Activity of the Week: Speed Walking

Without a doubt, walking is good exercise. Speed walking increases your calorie burn rate and burns approx 440 calories per hour. Simply put, speed walking - sometimes called fitness walking, health walking, exercise walking or striding - is walking very fast without breaking into a jog or run. 

Arms swing in pace with the stride, and one foot is on the ground at all times. Your stride is slightly longer and considerably quicker than in a leisurely stroll. Speed walkers generally walk at a pace of 3.5 to 5.5 miles per hour.  You don't need any special equipment or training to enjoy speed walking but classes are available if you would like an introduction to the sport; try StarFitness.ie. Of course you can use Fitfone to estimate your speed and calorie burn without paying for a class! Don't forget to stretch out all those muscles before you start. 

Get Out More: Music Festivals for the Bank Holiday

Summer in Ireland ususally means plenty of live music and this Bank Holiday is no exception with Castle Palooza taking place (www.castlepalooza.com). But what if you're looking for something with a more local vibe? 

You could try the Westport Music Festival taking place next weekend from Thursday the 5th to Sunday the 8th of August. Featured acts include Mundy, Sharon Shannon, Declan Nerney and the hugely popular Rattle and Hum (www.westportmusicfestival.com). Those who love all things western can head to Letterkenny for CountryFest 2010 featuring Gene Watson, Philomena Begley, Curtis Magee and many many more (www.jwpromos.com). 

Health News: Teens are Stupid!

Before you get upset with us please note that the title is not ours! Teens are Stupid is the latest campaign from the Irish Cancer Society. Aimed at teenagers who smoke, the campaign addresses the dangers of smoking and how easy it is to begin smoking as a teenager. Take a look at their very clever video: Corporate Tobacco Man and pass the link onto any smoker or teen you know. http://www.teensarestupid.ie/

All Ireland Poc Fada

The Poc Fada is a uniquely Irish event which takes place each year. Competitors must puck a sliotar with a hurley (they may lift and strike or hit the ball from the hand). The course runs from one apointed location to anonther and An Corn Cuailgne ("The Cooley Cup") is awarded to the player who takes the lowest number of pucks to complete the course. Ties are broken by the distance by which the player's last puck crosses the finish line. The whole course measures over 5 Km in the Cooley Mountains Co. Louth. 

Exercise Tip of the Week: Walking Back to Happiness

This week we're taking it down a notch and giving you the simplest exercise tip yet: Walk. Walking is a great way to keep fit. You don't need any special equipment or facilities. You can do it any place in any weather, either on your own or with others. There's no time limit or complicated technique. You simply start walking. People who walk every day tend to be less stressed and have healthier hearts; meaning that they live longer. A 75 kg woman will burn 240 calories an hour walking at a pace of three miles per hour so you can also lose weight while walking.

Activity of the Week: Kayaking

Kayaking is not a difficult sport. It can be done on a lake or in the sea. All you need is the appropriate equipment and an experienced guide as this can be a dangerous activity if not carefully supervised. Adventure centres across the country can offer you a first taste of kayaking with simple and fun lessons for all ages for less than €50: try Delphi Mountain Lodge, Outdoor Discovery or The Tain. It's a great way to get out and enjoy the Irish landscape and can be a quiet and tranquil escape from the rat race. The Irish Sea Kayaking Association offers membership to all and this includes regualr meets, training and accreditation. This is a great way to meet new people and is also a healthy workout for your upper body and encourages balance. See www.irishseakayakingassociation.org 

Get Out More: Mens Irish Open Tennis

The Mens Irish Tennis Open Championships 2010 are currently taking place in Dublin at the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club. This Saturday the 24th will see the mens singles final take place. With top Irish players including Conor Niland (ranked 162 in the world) and Louk Sorenson (238), this is an event not to be missed by avid tennis fans. Gates open from 11am daily throughout the tournament. Be there to see who takes home the $15,000 AUD prize money as well as who will improve their world ranking on home soil. For more details see www.tennisireland.ie