Walking? Benefits and any other comments.

Narrowboatnan, I see that you've chosen a slim companion who fits your mode of transport perfectly. She looks very chilled!

Had to wait till the heat died down a bit and chose a walk in the forest for shade. Magical- never seen so many orchids in my life.

Riverwalk

I recommend that you walk first thing - then it's done! I was out at 08.00 with a friend for 75 minutes as most days - it really does get the day off to a positive start

Any other walking you do later is then a bonus and you haven't spent the day thinking 'I must get out for a walk'.

I have a few errands to run so that will be another hour's worth, but at a leisurely pace 👟👟

... then it's done.

You make it sound as if it is a chore, sadly.

I like to work in garden and do other stuff in morning. And never think 'I have to go for a walk'. I truly look forward to it, and so does Yata (aka Princesse), and OH most days.

Riverwalk

I recommend that you walk first thing - then it's done! I was out at 08.00 with a friend for 75 minutes as most days - it really does get the day off to a positive start

Any other walking you do later is then a bonus and you haven't spent the day thinking 'I must get out for a walk'.

I have a few errands to run so that will be another hour's worth, but at a leisurely pace 👟👟

I agree Riverwalk. I get beach or park dog walk out the way first thing, then if I need to walk to town shops, they haven't got busy yet. But it's an effort to get daily 10k steps, it's taking me longer and I am so tired afterwards. I'm afraid I don't get the exercise buzz that people talk about, I do it because I love my dog. But then I got a dog to make me walk and make me get out the house.

I recommend that you walk first thing - then it's done! I was out at 08.00 with a friend for 75 minutes as most days - it really does get the day off to a positive start

Any other walking you do later is then a bonus and you haven't spent the day thinking 'I must get out for a walk'.

I have a few errands to run so that will be another hour's worth, but at a leisurely pace 👟👟

What a lot of lovely responses. Walking definitely is the way to go if you are willing and able. I have now started a star chart to guilt trip myself into walking each day for half an hour to an hour with a sticker if I complete, which I do most days unless the weather is foul. Here's to summer strolling!

I've also discovered the Merlin app for bird recognition so I'm sometimes seen walking along with my phone held out in front of me like some demented selfie obsessive!

Same here but this is when we must watch our step - we don’t want any falls!

Yes, sounds just like the two dogs we adopted last time.

farmgran

Norah, I'm intrigued by the Parsons Terrier. Is it like a Jack Russell?

Very similar.

Parsons are a bit boxier in appearance, on slightly longer legs.

Thankyou LRavenscroft for starting this post. I am 74 and now woken up to the fact I need to walk more and have looked up our local Walk for Health. I have discovered a number of organised easy to walks to join. Can anyone make any suggestions about what to look for when buying walking poles please.

Norah, I'm intrigued by the Parsons Terrier. Is it like a Jack Russell?

I like to try get 10k steps in at least once a week but don’t manage every week. I listen to podcasts and try to aim for different routes so I don’t get bored.

I walk with Madam Dog daily. We go up hill and down dale and, if my knees and back are grumbling, I choose a flat route. During the winter when I worried about slipping on muddy bits, especially going up or down hills, I used a pair of walking poles. They helped me with balance as well as cadence. It must have given my body a good work out because my ‘muffin top’ (spare tyre) flattened considerably. Come the drier weather I decided in my wisdom to dispense with the poles. Two months later and that muffin top is back! As from now, this Telly Tubby is back walking with two poles! Lesson learnt!

Good morning, another lovely day here but slightly cooler which suits me. I’m another walker but it’s not been the long walks I used to doing due to circumstances. I never feel bored whilst walking alone somehow, in fact a lot if the time I prefer it as I take everything in more. The hot weather saps my energy, better when cooler.

I wish that unhealthy recipe of three ingredient scones would stop appearing as it’s hardly difficult to make proper ones with virtually no sugar or chemical.

I also dog walk a border terrier, he's 6 and keeps a pretty brisk pace on the lead. I'm fortunate to have lots of opportunity to have him "off lead" we still walk briskly but I love the peace and quiet and that opportunity to live in my head a bit. It's great therapy for my mental health as well as my physical health. I always try to up my pace on hills so I get fitter but find the hot weather saps my energy and the dog's so OH will take him out very early when it's cool and I am still in bed!

Huge dog walk in the woods today, met no-one, but lots of bird song and the wild flowers are just amazing at the moment. Orchids, spiked rampions, dark almost black aquelegia, King Cups, astrantias, campion, centaurea, puce coloured wild roses, anemones, and so much more. About 10km, up and down. Magical.

I always found walking boring especially when on my own. Now I have a dog I take her out every day to the local park and woods and lately have been there by 7 am when it’s quite cool. Meeting other dog walkers, many I have got to know, it’s a time I look forward to every day. I feel energised, my dog loves the exercise (and the sniffing) and we both get back to a welcome breakfast.

I walk our two dogs every single day and dread the day I'm too infirm to get outside and walk.It keeps me fit,I love my food and I burn off all the treats that otherwise would make me feel stodgy.When I tore a cartilage and then had a partial knee replacement I hated not being as active.And I too love winter walks especially. I don't get hot and bothered and love coming in for a hot drink or warm bath after a good stomp round.Plus I find being outside in nature makes me happy. Hence I love gardening too.

The benefits to both mental and physical health are immense if you even walk a mile or so a day.

I aim for between about 5 and 10 miles a day, usually briskly unless I'm with a friend who is a bit slower. In my 60s I feel it is so important to keep moving. Use it or lose it.

Hope you’re ok after your fall Nightsky2 it is so easily done, the bruising is bad enough but it also shakes you up & knocks your confidence.
Sorry to hear you have now lost both of your Border Terriers, I can understand why you miss them so much. They are wonderful dogs with such character, I totally adore mine 🐾 I hope you can get back to your daily walks soon.

SachaMac

I walk twice a day with my Border Terrier, he needs his exercise & expects to go out so off we go in all weathers. Sometimes we do a shorter circuit sometimes we go quite a bit further. I’m currently getting up earlier to get out before it gets too hot and we are enjoying our early morning walks. Like many on here I have some arthritis & some mornings I feel stiff and achy and could happily not bother but once I’m out & moving I enjoy it, always people to chat to and things to see. Wish it burnt a few more calories though.

Border Terriers are my favourite breed of dog. We had two for many years. Just before Christmas we had to have our lovely old BT pts,he was nearly seventeen. We had the most wonderful years with them and I miss them every day.
DH and I have continued with our daily walk but yesterday just five minutes from home I tripped and fell flat on my face. It was very frightening and I’m very bruised and cut but luckily no broken bones. A lot of blood from a nose bleed and a very sore nose today. I shall have to be extra careful now as I know I will worry that it might happen again.

Walking benefits include better mental and physical health. It will give you more muscle tone in the lower half of your body, increase stamina, engage your senses. Seeing the same places through the seasons watching how the trees come into leaf, leaf fall, the beautiful skeleton of bare branches in the winter. It’s all magical to me, and very grounding.

Downsides include needing decent walking boots more often. And I have tripped over tree roots too, so bruises and scratches too.

I love winter walking best. Feeling yourself warm up while walking is a lovely thing on a cold winter day.

When i left hospital I was told to tke things easy, not too much walking or lifting, consequently, 3 months later I now struggle to do both, but things are improving, I can now walk from the chair to te caar with no trouble,m aim now is to make it to the end of the drive, another 10 steps.

Since leaving home at 16, I have walked in preference to other modes of transport, as money has been in short supply most of my adult life.

Walking is
cheaper than taking the bus or train
safer than riding a bike in a busy city
strenghtens the muscles of your legs and feet and benefits those of you back.

And now in my old age they suddenly tell us that having walked since we were young may well diminish our risk of delveloping any form of senile dementia.

The main disadvantage is that you get wet when it rains, closely followed by the fact that it takes far longer to get to where you needed to be if you walk, and it can be very tiring having to walk home from work or university carrying somewhere between 10 and 15 kg of books (the average academic or musician's load,) plus depending on what you do, dancing shoes, a musical instrument and a change of clothes, plus whatever shopping you may need to do on the way home.

Fetching anything heavy or bulky from the DIIY store is a nightmare too.

Personally, I find it hard to walk with others, as my march tempo is faster than most peoples' ex-soldiers excepted, and I get a sore back if I have to slow down to accompany non-walkers.