If you have a long walk to work...

[Changedusernameforthis2]

Got a new job and the walk is 50 minutes.
I could do with more fresh air, more exercise, all the usual things. Anyone got a similar length walk and is it OK? (I know you cant all know my exact fitness etc etc )
But generally speaking?
I'm figuring when I was London based getting home took me an hour, and only 20 mins of that was on a bus.

50 mins is pushing it in the dark wet cold of a winter evening - you may need to invest in some decent outdoor trousers
the trick is to not stop - don’t starts to chicken out sone days as then it gets harder and harder whereas if you keep going the health ( physical and mental) benefits will creep up on you

definitely not going to cycle- and I like the "I'm walking and that's that" mentality

Do you have somewhere to freshen up at work? I’d worry id be a bit stinky all day.

On the cycling front, I'd say as a leisure cyclist that you'd be much better off walking. That distance on a bike won't really be exercise, especially stopping for lights etc. And you won't save much time with the faff of locking, helmet etc and I find cycling much harder in bad weather, when safety considerations kick in sooner too.

I think this is right - I've walked to work for years and it's been very rare to be caught in torrential rain. Maybe a handful of times?

But I normally get everywhere early, so it's no problem to wait ten minutes for a heavy shower to pass, I'll still be on time.

I have lived in very wet areas of the UK but I can only remember one time in 18 years when I was actually uncomfortably soggy at work.

I did about that length of walk (though got faster the more I did it) until recently when my office moved. I really miss it, it’s a great chance for some down time between work and home, opportunity to listen to podcasts etc. My tips would be get yourself some decent shoes (keep others to change into in the office if needed) and decent waterproofs (including for your bag) for wet weather and reflectives/lights for dark days. There were only ever a handful of occasions when it was too icy to do the walk, and on those occasions the roads were too bad too and so most people ended up working from home. Some colleagues did find it inconceivable that anyone would want to walk for that length of time though so be prepared for bemused comments!

I don't get particularly hot or sweaty from walking luckily

I walk to work daily and it’s about 40 minutes so not far off what you’d be doing. I pretty much always feel better for having done it.

There is a bus route that starts just under 300 yards from my house and stops just over 300 yards from my work but I still prefer to walk. It’s a ripoff £6 a day for the bus fare so fuck off am I paying that every day if I have an alternative. I could drive but the parking at work is shit and I would genuinely be causing issues for my colleagues when they have no alternative but to drive.

That walk in the mornings and evenings is my decompression time. I can put on music or an audiobook and get fresh air, exercise and time on my own. It’s great!

i think it would be great if you learn to use it sometimes for when you're in a bit more of a rush and/or just to break up the routine slightly. You'll use totaly diferent muscles. A combination of walkign and cycling you'll get really fit!

I definitely won't do my bike for my commute- I don't want to and I'm not interested in it as a day to day activity

You might do on the odd occasion if you're walking extra fast to get out of the rain and you are swaddled in waterproofs - but if it is occasional then I imagine the loo would do.

Yeah luckily I am in a very temperate place too- I think loads of PP live in much wilder weather places than me!

It should be pretty obvious from my user name that I don't live anywhere with wild weather. That doesn't stop me getting caught (I quote) "on the odd occasion" in a really heavy downpour and ending up walking pretty bloody quickly to get out of it. I don't sweat much either (even when running) but a quick march in layers of waterproofs can still leave me rather hot and sticky which isn't very pleasant for my fellow workers - hence needing to have a change of clothes in place and to resort to the loo to freshen up - the advice based on my experiences I've offered you on this thread.

OP you asked for people who walked to work to tell you what their experiences were and I've told you mine - if you just want to be rude when people are trying to be helpful then rock on but don't expect people to put up with too much of it.

For me, walking is how I manage my mental health, so I deliberately build an hour's walk into the commute each-way all year round. Other reasons to do it:
It usually saves money. Weight-bearing exercise is recommended to build bone density. You occasionally see something wonderful or extraordinary that you'd have missed if you weren't on foot and able to stop and have a look.
Top tips for making it work:
Carry work trousers or a skirt, and wear leggings for the walk. Carry a fold-up brolly and also a placcy bag so you can put it back in your bag when the rain stops. Put a baseball cap under your coat-hood if it's chucking down. Carry spare dry socks for the walk home! Find a space at work to keep shoes, and use a backpack, as carrying everything on one shoulder for an hour is not great for your back.
Walking is great! Good luck!

I wasn't meaning to be rude ! I was saying I was lucky to live in a more temperate place?? I'm imagining if you're in Scotland or the Lakes, you will have more rain etc
Nothing I've said has been rude- I was expressing gratitude for where I live!!?

yy to spare socks at work along with spare shoes.

My walk is about this length, do it twice a week. I enjoy it, rain or shine. Even in miserable weather, if you’re on the move and distracted by headphones then it’s really not that bad. I don’t bother with an umbrella, I just wear a waterproof coat and put the hood up. Add a heavy laptop backpack and there’s extra weight training.

yes I can never be faffed with an umbrella! I am also a hood person

I do 45 minutes twice a day usually - there is a bus if feeling poorly or really bad weather. Get a decent waterproof and yak trax or similar for icy mornings in January. I used to get the bus and walk home but since Covid walk both ways and generally feel a lot better. In the better weather there are alternative routes but fairly busy and well lit in winter.

I walk 45 minutes to work it’s great. But I do get public transport home so I can get back quicker to see my dog.

Why ever not? Lots of people have no choice if they don't drive and have poor public transport. It is doable 99% of the time with good footwear and proper outerwear.

My commute is similar on foot and I love it, summer and winter. Prob actually prefer it in winter as not so sweaty marching along. I catch up with podcasts. Make sure you have a rucksack, not a bag, so weight is evenly distributed and good shoes.

You weren't rude at all OP.

phew! I thought I wasnt!

Also agree that you weren't rude at all, it's all been a very pleasant and polite discussion.

I don't think I've ever felt the need to shower/change after walking either, that's always just going to vary person by person.