What is Volkssport? The best explanation I have found is:
"A Volkssport Event is an organized NON-COMPETITIVE walk, bike ride, swim, or cross-country ski through a scenic area over a pre-determined route designed for people of all ages. Participants travel at their own pace and several distances are usually available. Volkssports are ideal activities for the entire family, and also a great way to meet new friends. I found this explanation on the Canadian Volkssport Federation web site.
Your only competitor is yourself or maybe a member of your family, maybe even your pet. The above definition mentions skiing, I am a Florida resident so that one is a little difficult, but it can be done and some clubs organize some very nice ones so I've heard. Volkswalks or volksmarches as some call them, are organized 10k walks in and around areas of your town, your city, in the mountains, in the desserts, anywhere that 10k (6.2 miles) can be put together with some interesting sights or historical areas, some very nice areas of homes or even a park or forest. There are some done inside national and state parks. From what I've been told, Volkssporting was started in Germany and brought to the US by a military man from Texas, there are now clubs and organizations all over the United States, Canada and several countries around the world.
Volkswalking can be done for pleasure or for credit, you can get rewards for the walks you complete or you can just do them for the enjoyment of seeing some really nice places, parks, neighborhoods or anything else that will constitute a 10k walk. One of my favorite walks was done on Sanibel Island, Florida, walking through some very nice neighborhoods, around a really historical lighthouse and along a beautiful white sandy beach. Another nice walk was put on by a club in the St Armonds Circle area of Florida. We walked around St Armonds Circle, out to Mote Marine Laboratory, through a very nice neighborhood and down a beach side boulevard. Sometimes you get to see some really nice nature while on the way, manatees in a river or spill way, some beautiful flowers and trees, or some very ornate statues, figures or formations. One of my favorite parts of doing these walks, is that we get to treat ourselves afterwards to lunch or some other treat we may not have done in some time. The photo above left is the Historic Sanibel Lighthouse and the photo above right is a statue of St. Francis of Assisi in a church yard on St Armonds Circle in Florida.
