Walking

Wednesdays are review days, where I will give my opinion on a particular product, place, or concept.

Walking
I went walking last night. For those that have never walked, I highly recommend it! Sure, I know what you're saying - "Hey Chris, how do I get started with walking, and how do I know if I'm doing it the right way?"

Well, the first sign of a good walker is that he or she is not sitting or laying down. Those are the two biggest mistakes someone who is just getting started in walking can make.

Once you've determined that your body is no longer at rest, it's time to move! I like to alternate moving my legs forward. Some may try left-right-left, others prefer the right-left-right method. From experience, I've found that the left-left-left can cause undue pain in the groin area.

Alright! Now you're moving forward (backward movement should be reserved for the professionals or "trick" walkers). But, as many of you are aware, this world is full of obstacles just waiting to halt your new found activity. Drastic changes in elevation, mailboxes, other walkers - these all pose threats to the enthusiest, and can be avoided if one is sure to follow these simple rules:

1. Walk on the sidewalk. These ingenious surfaces are specially designed with the walker in mind. Ranging from 4' to 7' in width, sidewalks give ample room to maneuver, especially during those shaky first sessions on the ol' legs! Well designed sidewalks will not have trees, power poles, or quicksand within their width, making it ideal for the starter!

2. Eyes open and forward! You're confident. Your legs have begun to transport your body as if by magic. You own that sidewalk. But don't get too cocky mr. or mrs. walker. One wrong step and it's Grass City for you! Eyes are an important tool to the pedestrian. They will provide direction and convey possible hazards to the brain, which scientists have recently found controls the movement of the legs. This takes some training, but before long, your eyes will be telling your legs where to go - even without the audible commands you may have used in the past!

3. Set Limits. The first time I set out walking, I did not have a specific destination in mind. Boy, was that a mistake! 5 days out, and I have starting to get pretty hungry and tired. I eventually came to a set of stairs (which I had not practiced for at that point), and began to panic. Luckily, a friendly policeman was there to assist me. He informed me that once a week he finds someone like myself who forgot to set a course for their walking adventure, and has to drive them home. I was lucky that day. It is important to set limits on the amount of walking you want to accomplish before setting out.

On a scale of 1-10, 4 being the highest, and 7.5 being the lowest, I would have to give walking a thumb up! It's not for everyone, but with the right knowledge, practice, and determination, you too can be walking on sunshine* like me!

*The sun's surface can be quite hot to the touch and should never be walked upon.