates a number of walking groups across the country. If you were looking to meet new people and get active, it would be a great idea to get in touch with your local scheme. All that is required is a robust set of footwear, appropriate outdoor clothing, and the determination to make a difference.

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Walking Good, Running Bad!

In a study conducted by scientists at the University of Loughborough, it has been found that whilst regular moderate exercise can help to boost the immune system, too much exercise can have the opposite effect. Professor Mike Gleeson has concluded that activity such as going for a good long walk can help to strengthen the body’s defences against such infections as the common cold, sinusitis and seasonal influenza. Too much exercise could be just as bad as too little for the immune system. According to Professor Gleeson, “different levels of exercise significantly increase or decrease the chances of catching an upper-respiratory tract infection.”

Activity Determines Susceptibility

Putting on your outdoor clothing and undertaking a “brisk walk” each day could “reduce your chance of catching a respiratory infection by up to a third” confirmed Professor Gleeson. If you are taking little or no exercise, you are likely to have an “average risk of catching an infection, typically two or three times a year.” It seems that these “couch potatoes” are just as at risk as marathon runners to catch a cold!

Moderation is the Key

Following prolonged periods of strenuous exercise, Gleeson found that the “likelihood of an individual becoming ill actually increases.” Directly following a marathon, people are between two and six times more likely to develop an upper respiratory infection. It is thought that the heavy training involved in preparing for a marathon suppresses the cells that fight infection, whilst moderate exercise boosts their performance.

New Nova Scotia Ski Helmet Law set to be World’s Toughest

From next winter, visitors to Nova Scotia’s slopes will be met with stringent new laws regarding the use of safety helmets, said to be the world’s strictest. Skiers and snowboarders not wearing the correct safety equipment would be hit with a $250 fine from officers enforcing the new law. The law is in response to the statistic that 11 people have experienced traumatic brain injuries since the year 2000 that were related to skiing or snowboarding without using a ski helmet.

Activities that “Should be enjoyed safely”

Maureen MacDonald, the Minister of Health and Wellness is a staunch supporter of the new law, stating, “Many Nova Scotians enjoy activities like skiing and snowboarding, but these are activities that should be enjoyed safely.” MacDonald went on to assert that the use of correct safety equipment could “greatly reduce the risk of suffering a traumatic injury and could be the one thing on the hill that saves a life.”

Not Just Whilst Skiing

The use of helmets in Nova Scotia is not just helping those who prefer to strap on a set of ski boots. The Canadian province boasts the highest proportion of cyclists using helmets, and in turn has the lowest rate of injuries related to cycling. The law for those on the slopes is intended to reduce the risk for winter sports enthusiasts, whilst not impinging too much on their enjoyment of the pastime.

Lost Hiker “Didn’t Think he’d Survive”

82-year-old Bruce Charity did not expect to be out for too long when he set off for one of his regular strolls last Monday afternoon. After his walk took a disastrous turn, and he ended up lying down to sleep in a soaking jacket, Charity did not expect to wake up the following morning. At one stage, he remembers looking at his watch, seeing that the time was 10 p.m. and thinking “what the heck? I’m 82 years old; I’ve got to go sonetime.”

A Near Fatal Wrong Turn

Charity’s problems began when he got a bit lost in the woods close to his home, taking a trail “that really wasn’t a trail.” Hoping to find another trail, Charity kept going, but instead got hopelessly lost, and darkness, along with the temperature was falling. In attempting to seek help from a fellow walker with a torch, Charity made what could have been a grave mistake, in misjudging the depth of a stream. He initially believed it to be around a foot deep, but quickly found he was mistaken as he became submerged. Thankfully a police helicopter found him after his wife raised the alarm when Charity did not return home.

Do not Make the Same Mistakes

Going for a lone winter hike can be fantastic, but can be fraught with dangers. Ensure that you have sufficient outdoor clothing for the cold weather, and make sure you have notified somebody of your intended route, and expected time of return. A good torch can also help you to be found if you get lost.

Swindon’s Hikers get Surfing to Find New Routes

A brand new website detailing some of the best routes for hikers around Swindon has been launched. The Get Walking in Swindon site is aimed at all those who want to get (or indeed remain) healthy, as it promotes the aims of leading a healthy lifestyle. The site is the result of a partnership between Swindon Council’s leisure services department and the local Ramblers, with some funding coming from an NHS funded project, Walk Swindon. Containing routes and information about walking groups, the site is designed to inspire people to pull on their outdoor clothing and get active.

Encouragement to Enjoy Walking

At the heart of the project is the idea that people should find walking enjoyable, and if they do, they are more likely to continue. The site follows similar projects that have proved popular in Durham, Manchester and Sheffield, and contains routes that have been created by a group of local volunteers. Whilst the first routes have been posted, more are expected in the New Year.

A “Wonderful Project”

The bulk of the routes are short, between one and three miles, but others go up to the five-mile mark. Routes that are accessible to wheelchair users are flagged up on the site, allowing all to get involved and get active. Pat Crabb of the local Ramblers group called the site a “wonderful project. We’ve really enjoyed working with the council to encourage people to get to their feet and experience the benefits of walking.”

British Explorer Finally Begins Epic Antarctic Voyage

The 33-year-old British explorer Felicity Aston has at last set off on her epic and historic voyage, as she hopes to become the first woman to cross the frozen continent alone. With no more than a pair of skis, rather a lot of outdoor clothing and her supplies, Aston is attempting a journey of over 1,000 miles, which is expected to take around 70 days. After waiting in her base camp for the weather to improve, the conditions have finally relented, allowing the voyage to begin. Aston announced via her Twitter feed that the epic journey had begun, “having breakfast looking at the mountains. The quiet will take some getting used to. With the first step of my journey, I start the long road home.”

Historic Trek

If she completes the trek, Aston will become the first person to have crossed the continent using muscle power alone, in doing so setting the record for the longest solo polar expedition carried out by a female explorer. In 1997, Norwegian explorer Boerge Ousland took 64 days to cross Antarctica, but harnessed the power of the wind when it blew in his favour using a large parachute style sail.

Heading for the Transantarctic Mountains

Aston’s first challenge on her long journey will be to tackle the Transantarctic Mountains. This will lead her onto the continent’s central plateau. Aston is an experienced adventurer, having previously explored the Canadian Arctic, and crossing the Greenland ice sheet, but this is by far her largest and toughest challenge yet.

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