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Original poster

Best foot forward for 2023: a thread for walkers

133 replies

crosshatching · 27/12/2022 20:27

Come and tell me all your walking adventure plans for the New Year. No matter if you're just making it around the block, walking the pooch or doing the Camino de Santiago.

I'll be exploring the countryside around me and hopefully a further afield, getting a bit fitter and hoping to meet some other local walkers.

OP posts:
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Byfleet · 29/12/2022 10:44

@erinaceus sorry I don’t remember meeting you on MN before, but my memory is pretty bad. Walking is one of the few things I feel I can achieve and be in control of!

BigSkies2022 · 29/12/2022 12:28

Ooh, good thread! DH and I both like walking, have a dog, so have to get outside each day (although walking at Ddog's pace - stopping to sniff everything when he's on the lead - is not my idea of good walking) and our walking varies from block walks to country and coastal hikes of 8-10 miles when we can manage to get away. I know my life is better when I walk a lot, so encouragement via MN is really timely.

I have been thinking about finding a walking group/association to join in real life - any recommendations?

Walked to Lidl and bakery this morning, about to take DDog out.

MastieMum · 29/12/2022 12:44

Inspired by this thread, I did an hour this morning round a local woodland park. Lovely and peaceful when I started out, but queues to get in the carnpark by the time I finished! Everyone having the same idea...

ScottishBeth · 29/12/2022 14:12

I would like to join! I love walking but am hoping to get a bit more done next year.

We have a 16 mo th old little girl (adopted) and I'd like to be confident going hiking with her in a sling/carrier before I go back to work at the end of summer.

Also we live at the top of a fairly steep hill. It's not a massive hill but I find it hard to walk up it. I would like to get fit enough to walk up without stopping/getting out of breath. I'm going to change my regular walking route to include the hill I think. And I'm going to do it this afternoon!

thesnailandthewhale · 29/12/2022 14:19

Signed up to Race the Distance's 2023 miles in 2023. I did it in 2021 and it was great motivation to walk more each day than I was doing previously, I didn't do it last yet and walked significantly less so am hoping it gets me back on track again.
You log the miles online and it shows you where you are on the route, this year it's from London to Aberdeen, all along the south coast, then up the Welsh coastline, Scottish highlands etc.

blackheartsgirl · 29/12/2022 19:10

Oo great thread!

I used to do a lot of walking when dh was alive, we'd think nothing of going for 10morm20 mile hikes and I lost so much weight.

Due to ill health and depression I've piled on the weight and I think I have arthritis in my feet so walking is often painful these days. Also have a young dog so I try and get out every day even if it's a walk round the block.

I've done 1000 miles challenge before, never quite made it though. One day!

EasterIsland · 29/12/2022 21:16

Slowly working my way through the Wainwrights but only in the spring-summer-autumn. And I'm not sure I'll ever manage Sca Fell Pike on my own ...

erinaceus · 30/12/2022 02:25

@Byfleet Never mind that. I would love to do Camino at some stage or even a pilgrimage in the UK. But that is about all I have to say on the matter. Oh and I walked a couple of miles yesterday, I was going to the shops. It’s a start.

BigSkies2022 · 30/12/2022 10:30

@blackheartsgirl I also had painful feet but I've improved them a lot with exercise. If you go on YouTube and search 'foot strength for dancers' you will come up with good exercise routines for improving strength and flexibility in your feet, ankles and calves.

I'm sorry for your loss - hope you get out and about more in 2023.

Original poster
crosshatching · 30/12/2022 11:04

So sorry for your loss @blackheartsgirl I hope you find your strength returning very soon.

www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/dec/30/dark-days-are-a-time-to-replenish-how-to-walk-well-in-winter

Here's a lovely article on winter walking which I am very much in favour of in principle but not on days like today with driving rain coming in sideways!

OP posts:
EasterIsland · 30/12/2022 11:24

search 'foot strength for dancers' you will come up with good exercise routines for improving strength and flexibility in your feet, ankles and calves.

Look particularly for 'doming' and 'Alfredson's heel drops'. Both excellent exercises/stretches.

ProfYaffle · 30/12/2022 12:04

I've found doing rebounder exercises really good for strengthening my feet and knees.

BigSkies2022 · 31/12/2022 16:53

Clocked up 6.6km today walking to the library and back, and taking Ddog for a walk in the woods. It was raining, and muddy, and I have a cold, but I enjoyed it all anyway. If I can maintain this frame of mind, and build this habit, I shall be in good shape mentally and physically in 2023! Good luck to all us walkers!

blackheartsgirl · 31/12/2022 17:23

thank you for foot exercise recommendations! I will have a look at these. It’s the tops of
my feet and my toe joints that hurt the most but if I can help my feet muscles get a bit stronger then that will help hopefully.

i took our dog out for a 4 mile walk today, my feet were aching by the end of it but it feels great

PauliesWalnuts · 31/12/2022 17:30

Another one with a target of 1,000 miles in 2023, and hopefully a few more Wainwrights ticked off - I think I have 122 still to do. Cycling target is 2,000 but if I stick to my cycle commuted that should be do-able.

ErrolTheDragon · 31/12/2022 23:30

DH and I have been walking very regularly over the last 3 years - just totted up my totals for 2022 at about 2090 km . Unfortunately he's developed some foot issues so we may not manage quite as much in 2023.

Readytostartagain · 01/01/2023 08:37

Can I join? Walking has fallen rather by the wayside so more if a round the block type at the moment though would love to do a pilgrimage walk at some point

BookWorm45 · 01/01/2023 10:00

Sounds great, I'm in.

@Readytostartagain have you come across the British Pilgrimage Trust (if you are in UK) - they look to have interesting walks.

Original poster
crosshatching · 01/01/2023 12:19

Welcome @Readytostartagain honestly at the moment I'm happy to just manage my step count goal!

Good luck to everyone stepping out on a new habit today.

OP posts:
thesnailandthewhale · 01/01/2023 13:47

Beach walk done this morning and first 11 miles chalked off :)

thefinaltwist · 01/01/2023 13:52

I love walking but find it very hard to fit in. I work 5 days a week and my dh is a hgv driver so can work long hours or away for the night so all childcare/household tasks fall to me so I find it hard to find a gap for walking 🙁

WhatWouldHopperDo · 01/01/2023 13:59

Hi all. I have a dog so walk most days but I have got lazy in the shit weather so want to improve my stamina. DH and I did 2 miles yesterday.

We are lucky to live on the south coast so we have lots of options for walking. I’m aiming to do 500 miles this year as 1000 is just unrealistic for me.

I like the idea of mentally walking a certain route so I am going ti invent my own first challenge. Maybe the perimeter of Loch Ness or something?

I’d love to do the Camino one day (in real life, not mentally!)

Billybagpuss · 01/01/2023 16:50

4.25 miles today

ProfYaffle · 01/01/2023 16:56

Almost 7 miles today. Dh and I are going to sign up to the 1,000 mile challenge but 3 miles a day seems daunting. It'll be easier in the summer with the light evenings though.

ChristmasCrackler · 01/01/2023 17:05

I walked a lot in the summer but have gradually fallen by the wayside, though still quite active.
So I'm in!
Plan to do a stroll this evening so i can log my start.
Thanks!

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