Nordic Walking Poles Welcome At The Port Oneida Barn To Barn Trail Run/Walk 5K

The Port Oneida barn to barn trail run/walk will be unique in that the National Park Service (Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore) hasn’t approved a running/walk event in nearly two decades. This special running and walking event is a fundraiser for Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear (PHSB).

The 5K (3.1 miles) course be a single loop trail course. The loop should prove to be one of the most scenic in the country. The course is pure cross country. Runners should not expect to break the 5K personal records due the challenges provided by the footing and hills. Runners and walkers will be treated to exceptional view of Sleeping Bear Bay while they traverse the top of the ridge along the Bay View Trail.

My daughter Cassidy Edwards, gold medallist at Junior Olympics in both cross country skiing and track, designed the trail course for serious runners, joggers and those who would enjoy a hike with beautiful vistas. She describes the run, which begins and ends at the Charles Olsen Farm, as a “unique tour of Sleeping Bear’s historic Port Oneida farmsteads.” The loop she has selected for the 5K will include several sections of the Bayview Trail and will take runners and walkers through the beautiful scenery of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore – a National Park just 30 miles west of Traverse City.

My wife Lissa Edwards was one of the founders of Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear and was instrumental in helping to save many of the now protected and newly renovated farmsteads from being torn down during the 1990’s.

Runners, joggers and walkers will find the 5K course to be a special tour of the Port Oneida Rural Historic district which is “one of the most prized historic landscapes in the country”! The course meanders through the pastoral landscape of farmsteads from the late 1800s nestled among the hills, and along the shores of Lake Michigan. The start and finish points are at the Park's historic Olsen farmstead which Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear restored in 2004.

Both Nordic Walking and Nordic Running (running with poles) will be allowed. Free use of Nordic Walking Poles will be provided by  WWW.SKIWALKING.COM and the American Nordic Walking System.

Event Website: http://www.phsb.org/programs/?id=189

For information call 231-334-6103 or email phsb@leelanau.com

To reserve Nordic Walking Poles for the event please call SKIWALKING.COM and the American Nordic Walking System: 231-334-3080 or email: getfit@skiwalking.com

Swix Dominates Cross Country Events at Winter Olympics - SWIX Nordic Walking Poles Available In USA

70% of all the gold medals awarded during the Cross Country Competition

at the Vancouver Olympics were won by athletes using Swix poles!

The new SWIX TRIAC© Cross Country Ski Racing Poles reached the podium 54 times during the Olympics!

SWIX ski and snowboard waxes also raced to numerous podiums during the Olympics in ALL Snow-Sport events – Alpine, Nordic, Snowboard, …..

SWIX of Lillehammer, Norway also produces some of the world’s best Nordic Walking Poles and North America’s leading retailer and distributor SWIX Nordic Walking Poles is American Nordic Walking System and WWW.SKIWALKING.COM – based in Glen Arbor, Michigan.

Pete Edwards has been leading the Nordic Walking charge in North America by offering honest advice and quality one-piece Nordic Walking Poles in 14 different lengths.

As a ski coach Edwards knows that one-piece poles are safer, lighter and much more durable than cheap and flimsy 2-piece and 3-piece collapsible poles from China and equipped with twist-lock or flip-lock systems that typically vibrate, rattle and/or collapse unexpectedly.

Doctors and therapists are quick to note that one-piece piece Nordic Walking Poles are safer, lighter and more durable than cheap adjustable length/telescoping/collapsible poles. Dr. Rekola’s research article “Walking is Good for Your Health – Nordic Walking may be even Better” includes this great quote: “when used for vigorous walking for exercise, the telescopic locking mechanism may fail and cause injuries if the mechanism fails under load and the pole unexpectedly gives way. For exercise, non-telescopic poles, made of composite fiber or other lightweight materials, are recommended.”

Edwards has been coaching runners and skiers for over 25 years and knows that it is just common sense to realize that one-piece poles that are sized correctly will prove to be the most effective and at the same time hassle-free. His experience hosting hundreds of Nordic Walking Classes has reinforced this simple fact about one-piece poles. At the American Nordic Walking System and WWW.SKIWALKING.COM there are 14 different lengths of quality one-piece Nordic Walking Poles available and Edwards will custom make Nordic Walking poles for individuals over 6’ 7” at no extra charge.

Edwards will point out that he never saw any skiers this winter using 2-piece or 3-piece poles. He did see several pairs of broken 2-piece and 3-piece snowshoe poles at several trailheads. The best poles for skiing, snowshoeing and Nordic Walking are durable and user-friendly one-piece poles that are sized correctly.

Edwards is the only source in North America for all sizes of quality SWIX Nordic Walking Poles and he offers a Perfect Length Guarantee – resulting in 100% positive satisfaction ratings. Edwards passionately states that “we couldn’t maintain a 100% Positive Satisfaction Rating if we sold cheap twist-lock and/or flip-lock poles from China. And besides, I could NEVER sell cheap collapsible poles to seniors or individuals with balance issues – how rude and irresponsible would that be!”

Walking with poles is the best!