The conditions in the park have become very slippery and muddy so please be careful!
We had two people fall on Saturday morning. Luckily, neither is seriously injured but both had some serious washing to sort out when they got home!
Top Tips for Staying Upright in Mud
- Wear appropriate footwear. Your shoes need to have a good tread and ideally be waterproof. For walkers, in these conditions, I would recommend boots rather than trainers or shoes (for the extra ankle support).
- Shorten your stride. A shorter stride means you are more likely to strike the ground with your foot below your hip. This makes your more stable and is also better for enabling the tread in your shoes.
- Strengthen your legs. Ploughing through the mud requires strong legs. Calf raises every day 10-15 sets on each leg will make a huge difference and also help to prevent injury (do as I say here, not as I do)!! Squats and lunges are also your friend for strengthening upper legs.
- Stay on the trail and power through. Winding your way around the mud increases the risk of trips and falls. It also increases erosion by widening the trail, a personal bugbear of mine!
- Don’t wear white socks or pale leggings! They will never be the same again. Bring a change of clothes with you to sit in Costa / drive home in. This is more important than you think for keeping healthy in the winter months.
- Rediscover your inner child. There can be a joy in splashing through the puddles and mud, you knew it when you were a kid. Embrace it and find that joy again.