|
|
Post by wondermonkey on Dec 7, 2015 18:50:24 GMT -8
A recent post by hikerjer about urban hiking reminded me of something I'll start up in the New Year. Two years ago as I was starting to drop weight and exercise I decided that I was going to walk home form work primarily using bike/walk paths. It was 15 miles and I did it when it was snowing out. It was awesome! Stopped half way and cooked a small meal though I could have easily eaten while walking. The 15 miles put a hurting on me as I was still working on some base fitness but I still did it. A friend and his dog walked with me for fun.
After the New Year I'm going to start that back up again every other or every third Friday. I now live 17.5 miles away from work if I again use bike/walk paths. It will be a good comparison on how my fitness has improved.
|
|
desert dweller
Trail Wise!
Power to the Peaceful...Hate does not create.
Posts: 6,291 
|
Post by desert dweller on Dec 7, 2015 19:07:39 GMT -8
That's a great attitude and idea. Building up endurance and spending time alone with yourself helps to instill what it may take to do hikes. Try wearing a day-pack with 20 or so pounds when you do the walk home.
|
|
|
|
Post by wondermonkey on Dec 7, 2015 19:15:06 GMT -8
I have various emergency get home back setups and I'll wear a modified version of one of those. Probably the only change I'll actually make is to include a lesser calorie dense and more tasty meal option. One thing that actually hurts is walking that distance on the paved path. Not as friendly on the lower half as a dirt path is. However I'll accept that bit of pain for the fun of pushing myself on a walk home.
I've actually considered walking home on a Friday but then getting up very early and walking back in on Monday but given that I have to function all day Monday and such it's probably not a good idea.
|
|
BlueBear
Trail Wise!
@GoBlueHiker
Posts: 3,224
|
Post by BlueBear on Dec 7, 2015 19:15:39 GMT -8
That's a healthy walk home from work!! Makes me feel kinda guilty for living less than a mile from work and taking the bus home, lol.
|
|
desert dweller
Trail Wise!
Power to the Peaceful...Hate does not create.
Posts: 6,291
|
Post by desert dweller on Dec 7, 2015 19:19:27 GMT -8
I've actually considered walking home on a Friday but then getting up very early and walking back in on Monday but given that I have to function all day Monday and such it's probably not a good idea. Have you considered a bicycle? A bike ride exercises the same muscle groups plus heart and lungs. Just don't get in a wreck like some folks we know. (HaHa). |
|
|
|
Post by wondermonkey on Dec 7, 2015 19:20:41 GMT -8
I'm fortunate to live near a healthy bike/walk path system. As time allows I commute back and forth by bicycle to work. Don't get to as much as I like to due to an active daughter in High School and my coaching but I get some miles in here and there. I fully expect the distance to put a hurting on me but it will encourage me to get out and get in better shape so the next one won't hurt as bad.
|
|
|
|
Post by wondermonkey on Dec 7, 2015 19:22:16 GMT -8
Desertdweller I do commute by bike as time allows. Walking is close to hiking and I enjoy doing it. Doing various activities keeps things fresh.
|
|
BlueBear
Trail Wise!
@GoBlueHiker
Posts: 3,224
|
Post by BlueBear on Dec 7, 2015 19:25:17 GMT -8
I was gonna say, I don't usually take the bus unless the weather's really bad, or unless recent circumstances necessitate it.  But regardless, a 15+ mile walk home from work is commendable, even for the healthy.  (Edited [again] to fix the link.) |
|
|
|
Post by wondermonkey on Dec 7, 2015 19:29:59 GMT -8
I was gonna say, I don't usually take the bus unless the weather's really bad, or unless recent circumstances necessitate it. But regardless, a 15+ mile walk home from work is commendable, even for the healthy. (Edited to fix the link.) Oh it's going to hurt for sure. |
|
|
|
Post by hikerjer on Dec 7, 2015 20:12:59 GMT -8
Great idea and I admire you for it. But 15 miles is a bit of hike when you have to do it after work. But good for you.
|
|
rebeccad
Trail Wise!
Writing like a maniac
Posts: 12,710 
|
Post by rebeccad on Dec 7, 2015 22:14:39 GMT -8
Gee, I walk to and from work every time I go...it's .5 mile each way. I want my brownie points! :D
|
|
tigger
Trail Wise!
Posts: 2,547
|
Post by tigger on Dec 8, 2015 0:23:03 GMT -8
I don't think I'd want to walk on concrete for that long - a bike, sure. Besides the pounding on my feet, walking in the city depresses me.
|
|
|
|
Post by wondermonkey on Dec 8, 2015 5:11:42 GMT -8
I don't think I'd want to walk on concrete for that long - a bike, sure. Besides the pounding on my feet, walking in the city depresses me. We are close to "towns" where I would walk through and the paths I would be on are beside a river and a fair amount of tree coverage. |
|
amaruq
Trail Wise!
Call me Little Spoon
Posts: 1,264
|
Post by amaruq on Dec 11, 2015 5:16:46 GMT -8
That's a fair distance to cover. I wish you luck. I'd like to do the same, but I'm over 35 miles from home. That said, I do hike after work a few nights a week, but much shorter with greater intensity.
|
|
speacock
Trail Wise!
I'm here for the food...
Posts: 378
|
Post by speacock on Dec 11, 2015 13:13:19 GMT -8
I no longer have a place of real 'work'. What I have though is down stairs right past the coffee maker. In another life, I had tried to bike the 26 miles from my house to work in down town Long Beach each day with the grand idea thatwondermonkey has. It was nice downhill in the morning but the uphill return was a bother. It also went through some of the rougher parts of southern California, and I had been warned of appearing very much like one of the ducks at the carnival shooting range. After a few weeks I gave that up...the bike trail was not fully completed and it was a bit out of my way to get to and from the start of it.
There are mountains aplenty to hike in just a few miles north of me. A nice 5 mile round trip is about 27 signal lights and stop signs -- about 45 minutes one way. That shoots half a day for a 2 hour work out. The gym comes to mind with stair stepper and Precor machines - and cute, fit women. For $10 a month, that is waay cheaper than gasoline and I can walk to it (4 blocks).
|
|
