Tom Rutlin is an internationally recognized fitness authority — known for his pioneering work in fitness walking with specially designed poles, and
for his concept of "good use" exercise. His contribution to the development and promotion of Nordic Walking as we know it today is inestimable, and many regard him as the "father" of this total body
exercising technique. According to David Downer (editor of Nordic Walking News), "without both Tom's
original pioneering work in the 1980's and his ongoing work ever since, none of us would have heard of, let alone be involved in, Nordic Walking. If
anyone can be termed the 'originator' of this concept, then it's without doubt Tom Rutlin..."
Born in 1947, Tom has been "just walking with poles" since 1985. He continues to maintain a high level of overall fitness
by engaging in this activity on a regular basis. He's been teaching the technique to others since 1988, helping them maximize their total body fitness through
"exerstriding".
 Realizing the Potential of Nordic Walking
By Tom Rutlin, Exerstrider (8 December 2006)
It's been about three and a half years since I traveled to ISPO in Munich with a great deal of excitement and the intention
to "join" the growing Nordic walking movement. I had already been promoting the many health and fitness benefits of fitness
walking with specially designed poles for 15 years in the US. I was very anxious to finally be in a place where there was
genuine excitement about the idea. For reasons that were totally a mystery to me, my enthusiasm for the activity had been
met mostly with indifference in the US. The Nordic walking movement has since discovered that the US has not been nearly
as fertile ground for Nordic walking as was Europe.
But people in the US need Nordic walking!
That's why I've persisted in my mission to introduce it here for over 18 years now. We are among the most obese and unfit
nations in the world, and Nordic walking (with any technique and any equipment design) has tremendous potential to stem
growing epidemics of numerous diseases of sedentary living and have a profoundly positive impact on the state of public
health here and around the world.
Walking is the most popular form of exercise in the world, and if those of us already in the Nordic walking movement
would begin working together to get more walkers to try adding poles, it could immediately grow to become the exercise
with the by far the greatest potential to improve the state of public health world-wide. It's an ideal exercise form
for people of all ages, abilities and fitness goals…and most importantly, people love the way it makes them feel!
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Exerstriding works all major muscles.
Ordinary walking works only the muscles in blue letters.
CREDIT: Tom Rutlin. Adapted. |
It's time to stop being at odds over the history, the techniques and the equipment differences (let the user decide!) in
the Nordic walking world and for individuals, organizations and manufacturers who are passionate about the potential of
the Nordic walking movement to begin working cooperatively to expand participation in this great activity. Let's begin
trying to really serve the Nordic walking community and do whatever will help grow that community grow.
There are an estimated 80 million walkers in the US. Let's begin working together to convert them to Nordic walking
rather than continuing to squabble over the who, when and where of the origins of the activity, what technique is "correct",
and what equipment designs are "best".
It's time we work together to make Nordic walking realize its great potential world-wide. Let's recognize that Nordic
walking now has a life of its own and that the course of Nordic walking's evolution (in every aspect) will be determined
from the grass roots up and not the other way around.
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