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.
Leroy Hurt, Nordic Walking Guy
Table of Contents
Walking Together schedule: Group walks | No charge - poles provided
Coming up: Nordic Walking Together at Randall Family Park and Trailhead
Saturday, August 1, 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 - Bring your own Nordic walking poles if you have them | No need to bring trekking/hiking poles.
Dress for the weather - Bring your water bottle.
Walking together, moving afoot
Out and about: Walking together, moving afoot
I was the Nordic walking in a small walking group at the McAbee Activity Center and Tuscaloosa Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Walking Together, Moving Afoot: Showing up is the first step
Showing up is the first step because before walking changes your body, it has to overcome inertia, isolation, and hesitation.
Notes and quotes: How to explain Nordic walking to your friends
I came across an article that made all the points about Nordic walking you can use when explaining the sport to your friends.
Main point: "Nordic walking isn’t just a great way to get your steps in. The fitness trend involves walking with long poles—similar to ski poles or hiking sticks—giving you a full-body workout every time you take a step."
Nordic Walking Masterclass schedule: Paid coaching to master Nordic walking technique
Coming up: Masterclass at Randall Family Park and Trailhead (Tuscaloosa County)
Saturday, July 25, 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 August 8, 2026 at 8:30 AM
$60 per person
Veterans Park
4800 Valleydale Rd
Meadowbrook, AL 35242
Need to gear up?
Nordic walking poles
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
Round out your kit
Some other things I’ve found useful
For light walking, I found laceless shoes to be easy to use. There are men’s designs as well.
I’m a fan of thick sole shoes. #CommissionEarned
On recovery days when the work is light, a laceless shoe can be conveniet on those off days from a solid #NordicWalking excursion.
Hoka is a reliable premium brand. #CommissionEarned
What I like about this product is the ability to use it with your existing product containers to keep them from spilling. No need to buy different containers that require transferring the products. This something I see as useful because I like to travel to different locations for #NordicWalking.
A clever way to seal your original containers. #CommissionEarned
If you’re interested in fancy premium things and you go to areas that might not have cell service, you may want to take a look at this. Satellite based services is one area I’ve bookmarked.
Garmin is a respected brand. #CommissionEarned
This book addresses walking in general. We all know walking has plenty of positive benefits, but you know #NordicWalking enhances those benefits to a greater degree.
Think of this more as a motivational book to inspire you to get out and walk. #CommissionEarned