Still Moving

I am still doing my sprint-walking 6 mornings a week. But now I have added on the time for warm-ups and cool-offs, which are 3 minutes each.

We may end up walking a lot on our missions but it won't be from our apt to our worksite. That might add up to a tenth of a mile in a stretch. But we're ready for more...just don't know how we'll get it.

PL

Walking Intervals Day 6

I have been walking intervals now for a week. Very wonderful! I think I'm getting something like 25% more exercise in the same amount of time, based on distance. Cool!

Walking Intervals

Now that it's easier to walk (I'm no longer anemic, the days are cool), I have been doing a half hour walk each morning, and then occasionally another one in the evening. After having built up using mailboxes (q.v.) while still in Tucson, I decided that just walking would do here in Anacortes.

Until today. Yesterday I heard a Canadian doctor describe a technique for improving the exercise value of walking, and I decided to try what he suggested.

The suggestion: After a warm-up period of 5 minutes, alternate a 30 second walking sprint with a 30 second comfortable stride for the remainder of the time. Then cool down for 5 minutes.

I began the program this morning. Keeping an eye on my timer, I sprinted and strode for 33 minutes, and finished my usual course 4 minutes faster than usual - which meant adding distance till fill out the time.

The area of our neighborhood consists of hills and more hills. I decided to sprint according to the timer and not heed the change in terrain. The uphill sprints were particularly intense.

I had thought I was walking fast on all my walks. I want to use the time well. But the sprints were definitely faster than what I had been doing.

Today my lower legs felt the extra exercise. The whole program was satisfactory for me, and I'm happy that my walks are doing more now. I'm definitely sticking with this program!

The Mailboxes of My Neighborhood - Part 1

The application of Mailbox Walking Rules (q.v.) is a little tricky right here at home, but I am motivated by the progress I've made. Here's what the Neighborhood looks like wrt Mailboxes:

Go out the driveway (dirt; down-up) to the Home Mailbox (#1).

Turn right (paved; up) to the hammerhead-shaped cul-de-sac, lined not by houses and mailboxes but by empty lots for sale. Turn right, left, left, left, left, right - and you find yourself heading downhill on the opposite side of the street from the Home Mailbox. Here you find Mailbox #2.

(If you are on Day #2, you turn around, retrace your steps around the hammerhead, and eventually find yourself at the Home Mailbox, whence you go home. If this is a subsequent day, you keep going.)

To keep going, continue on the paved street (down) until it ends at another paved street. Turn right and continue (flat) to Mailbox #3. This is about 500 steps from #2. Return by retracing steps.

To keep going to #4, continue (flat) until you get to it. Retrace.

Now, #5 is the first of a cluster of 3, and it is on the opposite side of the street from #4. This requires going to the end of the street (where it meets a bigger street), crossing, coming back the other side as far as #5, then retracing. #6 and #7 are very similar, but cannot be done today...

Walking the mailboxes in this neighborhood requires crossing washes and the frontages of uneven large lots. But wait till you see what's next!

(Maybe I'll find my camera and take it along for this FASCINATING view of life here in 85745.)
PL