walking exercise

[Buena Girl]

I saw this on cnn.com today:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/diet.fitness/04/28/summer.walk.workout/index.html

The information might be a little elementary for anyone who works out regularly, but I thought it gave a few good reminders about keeping good form and position when walking for exercise. The RELATED LINK also looked good for anyone who wanted a suggested workout program. I may give it a try.

 

[Mara]

I love walking....I workout twice a week doing high-intensity kboxing but I also take about 4 1.5 mile walks per week around our neighborhood park (5-6 loops per day) right before I take Portia out to play each day. She loves it because the path borders the huge park lawn and she can just sniff and run around and I can keep an eye on her..and then when I''m about done her friends are all coming out to play.

I have read alot of positives re: walking and fitness, but I normally am too lazy to go out and go to an actual park to walk, so when they opened up the new park a month or so ago, it was perfect to just do loops around and the neighborhood, close to home. Lots of people watching too!

At least this way I feel like I am doing something, aka if its an off-workout day, I feel like I am doing something outside and healthy rather than being sedentary.

Recently I saw some article in Shape re: good shoes and I need to get a new pair of shoes that are made more for walking..the ones I have now are more for cross-training.

 

[fountainfairfax]

I love walking, too but haven't done it in a longggggg time. Where I work there is the perfect safe "loop"- I keep my shoes under my desk but somehow lunch hour always turns into something else. If it ever stops raining I'm going to get out there again!

I also found from past experience that I do much better with running shoes than walking shoes. I used to manage a Famous Footwear many years ago- serious walkers often do better with the elevated heel and flexibility of a runner. Many walking shoes have such sturdy bases to prevent pronation that they can be less comfortable for the fast fitness walker than runners. You will often find that trail running shoes have the best sole if you're planning on any off-pavement walking or even light hiking- I love merrell trail runners and have nike and new balance runners that I wear for any serious street walking, marathon antique shopping, javitz trade shows, ect......that elevated heel does wonders for knee and lower back strain!


edited to add: thanks for the link, Buena. Didn't mean to be rude, just Sunday morning sleepiness...

 

[MissAva]

I love walking...and since I am not allowed in the gym just now (rules @ health concerns) I am going twice a day. It doesnt feel like much but I am sure ten miles a day is better then whatever I would be doing other wise. Plus it is just so cheap.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 5/1/2005 9:45:21 AM
Author: fountainfairfax
I love walking, too but haven''t done it in a longggggg time. Where I work there is the perfect safe ''loop''-

Walking''s my favorite. . .but I cannot find a place that''s safe anymore. There''s the best track at a park just a few miles down the road that I''ve been walking around ever since we moved to our new home, but suddenly correctional prisoners have been brought in to maintain the grounds. This also has been done at another park I take my kids too, so suddenly both of these places are out for me and my family.

I''m really pissed off especially since two of the prisoners at the first mentioned location were walking around & staring at me and NOBODY was keeping an eye on them. . .

 

[mingagreen]

Good article! I just started walking on the treadmill regularly, i found out I am pregnant and desperately want to stay in shape! I finally got down actually below my first pregnancy weight and feel very fit. I want to stay fit and I think walking will help! I am not an excersiser at all so this will be hard!!!

 

[fountainfairfax]

Date: 5/1/2005 7:13:42 PM
Author: MichelleCarmen

Date: 5/1/2005 9:45:21 AM
Author: fountainfairfax
I love walking, too but haven''t done it in a longggggg time. Where I work there is the perfect safe ''loop''-

Walking''s my favorite. . .but I cannot find a place that''s safe anymore. There''s the best track at a park just a few miles down the road that I''ve been walking around ever since we moved to our new home, but suddenly correctional prisoners have been brought in to maintain the grounds. This also has been done at another park I take my kids too, so suddenly both of these places are out for me and my family.

I''m really pissed off especially since two of the prisoners at the first mentioned location were walking around & staring at me and NOBODY was keeping an eye on them. . .

OOOOOOHHHHHHH that really makes me angry- communities have a responsibility to keep things safe and pleasant for tax- payers, having inmates or even people doing their community service payoff time (for DUI convictions and the like) in public spaces where security and peace of mind should be paramount is just unacceptable!!!!!! There is a small state park near where I live that has beautiful running trails but also recent history of rapes and sexual assaults- how sick & crazy is that?!! We do have local high schools with lighted tracks that are open to the public before and after school hours, but with so many amazing green scapes in the area it is a shame that women can not walk alone! And I think it is so important that Moms, Dads and caregivers be able to get children out to see the leaves change, feed the ducks, catch frogs...how sick is it that experiences like that will eventually be lost because it just isn''t safe anymore?

As for having unescorted or unsupervised inmates in public spaces, I''d call the police first and my Congressman or town executive second; that is unacceptable!