After I walked my most recent 5k on Saturday, I really got to thinking…when was the last time I walked?
Like really walked? Not just to and from the car or around the grocery store? Yeah, I couldn’t remember.
Which is really sad because when I first started on my health journey more than three years ago, walking was my thing. I walked just about every day and it definitely contributed to my weight loss, better moods, and better sleeping at night.
So, why have I abandoned it so?
I guess I get caught up in running sometimes. When you become a runner, it can be easy to see walking (for exercise) as a sub-par workout in comparison. Which is so not true and anytime we think that we should slap ourselves! 
Anyway, as luck would have it, I have really just felt like walking this week.
On Monday, I had my clothes packed for the gym and when the time came to go, I had this incredible urge to just put on my shoes and head outside for a walk instead, even in the 90+ degree weather and humidity.
So I DID! I sweated like crazy and drank an entire 24 ounces of water in an hour but man did it feel good. I did the same thing today.
I have decided that I need to take a break from running and enjoy some nice walks this week, especially since the weather is so hot and my running partner is out of town. And I don’t have any races planned until the end of July.
Here’s what’s been great about walking so far (the past two days):
- Walking doesn’t require me to leave work early to go change my clothes at the gym or have to change back into them afterwards (just my shoes).
- Walking allows me to be comfortable carrying a water bottle and not see it as a hassle.
- I never feel out of breath.
- I can walk in high summer temperatures/humidity and feel totally fine (running in summer heat makes me want to pass out).
That reminds me of the time I walked to Walmart in 6 inches of snow (for French bread and Nutella, ha ha), while it was still coming down. Walking is a year-round sport for sure.
I have no plans to quit running beyond this week’s hiatus but perhaps I shouldn’t neglect walking as much anymore. I didn’t realize how much I had really missed walking. But I will be back to running next week!
I can certainly love them both and do them both often, right? 
Do you enjoy walking? If you are a runner, do you walk regularly too?
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by lamaar gayle and Alton Gayle, Sarah Frankel. Sarah Frankel said: Rediscovering the beauty of walking: http://wp.me/pMiYm-7b [...]
Walking is a missing part of running. I agree that we should perhaps do a little walking while we run, just to give our body a bit of a break. I can’t do it often, but sometimes, my body decides for me while doing some of my longer runs.
Great point, Howard!
I love walking too. I still walk/run because of my knee/heel pain and I love it. Walking really calms me down.
[...] the proper shape and frame of mind to be a consistent runner again. This summer, I really got into walking again and enjoyed that immensely. I also did Body Pump pretty regularly. Farrah and I also ran a [...]