Do the Walk, Do the Walk of Life

If you’re an aerobic-exercise junkie, as I am, you may struggle to understand the whole “walk for fitness” thing – you know, women gathering to count steps and calories while strolling around town.

I just can’t erase the image of white-haired, white-shoed elderly folks meeting in malls for power-walks in the relative security of artificial light and climate control.

However, I recently revised my opinion, and have paid more attention to the women’s magazine articles (“I Walked Off 100 Pounds!”) and fact that the annual Avon Walk for Breast Cancer (26 – 39 miles in two days) involves some 18,000 people raising $45 million a year.

Where I live, a group of interesting, intelligent, very fit women recently invited me to join for half-marathon walk training. While in the past my response would have been a quick, “No, thanks, if I enter the race, I’ll be running it,” this time I signed on. 
 

For the first time in my life, I’m spending the better part of a year without my regular runs, as a broken kneecap has sidelined me for as long as nine months. Even four births (including two C-sections) and surgery for a broken ankle didn’t put me out of commission this long. Those accustomed to the feeling of calm and well-being, not to mention the endorphin rush, that a good run can provide probably understand how much I miss pounding the pavement.

So, I’m working on walking. My 85-pound dog has adjusted to the slower pace, and, gradually, so have I.  Now, I make “walking dates” with fellow dog owners, and try to join the half-marathon training group on Sundays. (Okay, in all honesty, I have missed most of the walks due to my family’s schedule and Seattle’s rain…)
 

Along the way, I have learned that walking with good friends not only provides real exercise, but a host of other benefits, as well: fitness, companionship, guilt-free free time, community and mental health.

For more on the benefits of walking, please click here for the complete story, which I posted on the PermissionSlips blog this week. My friend and colleague Carol Gullstad and I take turns updating our blog each Monday.