To not understand the need for "walks"

[walkingDisaster22]

Anyone else similar to me and not understand the need for walks or enjoyment in walking.
My in laws are obsessed with walking and think i'm odd (or maybe a sloth!) for not wanting to go out daily walking.
Where is the enjoyment in mud and rain? I would rather chill with a good book. Please tell me I'm not on my own?

I like a walk but my daughter (9) hates them. It’s hilarious how she has to be coaxed out of the door. I think she’s traumatised but the walks I told her Boris made us do. ‘It’s the law!’ I told her ‘mummy and daddy will be arrested’ I told her. Whoops!

When we first went into lockdown I started walking every day. I ended up going twice a day and if I didn’t get out on my walk I felt awful. I was living alone in a flat (although I do have communal gardens and the weather was excellent) and I was working from home. I lost weight and felt better in myself.

Even in the northwest of England, there's very few days when there isn't a break long enough for a walk. It does help that I work part time with very flexible hours so can check the forecast.
And we've got plenty of choice of paved paths, country walks or coast so mud is optional.

It's free easy exercise, and watching wildlife and the changing seasons is a joy.
If anyone wants to share the latter .....

Nature Notes: the 2022 edition http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/thegreatt_outdoors/4441745-nature-notes-the-2022-edition

And if you're up for a bit of a challenge (doesn't have to be walking), never too late to join in here....

2022: Run, walk, cycle, swim, etc 1000 km/miles or whatever! www.mumsnet.com/Talk/exercise/4441580-2022-run-walk-cycle-swim-etc-1000-km-miles-or-whatever

I hate walking alone. But if a friend asks if I want to go out for a walk I enjoy it because we just potter about for a walk and a chat.

May I introduce the idea of a pilgrimage here? Camino di Santiago, Canterbury, Rome - wherever those geezers in the telly are walking at the moment? Guaranteed to clear your head of wordly worries and grief. Walking is therapeutic. It's known.

I suppose it depends where you walk. I.live rurally and love walking by the river. Walking up and down the nearest town's High Street doesn't appeal so much. I like reading a good book too, it's not exactly 'out there' to enjoy both of those experiences.

No I love walking! Either with the dogs and/or family or by myself with a podcast!

I like walking:
Green space, nature, changing seasons
Exploring
Gentle-moderate excercise
Can be done in most clothing
Can be purposeful or just as a drifting mindfulness/ sensory/ impulsive experience.
Free (more free than running and its gear and races)
Alone time (with music/ podcasts?)
Time to chat with friends... less distractions than indoors especially if children are involved, easier to mix around a group than when sitting.
Saves zonking out embarrasingly on a host's sofa after a meal

I like outdoor exercise generally, running, walking, swimming. Much nicer than indoors.

There was one weird point in 2020 when I was so fed up of the area near home that I cunningly parked my car at the supermarket and before doing the food shopping, went for a run including deserted industrial estates just for the thrill of looking at something different

If I'm walking it has to be to get to a destination. I hate going for a walk with no destination.
I walk to work and back so about 4 miles a day. Will walk to the beach on a nice day or the pub that's about it.

@walkingDisaster22

Anyone else similar to me and not understand the need for walks or enjoyment in walking. My in laws are obsessed with walking and think i'm odd (or maybe a sloth!) for not wanting to go out daily walking. Where is the enjoyment in mud and rain? I would rather chill with a good book. Please tell me I'm not on my own?

Oh God. I married a born-again. My husband has been a Boy Scout and then a Leader. Shortly after we married he decided we needed to do more walking. I LOATHE it. So much so, that I’ve encouraged him to start a local Walking Group. They trot off one Saturday a month and I have a day of solitude and contemplation. I agree. Why? Why are we walking? Where are we walking TO? And why do we have to walk there and back just to see how far it is? Trees? Seem ‘em. Grass ? Completed that. Views? Show me a photo. Hell to the NO. Hard Pass from me.

*. Born again WALKER!!

I walk for exercise but also to relax on my own or socialise with friends also.

No way I love walking! It is beautiful out at the moment, fresh air, people, exercise. We're not designed to be battery chickens, or caged like a zoo. We're animals. I walk everyday. Total bonus, I then get to eat all the biscuits, eat the nice food. No weight gain. No unhappy head.

I walk every day. One mile of brisk walking burns about 100 calories. Some days I walk 10 or more miles, no need to diet at all.

Plus the benefits for bone strength, heart condition and blood pressure are immense. Humans are not supposed to be sedentary and walking is the easiest and cheapest exercise there is.

@queensonia

Really depends where you live. If you can walk on the coast or through fields and pretty countryside etc then walking is great. Around a grotty suburban street, then not so much

We've spent the week off work driving to lovely places for a walk. We do live in the countryside too. So I agree the scenery makes a big difference.

I've packed the gym up and I'm enjoying the long walks.

The 100 cals per mile is a good motivator. On an average dog walk I’ll do about 4-5000 steps, 7000+ at the weekend. I notice weight gain if I don’t.
1000 brisk steps is about half a mile.

@BogRollBOGOF

I like walking: Green space, nature, changing seasons Exploring Gentle-moderate excercise Can be done in most clothing Can be purposeful or just as a drifting mindfulness/ sensory/ impulsive experience. Free (more free than running and its gear and races) Alone time (with music/ podcasts?) Time to chat with friends... less distractions than indoors especially if children are involved, easier to mix around a group than when sitting. Saves zonking out embarrasingly on a host's sofa after a meal

I like outdoor exercise generally, running, walking, swimming. Much nicer than indoors.

There was one weird point in 2020 when I was so fed up of the area near home that I cunningly parked my car at the supermarket and before doing the food shopping, went for a run including deserted industrial estates just for the thrill of looking at something different

You swim outdoors? What kind of conditions? Do you ever feel unsafe? I'd love to try it but I'm nervous. I'd describe myself as a good but not great swimmer. I've had a lot of lessons and in my younger days I was County standard though certainly not anymore. I still have good form.

Maybe when people get older and jogging or going to the gym isn't really possible any more, they will realise the importance of walking. If I don't go outside most days and walk, get fresh air, see the world a bit I don't feel good, walking is a good way of thinking for me, as well as being my mind way of staying healthy, connected to the world, nature, the plants, birds, and getting at the very least a change of scene, as I live in a small flat with no balcony

Avid walker since 14.
I've found my people.

Oh my god I thought it was just me my in laws are the same, my husband has many (un)happy memories of being forced to go for a walk on Christmas Day when all he wanted to do was play with his toys my in laws are exactly the same. They go on the same walks all the time, I couldn't think of anything worse.
I only like walking if I'm going somewhere or there is actually something interesting to see during/ at the end of it lol

Love love love walking, as you can tell by new username I'm quite outdoorsy! Luckily DH and the children are too. We try and get out every day for a walk / fresh air/ let off some steam. Even if it's just school run sometimes 😂 (couple of miles a day)

I'm about to join a young ramblers group although I'm not that young 😱 and can't wait!

@Hbh17

You are so right - deathly dull. Give me a stack of books & a sofa any day!

And no doubt an increased bill for the NHS to cope with.

Completely agree Additionaly NO doing it more does NOT make me like it better. We have a dog I take him on walks it is done because HE needs to not because I enjoy it. I enjoy lots of other parts of dog owning but not the walks.

Pointless unless I'm with my dog.