Hello Nordic walkers and friends of Nordic walking,
I reformatted the newsletter so it’s more readable and contains more information. I hope to get into a routine of sending it every couple of weeks.
Expect to see some additional free group walks added.
Nordic Walking Together
Group walks | No charge - poles provided
Coming up: Nordic Walking Together at Randall Family Park and Trailhead
Saturday, August 22, 2026 at 8:30 AM Central
Randall Family Park and Trailhead
201 Rice Mine Rd Loop
Tuscaloosa, AL 35406
No charge, but register ahead of time to provide a headcount.
Coming up: Nordic Walking Together at Aldridge Gardens
Saturday, July 18, 2026 at 8:30 AM Central
Aldridge Gardens (NaphCare Education Building)
3530 Lorna Rd
Hoover, AL 35216
No charge, but register ahead of time to provide a headcount.
You can tailor the duration and distance according to your capability.
No charge for the activity.
Poles provided - Don't bring trekking/hiking poles.
Dress for the weather - Bring your water bottle.
Notes and quotes
Why you should get outside
The Guardian has a good article about the positive benefits of getting outside.
“I am more fully human, my whole self.”
“It built a sense of independence and adventure that has stayed with me.”
“I believe that nature and being outdoors is a great healer.”
Those statements and others in the article made me think of some of Wordsworth’s lines in his poem, “Lines Written a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey”:
The day is come when I again repose
Here, under this dark sycamore, and view
These plots of cottage-ground, these orchard-tufts,
Which at this season, with their unripe fruits,
Are clad in one green hue, and lose themselves
'Mid groves and copses. Once again I see
These hedge-rows, hardly hedge-rows, little lines
Of sportive wood run wild: these pastoral farms,
Green to the very door; and wreaths of smoke
Sent up, in silence, from among the trees!
The Guardian and Wordsworth quotations offer ideas for how you can engage with nature for a great Nordic walking experience:
Immersion: Rather than just tracking your steps or pace, use your poles to rhythmically pause and observe the landscape details.
Connection: Appreciate unstructured nature as she is rather than asphalt roads and concrete sidewalks.
Reset: Quiet your mind and tune into the peaceful, silent moments of your walk.
In Tuscaloosa County:
I like to go to Sokol Park to dip in and out of the woods via the trails. A nice think about Sokol is the availability of smoother paths if you want to get on something more open.
Randall Family Park is a favorite because it’s not as crowded as Tuscaloosa Riverwalk, and it also runs along the Black Warrior River.
If you’re adventurous and want to get deeper in to raw nature, check out Hurricane Creek Park.
I do like Lake Lurleen State Park’s trails around the lake. Much of the time, you hug the lake so you can see the water.
In Jefferson County:
Aldridge Gardens is a favorite walking venue. The path around the small lake is quite smooth, and you have an opportunity to enjoy the turtles, ducks, and other features of the Gardens.
Veterans Park has a nice lake with a path around it that makes for a pleasant outdoor experience. If you’re up for something deeper in the woods, there are paths across the road in the area of Jefferson State Community College.
I recently started looking at Oak Mountain State Park. There are trails and paths throughout.
To make sure the terrain is what you want, read reviews and talk with people before starting out to assess the paths and trails.
Nordic Walking Masterclass
Paid coaching to master Nordic walking technique
Coming up: Masterclass at Randall Family Park and Trailhead (Tuscaloosa County)
Saturday, July 11, 2026 at 8:30 AM Central
$60 per person
Randall Family Park and Trailhead
201 Rice Mine Rd Loop
Tuscaloosa, AL 35406
Coming up: Masterclass at Veterans Park (Jefferson County)
Saturday June 20, 2026 at 8:30 AM
$60 per person
Veterans Park
4800 Valleydale Rd
Meadowbrook, AL 35242
Need to gear up?
I carry Nordic walking poles with me for sale to people who want to get poles right away -
York Nordic 2-section adjustable poles like the training poles I provide for Nordic walking sessions. $80/pair
Nordixx 3-section adjustable poles for travel. $100/pair
FitStar 2-section adjustable poles. These are older generation poles that work well but don't have conveniences like quick release gloves. $40/pair.
Cash, check, Venmo, Paypal.
You can order Nordic walking poles online via York Nordic. Use the discount code LEROY10.
You can also get premium Leki poles from Amazon. #CommissionEarned