I did it! Finally under an hour!

[dolphinsarentcommon]

My usual route for a good walk is 7.75km..and I've been trying to do it in under an hour for ages. This morning I smashed it 😀😀

I did have to do a bit of jogging (which I don't like) but 58.21!

(No one here to tell, so I thought I'd tell you )

I will join! I'm all of a sweat now. Just did 2.69km in 40.33 mins, average pace 15.04 mins per km. Felt like quite a workout and I'm even more impressed at your achievement @dolphinsarentcommon! And I'd have probably sat in front of the telly all evening if you hadn't posted, so thanks again for the kick up the arse!

I suspect that if you did want to run, given you are already doing a lot of walking, rather than start couch to 5k as a program all you would need to do would be to thrown a few 30 second slow jogs in your current walk e.g. at particular landmarks. Then when that gets manageable add a few more, then make them a minute long, and so on. Your jogging pace not a whole lot different from your walking pace. Within a few months you could be jogging more or less the whole lot.

Your current achievement is v impressive btw.

That’s pretty much exactly how c25k works.

Brilliant work OP! I love that about exercising- something that seems impossible one week is definitely achievable a few weeks later and it makes you feel like Wonder Woman!

@Solosunrise well done!

So you've made a start, which I think is a huge hurdle to get over in the first place. It's so easy to keep putting it off, but now you're on your way!

Have you set yourself a target?

yy I know. More like, a programme might be off-putting, no need to change what you are doing very much in order to move towards running, sort of thing.

Thank you @dolphinsarentcommon and apologies for hijacking your thread! No goal as yet. I do have a stone to lose as it's all settled round my middle lately, so there's that. I think although I'm active it's not enough to make me sweat or get out of breath usually. I've never found running comfortable due to big boobs and slightly dodgy ankles, and hadn't realised that really brisk walking would feel like such a workout. Revelation! I've always enjoyed a nice long country walk which leaves me slightly weary, but hadn't considered walking as 'exercising' but yesterday definitely felt like it! You may have changed my life 🙂
I think perhaps I'll aim to build up to an hour of sweaty walking perhaps three times a week, as a first target, and go from there.

Do you have a long term goal?

Sounds like a good plan @Solosunrise

My only real goal has been to improve my health really. I retired from a stressful job overweight, unfit and drinking too many glasses of wine. It quickly dawned on me this long awaited retirement might not last as long as it might, or be as enjoyable,unless I sorted myself out. For the first time clothes size wasn't my motivation and that change in mindset made it a lot easier.

I also found being outside and exercising did my mood good. I know it's common knowledge it does but I didn't realise how much.

From now on it'll be keeping healthy, but wearing a different wardrobe is a lovely bonus!

That sounds perfect @dolphinsarentcommon Health is my main motivator too. Hoping to get DH on board too.

Absolutely brilliant op!

And if you don't enjoy running and have dodgy knees that can't cope with it, then keep walking. It's fantastic exercise, it works for you and you enjoy it. I think people who love running (I do actually), often try and spur people on to do it as the pinnacle of fitness but it's just not the sensible choice for lots of people and not necessary.

Take the time to enjoy reaching a goal you've worked hard to attain! The next goal can wait until tomorrow.

How's it going @dolphinsarentcommon ?
I did another sweaty walk on Saturday. Slightly shorter and a bit faster.
Yesterday was sea swimming. Tide was out and I had to walk quite a long way back through thigh deep water so that got my heart rate up too!

@Solosunrise it's too hot for me.. but your swim sounds wonderful. The sea is the only place I like swimming.

My plan this week is to wait until Wednesday and cooler temperatures and then walking 3 days out the next four (WTFS). My week starts on a Sunday so although I won't do my target of 4 walks this week I'm going to get straight back on track.

I'd really like to lose another half a stone so I've been looking at some changes to my diet and how I can add in something else. I'm looking at weight training and some Pilates or yoga.

Did you get the Map My Walk app?

Morning @dolphinsarentcommon I'm finding it too hot to walk too. Relieved that a sea swim was an option! Your plan sounds great and I think health in retirement is a much stronger motivator than having a bikini body. I love how people of all shapes and sizes strip of on the beach. Everybody was just having fun.
Yes, thanks, I just downloaded the basic version of Map My Walks. I like it being just for my walks rather than feeling the strain of a pedometer attached to me all day.

Back on it today 💪. 6.5k which was very hot and sweaty this morning. I think I'd have been better waiting a while because it seems cooler this afternoon. Anyway, it's done and I'm glad I went.

@Solosunrise the other app I've found useful is Plot A Route. Another free app that will tell you how far your planned walk is, if you do want to set yourself a distance target. How are you getting on?

Well done @dolphinsarentcommon You did it in spite of the heat. I think the smug feeling is as good for the mental health is as good as the physical benefits really!

I swam for 3 days, so the activity levels were good. The sea was hard work on Tuesday so it felt like a good healthy workout. Slept well afterwards despite the heat.

Yesterday I went normal walking with a fairly fit friend and we did 3k up and down along cliffs and back across shingle. That was in the heat of the day but with a sea breeze so it felt like enough. I think I'd like to do a short sweaty walk this evening. For now my commitments to do a sweaty thing every day is my priority and I'll see where it takes me. I have a hybrid bike that I must dust off too! Plot A Route sounds useful; I'll take a look. Thanks!