Tell me about your walking "style"

[d.kurz]

I like to walk outdoors. OFF the main streets. DH leaves the house and walks a straight line for 2 miles, turns around and comes back. I take many twists and turns, going for scenery and no traffic. I like to walk at dusk, no matter what the season. I get to watch the sunset and you can check out people's decor in their houses before they close up those blinds!! SHHH...don't tell anyone I'm a peeper!!

I have 2 set routes of 30 minutes. I will build that up to 45 minutes in the fall. Other times I wear a watch and go off my regular routes. Sometimes I do this because I need to stop at a certain store.

I will walk in a light rain, but not heavy rain. I enjoy walking in cold weather, too. I like the hills that outdoor walking provides.

Music is a MUST. I carry extra batteries just in case.

So tell me about your walking. I would really like to know what these WATP tapes are all about.

 

[CamColt]

I jog daily, the same 3 mile route(Im boring), and it takes about 25 minutes.
As for my walking, that can vary since I have to do it with my kids. During the school year I only have yongest DS with me so Im pushing the carriage. I like to go the same route as I jog if possible. If I do that its about 45 minutes. When oldest DS comes with me we go slower so it takes about 1 hour. I will do it in mist, but not in rain with the kids(I do jog in the rain).
In real hot or cold weather or when the sidewalks are snow covered, we go to the mall to walk. There I do about 45-60 minutes...again it takes longer with oldest DS.
Once in a while for a treat for DS we will go to a local pond to walk around and I let him ride his bike. This is a shorter route so I dont care for it too much.

 

[Tiggerkeeper]

I can't take the heat so I am using the treadmill until cooler weather arrives. Music is a must! For now 30 minutes is about all I can do with a slight incline.

When it cools off I have a route in our neighborhood mapped out for 30 minutes with one major hill but I walk it twice. Luckily, I can start at two different points to give a little change. Sometimes DH joins me and we talk the whole way - other times I listen to music.

I hadn't thought about the batteries! Good idea!

 

[lmhall2000]

I like picking a 4 mile stretch and doing it over and over again- mine is almost entirely on the sidewalk. I live in a subdivision of 400 homes and across the street is a subdivision of about 200 homes. I go through both subdivisions and try to keep a fast enough pace that I can't really sing at- usually about a 17 minute mile. I don't do music- I love hearing the trees in the wind, the birds singing, and paying attention to my surroundings- they're still building lots of houses around me so there's always tractors, cement trucks you name it hauling past and I'd feel nervous wearing a headset. The only part of my walk I don't like is a stretch of about 100 yards where there's a large settling of kildeer- they're birds that screetch at you like crazy if they think you're coming for their nest. Those things are like a nagging hag and about 20 of them- but once I clear their territory it's back to nice birds.
I sometimes add my arms in- at about my 2 mile mark- I get tightness between my shoulders and I do all kinds of funny stretches to work it out- I look pretty funny doing it but it really helps. And on the last 1/4 mile I try to bust out of my pants by increasing my stride and speed- then I stretch while I let my dog out for her morning jaunt and in for the shower at 7:15am- and ready to start the day and sometimes take a nap around 1pm!
Love it!!!
Tara

 

[geetey]

Hi Dorothy!

I will answer your WATP question because that's the kind of walking I do. (I have allergies and asthma so I workout indoors.) These are videos or dvds that you 'march' along to while watching. It isn't simply marching in place. You walk in place, step side to side, do leg lifts, kicks to the front and kicks to the back. Check out www.lesliesansone.com for more info! You can find individual tapes at Target, Walmart, etc. The 1, 2, and 3 mile tapes are $6.99 each at Target.

 

[Dizzy-Disney4]

I have to walk inside during the summer. I'm a wimp and if it goes over 75 degrees, its too hot for me. I LOVE WATP. What's really funny is watching my 4 year old DD try to do it with me. Its a very brisk pace and DD is practically running to keep up. Once the cool fall weather is here, I will walk more outside...especially when the leaves start to change and fall.

 

[bliss4us]

We live in an area with no sidewalks, and I'm not really brave enough to take on traffic, so...

I'm making friends with my treadmill. Treadmill time, however, is like dog years in reverse: one minute on a treadmill feels like seven minutes in the real world.

So I've got a big book propped up in front of me while I walk. I picked a historical novel about Lewis and Clark, and I feel like I'm walking right alongside them. Okay, maybe I'm a little nerdy but it works for me!

I'm going to try Walk Away the Pounds as well. Waiting for my DVD to arrive...

Daisy

 

[elisebutt]

Tell me about your walking "style"

Mine is one foot in front each other !

Sorry.

I do about 4-5 mile a day in all weather as i don't drive and the school is 1.2 miles away. Takes me about 15 mins each way now and I do that 4 times a day. Also when I'm feeling particularly energetic I walk into town - another mile there, instead of the bus. I usually have Danny in the stroller and he shouts at me to go faster all the time. Zach is possibly the fittest boy in school as he has to keep up with me now.

 

[Christine]

I live in and around a few different neighborhoods, so I've mapped out several walking routes that vary from 2 miles to almost 5 miles. I interchange them throughout the week. I search out routes that go through neighborhoods, around parks/lakes etc. My longest route though is straight up one road about 2.5 miles and then back. I save that trip for weekend mornings because there is much less traffic and exhaust (and yelling men!!). I really hate walking where this is a lot of traffic.

My shorter routes tend to be more "hilly" and I try to walk faster on those days, sometimes I even run for short periods of time during the "easy" walks.

 

[firecracker]

I like walking indoors AND outdoors...doesn't matter much to me, except when it's so blasted hot or storming (like we've had non-stop for 6 days now!).

I just bought some WATP videos on eBay and I really, really like them. The hostess, Leslie, seems really normal and not all into herself and snotty. The people doing the workout with her are really average...they even sweat! Not like Pilates where everybody is a ballet dancer with a body to match!

Anyway, I bought my WATP on eBay. I got 3 WATP for Abs videos and the Belt, which is used in the workout and I really like that. With S & H, I only paid $16! I got a great deal!

Carmen

 

[TigH]

We walk the same route daily. I like to swing my arms and walk as fast as I can. We just walk through the neighborhood, which is great. Lots of side streets, no sidewalks but not much traffic either. Since it's me, DH and my sister, we usually talk the entire way, so it makes the walk go by really fast. Sometimes we'll see neighbors in their yard and wave, other times we'll smell some burgers or steaks cooking on someone's grill, and then we all start drooling! Once in a while I'll think that we can safely make it walking without getting rained on (thank goodness for radar) but then we'll end up wet (but as long as there is no thunder and lightning, we don't care too much).

When I walked alone in the mornings, I used to listen to some motivational tapes. When I rollerblade, I follow the same route every day (similar to our walking route, but then I do a bunch of laps on this main road with a really nice smooth surface). I use that time to dream or sort things out in my head or plan the rest of the day or plan a vacation or plan for the weekend or to imagine how great the future will be. It's like being able to meditate and exercise at the same time. I really enjoy rollerblading because I get that "me" time I crave and I come up with some pretty good ideas!

 

[d.kurz]

Originally posted by elisebutt
Mine is one foot in front each other !

Sorry.

***groan***

Man, I shoulda seen that one coming!!!!

It's been interesting to read these! Thanks for the replies!