Active August: Outdoor Pursuits

So, we’ve been in lockdown for the best part of 4 months, spending an inordinate amount of time indoors, albeit in the comfort of our own lovely homes – a comfort that started to wear quite quickly!

With restrictions continue to be relaxed, meaning that our freedoms are slowly starting to resemble some pre-pandemic normality, combined with the recent opening of gyms and leisure centres across our 7 beautiful Lincolnshire districts, now might be the time consider undertaking a new activity? This helps to boost our immune systems, increase our physical well-being, and our mental health, combined with helping us achieve those all-important 150 ‘active’ minutes per week, providing an increased disease protection, and overall improved quality of life.

Being such a rural county, Lincolnshire boasts some stunning outdoor spaces, some of which are utilised for the backdrop of outdoor activities, many of which are totally free to access. Let’s look at some of those on offer.

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Parkrun is a free to access 5k event, held on Saturday’s at 9am. You need to register in order to attend events. Once this is completed you are free to attend ANY Parkrun location, and they will always be FREE! And no, you don’t have to run a Parkrun event, you can walk, jog or run the course, and there are also loads of local volunteers to support and encourage you along the way! Lincolnshire has no fewer than 8 Parkruns to choose from:

1.   Cleethorpes Country Park: 169 North Sea Lane, Cleethorpes, DN35 0QZ.

2.   Gainsborough Leisure Centre: The Avenue, Gainsborough, DN21 1EP.

3.   Market Rasen Racecourse: Legsby Road, Market Rasen, LN8 3EA.

4.   Doddington Hall: Main Street, Doddington, Lincoln, LN6 4RU.

5. Lincoln: Bootham Park, Hall Drive, Lincoln, LN6 7SW.

6. Skegness Boating Lake: Tower Esplanade, Skegness, PE25 3HH.

7. Boston: Tattershall Road, PE21 9LR.

8. Belton House: Belton, Grantham, NG32 2LS.

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Walking for health is a national health walks scheme that aims to get people outdoors in a supportive, safe and inclusive environment. Walk leaders plan local walks, ensuring the routes are risk assessed and appropriate provision and requirements are all in place to ensure walkers are as safe as possible. The scheme aims to support physical, mental and social wellbeing, as there is a big emphasis on social interaction, and making friends - but this is not forced on anybody! The walks are a great way to be outdoors in green spaces, hit those physically active minutes and do it on a budget – as they’re completely FREE! Lincolnshire has an impressive 97 different health walks across our county, and the easiest way of finding out your nearest walk is by searching the Walking for Health website.

Another suggestion to rack up those active minutes is to undertake some swimming in an outdoor pool. Lincolnshire has this covered too, with 4 pools available to use in different areas of the county. Other swimming facilities are available, but these are enclosed environments.  

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Jubilee Park LN10 6QH

Bourne Outdoor Pool PE10 9LN

Metheringham Swimming Pool LN4 3BX

Heckington Community Pool NG34 9RX  

In case you feel like trying out a little bit of a mixture to your activity minutes, why not give either a duathlon (Running and cycling) or a Triathlon (Running, swimming and Cycling) ago. Here are a list of the affiliated clubs across our wonderful county.  

Belvoir Tri Club NG32 2BB

DR J Performance LN6 9WE

Lincoln Tri LN1 3SP

Louth Triathlon Club LN11 8RS

Off That Couch Fitness LN7 6LE

Wolds Breakfast Club LN9 6QD  

Spalding Triathlon Club PE11 2AJ

Cleethorpes Tri Club DN35 0BY

Boston Tri club PE21 6JE

Tri3 Sleaford NG34 7HH

Skegness Tri Club PE25 3TQ

Stamford Tri Club PE9 1QQ

Whatever you choose to partake in, we hope that you enjoy the fresh air, the green space and wonderful views that Lincolnshire offers, but most of all we hope that you enjoy your physical activity, motivated that ever minute spent outdoors doing physical activity, is a minute towards your 150 minute goal for health improvement!  

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If you would like a little bit of help to get motivated and stay motivated, One You Lincolnshire has a team of coaches that are here to help you. We are still open during this time to help you, now, more than ever. We are delivering all of our sessions via telephone, Zoom, Skype and Facebook. For more visit our residents page or sign up now.

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