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So you know you want to take up a new sport and you know that you want it to be outdoors. So far, so good. But what if, when you come to research it, you find yourself overwhelmed by choice? It might seem obvious, but when you start to consider what the ideal outdoor sport for you might be – it’s important to remember to begin at the beginning!

Land or sea?

Apart from the obvious differences between these two, there are things you may not have considered. Yes, you’ll probably get wet in the water-based activity (think canoeing, kayaking, sailing, windsurfing) but you will also be far more confined by seasons (no-one likes to canoe on a frozen river) and more at the mercy of the elements (sailing without wind is no fun). Things like running, cycling, hiking and climbing can take place in almost all weathers so they may be a better bet for guaranteed fitness.

Equipment

Some outdoor activities require significant expenditure on equipment so consider carefully before you make your mind up. Take diving for instance; as well as a sturdy wetsuit and dive mask, you will also need a broad range of accessories from a regulator to fins to a drysuit if you really get into it. Whereas with running, it’s wise to invest in a decent pair of trainers, your nearest sports shop should be able to advise you based on your needs, but that’s about all you’ll need. Grab any old t-shirt and shorts from the drawers and you’re ready to go.

The best laid plans…..

How organised are you? Are you prepared to spend hours poring over the finer details of your activity? For example, if you were planning your first ski trip then you would have destination, accommodation, equipment, clothes, travel, footwear and much more to consider before you even got to the sport itself. Those among you who are more immediate may prefer not to get caught up in such detail and just head out hiking in the nearest countryside when the fancy takes you.

To team or not to team?

Are you a social butterfly or a quiet wallflower? It’s wise to consider this before you make your mind up as some outdoor sports are necessarily more sociable than others. In sailing it’s not uncommon to spend a number of days cooped up in a cabin with the same five faces. Can you take this? Or do you prefer to exercise alone?Whatever you choose, it’s certainly better than nothing at all. Your physical health is of paramount importance – and looking after it now will set you in good stead for the future. 

The post Choosing the right outdoor sport for you first appeared on Pack & Trail.

Places to Run in Nanaimo

Parkway Trail

The 20km paved trail along the Nanaimo Parkway is a perfect place to run if you don’t mind the noise of the traffic. These days it’s almost impossible to run somewhere completely away from the noise of the cars and trucks and the parkway trail gets you off the road and on to a nice paved track. The trail winds it’s way all the way from Chase River in Nanaimo’s south end to near Woodgrove Mall in the north. Run the entire thing if you want or hop on and off at intersection points along the way. Popular intersection points are at Jingle Pot (near Westwood Lake), Northfield road and Mostar Road.You can see the Parkway Trail and other great paths on the Nanaimo Parks and Trails map.

E&N Trail

The E&N runs along a section of the old Island Highway through Nanaimo. It’s a paved track off the side of the highway similar to the Parkway trail. If you live in an area that the E&N Trail runs through it’s an excellent place to run without having to get on the road.Check out the E&N Trail and other places to run on the Nanaimo Parks and Trails map.

Seawall

The Nanaimo Seawall runs 3.5 Kilometers from the Cameron Island complex downtown Nanaimo north to the Brechin Boat Ramp. The scenic trail runs along the water the whole way and intersects a number of roads and other paths that run down to the water. Run the entire length or just take in a small piece of it. Either way, you won’t be disappointed with the fabulous views and fresh smells along the way.

Linley Valley

The largest forested area within Nanaimo, Linley Valley and Cottle Lake is a hidden treasure inside the city limits. Enter off Rock City Road, Linley Road off Hammond Bay, or Burma Road off Lost Lake Road and wander through the beautiful forests and well kept trails. Nearer to the Rock City entrance is Cottle Lake, a small lake home to many birds, a few fish and some other woodland creatures. If you’re looking for a wooded area with smooth trails for a run, this is one of the best areas in Nanaimo to do it.

Westwood Lake

One of Nanaimo’s most popular lakes and walking destinations, Westwood Lake is perfect for all your outdoor pursuits. Walk around the lake and take in the views or ramp it up a bit and job around the 6km loop around the lake. Afterwards, cool off in the lake itself, at one of 2 or 3 different swimming areas around the lake. If you need something different or slightly longer, head across the powerlines behind the lake into the dog offleash area and Westwood Ridges. The Ridges overlook the lake and down onto Nanaimo for some beautiful views. For the adventurous, turn off onto the adjoining trails near the south end of the lake and head into Morrell Sanctuary for a longer run. One of the routes to the top of Mount Benson starts at the Westwood lake. This route is longer and slightly more complicated than the one from Witchcraft lake but is less steep.

Colliery Dam

Another beautiful off-road area right in Nanaimo, Colliery Dam is one of the sources of water for Nanaimo. You can find the park at the intersection of Wakesiah and Sixth Street near downtown Nanaimo. There is plenty of parking and information at the entrance to the park. For the adventurous continue on the trails right up to the Parkway Highway and continue underneath to find a great selection of mountain biking and trail running trails on the other side. Continue along the power lines over to Morrell Sanctuary or head back into Colliery Dam park.

Morrell Sanctuary

Referred to multiple times above, Morrell Sanctuary is right next door to Westwood Lake park and can be reached from Colliery Dam as well. You can head straight through Morrell and across the power lines to reach one of the routes up Benson or the entrance to K2, a favorite mountain biking trail that runs parallel to the power lines. Just wandering through the well-maintained single and double track through Morrell is a treat in itself all times of year. Be sure to wear appropriate footwear in the wetter months. There can be a considerable amount of mud on some of the trails!

Bowen Park

Bowen Park is home to the beautiful Millsteam river that actually seems some salmon run during the season. Take in sights of the river over a number of bridges in the park. The steam eventual runs out in the Nanaimo Harbour right next to Mafeo Sutton Park downtown. Most of the trails are paved in the park but it still gets you away from the sounds and smells of the traffic nearby.

Caledonia Track

One of the few tracks in town, Caledonia track and field area is a great place to run if you need an offroad place to run but can’t travel too far. The field is well-maintained during the year and sees soccer, football and ultimate teams playing and practicing almost year round.

Running Stores in Nanaimo

FrontRunners and Running Room are two of the best running stores in town but there are a bunch of others that carry running shoes and the required gear for getting out on the trail. Find more outdoor and running stores in Nanaimo, Victoria, or Tofino.

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