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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think I could walk to work and back in nicer weather?

265 replies

NapQueen · 13/02/2017 00:33

New job is, according to Google maps, 2.3 miles away and the estimated walking time is 53mins.

It's a nice walk there, downhill to the riverside then along and up a little at the end. Obviously the walk home would be harder!

Anyone walk a distance like this?

Nb am hideously bad at cycling so that's a no go!

OP posts:

Wheresthattomoibabber · 13/02/2017 08:37

Oysterbabe

HandsomeDevil · 13/02/2017 08:37

if it's downhill, you wear trainers, and you don't mind really pushing yourself, I bet you could do that in 35-40min.

I used to have a two mile walk to work and mostly enjoyed it. It would have been an odd journey - about 7mins walk to the bus stop, then a 10 minute bus ride thorugh rush-hour traffic, and about 7 mins walk at the other end - which hardly seemed worth it. I did it in all weathers, as there was enough walking anyway on the bus journey to soak me through if it rained.

I used to under-dress slightly and keep cardies at work so I didn't get too sweaty. Spare socks/tights on wet days.

gamerwidow · 13/02/2017 08:37

Even if it did take 50 minutes its the same length as many peoples commutes (except skerry who I bet turns out to be some sort of MLM idiot). I love a long walk and do part of my commute on foot instead of getting the bus, its a really good way of building in exercise that you wouldn't otherwise have time to do.

BarbaraofSeville · 13/02/2017 08:37

Of course plenty of people drive to save a 10 minute walk. Most of my colleagues live less than a mile from work and most of them drive most or all of the time.

I live over 8 miles away and have walked to work more than the woman who lives a 5 minute walk way. (I have done it twice, she has never walked to work and is not disabled or has any other reasons).

Wheresthattomoibabber · 13/02/2017 08:38

Surely you're at home and don't see anyone on their way to work?

Gabilan · 13/02/2017 08:38

Weather in the UK is bad, the OP is likely to get soaked 50% of the time and turn up at work a dripping mess

I cycle to work everyday in an area with one of the highest rainfalls in England (around 50-80" a year). I don't turn up for work a dripping mess. It rains less than you think. The UK's climate is pretty mild and we invented waterproofs anyway.

FrancisCrawford · 13/02/2017 08:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

skerrywind · 13/02/2017 08:39

I bet turns out to be some sort of MLM idiot)

Ha ha.

enfru · 13/02/2017 08:39

Skerry I really cannot fathom how you can insist walking is "inefficient" both in terms of exercise benefit and time spent doing it.
The weather here is not that bad, I walk my DS 9 to school in all weathers and he's never soaked by the time we get to school. My DD2 now walks the 3 mile round trip twice a day as well.
Integrating exercise into your daily routine rather than finding them time to do it means you're much more likely to actually do the exercise so how that is inefficient I don't know.

I suspect you're being goady because your day seems to consist of sitting at home on your own earning lots of money but having zero social interaction.

skerrywind · 13/02/2017 08:39

Just because you chose a sedentary lifestyle doesn't make it the norm or right or healthy

I don't. I exercise regularly.

Wheresthattomoibabber · 13/02/2017 08:39

And oddly enough, people who walk tend not to walk along main roads and bus routes.

Wheresthattomoibabber · 13/02/2017 08:40

What do you do, Skerry?

skerrywind · 13/02/2017 08:42

I write, I sell things online. I have done other work, but now focus on the lucrative.

Rugbyplayersarehot · 13/02/2017 08:42

Sounds great op do it. Have good shoes and waterproofs etc.

I always walked my kids to school which was 2 miles away. They arrived fit and ready to learn and honestly we all benefitted.

Used to make me smile seeing the mums in full gym kit dropping off the kids who looked half asleep from getting out of a hot car. They could have all walked and saved those gym fees. Love a good walk.

Skerry are you answering the phone and helping teenage boys?

BarbaraofSeville · 13/02/2017 08:43

One thing that seems to have not been commented on - how many days a week are we talking about - you say 'on the days your DH has the car' - how many days a week is this - I assume that he works shifts, can sometimes get a lift with a colleague or some other reason why you don't both work and need the car on the same days.

If it's not every day, it's a lot more doable - certainly up to three days a week and that'll sort out your basic exercise needs. You can always plan to walk and then take the bus if the car is not available, you are short on time, or the weather is awful. Maybe aim to not use the bus more than one day a week? Can your DH get to work by other means than using your shared car? Can you cycle? Scooting also looks fun. My sister scoots back from the school run on the scooter that her DS scoots to school on.

Wheresthattomoibabber · 13/02/2017 08:45

You do know that not everyone could choose to write? And that not everyone has a PC or laptop? And that some people live in tiny, noisy homes that would make writing impossible even if they were good at it?

ivykaty44 · 13/02/2017 08:45

I walk 1.4 miles to work and the same home, it takes me 25 minutes each way. I should walk faster but often use this time to chat to my OAP dad and my DD who is also walking to work - great time to catch up.

It also means I get my 30 minutes + excersise in for the day.

In the summer I usually take the longer route and leave home earlier, the route is prettier and walking home it's relaxing.

BarbaraofSeville · 13/02/2017 08:45

On weather, I read once that if you commuted every day in London, which admittedly is one of the driest places in the UK, you would get rained on, on average 12 days a year, so hardly at all.

It rains in Denmark at least as much as it does here, if not more. Almost everyone cycles or walks to work. They just put proper clothes on and get on with it and consequently are fitter, healthier and less obese than the average Brit.

MsUnderstanding · 13/02/2017 08:46

Exercise, fresh air, vitamin d, time to listen to music/audio book. Can't think of any reasons not to go for it. I always feel more positive having walked or cycled to work.

FurryLittleTwerp · 13/02/2017 08:46

I would love to walk to work, but unfortunately I actually need my car while at work, so not an option!

MiniMaxi · 13/02/2017 08:47

Of course you can walk that! It's great exercise and sounds like a nice route. You'd be mad not to try it.

CanIGoToBedNow · 13/02/2017 08:50

I used to get the train into Paddington and then walk across Hyde Park and into Mayfair and berkely square where I worked.

I loved it and miss it terribly. Commuting in the car is soul destroying.

Audio books, good playlists and good shoes and you'll be doing it super fast in no time,

noeffingidea · 13/02/2017 08:51

Walking every day should be part of normal activity and is part of maintaining normal health. It's what our bodies are supposed to do. Fitting in some more intensive exercise is also a good idea though.
skerry good for you that you have found a 'lucrative' way of earning money at home, obviously that isn't going to happen for everyone though, otherwise no one would ever go out. For a start, there would be no gym for you to exercise in.

EmpressOfTheSpartacusOceans · 13/02/2017 08:52

I walked to & from work for a long while & then started doing the Couch to 5K programme during my commute. It wouldn't work if you have too much to carry but it's been great for me because it didn't involve factoring any extra time in.

LotsOfAxolotlsAndOcelots · 13/02/2017 08:54

No way will it take you that long. I would love to be able to walk that far to work and have done so in the past. I walked 2.7 miles to work when I first left home because I had no car license, only a moped but I had a dog that I could take to work, luckily. I was really fit but amazed at how many people that knew me used to stop and give me a lift too which was a bonus on the wet days . A section of it was up the side of an iron age hill fort too so pretty steep. Spooky in winter but I loved it .

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