BS: Walking for health 2

Subject: BS: Walking for health 2
From: Mr Happy
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 10:35 AM

Was going to resurrect this thread, but when I'd read the posts - found it was [inexplicably?] closed.

**********

Anyway, back to now.

'Er indoors thinks I'm getting unfit again, so the forced route marches are back on the agenda.

We had a fairly pleasant stroll along the towpath of the Shropshire Union canal in Cheshire last Sunday.

Starting from The Shady Oak, up to Crows Nest at Huxley, where I had a lunch break, sitting in the sunshine & ate me chicken sarnies.

Seems there's more in store for me now each weekend.

Anyone else walking for health?



The weather was fairly balmy for the time of year & I managed about 31/2 miles.

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: Leadfingers
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 10:47 AM

I have worked out that I can walk to Sainsburys up the By pass as quickly as if I walk into the town centre and get a bus ! A nice brisk twwenty minutes each way , NOT a route march . but excellent excersise al the asmr .

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: GUEST,PMB
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 10:52 AM

Last year, a local friend had some of her friends to stay for a few days. Since they are keen walkers, and my friend isn't, she asked me to work out some walks for them. How far? About 12 miles they said. OK, I sat down with the map and measuring wheel, and worked out a few walks for them. It's quite a lot of work- reading and checking all the OS grid refs of the waymarks, remembering which paths have been blocked by sociopath farmers, sorting out the pub names etc., but I got it done and good walks they are too. Well, they set off merrily in the bright morning sunshine, with a promise to meet us in the pub back home later. Which most of them did, ragged and limping... 12 miles in the Peak District is quite a different prospect from the same in the Thames Valley. They tried a shorter walk the next day.

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 10:54 AM

I'm walking for health too. I try to walk between 4-6 miles 4 times a week or more. I walk to the shops in town instead of getting the bus or going to the corner shop. I put Harry in his buggy and we walk. I walk to Harry's Nana's once a week whic is just over 6 miles away. I feel much better and find it's an excellent way to lose weight and stay fit.

Best of luck, keep it up

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 10:59 AM

I went for a nice long walk in the woods on Sunday, and on Monday I woke up with bronchitis. Excercise is unhealthy!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: Midchuck
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 11:03 AM

"Where's the Princess?", cried the King!

"She's in bed with bronchitis!" replied the Chamberlain.

"Hasn't that Greek bastard left yet?"

Peter.

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: Mr Happy
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 11:07 AM

Tee-Hee LOL!

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: Wesley S
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 11:08 AM

I get in a mile two or three times per week.

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: Emma B
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 11:11 AM

Keep up the good work Mr Happy.
It's been too wet to enjoy a walk in the local forest recently but I'm looking forward to the early drifts of snowdrops heralding new opportunities for longer walks.

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 11:20 AM

Just back from a walk in the woods with Mattie our lurcher. We are so lucky up here in the highlands. There are so many forests around, and even though they are mostly non native Norway spruce, grown for chipboard, they are still pleasant places where deer and birds have their homes.
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: Newport Boy
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 12:19 PM

My regular morning walk to the newsagents and back is about 2.5 miles - most days. Thursday is different, alternating a proper walk (6 to 12 miles) with a cycle ride (25 to 50 miles). A good day, Thursday - I'm allowed a pub lunch.

Phil

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 02:43 PM

I was amused to find Terry (Leadfingers) has rediscovered walking :)

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: GUEST,petr
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 03:27 PM

when I lived in Japan for a year or so (back in the early 90s)
I did a lot of walking - just because I had to. Basically an about an hour or 1 1/2 each day walking to the subway station. I lost something like 35lbs at the end of the year.

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 03:38 PM

I am up to a whole ten minutes on the treadmill at this point. Not a lot of nice/exciting places to walk among/to around here unless I first get in the car and drive to a river park or elsewhere. Until my stamina is built up and my lungs finally calm down from pneumonia, it doesn't seem worth going out to walk, plus I really like to have someone to go with, which doesn't happen until the weekends and then the walking is usually done whilst grocery shopping!:-) I know ten minutes doesn't sound like much, but it is really gratifying to be able to do even that and I look forward to even more. My body definitely feels better for a walk.

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: jacqui.c
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 03:44 PM

I got out today for a beach walk with Seamus, who loved it. I'm hoping the energy levels are coming back up again and that I can get to the beach a bit more often than I have been doing.

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 06:56 PM

Steepest gradient on the treadmill at 4.5mph alternated with jogging at 7mph for half to three quarters of an hour...then half an hour on the machines for the upper body. Did nothing for nearly twenty years until a year last September...and now go to the gym three/four or five times a week when able. Have lost two stone and two and a half inches off waist. Gymnasium is good for you.

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 30 Jan 08 - 04:37 AM

Last time I went to a gym, I sprained my ankle slipping up the steps to the equipment room.. I tell you, this excercise lark is bloody dangerous!!!!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 30 Jan 08 - 08:12 AM

I walk at the local pool. My physio sent me there & I plod along around the 1.2 metre pool for about an hour, avoiding skylarking kids & swimmers. I was walking in another area with shallower, faster water but my lower back would get sore after a while (chronic lower back pain is why I walk around the pool!) so I changed to the leisure pool.

I aim for 1 or 2 sessions a week, & also aim, tho not so successfully, for a walk around the local streets or park.

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 30 Jan 08 - 08:46 AM

According to the BBC News site, exercise keeps you young:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7212698.stm

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Jan 08 - 09:14 AM

I just signed up for a daily motivator-- I'm extremely motivated, but many in my AquaJogging class struggle with that. I think I'll paste them here in case they may help anyone else, instead of starting a new thread.


"My feeling is that any day I am too busy to run is a day that I am too busy. "

            John Bryant, deputy editor of the London Times, 1994

      COPYRIGHT © RUNNER'S WORLD 2007, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: Mr Happy
Date: 30 Jan 08 - 09:31 AM

Proposals for this weakend [sp] are either, setting off from the Dusty Miller by Wrenbury & walk along the toepath of the Llangollen canal for a mile or 2, Delamere Forest; or maybe Talacre beach

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: Mr Happy
Date: 30 Jan 08 - 09:45 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talacre

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delamere_Forest

http://www.dustymiller-wrenbury.co.uk/

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: MARINER
Date: 30 Jan 08 - 10:21 AM

I do a ,mostly ,daily 2 1/2 hours around Carnsore Point on the lovely south east coast of Ireland.It started purely for health reasons (angina) but now I do it because I also enjoy it!.i do similar times in Austria but fine it a lot more difficult, due to the terrain.

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: Mr Happy
Date: 31 Jan 08 - 05:33 AM

This time've year paths get very muddy.

Some parts of the towpath were decidedly hazardous, having to outstretch me arms like a tightrope walker to maintain balance on some've the muddy, slidy, bumpy bits.

Some items I'll take along on the next jaunt will be a walking stick & maybe a pair of secateurs to trim the brambles.

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: Moses
Date: 31 Jan 08 - 08:39 AM

The furthest I usually walk is from my office to the staffroom but lately, accompanied by an experienced walker, I have ventured a lunchtime 40 minute footpath walk in this rather hilly location.

Not sure if it's going me good but, when I said I was just as out-of-breath as ever upon our arrival at the top of a hill, my companion confessed that he had increased the pace on a fairly regular basis, and that now I was walking about 25 per cent faster than originally.

So I must be doing something right.

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 31 Jan 08 - 08:47 AM

I love walking and would never use the car for local journeys.

I live on the edge of the Mersey Valley, in South Manchester and I just have to walk across the road in order to access a very extensive network of footpaths. It's the best of both worlds, really, because I can walk for miles and never see a soul (especially during the week) and yet I'm never very far away from a pub or a shop.

I'm also an amateur botanist - so I've got a reason for my walks and there's always something of interest and hundreds of nooks and corners that I haven't explored yet.

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: wysiwyg
Date: 31 Jan 08 - 09:23 AM

Substitute your exercise of choice for "running," below.

"Running is the greatest metaphor for life, because you get out of it what you put into it. "

            Oprah Winfrey

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 31 Jan 08 - 03:02 PM

I'm trying to convince Geoff to let us have a new dog. Although I know all the benefits of walking I can always find an excuse but with a dog I would feel more motivated and less vulnerable. Got offered a chocolate lab/collie cross yesterday but he's still digging his heels in!

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 02 Feb 08 - 12:34 PM

BTW I am not suggesting that the only reason for taking on a dog is for me to go for a walk I do understand that there is a little more to it than that lol. I also think walking has a positive effect on mental health too. If work or home life is stressful blowing away the cobwebs with a brisk walk can be a real shot in the arm.

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 05:31 AM

I still maintain that excercise is dangerous!

Whilst cycling I have dislocated a metatarsal, sprained an ankle, pulled ligaments in the other ankle and broken a tooth (I won't begin to document the scratches, scrapes and bruises from various brushes with gravel, car doors, stupid pedestrians and a tree).

Whilst walking, I have pulled ligaments and muscles, developed tendonitis and bronchitis, I've been slapped in the eye by many a tree branch, fallen down a cliff and been run over by a cyclist and been blown backwards by the wind.

Swimming has caused me to develop pleurisy, strain an achilles tendon and get conjuncitivitis from the chlorine.

I'm staying home with my excercise bike and a video!

LTS



My motivational soundbyte? ~ "F%^£ that for a game of soldiers!"

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 06:54 AM

it's definitely safer indoors for you, Liz.

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: Rapparee
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 11:07 AM

I'm going to be blowing snow for escape in a bit. If I don't I won't be able to get out at all.

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: Fortunato
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 01:16 PM

Liz, if you're still on, you are peach!

PM on it's way,

see you on Wednesday!
cheers, and thanks,
Chance

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 05:52 PM

I'm a peach? You know how easily those things BRUISE?!!!

:D

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: Fortunato
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 08:31 PM

"I grow old … I grow old …              
I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled.        

Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to BE a peach?        
I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach.        
I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each..."

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 08:49 PM

As the weather warms up I'm getting out more to walk the dogs. They love it, they're good company, and I get the exercise. Their behavior is better. Good all around!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: Mr Happy
Date: 11 Feb 08 - 11:12 AM

Our planned walk starting from the Dusty Miller in Wrenbury was deferred because've inclement weather two weeks ago – snowing & icy wind!

However, last Saturday was a brilliant day weatherwise, warm & sunny, so I drove the 4 of us up there & we set out along the canal path towards Nantwich.

Enjoyed a most pleasant saunter of about 3 ½ miles & stopped for our lunch picnic at Marbury lock, where there was a picnic table in the sunshine.

After eating, we went to look at Marbury village about 20 mins walk away & stopped at a delightful old pub The Swan where I had a refreshing pint of shandy [as I was driving] & the fiends indulged in undiluted real ale.

Singularly, my shandy was made with Deuchars, and mixed with the lemonade, tasted just like grapefruit juice!

One've the locals who we'd got into conversation with told us we could view one've the local meres from the churchyard.

We walked up there & were greeted by the magnificent sight of a large lake [mere] from the church overlooking it.



Afterwards, we at first thought we'd retrace our steps walking back to the Dusty Miller the same way we'd come, but Jim wanted to go back via the lane.

We did so but found this way a good bit longer with all the windy- ness [I spelt windy-ness this way, 'cause it could look like windyness!] of a typical English country lane, & I was getting fair jiggered.

Eventually reached Wrenbury & was looking forward to a quick one in the Dusty, but when we got there it was shut.

Luckily, there was another hostelry almost opposite, The Cotton Arms.

After some more refreshments we headed back to Chester, seeing a beautiful red sky sunset on the way, & also a 'smile in the sky' moon just rising!

The walk was about 8 miles in total & us 3 unfit folkies * were pleased we'd achieved it.

Some more lbs shed hopefully!

* p.s. Mrs Happy is ultra-fit from trogging up hill & down dale every Sunday with some rambling group or other, so she's a real slave-driver!

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: Emma B
Date: 11 Feb 08 - 11:26 AM

The warm Springlike weather has continued today and enticed me into a 2 hour walk through the forest.

Two bumble bees, still dozy from being woken up early, bumped into me before setting on the first flowering daffodils and the mere was blue until a clear sky.

A great day to be walking - for health or just for the sheer pleasure

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: Mr Happy
Date: 11 Feb 08 - 11:32 AM

Just re-read me post above - sounds like a pub crawl!!

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: John J
Date: 12 Feb 08 - 05:44 AM

Just got in from a (slow!) 10 mile run from Altrincham, around Dunham Park and back. I set off at 8am, a clear blue sky - frost on the ground - wonderful! The route took me 1hr 45 mins. I try to do this around 2 - 3 times a week, interspersed with shorter runs. I also do some fell running, fell walking and cycling.

I've STILL got a beer belly!

John

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: Mr Happy
Date: 12 Feb 08 - 09:10 AM

Some piccies here of Marbury http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marbury_cum_Quoisley

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: Mr Happy
Date: 17 Feb 08 - 12:48 PM

Mr Happy & Fiends쳌f latest rural traverse took place yesterday morning bright & early, being out on the Welsh hills of Eglwyseg near Llangollen from around 11am.

A brilliant blue sky & sunny but icy, temp around 2 or 3C.

However we were all well insulated - [aren't these thin layers of fleece wonderful?!] & walked up hill & down dale at a steady pace pausing now & then to view the magnificent craggy cliff & rock formations.

Only did about 6 miles as the crow flies, but with all the ups & downs, we probably did more.

Saw lots쳌fve evidence of the area쳌fs industrial past, many blocked pit shafts from the lead mining days & also spoil heaps both from the lead & from quarry of limestone & slate.


We came back to the car via World쳌fs End, another beautiful part of the area.

Here쳌fs some info about Eglwyseg & district




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eglwyseg

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 18 Feb 08 - 06:27 AM

THAT isn't a beer belly JJ - Mine is! :-)

I used to do huge walks at one time (20-odd miles round of Kinder Scout from Hayfield - Something like 4000 feet of ascent! when you count all the ups and downs!)

I am happy with the 7 miles I did from Ribblehead to Chapel le Dale and back last Saturday but I would like to get some 10-15 milers done. I realise that I need to be 5 stone lighter and a lot fitter so as not to damage myself. Around Salford though there isn't much I can do in the evening.

We do have one of those slider things ay home - a skiing machine I guess. Anyone know if they are any good? Trouble is I get bored after about 10 minutes on it!

Cheers

Dave

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: Mr Happy
Date: 19 Feb 08 - 05:33 AM

'er indoors bought a walking machine from Argos some time back.

Like you Dave, she soon got cheesed off with it, & the large metal monstrosity has been living in the garage for ages /& taking up valuable space.

I'm hooked into one've the local Freecycle [recycling] schemes & currently waiting for a taker

See here http://uk.freecycle.org/

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Feb 08 - 09:41 AM

The runners' motivators have been too off-topic of late to paste here, but a good one arrrived today:

=====

"Running [or walking] is a lot like life. Only 10 percent of it is exciting. 90 percent of it is slog and drudge. "

            Dave Bedford, English distance runner who occasionally put in 200 miles a week in training

=====

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: Mr Happy
Date: 25 Feb 08 - 10:23 AM

We only had a short jaunt on Saturday last, as we had to get home in good time to go to Chester Folk Day.

Had a most pleasant stroll on the paths & byways through the country park at Loggerheads, N. Wales.

An astonishing sight for this time of year met us just after leaving the car park, just on entering the woods was a small but deepish clear water pond, partially covered with surface plantlife & scores of fully grown frogs swimming, hopping, croaking & wrestling.

Mostly the usual drab green type, but also some pale yellow I'd never seen before, fascinating.

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: GUEST,PMB
Date: 25 Feb 08 - 11:53 AM

There we are, I didn't know there was another Loggerheads, I'd always thought the one between Stoke and Market Drayton was the one and only. Where's the Welsh one?

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: Mr Happy
Date: 25 Feb 08 - 11:56 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loggerheads%2C_Denbighshire

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: Mr Happy
Date: 26 Feb 08 - 07:30 AM

Some more glimpses of both above & below Loggerheads


http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=-xMqwY4dt6A

Subject: RE: BS: Walking for health 2
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 09:15 AM

"If one can stick to the training throughout the many long years, then will power is no longer a problem. It's raining? That doesn't matter. I am tired? That's beside the point. It's simply that I just have to."

            Emil Zatopek