Daily Walk
My favorite part of the day is 5:30 in the morning, when I head out for my 40-minute walk. I’ve been doing this for a couple months now, as part of my overall fitness regime. I’m trying to be a bit more active on days I don’t go to the gym, and figured shooting for 10,000 steps per day would be a good start.
Anyway, what started out as a chore has now turned into something I look forward to. I love waking up before anyone else in the house, grabbing my iPod, and listening to a great audiobook or my favorite music as I cruise through my usual route around the neighborhood. It’s so very relaxing, and I enjoy being out there when few other people are around.
The only thing that would make my morning walk better is if I had some decent shoes. I currently use some cross-trainers that are about 5 years old. Not only are they pretty beat up, but they’re rather bulky and heavy as well. I really need a new pair — and would love to try MBT shoes, the ones with the curved soles that are supposed to help you burn extra calories just from walking (it has something to do with working harder to maintain your balance). I’ve been trying to save for a pair, but something else always comes up that depletes my little store of money before I can make the purchase.
Why do I take my walk so early in the day? For several reasons. 1) I’m a morning person and have far more energy in the morning than at any other time of day. 2) It’s a lot cooler at 5:30am than at other times, and I don’t want to use the weather as an excuse to stay in. And 3) There’s less traffic that early in the morning, making my walk a lot more comfortable as far as noise and safety go.