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Books > Sport & Leisure > Sports & outdoor recreation > Active outdoor pursuits > General
The Camino de Santiago de Compostela (Camino Frances or Way of St James) is among the world's most famous pilgrimages: Christian pilgrims have travelled to the shrine of St James in Santiago, northern Spain, since the ninth century. This guide provides all the information you need to successfully cycle the Camino. The Camino Frances is the most popular variant of the Camino, linking St Jean-Pied-de-Port on the French-Spanish border with Santiago via Pamplona, Burgos and Leon. The guide presents the journey in 18 stages. Two versions of the route are described, the first (770km) based closely on the walkers' route and suitable for hybrid or mountain bikes; the second (798km) a 'road route' for road and touring cycles. It can be cycled in around 10-14 days and is very well provisioned. Clear route description and mapping are accompanied by notes on local points of interest, as well as background information on Spanish history and the history of the Camino. The practicalities are also thoroughly covered, including travel to and from the route, accommodation, facilities, kit and how to qualify for and obtain your Compostela (pilgrims' certificate). Whether you're seeking a spiritual journey, a physical challenge or just a holiday, the Camino promises an unforgettable experience - from the beautiful landscapes, historic towns and rich culture of northern Spain to the famed camaraderie with other wayfarers. Blending information with inspiration, this guide is an ideal companion to cycling this UNESCO-listed route.
Longtime readers have come to understand that Outside's true gift is in chronicling misadventure. That's the common thread among the stories found in Out There-those memorable tales that begin with the promise that, even if no one's life is necessarily hanging in the balance, something may go horribly awry at any moment, and that documenting this misfortune will inevitably yield rich comedic material or a surprisingly poignant moment. Or sometimes both. Out There chronicles fringe athletes, fitness freaks, and others obsessed by ill-advised dreams. It takes us to far-flung places no sane person would want to go. What ties this collection together are the incredible voices of legendary Outside contributors such as David Quammen, Tim Cahill, Susan Orlean, Wells Tower, Christopher Solomon, Patrick Symmes, Taffy Brodesser-Akner, Nick Paumgarten, and many others, who turn their subjects into literary gold and have helped to keep Outside in business for more than forty years.
Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) pushes athletes to their limits as they race over, under, and across a variety of challenges. But as popular as these races have become, there are few resources available to help OCR competitors improve their performance. Training for Obstacle Course Racing: A Practical Guide for the Busy Athlete provides elite-level instruction for the non-professional athlete, from beginning to experienced racers. Topics covered in this book include: Selecting and maintaining equipment Techniques for conquering specific obstacles Developing a training plan Strength and conditioning Developing a sound and safe nutrition plan Common injuries and injury prevention Preparing for competitions Most OCR athletes must be able to effectively balance strength and conditioning workouts, obstacle training, family, work, and recovery. This book is designed for just that purpose, helping athletes develop programs for their specific needs, whether training for health and wellness or winning the race.
Plan a weekend of hiking, cycling, climbing, and paddling! Whether you're a novice or an experienced adventurer, you'll find a variety of outdoor pursuits to enjoy in Minnesota-from camping along the North Shore to canoeing in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness to biking near the Root River. There's no need to spend hours researching the best destinations or go on long, expensive trips. This book is for hikers who love to climb, paddlers who love to pedal, and anyone else whose idea of unwinding is an action-packed weekend in the great outdoors. With a dozen exciting trips to choose from, you'll know where to stay and which adventures are truly weekend-worthy. The full-color guide features trip descriptions to the best destinations for weekend adventure, including opportunities for hiking, cycling, climbing, and paddling. Tips on lodging options, restaurants, breweries, and coffee shops further aid in the planning. Whether your next outing is for individuals, couples, families, or large groups, get maximum adventure out of your weekend with Minnesota Adventure Weekends!
When Anthony L. Copeland-Parker and his partner Catherine were in their fifties, they learned that he needed a heart-valve replacement, and she had early-onset Alzheimer's. Their past experience as endurance athletes lead them to react accordingly-to sell their home, retire from their jobs, and become nomads, running marathons and half-marathons all over the world. Anthony L. Copeland-Parker's Running All Over the World began as a blog written during his travels, a nonfiction account of his five-plus years of flying, running, walking, sailing, and sightseeing with his partner Catherine-from Atlanta to Antarctica and back again. Part travelogue and part medical memoir, Anthony's writing transports readers to exotic places like Madagascar, Bhutan, and the Great Wall of China while providing a look at the day-to-day realities of living out of a suitcase. Running All Over the World is an offbeat story about life and love, recounting the trials and tribulations of an ex-pilot with a passion for vistas and logistics and a woman so tough she walks a half-marathon in the Australian Outback mere weeks after breaking her ankle. During their years as nomads, Anthony and Catherine tested the physical and mental limits of their bodies and finished every race hand in hand.
All the techniques you need to become an expert navigator. The Ultimate Navigation Manual is a unique guide to finding your way on land - from the basic principles right up to the advanced technology of GPS. Designed to allow even the absolute beginner to find their way anywhere in the world, it also develops a unique confidence in navigation - with or without technical aids. With a preface by Sir Ranulph Fiennes, contents will also include: Environmental clues - Using the natural environment to navigate Maps - An introduction to the different types of maps The Compass and North - How compasses work, how to use them and how to choose the right one Map and Compass Navigation - twenty-five easy-to-learn skills are described Relocation Procedures - What to do when lost, dealing with well-known relocation procedures and some ground-breaking new ones Stellar Navigation - Simple methods that are easy to learn GNSS (GPS) Navigation - Why Global Satellite Navigation Systems are the most significant advance in navigation since the invention of the magnetic compass; details all of the systems now available, including the American GPS Specialist environments and equipment - Which techniques are best, where and how to use them in environments such as the Arctic, coastal areas, desert regions, jungles or forests, mountains and urban areas Written by one of the world's leading search and rescue consultants and highly illustrated with specially commissioned photographs designed to emphasise navigation problems - this is the ultimate guide to not losing your way.
After years of expeditions all over the world, adventurer Alastair Humphreys spends a year exploring the detailed local map around his home. Can this unassuming landscape, marked by the glow of city lights and the hum of busy roads, hold any surprises for the world traveller or satisfy his wanderlust? Could a single map provide a lifetime of exploration? Discovering more about the natural world than in all his years in remote environments, he learns the value of truly getting to know his neighbourhood. An ode to slowing down, Local is a celebration of curiosity and time spent outdoors, as well as a rallying cry to protect the wild places on our doorstep.
An inspiring story of fatty to fitty and the power of the mind. Aged 30, Ben had a routine medical and was told he wouldn't see 40 unless he changed his lifestyle. An overweight, sedentary smoker, Ben had a young family and busy career with little time for anything else. 10 years later having completed many of the world's toughest ultra marathons including the Western States 100, the Ultra Trail of Mont Blanc and the Marathon Des Sables, he was hit with life-changing news when one of his daughters was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Ben decided to undertake his toughest challenge yet: to prove to her that anything was possible. One evening, departing from the bright lights of Monte Carlo he headed towards the mountainous terrain behind the Cote d'Azur to run an unsupported 100km / 62.5 miles trail run. For most hardened ultra-marathon runners this would be a feat in itself, but for Ben he had something to prove: choosing to descend the rugged terrain he had already climbed and run the Cro Trail - a 130k / 81 mile mountain trail ultra race. A thrilling and yet down to earth account, detailing a young, working family man's journey to fitness - his love of nature and travel evolves - these stories can only inspire and motivate any reader.
Land Between The Lakes Outdoor Handbook, by Johnny Molloy, is the only comprehensive guide to the magnificent Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area on the Kentucky-Tennessee state line. The handbook is divided into two sections water activities and land activities. The water section guides visitors to important fishing spots and lakes, as well as outlines one of the longest paddle trails in the Midwest the 85-mile-long Land Between The Lakes Paddle Route. Descriptions of all lake accesses and swimming beaches are also included. The land section offers detailed descriptions of more than 300 miles of hiking trails (including the 60-mile-long North-South Trail). Finally, the guide offers an extensive reference section, detailing alternate lodging possibilities, outfitters, and conveniences located in nearby towns. This new edition is completely updated and features new trails and new photos.
NOC Stories describes the Nantahala Outdoor Center's first 25 years, a time of explosive growth in whitewater sports and instruction. NOC Stories by Payson Kennedy and Greg Hlavaty presents a history of the Nantahala Outdoor Center as seen through the eyes of early leaders and some of its dedicated staff. This history spans the years 1972-1997 and approaches the story of the NOC's inception and growth in conjunction with the explosive growth of paddlesports and paddle instruction; in a very real sense, the great strides in paddle instruction and the growth of whitewater sports parallels the growth of the NOC. Many people today see the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) for what it has become: a seminal Southeastern paddling hub and profitable business. What they don't know is that the NOC started with a semi-utopian vision, the idea that friends could work together at pursuits they were passionate about, and that this endeavor would not only be profitable for the company, but also life-changing for the individual. That's not something many businesses can say, but in the case of NOC, it's turned out to be true. If you asked current culture-makers and business owners in the whitewater industry about their formative years, you'd find many were previous staff members, clinic participants, and visitors at the NOC. You'd likely also hear that the NOC was instrumental in refining their skillset and in inspiring them to become pioneers in their field. From rafting to river rescue, paddling instruction to Olympic competition, the one thing this diverse group has in common is the NOC. These people are the stories that have become the NOC's legacy, and this book is an attempt to collect and make sense of them. But the book also features a very human element, a tinge of adventure that sets it apart from your standard history text. The stories in this book, in addition to their historical value, offer a testament to the experiential aspect of working at the NOC, that ineffable change that has affected so many staff and that forms the basis for outdoor adventure programs. The NOC was, and is, a dream; these are the stories of its dreamers.
Explore the National Parks with this handy pocket map. Handy little full colour map and guide of Exmoor National Park. Detailed mapping and visitor information to the National Park along with a selection of photographs. This small map with additional text and photographs gives a great overview of the Exmoor National Park, and is the perfect companion for exploring this beautiful area of southwest England. Clear, detailed mapping Key park, tourist and travel information Ideal for planning visits to the National Park Index to help locate and plan your trip
Olympic gold medallist and multiple world champion, Paul Goodison, explains why this book is important if you want to win races. He says: "To win sailboat races you need to sail the boat fast. This comes down to hours on the water training and tuning - there are few shortcuts to hours of practising on the water. To consistently win races you need to sail fast and smart - making the right decisions to sail the best course. If you are not the fastest boat, you are still able to win races and regattas by managing risk and sailing smart. This is where good tactics come in. But, unlike boatspeed, tactics may be learnt by thinking about each leg of the course and different situations from the comfort of your own home. Jon Emmett's new book, Tactics Made Simple, is a great tool to help fast track this learning." This book explains simply, through hundreds of diagrams, what tactics can be applied around the race track. Individual boats in each scenario are given names so that you can easily understand what they are doing. Individual chapters take you around the race course, from before you get on the water, through the pre-start, start, different legs and manoeuvres. Each section contains detailed advice for the beginner, intermediate and advanced sailor so you can just look at the level of tactics relevant to you. Ideal for dinghy sailors, there is also a wealth of advice that will benefit yachtsmen. This is a practical way to improve your racing results, whether starting out, moving up the club circuit or competing at national level and beyond. Originally published by Wiley Nautical as Be Your Own Tactics Coach.
"Leisure activities undertaken in nature_are immensely popular. This book examines the new serious leisure concept of nature challenge activity (NCA),_exploring how_NCA_unfolds in an aesthetically appealing natural environment with implications for consumption and environmental sustainability"
Stand Up Paddleboarding is the fastest growing water-based activity worldwide. Thousands have tried it, with many more taking it up each year. It is easy to make the first steps to stand on a board and paddle. But many want to take this further - be it paddling greater distances, starting to race, SUPing in the surf, using it to improve their fitness or enhancing their well-being through yoga. To develop your SUPing requires a combination of improved technique, skills, fitness and mental attitude. This book will help anyone interested in SUPing get better at it. It shows how to improve your efficiency, technique, skills and physical capability before exploring the different ways of participating and the equipment you need. It suggests that seeking continuous improvement and rising to personal SUP challenges can help you enter the flow state, which enhances happiness. Packed with photos and photo sequences, this book provides both the inspiration and a blueprint for understanding how to improve your SUP capabilities in the area you choose.
This book investigates extreme sports, defined as sports in which athletes challenge and transgress societal perceptions of what is humanly possible to achieve, in terms of physical training and bodily development/performance. Situated within a growing body of literature analysing the impact of new training trends on an individual's body, identity, lifestyle and perception of his/her social surroundings, Extreme Sports, Extreme Bodies focuses on the gendered and embodied experiences of bodybuilding, Ironman triathlon, and mixed martial arts. Through their ethnographic analysis, Andreasson and Johansson present a unique and updated account of the increasing phenomenon of extreme sports and extreme bodies in contemporary Western society, grounded in the sociology of sport, body studies and embodiment literature.
Adventures in the wilderness can be dramatic and deadly. Glacier National Park's death records date back to January 1913, when a man froze to death while snowshoeing between Cut Bank and St. Mary. All told, 260 people have died or are presumed to have died in the park during the first hundred years of its existence. One man fell into a crevasse on East Gunsight Peak while skiing its steep north face, and another died while moonlight biking on the Sun Road. A man left his wife and five children at the Apgar picnic area and disappeared on Lake McDonald. His boat was found halfway up the west shore wedged between rocks with the propeller stuck in gravel. Collected here are some the most gripping accounts in park history of these unfortunate events caused by natural forces or human folly.
Identify mammal scat in eastern North America with this pocket-size guide. If you're fascinated by animal tracks or the practice of tracking, then learning to identify scat is a helpful aid. If you're curious about which critters are crossing your path or are in your backyard, then Scat Finder by Dorcas S. Miller is just what you need. With the handy, easy-to-use book, you can identify mammal scat of eastern North America, from the states that border the Mississippi River all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. Book Features: Key to mammal scat: cords, pellets, splats, and tubes Tips on where to find scat and what its color and shape can tell you A look at the animals' teeth, jaws, and digestive systems Clues for distinguishing between scat from similar species (e.g., within the same family) Scat size guide, including minimum, maximum, and typical size range A study of birds' cough pellets and droppings The author's professional drawings of the animals and their scat Small (6- by 4-inch) format that fits in a pocket or backpack to take along on a hike This guide is applicable to eastern Canada and the US states of Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Nature sports such as skiing, climbing, and surfing have had a significant influence on Western popular culture since the mid-twentieth century and participation in such sports continues to grow. Written in a clear and accessible style, this important book provides a comprehensive philosophical analysis of nature sports. Philosophy and Nature Sports offers an engaging inquiry into how nature sports differ from mainstream sports, how these differences are related to their value as human activities, and the role of the environments in which such sports take place. Addressing the claim that the most distinctive feature of nature sports is the relationship between participants and the natural world, the book also examines a wide range of topics, such as ethics, risk, gender construction, the social role of nature sport subcultures and the aesthetic experiences of nature sports athletes. Tying these together is the question of what it is that attracts us to nature sports and why they hold meaning for us. This is a valuable resource for students and academics in fields such as alternative sports, alternative sport subcultures, sport philosophy, sport and social issues, ethics, and phenomenology. It is also a fascinating read for outdoor educators and practitioners.
'Full of wisdom' - Dr Xand van Tulleken 'Raw, relatable and uplifting' - Wayne Bridge 'A must-read' - Jade Jones OBE 'A brilliant book' - Jenni Falconer Harness your fears and supercharge your life with this inspirational guide. As someone who has lived outside her comfort zone, Aimee Fuller has a lot to say about fear. A former professional snowboarder who spent years riding on the fine edge of progression at the top of her sport, she made history as the first woman to land a double backflip in competition and competed in two Winter Olympics. In 2019, Aimee fronted the documentary Running in North Korea, which shows her running her first-ever marathon in one of the most isolated countries in the world. Through testing her own resilience, she has discovered that while it is scary to step outside your comfort zone, it can also be a prerequisite for growth. In this bright and insightful book, Aimee gives an honest account of her experiences with fear and how, when the worst happens, she manages to pick herself back up again with purpose and an even greater thirst for life. Encouraging you to get up close and personal with your fears, Aimee shows you: -What fear is, both physically and mentally -How to recognise it in yourself -How to be mindful of fear without letting it take control -How to reframe fear and build a healthy relationship with it -What to do when things go wrong Drawing on her training as a professional athlete, Aimee provides confidence-building tools that can be applied to any aspect of life, like goal-setting, maintaining consistency, celebrating your strengths, learning from failure, taking comfort in choice, owning your decisions and visualising success. Fear Less, Live More is for anyone who wants to be the driver of their own life.
A Wall Street Journal bestseller. In this groundbreaking book, New York Times bestselling author Steven Kotler decodes the mystery of ultimate human performance. Drawing on over a decade of research and firsthand reporting with dozens of top action and adventure sports athletes like big wave legend Laird Hamilton, big mountain snowboarder Jeremy Jones, and skateboarding pioneer Danny Way, Kotler explores the frontier science of "flow," an optimal state of consciousness in which we perform and feel our best. Building a bridge between the extreme and the mainstream, The Rise of Superman explains how these athletes are using flow to do the impossible and how we can use this information to radically accelerate performance in our own lives. At its core, this is a book about profound possibility; about what is actually possible for our species; about where-if anywhere-our limits lie.
'It's the finish line, not the finish time.' In the late 80s, our Rachel was having a boss time as a podium dancer at the Pleasuredrome, Birkenhead. Fast forward several years and she's married, with the kids she's always dreamed of, but the body she's always dreaded. To make things worse, her husband Trevor begins to show his true controlling colours and Rachel blames herself, spiralling into depression. Until she discovers running. Buzzing from her epiphany, the 'Forrest Gump of the Mersey' is derided by Trevor, but catches the attention of some local women, all struggling and vulnerable in their own ways. These disparate women persuade Rachel to lead them in a running club, to get a bit of whatever she's on, where they all discover more than the mere chance to shed a few pounds in this burgeoning sisterhood. Dealing with the dark and many faces of depression with a refreshing lightness of touch unique to this working-class woman from the Wirral, Marathon Mum is an uplifting story of the healing to be found in community, and the corners we can turn when we push ourselves across the line.
Outdoor activity and adventure is a growing field, but unfortunately, many teachers and recreation leaders and outdoor instructors find themselves without adequate resources to plan and deliver an effective outdoor program. "Quality Lesson Plans for Outdoor Education" is a flexible, easy-to-use reference that helps physical educators, youth and outdoor recreation leaders, and camp and resort leaders deliver effective outdoor activities. This resource presents the following features: - 21 units with 140 sound lesson plans that are field tested and flexible--meaning they can be adapted for any leader's use - Quick and easy yet thorough and systematic planning and delivery of outdoor topics - CD-ROM with printable lesson plans, worksheets, assessment tools, and more to help leaders deliver a complete, individualized program "Quality Lesson Plans for Outdoor Education"is useful for experienced professionals and veteran practitioners. Outdoor leaders will discover an abundance of ideas that can make their jobs easier, enrich their teaching knowledge, and broaden their current programs. The CD-ROM allows users to search for and print only the lessons they plan to use. The CD-ROM contains all the units featured in the book in addition to 8 units that are not included in the book. The book provides additional information for teaching in the outdoors, the core skills needed for successful experiences, and 21 activity units composed of 140 lessons. Each chapter presents the purpose of the lessons, the learning outcomes, equipment required, operating principles, skill sets, and risk management. This overview is followed by a series of detailed lesson plans. The resource contains everything needed for delivering each activity. "Quality Lesson Plans for Outdoor Education"is a great resource for teachers and outdoor leaders, grounding them in the essentials of outdoor education, streamlining their preparation, and paving the way for a smooth delivery of effective outdoor education.
The classic map and compass navigation guide-revised for the age of GPS GPS devices are great, but they can break, get lost, or easily be hampered by weather conditions, making basic map and compass skills essential for anyone who spends time outdoors. This popular, easy-to-use orienteering handbook has been helping people find their way for more than fifty years. Now updated to include information on GPS as well as current Web sites, references, sources, and photographs, it remains the book of choice for professional outdoorsmen, novice orienteers, and outdoor organizations as well as teachers, scout leaders, recreational hikers, hunters, and others around the world. Coverage includes understanding map symbols; traveling by map alone, by compass alone, or by map and compass together; finding bearings; sketching maps; and traveling in the wilderness. * Explains basic map and compass skills clearly * Fully updated edition, including information on GPS * Includes up-to-date Web site addresses, references, and sources * Features a fresh, rugged design * Ideal book for beginners If you're looking to feel more comfortable in the wilderness, this updated guide is an indispensable reference. |
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