WALKING A MARATHON
I began power walking about four years ago. I had been a runner (jogger, really). I spent a lot of time in the gym using exercise equipment, lifting light weights and attending group fitness classes. Over time, I began feeling aches and pains, specifically my knees. This was not unexpected as years of pounding in high impact activities would surely lead to wear and tear injuries, but I didn’t want these issues to progress to surgery later on. I decided to switch to power walking and quickly became obsessed. I had always wanted to complete a marathon. One day while walking, I thought “Why not walk a marathon?!” I registered for a marathon not far from where I lived. I had been increasing speed and distance as my walking progressed. I never entertained the thought that I might not finish the marathon. I had no idea what to expect but was eager. On marathon day, I felt enthusiastic. I experienced a little anxiety, but that was mostly related to concerns about where to park, how to dress for the weather, etc. I got caught up in the crowd’s excitement as start time approached. Participants were chatting while stretching and warming up. The colorful athletic wear, upbeat music, cheering spectators and overall energy were stimulating. I was ready. I started out near the back of the group. (I learned later that this is a good spot as participants are bottled-necked in front.) I was pumping my arms and walking fast. I passed some runners (!) and felt even more confident that I would not only finish but also perform well. Along the way, many folks asked “Are you going to walk the entire race!?” I was not the only walker. Of course, I felt fatigued after a lot of miles. My back and feet were aching. I stopped at some hydration stations, and I had a pocket full of peanuts (and I kept thinking about my post-race reward of donuts!). I said “good job” to fellow participants as I moved forward, and it felt important to thank the wonderful spectators. Around miles 16 & 20, I “hit the wall” which means that I felt worn out. I rallied. I looked around as I walked, noticing nature and interesting things. Fast forward (really fast walking!), I crossed the finish line. I felt great mentally, emotionally and, yes, physically. I had done it! My mantra had been “have a good time” (referring to a fun experience, not a clock time). I will say that after 5 hours, 32 minutes of walking, the crowd at the finish line had thinned as most competitors, especially the elite runners, had completed their race long before me. However, there were plenty of participants still crossing the finish line, and I quickly moved to the fence to cheer them on. I returned home and, within a few days, signed up for my next marathon. I have now completed 26 marathons and counting! Just about anyone can do this! It’s simple: Put on some comfy sneakers and baggy clothes and just start walking!
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Young autistic Watertown resident completes personal quest to walk every street (Article link below)9/1/2020 This is the article written by Phoebe Gray on Aug 18, 2020
https://watertown.wickedlocal.com/news/20200818/young-autistic-watertown-resident-completes-personal-quest-to-walk-every-street?fbclid=IwAR3BykG1s6r-ypsFF5hiGhu5PElo65eqsUQts_1SGBBDmwqBvblJu48T8SI There are numerous walking/running apps that record your routes. Many offer free versions. Along with the mapping apps came a new trend on making GPS art from walks.
Have you ever looked at your route after a walk and thought there was a design or a picture of something that you created on your walk? Now you can learn about GPS art and create walks that draw shapes. The two articles are about runners who do GPS art. Swap walking for running and you're all set to do your own walking art walks. The one article talks about the network of city streets as a palette for creating art. I think it is more like an Etch-a-Sketch since you can 'erase' your walk and do another design using the same streets. How to Make GPS Art Making Art on the Run? includes a video Below is a YouTube video by John E. Hiker that I found really informative. He makes a good point that the Federal and State organizations et al that maintain trails have a limited budget. So bridges that wash out are not always being replaced in a timely fashion. Especially on more of the remote trails. Knowing how to safely cross a river is an important skill for backpackers. Some immediate take aways are to cross in the morning when snow fed rivers and streams are at their lowest. Wear shoes or waterproof socks or even wool socks to cross rivers. Rocks are slippery and you may lose your footing or injure yourself going barefoot. Undo the straps on your pack both waist and sternum straps. Use a pole or find a sturdy stick to use to probe the river as you cross and also as leverage to help you stay balanced and upright. It is challenging to keep up with all the people who are walking across the United states to raise awareness for causes. I try to follow and find as many as I can but I know I am not inclusive of everyone.
I really do find much of my information from links on Facebook and my own google searches. This morning I read a post from a friend in Denver Colorado about Peter Munson's walk across the United States. Peter is walking across the US to raise awareness for children in need. 6 Million Steps for Kids has the information about his journey and the charities he is working with to raise money. From my friend's post it looks like he is near Denver Colorado today. His journey is from East to West.
I have followed People walker since I first heard about this business a few years ago. I loved the concept of being a people walker and did email Chuck to enquire about how to do this in Portland, OR. When they expanded to other cities I applied to be a people walker in Portland. I was hired, and I felt like I have a strong background in walking knowledge and I do walk. I was disappointed with the lack of people wanting to pay to walk in Portland and some disappointment in a lack of support to getting started in Portland. I still think their main focus was on the LA area and not enough support was given to the other cities.
I do support the concept and I understand that the app they created to connect people with people walkers needed funding and due to a lack of resources the app is no longer available. I am happy to see that Chuck did a TED talk and I hope he is able to build his business and create a people walking niche. Now more than ever there is an increasing need to walk and spend time disconnected from our electronic devices. Scout Website owner This article was brought to my attention through someone contacting me with an article that one of her students found. I was asked to post this article.
I am happy to do so. I understand a pizza is involved for this young lady if I post the article. How can I resist that? Tips for Pedestrian Safety: Walking Safety Rules In general I agree with what is suggested for walking safely. It also raises some red flags about the issue of putting all of the responsibility for walking on the pedestrian. The people who are driving are absolved of taking responsibility for their driving behavior. There are many articles about this subject of victim blaming in crashes between pedestrians and drivers. Here is one article: We Blame Pedestrians for Dying Even When Drivers are at Fault. Of course, a pedestrian needs to be safe and it is important to be safe not dead even if the law says all intersections are considered a legal crosswalk. If a driver ignores that, stepping into an oncoming vehicle would not be in your best interest. I think being alert, making sure the driver sees you or it is safe to cross before crossing, not walking while distracted all of these are valid considerations. Drivers also have responsibilities too. Driving is a privilege not a right. I am going to post the link to the blog here: https://www.pcta.org/2019/a-veteran-wildland-firefighter-tells-hikers-how-to-react-to-fires-64549/?fbclid=IwAR3dUqhRC-FMzffXHn_ochV1cxEmJSrgQ529riqHuXYpUSDIh-t2X5fK_gc As we head into wildfire season this is really good information for through hikers, day hikers, backpackers. Be safe on the trails.
This is a fun video to watch as it is set to music and shows people walking and different modes of transportation back in the day. It is amazing to see how people moved out of the way for each other and it all seems so synchronized. As more cars became the norm more people died or became injured while on foot. This is a recent article on Mall Walking that was written for Groupworks. Here is the link to the article https://groupworks.com/blog/group-activity-spotlight-mall-walking/
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ScoutI am an avid walker and hiker. My favorite is a long hike. I also enjoy taking off and going on a meandering walk for a few hours. I've hiked rim to rim in the Grand Canyon and I did 3 Burning Boot Walks on Vancouver Island. Archives
January 2021
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