LET THE OLYMPICS INSPIRE YOUR ONE HOUR OUTSIDE

This article about how the Olympics can inspire your One Hour Outside this summer features my regular collaboration with adidas. 

It’s nearly 14 years since I had the privilege of carrying the iconic Olympic torch on its journey to the London 2012 Olympics. I was one of 8,000 torchbearers to carry the flame on its 70-day trip around the UK. My 400-metre stint came on 27 June 2012 in Lincoln, where I was living and working at the time. It was an incredible (and completely bonkers) experience, one that I will remember and treasure for ever. 

Even without that very personal link to the Olympics, the massive sporting event never fails to pull me in. It happens every Olympic year, summer or winter, I just can’t help it. I hardly watch any sport between the Games, but as soon as that torch is set on fire at the opening ceremony that’s it, I’m glued proceedings for the duration.

Putting in Everything

It’s the stories of the Olympics that get me. There is just so much to admire about people who put everything they have into one thing, so that they can be the best they can be and represent their country on the world stage. It’s equally uplifting and heart breaking at the same time to see people put it all in. Everything. All they have.

As someone who has always struggled to choose or focus, and has therefore ended up as a jack of all trades in pretty much every aspect of life, I absolutely love watching other people make it to the top of their chosen field.

The opportunity to watch all kinds of different sports in quick succession is just fantastic. On my viewing list, apart from the obvious swimming and athletics, and definitely the track cycling (one of my absolute favourites, I’d love to see it live sometime), there will be gymnastics, hockey, diving, rowing, skateboarding, sport climbing, surfing, mountain biking, and pretty much anything else that ends up being shown on the tellybox.

I know I’m not the only one, either. The Olympics is one of the world’s most watched sporting events, and I can’t wait for it to inevitably take over every aspect of entertainment next month. And for the Olympics to inspire people everywhere to take up new or return to once-loved sporting activities.

Ready for Inspiration to Hit

While there are still a few weeks until Paris 2024 gets going (the opening ceremony is on Friday 26 July), I’ve started to see Olympic-themed content crop up all over the place. Which includes from my friends at adidas (I’m a member of their blogger community again this year), who are once again the kit sponsor for Team GB.

But as I really don’t need a Team GB podium jacket, as nice as it might be to feel part of the team when I go for my lunchtime walks and slow jogs on the trails close to home, instead I got a new pair of trainers. I figured that if my mind and body are likely to feel the urge to move more thanks to the Olympics, then I wanted something to double up that motivation. How can I not want to go running when these are sat by the front door?!

I chose the Terrex Soulstride Flow trail running shoes in a very summery bright yellow and orange. These women’s trail running shoes are nicely cushioned, flexible but stable, light and breathable, and very cheerful. I’ve had them a couple of months or so, and have already included them in my recent currently loving list.

My running – well, jogging – is all about improving my hiking fitness. And so it makes sense for me to move my short runs to the trail, which is my aim for over the summer months. These trainers will be just thing to get me motivated and keep my feet comfortable and cushioned this summer.

They’ll also be handy for trying out some of the other sports included in the Olympics that take my fancy. Which is where I’m taking this article next.

One Hour Outside Inspired by the Olympics

The problem with all this inspiration to get outside and get moving, is that it’s easy to watch the Olympics and think it’s all far too competitive and expensive to get started. And while a lot of sport can be a bit spendy (a lot spendy…), a lot of it doesn’t have to be – especially when you just want to try it out and see how it fits.

With my One Hour Outside project in mind, I thought I’d pick a handful of the sports that will be a part of the Paris 2024 Olympics which might be fun to try. There are 32 sports included in this year’s Olympics, which doesn’t even include all the sports within sports (such as each track and field evet within athletics) – so there’s lots to choose from. While not all of them will be suitable for a random Wednesday evening or Sunday afternoon One Hour Outside, a lot of them are.

Here are my ten suggestions for ways to let the Olympics inspire your One Hour Outside time this summer. Some of these I’ve tried, and some I haven’t. And, for the record, I know I can’t wear my new yellow trainers for all of these…

Hockey

I’m going to start with hockey because if there is one sport from my teenage years I could see myself getting back into, it’s this. I used to love playing for my School in the local league – until a bad tackle in a match meant I had to sit out sport for a few months and my hockey career ended. I love watching the hockey at the Olympics, it’s fast paced and fun.

England Hockey are celebrating the Parish 2024 Olympics with their ‘Summer of Hockey’, hoping to encourage people inspired by the Olympics have a go. If you fancy giving this sport a go for a One Hour Outside, you can find a club on the England Hockey website.

Mountain Biking

While I can’t really recommend you go and try track cycling because that’s generally done indoors (although you should definitely try it if you haven’t already, it’s honestly such an adrenaline rush – see this post!), I can absolutely recommend mountain biking.

Mountain biking as found in the Olympics is cross country (rather than downhill); multiple laps around a loop on mountainous, rough terrain that tests technique, endurance, and stamina. And the great thing for One Hour Outside inspiration, is this kind of mountain biking can be accessed quite easily. If you have your own mountain bike then that’s easy-peasy, but if not, there are loads of mountain biking centres offering bike hire as well as miles of fantastic trails to ride all over the country. Some also offer guided rides if you want some instruction.

For example, I had a great morning at Pedal a Bike Away a few years ago. I’ve been meaning to go back ever since – maybe this year’s Olympics should be my motivation. And you can find out more about getting into mountain biking on the British Cycling website.

Canoeing

I absolutely love watching the canoe and kayak slalom events – the white-water courses look so much fun, and oh so gnarly! Paddlers in the Olympics must be SO strong! Especially given they have to paddle upstream to get through some of the gates.

Thankfully, paddling on a local lake or river is a much more sedate way to spend One Hour Outside, and it’s something I do often. Like with mountain biking, it’s possible to do even if you don’t have your own kit – there are places to hire kayaks or canoes all over the country. There’s loads of information on how to access paddle sports in the UK on the Paddle UK website (the new name for British Canoeing).

Golf

To be honest, I’ve never been sure about golf. I mean, it’s basically just walking with a stick (sorry, club) and a ball… isn’t it?! And as a hiker in the UK, I have had more than one angry golfer shout at me when I’ve been on a public right of way near (never on) their green.

However, even I can admit it is clearly a great way to spend time outside. I mean, more than 60 million golfers and over 30,000 golf courses worldwide can’t be wrong! And there is clearly skill involved, I’ve no doubt about that. There probably isn’t a more appropriate One Hour Outside activity in many ways. Even if you just head to a driving range to let off some steam.

There’s some information on getting started on the England Golf website.

Beach Volleyball

If you ignore all the controversy over what beach volleyball team kit should and shouldn’t include (honestly, wear what you like!), I reckon this is a sport that would make a most excellent One Hour Outside activity. Think about it… sun, sea, sand, and a bit of fun with a few friends. Sounds great!

And while you could head to a beach somewhere with a court and net all ready, or join club for a try-me session, having a go at playing beach volleyball really just requires a beach and a ball. You don’t even need to know the proper rules to have fun with it. 

If you fancy watching some beach volleyball this summer (you don’t always have to be doing an activity yourself…), check out the UK Beach Volleyball Tour. 

Surfing

I couldn’t leave surfing off this list. It’s probably one of my all-time favourite sports, even though I hardly ever do it or go anywhere to watch it. It is just so cool – a proper feel-good activity. I’ve always fancied myself as a proper surfer chick, and have dabbled a bit here and there over the years. This really would make a great summertime One Hour Outside inspired by the Olympics.

Fancy it? Rather than just hiring a board and having a go, I would recommend booking a surfing lesson, either at a beachside surf school (you’ll find Surfing England accredited surf schools listed here), or somewhere like The Wave near Bristol.

Here’s a fun fact for you… surfing is actually taking place on the other side of the world to Paris – in Teahupo’o in Tahiti (French Polynesia).

Sport Climbing

Again, not a sport we’re all going to be excelling at in one Sunday afternoon One Hour Outside session. But climbing – of any type (the Olympics includes bouldering, speed and lead but there are lots of other options too) – is certainly something the Olympics can inspire us to try out.

I bet you had a go at some PGL or Scout (etc) activity centre when you were a kid? Maybe you enjoyed it, maybe you didn’t. I reckon it’s time to give this fun outdoor sport another go. For example, I had the best time rock climbing up Cheddar Gorge.

If the actual climbing bit isn’t for you, then a session at your local Go Ape (mine is Mallards Pike) could be another fun option. Or, if you want a much cheaper option, then some of the UKs easiest scrambles might be a good way to get into climbing as they are just a bit of a step up from hiking.

Open Water Swimming

Okay, so ‘open water swimming’ isn’t exactly listed as a sport in the Olympics in its own right – but it counts, because ‘marathon swimming’ is (which is a 10km open water swim), and it’s one third of the triathlon. If you haven’t already been inspired by the wild swimming movement, then why not let the Olympics motivate you to give sea, river or lake swimming a go?

All you actually need to go open water swimming is access to a natural body of water (as opposed to a pool…), which is normally free, and some kind of swimsuit to cover up your most important parts. Swimming is an incredibly accessible sport, and is exceptionally good for us – in obvious and not so obvious ways.

Maybe just check the cleanliness of the water you choose to get in…

Tennis

With Wimbledon preceding the Olympics by just a couple of weeks, and the World Cup of Tennis taking place in Manchester this September, it’s going to be hard not to think about playing tennis this summer. What a fantastically energetic way to spend One Hour Outside with a friend! (Which also means you get to eat double strawberries and cream, right?!)

If you think instruction might be your key to trying out tennis, then you can find local clubs via the Lawn Tennis Association here in the UK. And if there aren’t free-to-use courts available in a park near you, the LTA also have a fantastic online resource to help you find and book tennis courts all over the country.

Skateboarding

Don’t tell me that a woman in her 40s shouldn’t be dreaming of becoming a skateboarder one day, I won’t hear any of it! But seriously, I absolutely love that skateboarding is now part of the Olympics – Paris 2024 will be its second appearance, taking place in Place de La Concorde right in the heart of the city.

Skateboarding doesn’t have to be about tricks, which is probably a good thing when I think about my knees… Penny boards are reasonably cheap and are great fun – and long boards are perfect for sunset cruises along the seafront. There is a bunch of information to get you started at Skateboard GB.

And… Breaking (Break Dancing)        

Okay, so this is 11 in my list (have you been counting?!), and I very much see it as a bonus to my suggestions above, but as one of the newest sports in the Olympics, and one that’s intrinsically linked to street culture, I had to mention it.

Us oldies might call this break dancing; breaking is an urban dance style that originated in the US in the 1970s, characterised by dance battles incorporating acrobatic movements and stylised footwork. And I reckon anyone with more grace and body rhythm than me might love to give it ago as a One Hour Outside activity this summer.

For more information about this new sport, check out Breaking GB – a website to watch as they develop resources for those interesting in giving the sport a try thanks to its appearance in the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Which Paris 2024 Olympics sports would you like to try?

Are you keen on any of these – or other sports featured in the Olympics? Which ones will be inspiring your One Hour Outside activities this summer?

I am a member of the adidas blogger community. The trainers mentioned in this post are from the (fantastic) Terrex range – purchased with the gift vouchers which form the payment for this post.