November 15, 2006
216 MILES, 6 MILES A DAY
There are 41 workdays between the 1st of November and the end of the year, and if everything goes according to plan, I'll be walking to and from work on all but five of them. Why? Good question (and no--inside joke to my co-workers--it's not because someone stole my car keys).
I live just 3.1 miles from my office (it's a 40 to 45 minute walk straight down one street, up another, and through a few winding avenues in an office park). With Utah County's 10,000 and 11,000-foot mountains serving as a backdrop, the walk feels more like a journey than anything else; and while the cold weather is starting to settle in (I froze my you-know-whats off for about five minutes this morning), the benefits of walking far outweigh the costs. According to numerous sources, walkers have less incidence of cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and other killer diseases, and have an easier time managing their weight, going to the bathroom, and maintaining stamina throughout the day. With benefits like those, why wouldn't you choose to walk more often?
Taking into account days off for Thanksgiving and Christmas, along with two days for a staff retreat that I'll have to drive or car-pool to, as well as five or so days for unexpected circumstances (like severe weather and errands), I figure I can put in around 216 miles before the end of the year. So far so good...since the beginning of the month, I've walked every day except or two (one day I overslept--probably from all the walking, right; and I had to run an errand on another day which required the use of my car).
Wish me luck. The way I'm choosing to look at it, anywhere is walking distance, as long as I make the time!
Posted by Mikal at November 15, 2006 9:08 AM
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WalMart has pedometers for like $3. I think you should get one.
Mikal - rock on! I should join you every few days. What time do you leave your place? How about that plan? Commute the 17-18 miles down to your place, then walk 3.1 miles from there and back.
I could even bring my weight vest for my mountaineering training. ;)
That's probably a nice savings in gasoline cost as well. Each mile you walk actually puts money in your pocket. Nice!
I think I'll have to begin walking as well, especially since it'll make going to the bathroom even easier.
In fact, I'm thinking of moving the bathroom. If I move it far enough and walk to get there, I believe at some point I'll stop having to go altogether.
Yeah, walk till it hurts and then walk some more. I'm all for it. Plus you get to meet interesting people on the way, like the bus nazi man you chatted with.
Woo-hoo! Good for you. It's nice to be able to walk to work :o) Great exercise, too. At my current job I park my car at the far end of the parking garage, and then walk about 1/4 mile from there to my desk. It's the only way I get any exercise in during the day.
Way to go Mikel! Keep it up. I'm proud of you. Still drinking the shakes? Wish I could walk with you. Even from here and just compare notes. I could go back to your old neighborhood and take pictures of the changes. Instead I have been walking the pool. Back and forth and back and forth. I"d prefer outside. Hang in there and give us some pictures of interesting things along the way.
Way to go and good luck, Mikal. This summer I was biking on many of my local errands, when I didn't have both kids with me, and this fall I ran all my errands with my son on the back of the bike in the mornings. I just wish it wasn't over a bridge and on a highway and overpass where people don't know how to drive or I'd love to bike to work. It's too far to walk, but I would love to be able to pedal my way there. But it is getting too cool to be able to do so. Have fun and good luck at staying warm in your walking there!
BTW, you were in a really weird dream I had the other night. You weren't really weird or anything, just the dream was. LOL
Take care!
Marjorie
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