Be inspired this January

New Year, New You!

Throughout January we give you some suggestions for activities and sports you might not have considered to mix up your healthy lifestyle.

Climbing

Climbing is a great all body workout. Not only does rock climbing provide physical benefits, such as building endurance, muscle and flexibility, but climbing can also be beneficial to both the brain and mental health; rock climbing is known to reduce stress and have positive outcomes on mental strength.

There are lots of indoor climbing walls throughout the UK. Where you can get started with lessons and equipment hire. Bouldering, the name for climbing on low rock formations without a rope, has become very popular, perhaps because there is less of a barrier to entry – you don’t need harnesses or learn rope techniques and is great for climbing with a partner – you can both climb at the same time and challenge each other on “routes”.

Of course you can climb outdoors too!

Inspired? Check out this amazing looking new film about climbing with ropes (soloing) – Free Solo.

Cold water swimming

There’s nothing like the full-body slam-dunk of cold-water swimming” – with growing evidence that cold water swimming could help our mental health and alleviate chronic pain conditions, this activity might be worth checking out! https://loom.ly/YC0k0_o (Please check with a health professional about your suitability first)

Walking

This year – challenge yourself to walk more. For some that might mean trying to walk 10,000 steps a day. For others, it might mean hiking up a mountain or taking on a walking challenge.

TrekFest.org.uk‎

Peak District and Brecon Beacons. 25 & 50km Treks. Support Any Charity! TrekFest.org.uk‎

Take part in or recreate the 10 Tors challenge

10 Tor’s is a British Army-organised May-time event open only to six-strong teams of teenagers. It’s limited very strictly to just 2,400 overall competitors too. 56km to 89km.

But forget all that, if you want to it’s replicate the formulae yourself. www.visitdartmoor.co.uk

Get yourself to Dartmoor, pick 10 of your favourite tors that you think lie within a realistic distance of each other. You could set yourself a 24hr limit as in the official event, or stretch it over a weekend and involve a wild camp along the way (it’s legal across much of the National Park).

Yorkshire Three Peaks

Yorkshire Three Peaks is an absolute classic of a walk, 39km of moorland yomping. One of the great walks in the British Isles. The goal is to summit the peaks of Pen-y-Ghent (694m), Whernside (736m) and Ingleborough (723m), passing the great landmark of Ribblehead Viaduct and (with a small optional diversion) the geological oddity of Hull Pot on the way. Completing the route in under 12hrs is possible for most fit walkers, and if you’d like proof of your achievement make sure to clock in out of your attempt at the Pen-y-Ghent cafe in Horton-in-Ribblesdale. www.threepeakschallenge.uk/yorkshire-three-peaks-challenge

The Welsh 3000s (v. hard)

There are 15 peaks in Wales that reach the conveniently round figure of 3,000ft in height. The total distance between the summit of Snowdon and the tip of Foel Fras – an outlier of the Carneddau to the north – is around 42km with around 3,000m of ascent dividing the two. Given that you’re also going to be tackling the knife-edged ridge of Crib Goch and the shattered summits of the Glyderau, this is absolutely not a challenge to be taken lightly. Most that attempt it fail. www.welsh3000s.co.uk

Create your own challenge

Ronald Turnbull’s book ‘Three Peaks, Ten Tors’ has great information on alternatives to the Three Peaks Challenge and conceiving your own challenge walk.

Not everyone will be able to complete all the challenges on this list – in fact, most of us won’t. But all of us are capable of thinking creatively about what could constitute our own challenge. What makes a ‘challenge’ is subjective and there are limitless possibilities to put your own individual slant on them.

Longboarding

Definitely not for everyone. Longboarding is a form of skateboarding. More like Surfing. Often people use it “just get around” but you can learn to “dance” on the board and bomb hills. Longboarding is much more suitable for those in there 30’s or older, than skateboarding, although do wear a helmet, wrist guards and perhaps elbow and knee pads – as we get older, bouncing off the hard concrete is less fun.

https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-longboard-instructions-3002393

https://vandemlongboardshop.co.uk/ The UK’s highest reviewed and most loved Longboard Shop!

https://youtu.be/qH5O2C2iXbM – funny(ish) video about how to Longboard cross-step.

Coasteering

Coasteering is a physical activity that encompasses movement along the intertidal zone of a rocky coastline on foot or by swimming, without the aid of boats, surf boards or other craft. A fun way to explore by climbing, jumping, and swimming. Coasteering might have been born in Pembrokeshire, Wales but you can do it now throughout the UK.

https://www.celticquestcoasteering.com/

https://www.cornishrocktors.com/coasteering/

http://dorsetcoasteering.co.uk

Footgolf

Footgolf is growing in popularity. It’s easy to explain – “golf but with a size 5 football and larger golf holes” – but hard to master. http://www.ukfootgolf.com/

Obstacle courses

This year, why not take part in an obstacle course. The modern obstacle course race is a much better test of full-body fitness than your typical 10K or cyclosportive and they are loads of fun. There are loads throughout the UK – some are better for groups and some are tougher than others.

Tough Mudder

The biggest, if not the toughest, mud run in the UK. The “Classic” event ditch timing chips and favour teamwork instead: some obstacles are impossible to successfully tackle unaided, so expect to help each other through mud pits and over walls. Tough Mudder – Sign Up | £45-£99

Rough Runner

Rough Runner peppers its 5K, 10K and 15km courses with obstacles “inspired” by TV shows! Rough Runner – sign up | From £45

Reebok Spartan

The Spartan’s sprint, super and beast options offer everything from an hour-long jaunt to a half-day of barbed wire crawling, tyre dragging and carrying heavy things. Spartan – sign up | From £77

Wolf Run

Natural obstacles – think muddy woods and icy lakes. The Winter wolf is ideal for those nutters who fancy a swim in a freezing lake. Wolf Run – sign up | £45

Total Warrior

Total Warrior is not a race, although if you sign up for the five-hour Ultra Warrior the person who completes the most laps or half laps during a five hour period will be crowned the winner. Otherwise, just go along for a good time with friends and muddy strangers who’ll help you over the obstacles that dot the 10K, 12km or 10-mile route. Total Warrier – sign up | From £17.50

Want More?

That’s all for now but join / like our FaceBook page and you’ll be updated with more inspiration from us to come throughout January.

January 11, 2019