So..... walking

Feek · 17-04-2009, 20:52

Inspired by Lostkat's thread with a similar name I though I'd post one which is for those of use getting a bit of exercise by walking rather than running.
Realistically I can't do any sensible running at the moment so I've started taking regular walks to get some exercise and help lose some weight.

So for the last few days I've been working out a route around the estate here, I started off doing just over a mile, that went up in pretty quick stages and I've now got a nice two mile walk using a figure of eight route that only overlaps for about twenty five yards in the middle.

I've always found walking to be rather boring so I've sorted out a good playlist for my iPod which holds tunes I've not listened to for a while - I upload a random fill from it to my Shuffle and head off for the walk and I'm rediscovering a lot of my music collection.

I'm going to do the same walk every night for a while and then I'll work out a further increase. At the moment I'm doing the two miles in slightly under half an hour but I'm sure I'll bring this time down a bit.

My only slight issue at the moment is that I'm doing it in jeans so even with a liberal splash of talc, I'm getting a bit of chaffing on my thighs. It's not enough to stop me but I'm getting a bit tender towards the end of the walk. I need to get some tracky type bottoms which I think will help this.

lostkat · 17-04-2009, 21:09

Are you wearing knickers Mr Feek? That might help

Also, I can highly recommend mapping your walk on mapmyrun.com. I've found it to be a fantastic motivator for showing me how far I've gone in a month as well as inspiring me to map new routes. Worth a look

Keep up the good work, and stop nicking my effing thread titles

Feek · 17-04-2009, 21:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by lostkat

Are you wearing knickers Mr Feek? That might help

Also, I can highly recommend mapping your walk on mapmyrun.com. I've found it to be a fantastic motivator for showing me how far I've gone in a month as well as inspiring me to map new routes. Worth a look

Keep up the good work, and stop nicking my effing thread titles

Well I'm not going commando, I'm wearing boxers, and I have plotted my walk just here. I want to try and not go over the same part twice and I almost managed it apart from that bit in the middle. I shall keep tracking what I'm doing there and see how it builds up.

I had to use your thread title, it's so appealing

(*you said 'titles', have I done it elsewhere?

onder

Feek · 19-04-2009, 00:11

I walked this afternoon again but it wasn't as easy as previous. For the first half, my shins were actually quite sore and on the return leg, I had the sun on my face and I rapidly overheated. But I didn't slow down and actually did half a mile further than I intended because I wanted to have a look at the roadworks by the gates.

lostkat · 19-04-2009, 10:30

Are you stretching after your walk? I know it might seem a bit overkill, but if you're walking much more than you're used to, it's a really good idea, especiall on those shins! They're always the first place you feel it. I'd at least be stretching shins, calves, hamstrings & quads.
Shin stretches - Go to page 2 as the stretch is much easier to perform.

Might be worth trying tighter fitting lycra type boxer shorts or pants too. It'll keep everything neatly packaged rather than jangling around. Get yourself down Sports Soccer and buy some nice chavvy tracksuit bottoms too

AboveTheSalt · 19-04-2009, 10:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Feek

...
My only slight issue at the moment is that I'm doing it in jeans so even with a liberal splash of talc, I'm getting a bit of chaffing on my thighs. It's not enough to stop me but I'm getting a bit tender towards the end of the walk. I need to get some tracky type bottoms which I think will help this.

In place of boxers, wear Lycra running shorts from Tchibo and whatever you do, don't wear jeans - walking trousers from someone like Craghoppers were designed for a purpose

Also, trainers may not be the best things to "walk" in - I don't know because I don't use them for walking, but it is a thought.

tbh and improbably enough, Blighter is likely to be your best bet for advise.

lostkat · 19-04-2009, 11:02

Ahhh, yes forgot about walking trousers. Good point ATS. They'll wick away any sweat and be much lighter than joggers.

Not sure if you have a Go Outdoors near you, but they have some cheaper walking shoes/boots on offer. These for example, I think are a bargain at £30! Socks are also very important as they can prevent nasty blisters and very sore feet.

Just another thought Feek, you'll probably want to get off the road/footpath at some point too if you're not already doing that. Asphalt, tarmac & concrete aren't the best things for your knees. Dirt, grass & gravel are a lot more forgiving and you'll get a more interesting walk out of it too

Blighter · 19-04-2009, 13:19

For walking clothing there are a few things you may want to bear in mind..

Denim and 100% cotton are big no go areas. They both get wet easily, and stay wet. Not only can that be uncomfortable, but can also cause anything from a cold, to death, depending on the situation (obviously light walks will more likely just cause a cold

)

The most important parts of clothing are the next-to-skin bits (Shirt, Trousers & Socks). You want to get these right to avoid blisters, colds, and to make it easier on your body to focus on the walking!

Tops:
What I normally do in the warmer weather is just wear a wickable shirt such as the Helly Hansen Transporter (£20). This "wicks" the sweat away from the body keeping you cool and dry.
In the colder weather, wear the same, but with a fleece (mild - cold weather) or a down gilet/jacket (very cold weather). These will keep you warm but also allow for breathability meaning you won't get all sweaty. (I also have one of these for the windier days which are fantastic!)

Bottoms:
Bottoms are a bit simpler as you aren't trying to keep any vital organs working

THE most popular walking trouser is the Craghopper's Kiwi Convertible. These are a cotton and polyester mix meaning that they are tough, lightweight, and breathable. These particular trousers also have a few extra bells and whistles like Wash'n'wear (don't need to iron), Solar/Smart dry (VERY quick drying), EIGHT pockets (including 3 x zipped and 1 x cargo).
The zip off part is great too, as in the very warm conditions you can zip em off into shorts

Socks:

As above, don't go wearing cheap cotton ones from Primark. Once you start sweating they will absorb the moisture & perspiration and stay wet. This WILL cause blisters and also make your feet very smelly

Walking socks do vary a lot but 99% of the time you do get what you pay for. The average price tag of £12 a pair does put some people off, but once you consider that all of mine are still going strong after ~2 years use, it doesn't seem that bad

Out of all the socks I've tried, I find Bridgedale to be the best. They don't have any seams inside the sock (no rubbing), they have additional padding in the key pressure parts (either side of your foot's arch, your toes, and the middle-top of your foot).
The material is a mixture of polyester (comfort + padding), merino wool (wickable, non-smelly), nylon and lycra. These are my personal favourites as they aren't too warm, and too cold, and provide just the right amount of padding without being too bulky

As for footwear, I could go on all day

Sorry for the essay but hope it helps

Psymonkee · 19-04-2009, 15:47

Mini hijack alert

Doctor tells me the massive pain running along the base of my foot is plantar fasciitis

Obviously weight loss/stretches are key to fixing this but I know my boss suffered from this and changing shoes sorted it

Any ideas what I should be looking for in a shoe? Especially for walking as I could quite easily walk to and from work but don't because I'm a lazy git.

/mini hijack :>

Blighter · 19-04-2009, 16:32

Two options..
1 - Get your feet seen by a professional and maybe get some shoes + insoles that are custom made.

2 - Look at getting a normal walking shoe that has a supportive insole. Out of the brands I've seen Merrell come at number one, shortly followed by The North Face and Salomon.

The problem with footwear is that all different brands/models come up differently. EVERY persons foot is different.
Go to a shop, try and good few on. When you think you've found a decent one, wear them around the house for an hour to make sure they fit right and don't rub/cause uncomfort.

Remember, as long as you wear them around the house and not outside, most places will still accept them back for a full refund.

17-04-2009, 20:52	#1
Feek ex SAS Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: JO01ou Posts: 10,062	So..... walking Inspired by Lostkat's thread with a similar name I though I'd post one which is for those of use getting a bit of exercise by walking rather than running. Realistically I can't do any sensible running at the moment so I've started taking regular walks to get some exercise and help lose some weight. So for the last few days I've been working out a route around the estate here, I started off doing just over a mile, that went up in pretty quick stages and I've now got a nice two mile walk using a figure of eight route that only overlaps for about twenty five yards in the middle. I've always found walking to be rather boring so I've sorted out a good playlist for my iPod which holds tunes I've not listened to for a while - I upload a random fill from it to my Shuffle and head off for the walk and I'm rediscovering a lot of my music collection. I'm going to do the same walk every night for a while and then I'll work out a further increase. At the moment I'm doing the two miles in slightly under half an hour but I'm sure I'll bring this time down a bit. My only slight issue at the moment is that I'm doing it in jeans so even with a liberal splash of talc, I'm getting a bit of chaffing on my thighs. It's not enough to stop me but I'm getting a bit tender towards the end of the walk. I need to get some tracky type bottoms which I think will help this. __________________

17-04-2009, 21:09	#2
lostkat Good Cat Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,550	Are you wearing knickers Mr Feek? That might help Also, I can highly recommend mapping your walk on mapmyrun.com. I've found it to be a fantastic motivator for showing me how far I've gone in a month as well as inspiring me to map new routes. Worth a look Keep up the good work, and stop nicking my effing thread titles __________________ Oooooh Cecil, what have you done?

19-04-2009, 00:11	#4
Feek ex SAS Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: JO01ou Posts: 10,062	I walked this afternoon again but it wasn't as easy as previous. For the first half, my shins were actually quite sore and on the return leg, I had the sun on my face and I rapidly overheated. But I didn't slow down and actually did half a mile further than I intended because I wanted to have a look at the roadworks by the gates. __________________

19-04-2009, 10:30	#5
lostkat Good Cat Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,550	Are you stretching after your walk? I know it might seem a bit overkill, but if you're walking much more than you're used to, it's a really good idea, especiall on those shins! They're always the first place you feel it. I'd at least be stretching shins, calves, hamstrings & quads. Shin stretches - Go to page 2 as the stretch is much easier to perform. Might be worth trying tighter fitting lycra type boxer shorts or pants too. It'll keep everything neatly packaged rather than jangling around. Get yourself down Sports Soccer and buy some nice chavvy tracksuit bottoms too __________________ Oooooh Cecil, what have you done?

19-04-2009, 11:02	#7
lostkat Good Cat Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,550	Ahhh, yes forgot about walking trousers. Good point ATS. They'll wick away any sweat and be much lighter than joggers. Not sure if you have a Go Outdoors near you, but they have some cheaper walking shoes/boots on offer. These for example, I think are a bargain at £30! Socks are also very important as they can prevent nasty blisters and very sore feet. Just another thought Feek, you'll probably want to get off the road/footpath at some point too if you're not already doing that. Asphalt, tarmac & concrete aren't the best things for your knees. Dirt, grass & gravel are a lot more forgiving and you'll get a more interesting walk out of it too __________________ Oooooh Cecil, what have you done?

19-04-2009, 13:19	#8
Blighter Dubious Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Northampton Posts: 1,571	For walking clothing there are a few things you may want to bear in mind.. Denim and 100% cotton are big no go areas. They both get wet easily, and stay wet. Not only can that be uncomfortable, but can also cause anything from a cold, to death, depending on the situation (obviously light walks will more likely just cause a cold ) The most important parts of clothing are the next-to-skin bits (Shirt, Trousers & Socks). You want to get these right to avoid blisters, colds, and to make it easier on your body to focus on the walking! Tops: What I normally do in the warmer weather is just wear a wickable shirt such as the Helly Hansen Transporter (£20). This "wicks" the sweat away from the body keeping you cool and dry. In the colder weather, wear the same, but with a fleece (mild - cold weather) or a down gilet/jacket (very cold weather). These will keep you warm but also allow for breathability meaning you won't get all sweaty. (I also have one of these for the windier days which are fantastic!) Bottoms: Bottoms are a bit simpler as you aren't trying to keep any vital organs working THE most popular walking trouser is the Craghopper's Kiwi Convertible. These are a cotton and polyester mix meaning that they are tough, lightweight, and breathable. These particular trousers also have a few extra bells and whistles like Wash'n'wear (don't need to iron), Solar/Smart dry (VERY quick drying), EIGHT pockets (including 3 x zipped and 1 x cargo). The zip off part is great too, as in the very warm conditions you can zip em off into shorts Socks: As above, don't go wearing cheap cotton ones from Primark. Once you start sweating they will absorb the moisture & perspiration and stay wet. This WILL cause blisters and also make your feet very smelly Walking socks do vary a lot but 99% of the time you do get what you pay for. The average price tag of £12 a pair does put some people off, but once you consider that all of mine are still going strong after ~2 years use, it doesn't seem that bad Out of all the socks I've tried, I find Bridgedale to be the best. They don't have any seams inside the sock (no rubbing), they have additional padding in the key pressure parts (either side of your foot's arch, your toes, and the middle-top of your foot). The material is a mixture of polyester (comfort + padding), merino wool (wickable, non-smelly), nylon and lycra. These are my personal favourites as they aren't too warm, and too cold, and provide just the right amount of padding without being too bulky As for footwear, I could go on all day Sorry for the essay but hope it helps __________________ Look at your signature, now back to mine, now back to yours, now back to mine. Sadly, yours isn't mine. But if you stopped writing about other things and made this your signature, yours could be like mine. Look down, back up. Where are you? You're on Boat Drinks, reading the signature your signature could be like. I'm on a computer. My Blog \| More Outdoors \| MSN \| Email \| Call Me

19-04-2009, 15:47	#9
Psymonkee A cat wearing a wet suit Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: St.Andrews Posts: 2,023	Mini hijack alert Doctor tells me the massive pain running along the base of my foot is plantar fasciitis Obviously weight loss/stretches are key to fixing this but I know my boss suffered from this and changing shoes sorted it Any ideas what I should be looking for in a shoe? Especially for walking as I could quite easily walk to and from work but don't because I'm a lazy git. /mini hijack :> __________________ Sonisphere FMC Code: 1k949178

19-04-2009, 16:32	#10
Blighter Dubious Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Northampton Posts: 1,571	Two options.. 1 - Get your feet seen by a professional and maybe get some shoes + insoles that are custom made. 2 - Look at getting a normal walking shoe that has a supportive insole. Out of the brands I've seen Merrell come at number one, shortly followed by The North Face and Salomon. The problem with footwear is that all different brands/models come up differently. EVERY persons foot is different. Go to a shop, try and good few on. When you think you've found a decent one, wear them around the house for an hour to make sure they fit right and don't rub/cause uncomfort. Remember, as long as you wear them around the house and not outside, most places will still accept them back for a full refund. __________________ Look at your signature, now back to mine, now back to yours, now back to mine. Sadly, yours isn't mine. But if you stopped writing about other things and made this your signature, yours could be like mine. Look down, back up. Where are you? You're on Boat Drinks, reading the signature your signature could be like. I'm on a computer. My Blog \| More Outdoors \| MSN \| Email \| Call Me