As the weather starts to close in and the looming overcast sky creeps over us, nature again reminds us of the tremendous influence it holds over our existence – the elements, the great outdoors, forces to be reckoned with, forces with which to potentially immerse and surround ourselves – if only we dare.
How invigorating it is at this time of year to inhale fresh life-giving air, and take on adventurous outdoor challenges head-on in pursuit of greater physical and emotional wellness.
Outdoor pursuits don’t necessarily mean splashing about wild rivers in canoes or soaring across canyons fully decked out in harnesses, biners and climbing shoes.
Neither does it necessarily mean donning scuba gear and probing the depths of the oceans.
These are all wonderful and exciting adventures indeed, but active outdoor living doesn’t necessarily have to represent big investment on your part in terms of equipment, fees or specialised preparation.
The great outdoors are all around us, so all you really have to do is just step outside. If you can walk, you can pit yourself against the elements. If you can run, climb steps, jump and are strong enough to perform basic bodyweight exercises like squats, lunges, sit-ups, or press-ups, then you can do even more to take on the terrain in a whole range of challenging ways.
If you’ve ever taken up any sort of outdoor challenge, you will have shared in that special and unique sensation of battling not another human opponent or team, but the wild itself. It’s you against the wilderness, you against the river, the cliff or the trail.
It makes a welcome change to the more familiar mainstream sports we practise for glory or leisure, or watch on TV. If popular mainstream team sports don’t cut it for you, and you can’t take the monotony of training for individual sports either, then outdoor activities might just be the perfect alternative or supplementary activity for you. And it’s not just about sport either.
We pump away in gyms the world over, not for trophies, medals or honours, but often simply for the basic intrinsic rewards it provides. It can be therapeutic, it provides a range of benefits to our health and well-being, and improves the appearance of our bodies.
While most of us are sold on the benefits of active living, as a nation we continue to underperform when it comes to international obesity and inactivity rankings. We are among the heaviest and least active people in Europe. Shame, because it’s not like we’re lacking in options.
Competitive or leisure sports are widely available locally, so are gyms, and group fitness classes are now more exciting and varied than ever before. But here’s something else we have an abundance of in and around the Maltese islands; beautiful scenery, spectacular natural landscapes and a climate forgiving enough to allow us to venture outdoors quite comfortably most of the year. Countries with far less temperate conditions than ours have already been bitten by the outdoorsy bug, so why not us?
Countries with far less temperate conditions than ours have already been bitten by the outdoorsy bug
Many of us fail to notice the beautiful resources we have right under our very noses, while some tourists are coming here from all over the world on their diving and climbing holidays. So I hear, Gozo is apparently rated quite highly in the international diving community for its underwater delights. I cannot help but feel we are failing to maximise or appreciate a great natural gift that is all around us and is essentially free of charge, certainly a welcome condition nowadays.
If you’ve already tried running on roads or promenades, then maybe the trails round Buskett, Chadwick Lakes or Għajn Tuffieha might tickle your fancy as a welcome change. Gozo offers some beautiful routes too. A growing local community of adventure runners has begun competing in events abroad that resemble military assault courses, combining tough trail runs with obstacles to crawl, climb, jump, and negotiate in a wide range of physically arduous ways. The emphasis at these events is not on fierce competition but on participation and fun, which helps foster comaraderie and friendship among participants ensuring the real competition remains you against you.
If the rough and tumble scenery continues to entice you, the fascinating world of trekking and orienteering could also present some varied opportunities for you and your sense of adventure.
Learning to read a map and use a compass are interesting skills to master, and you could even find yourself exploring places further afield, joining a thriving online community that shares trekking routes and challenges all over Europe. Some orienteering challenges even involve additional skills like navigating by the sun, moon or stars. Combining such activities into a weekend camping trip could be the icing on the cake.
What better way to get away from it all at the weekend? You could even do it with a small group of close friends.
A break under the stars is a complete escape from reality, and unlike many weekend break options that leave you depressed and bitter to get back to the work routine on Monday, you’ll be amazed how refreshed and invigorated you’ll feel returning home from a weekend in the sticks running around trekking routes or mountain biking.
There’s nothing quite like a camp fire and a good old-fashioned star-gaze to put things in perspective.
Matthew.muscat.inglott@mcast.edu.mt