My Big Walk - An Hour a Day for a Year
Laurie is celebrating a big birthday year by walking for an hour a day, every day of the year. She blogs daily about her walks at My Big Walk. She had dreamed of a month-long walking adventure in Europe. But instead, "Rather than making my celebration an adventure apart from my life, I could make it a new venture within my life. And so, My Big Walk was born."
"Over the years I spent a lot of time with therapists and doctors with varying degrees who by and large taught me that there are few things in life that you can't get through by simply getting up, getting dressed, and getting on with the day. In other words, put one foot in front of the other and then do it again, and again. If it scares you, do it anyway. If you don't feel like it, do it anyway. If you're tired, definitely do it," Laurie writes on her "About My Big Walk" page.
As Laurie and I both share a big birthday this year, I think she is a kindred soul in so far as walking. We all can find excuses not to walk, but you just have to find an excuse buster that makes you do it anyway. Having a goal you are dedicated to achieving is a great one. It can be walking an hour a day, logging 10,000 pedometer steps each day, or training for a half marathon. It can be a dog or walking buddy that you can't let down.
Find your motivation and save your life. Laurie will be reducing her health risks by getting the amount of exercise that studies say we all need. How can you motivate yourself to walk?
Wendy, just wanted to say thanks for your posts. I started receiving the 19 Weeks to Marathon posts some time ago. In fact, about 19 weeks ago. I’ve been filing them in my Fitness folder all this time. In the last couple of weeks, I finally started looking at them again. And then got out and started walking, using the mileage builder plan, since 8 miles in one day is a bit beyond what I can comfortably do right now.
I appreciate your part in getting me back out on the trails. I’ve always loved walking. It’s just that sometimes I get so embroiled in the other parts of life that I forget. Your posts nudge me and then I remember, vividly, what it is I love about walking. Especially in the woods. Like the two coyote sightings I had on Saturday morning. The experience of getting drenched to the skin (right down to my underwear) and remembering what it was like to be a little kid coming in from a cold day of playing in the snow (the crazy itchiness of skin when it suddenly heats up after being wet and cold). The feeling of being held, of reuniting with beloved ancestors, when I walk among the trees. Being eyed by horses in pastures on either side of the trail.
And today I got to see The Big Walk blog, and get inspired all over again.
So, thanks! Keep ‘em coming, please!
Heidi
Thanks for the compliments, Heidi! We all need a nudge every now and then. I’m happy to do it, and it’s the walkers who comment and email me who nudge ME to keep moving!
Excellent article. We all have “those days” where we need to reach beyond ourselves to do what we know we should. I like the idea of journaling; not only is it an immediate form of accountability, but it also gives one a visible reminder of past accomplishment. Traditions are born, thus carried on. I walk today, because I walked yesterday, and, Lord willing, I will walk tomorrow. (somebody bang that gong)