Hoigaards

April 13

New York was a blast!  It was a thrill to nordic walk on CBS Early Show and then I got 2 hours of nordic walking in Central Park with my new best friend Lindy from LEKI.  It was a glorious Saturday afternoon, sunny and warm and Central Park was in full bloom.  New Yorkers were out in force enjoying the day; walkers with strollers and dogs, bikers, skaters, baseball games, volleyball, row boats and people just sitting in the sun.  Such a treat coming from the never ending winter we seem to be having in Minnesota.

And now it’s back to reality.  I flew in early this morning and worked the floor at Hoigaard’s all day.  Such a whirlwind adventure, was it real???  I am in constant awe at how Nordic Walking has changed my life.

I can’t believe it!  Greg Wozer, president of LEKI USA, called me on Wednesday to ask if I would be willing to fly to New York next Friday and be the spokesperson for Nordic Walking on CBS Morning Show.  Wow!   Of course I said yes.

It’s been a long journey.  I’ve been a walker since 1985.  Getting up at 5:30 am to hit the trail for my morning workout. Why so early?  It was the only time that no one else wanted and I’m basically a morning person anyway.  My walking partner, Gail, lives next door so we set the motivation for each other to get up and going.  A day is just not right if it doesn’t start out with a walk.  Walking sets the pace for my day, the  rhythm of my life.  Adding Nordic Walking Poles in 2004 was a perfect fit!  I’ve personally seen the results in my own fitness levels and love to pass the good news on to everyone I meet. 

LEKI’s mantra is one walker at a time!  And I’m known to stop or turn around on the trail to answer questions and tell people about what I’m doing.

And now I get to New York and tell millions of people about it!  I’m excited and nervous and wondering what to wear. It’s going to be such a fun adventure.  What I know right now is that it will be an outside one minute of fame sometime during the Early Morning Show.  If I get more details I’ll pass them on.  Til then, New York get ready, the Nordic Walking Queen is coming.

One of my most successful programs last summer was Hoigaard’s Nordic Walking Tuesdays. Meeting at different spots within the Twin Cities, we provided Nordic Walking Demo poles and a quick introduction to the sport and then off we would go for a 2 ½ to 3 mile walk.  Last year we averaged 25 women on Tuesdays from April to October and maxed out at 42 one evening in June. Many of the women came every week, connecting with the group and bringing their friends come with them to try Nordic walking.   Through the course of the summer, including corporate demos, classes, special events and the Tuesday walks I introduced over 500 people to Nordic walking while tracking over 150 miles.

April 1 was our first Nordic Walk of the new season.  Everyone was excited to get back out on the trails after a long winter here in Minnesota.  I was worried that mother nature could play an April Fool’s joke on us weather wise but I never expected the 8 inches of snow we got on Monday, March 31.  My email and voice mail was filled with women depressed about not being able to walk.  But Tuesday dawned with full sun and lots of melting. Mixed with the superb job the Minneapolis Park Board did plowing sometime during the early morning hours and the path around Lake Calhoun was clear and dry when I checked it at noon. Nordic Walking Tuesdays could begin!

I drove the Hoigaard’s van to the lake and waited for the walkers to arrive, hoping they got my message that the path was good and the walk was on.  One by one they came skipping over the snow drifts with big smiles and hello’s. Hugs and introductions, poles adjusted, leaders identified.  By the time we strode off we had 18 nordic walkers swinging their poles and delighting in the early evening sun and brisk air.  It was so good to reconnect with my summer friends from HOW.  We had 4 newcomers so I got to walk the sunny side of the lake with them, working on rhythm and beginning technique.  We all finished together back at the beach, feeling good all over!

Is it the rhythm of the poles, the connection with other women, the new friendships, being outside, the good workout, the runner’s high at the end?  Everyone felt better at the end of the walk, everyone had let go of their day and now looked forward to the rest of the evening, everyone had rosy cheeks and a big smile and we can’t wait for next week.

It was my pleasure to take 10 women from the HOW (Hoigaard’s Outdoor Women) Program to Steamboat Springs in early March for 3 days of skiing and adventure. Being a large group we quickly became known as the “Ladies from Minnesota” to the local taxi company. We ranged in age from late 20’s to early 60’s and included downhill as well as Nordic skiers. One of our group came all the way from Amsterdam to join us making us an international HOW group once again.

This was a year of lots of snow for the Rocky Mountain states and Steamboat was on their way to a record winter with over 400 inches as we arrived. The snow gods were good to us, we had new snow every night and beautiful “blue bird days” our first and third day on the mountain.

One of the highlights of our trip was skiing with Deb Armstrong. She coached the women in the triangle of power as it applies to skiing and allowed that they can use the image in everyday life as well. She’s delightful, energetic and has a very personal approach with women. Her tips early on made it easier for women to enjoy the variety of snow conditions all over the mountain.

A trip to Steamboat wouldn’t be complete without an evening at the Strawberry Hot Springs. The hot water and beautiful setting was the perfect antidote for sore muscles and tired bodies. We even took the plunge into the 40 degree river!

I really enjoy traveling with women. It’s a very special experience in the lack of competition in the group. Women offer total support to each other, offering and taking options, allowing each other to be independent (one of our group took off on her own every day to the Nordic center) and recognizing and respecting their own personal limits. We all took great delight in getting to know other and came away having made new friends and connections.