Readers Respond: How Did You Start Walking?
Responses: 22

Updated October 30, 2008

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From the article: My First Walk

How did you first start walking? Who or what convinced you to try walking? Tell us about your first walking experiences. Share Your First Walk

Trekker

I started walking while participating in a health program organized by a corporate nurse at the plant where I worked. I got hooked and continued doing it for years. One day, due to historically poor food choices, bad habits of the past and genetics I went into tachycardia during an intense bicycle outing and required triple by-pass surgery. The morning after surgery my doctor said that if I hadn't been exercising for years that we wouldn't be talking that morning. Guess what I had been doing as my major form of exercise. You guessed it. WALKING. The elimination of those poor food choices and continuous walking have given me a new life. It is good to be in such distinguished, healthy company.
—Guest Charlie Frisinger

I started walking in a competition between sisters to support one sister with CF. Since the competition ended I have continued walking because I found I actually really enjoy walking. I even conquered the desperation to have someone walk with me. I now listen to music instead. It's been a great time and I will miss it during the winter.
—Guest Snow Loather

I started power walking after being a runner for 9 months. I am 72 yr old female who used to run 20 yrs. ago but my knees let me down. I have never had the patience to walk and so went through the levels quite quickly and am now walking 4 k's 2 days or more, 8 or 9 k's once a week, a day or two of interval for speed and a day of ball exercises and weights. I still struggle with a bad knee but I try to ignore it. I love my long walk its such a meditation for me. I am stubborn and like to challenge myself. My short walk has a steady upgrade which taxes me and my long walk has a great hill. I am trying to increase my long walks to reach 10 k's to be able to walk the 10k in my first ever race. My friends think I am nuts to be doing this at 72 but let them walk with canes while I pump my arms hard and consistently and pass them! I want to be able to keep power walking and maybe even look at race walking but I am a little hesitant as it looks like it might be hard on the knees and hips.Tips?
—Guest Stefan Carson

My left neighbour walks wiith another friend of her that lives nearby. She invited me to join them and since a month I do it everyday. Since one week my right neighbour has joined the group too. We are four now. At 9 o'clock we call each other's bell.
—Guest Marisa Polin

I start walking at the big mall 2 miles a day. I go almost everyday. I've lost 9 pounds so far. Don't let winter stop you.
—Guest cowboyjunky

I have been walking with my parents since I was very young. But my own walk started when I got angry at them and left the house for a night, and all the night I kept walking. That night I got rid of all the depression I'd grown out of my surroundings and felt a great relaxation. Since then I'm an Three-Hours-A-Day-Walker. :)
—Guest 3hoursadaywalker

My first "real" walk outside started early in the morning on the boardwalk in Atlantic City. After I came back home, I was out the door every morning and after work out the door again and I began logging about 20-30 miles per week. I lost about 100 lbs and kept it off for 10 yrs. Believe me, the treadmill is fine for walking when the weather is bad, but there is nothing like walking outside, breathing that fresh air, smelling the flowers and watching the sky...ahh...life is good!
—Guest slgrasley

I have a phobia of pigeons so I got a treadmill. I do 2 miles per 30 minutes and 4 miles per hour, its' great.
—Guest shyboy

I was having personal issues and a year into recovery my daughter asked me to be part of her first running marathon team. After attending and seeing all the excitement I was in total amazement - that spring she challenged me to doing a half marathon walk and she did a half marathon run. I trained very hard and really enjoyed walking. When I crossed the finish line I was smiling from ear to ear and what a sense of personal self worth I felt all over. Since then I have competed in three half marathons walks - last year I completed a whole marathon walk and I done several road races. I have actually had some great finish times and have won a few races. The time my daughter and I spend together doing this has put awhole new demention to are relationship. walking has given my a sense of accomplishment and self worth whether i come in first or last - the feeling i have when i cross the finish line is a high I cannot express. This spring I will compete in my 2nd full walk marathon. Thank you!
—Guest cinderella1199

I started walking on my lunch hour in the Spring and Summer as a way to get exercise with a friend. I started walking year round after I came to About.com.
—Frogee10

I had several months of physical therapy for lower back issues. During my therapy, I began walking a couple of blocks, and before I knew it, I was doing over a mile! I started losing weight and gaining confidence, and I haven't stopped walking since. I now incorporate some running into my walking routine, and I feel great and energized after a good, long walk/run. Oh, and, guess what? No more back pain!
—Guest allerapied

I started walking after age 75. I ran for 25 years. Nade sense to taper off a little.
—Guest fred bates

After my colon resection to get rid of early cancer, the surgeon said I had to walk "so the good parts learn to work together". After a few years, I got into the Team 'N' Training group to make the walking more purposeful. Have walked three marathons since 1999 and I love walking and train whether I do one or not. By Autumn each year, I am ready to walk 26.2 milea! I am 72 years old.
—Guest Mary Dermody

I started walking to just to be with my daughter, then she talked me into doing a 1/2 marathon with her and have been walking ever since and still doing marathons.
—Guest mary

I started walking because of my nagging dog. She would wake me up regularly at an unearthly hour in the morning and beg me to walk her. Now we wouldn't miss our daily hour's walk together for anything.. starting at 5 a.m.!!
—Guest Carol Dickstein