Popularity of running and walking groups surging
Australian Institute of Sport data shows COVID sped up grassroots exercise activities like parkrun.
Once the domain of daggy dads sporting zip-off shorts, exploring the outdoors has become cool again.
More Australians than ever pulled on their hiking boots in the past year, and the popularity of community running and walking groups is surging.
New data from the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) shows COVID-19 accelerated grassroots exercise activities, like parkrun, which offers free community events with no time limits and no-one finishing last.
AIS general manager of sports division Brooke de Landre said “flexibility” was being prioritised over the traditional organised sport.
“More than 10 million Australians were outside taking part in walking activities and just enjoying the great outdoors in 2021 and 2022,” she said.
Among them is Rachele Preston, who joined a Townsville bushwalking group a year ago.
Ms Preston admits she was initially reluctant to take part.
“I was a bit dubious, and I wasn’t confident to start with. I was not fit at all,” she said.
“Now I jump out of bed in the morning instead of not wanting to get up each day
Bushwalking gets a facelift
It’s a trend spurred on by online adventure influencers who are harnessing social media to give the outdoors a makeover.
Jemima Robinson curates adventure films that tour the world, including the hugely popular Banff Mountain Film Festival.
“They’re showcasing different, amazing parts of the world, and the people out there are just living their best lives and encouraging people to dream big,” Ms Robinson said.
“We’ve seen such a big change [in audience] coming now … people from all walks of life.
“Now we get the mountain bike enthusiast and his grandmother.
“It’s good medicine for everyone.”
From ‘hot girl walks’ to ‘hike girl summer’
Ms Robinson also tours the Gutsy Girls film festival showcasing female-led adventurers, which has swelled in popularity alongside the rise of female filmmakers.
She said fitness crazes being spread on social media, like the emerging Hike Girl Summer niche, were also a key factor in getting more people to pull on their exercise shoes and embrace the outdoors.
Millions worldwide embraced the TikTok trend, Hot Girl Walk, a daily four-mile (6.4 kilometres) outdoor walk, during which the participant thought of their goals, what they were grateful for and “how hot you are”.
Women are leading the charge into the wilderness
Source
Jade Toomey
ABC News
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