WHY WALKING??

Shortly after my 50^th birthday, I noticed my body was “ballooning out” at a very rapid rate.  I knew that I had reached the age where my body had changed and no longer responded to “diets” (low carb, low calorie, etc) that I resorted to in my young(er) years.  It became clear that I needed to make a significant change that was healthy and brought long lasting results.  It was around that time that I met a 65 year old couple that had registered and was training to run a half marathon or 13.1 mile race- (yes 65).  

Having briefly seen glimpses in the news of the New York and Boston marathons throughout the years. My impression of a marathon runner was of an ultra fit YOUNG person who clearly had been running since age 4 without stopping.  Certainly, my 65 year old friends did not fit this description.  As a matter of fact, this would be their first half marathon!  I was intrigued and captivated by these news and immediately decided that this was exactly the type of challenge that I needed to get me in shape and do something I would be proud of.   

And so my running days started.  It’s important to understand that I was never an “athletic” person .  In fact, I couldn’t stand sweating.  I trained for the next 5 months by walking then running then walking again when I would run out of breath.  Each time I was able to increase the distance and the amount of time running.  I shed about 35 pounds, my skin never looked so good, my clothes never fit better and I never felt better in my entire life.  I ran my first half marathon in 3.5 hours – actually with a combination of running and walking but my time qualified me for a medal.  That was worth all the sweat (literally). I went on to run 2 more in the following years for a total of 3 half marathons (2011,2012 & 2013).  In the years that followed I got completely absorbed in my husband’s battle with cancer and could no longer find the energy or time to follow a marathon training schedule and started just walking long distances just to clear my mind.  And I’ve continued to do so after he passed away in 2015.  

Not long ago I started reading about how walking can provide many of the same health benefits associated with running. According to many studies, regardless of whether they were walking or running, individuals saw a reduced risk of hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, and improved better cardiovascular health.  There are also less risks than running.

Running  puts more stress on the body and increases the risk for injuries like runner's knee, hamstring strains, and shin splits (which plague even the most consistent runners). 

These days, I walk a total of 15 miles per week. I do it on different days at different times as my schedule allows but I make sure I total 15 miles. My average speed is 17 minutes per mile so I don’t walk slow and I burn some calories while enjoying time outdoors.  I also listen to audiobooks and music while I walk which I thoroughly enjoy.  

My favorite thing is I can eat without worrying about my weight getting out of control – and that’s a big benefit for me.  Of course, I still love those challenges and I’m planning on doing one in about 4 months. Stay tuned!