[Closed] walking.......hard work?

Try running. It'll be over sooner.

Get a dog.

....or some golf clubs.

anyone walk long distance?

Sort of, I do mountain races and they usually involve a fair amount of walking. And yeah, it's tiring if you keep the pace up. If you can get over the fact you look a bit of a **** using walking poles makes for a better workout.

Easter to July is the busy dofe exped season. Tough on the legs with expeds at least once a week, sometimes two on the bounce. We're expected to be within 15mims of groups which mean walking the routes. Yeah feel it come the end.

Like anything when you first start it is but you soon get use to it, 62 miles in 24 hours is my current record.

Try running.

wouldnt that be a fine sight.

got a dog, mrs walks her, i have been unable up to recently.

There'll be loads on here who walk miles Ton. I know people who do the Yorkshire 3 Peaks every month just for a day out. 2 ex colleagues of mine who aren't spring chickens will do at least 15 miles in the Lakes quite easily.

I've been doing 3 miles as quick as I can but my bloody ankles ache!

EDIT, Ton forgot to mention a couple of things though... 😉

Shock absorbing insoles make a big difference to my dodgy knee

I've been doing 3 miles as quick as I can

That might be your problem. Slow down and take it easy and you'll get the same benefits. It just takes longer and you'll enjoy it more.

Take the dog and maybe some binoculars or a camera.

Give the walk a purpose and it'll be more enjoyable.

thought about some walking pole things. might order a pair and try em

It'll get easier, stick to 3 miles for a while and gradually increase.

Although I used to regularly walk 20 miles and tend to find 10-15 miles a nice amount.

People who use poles swear by them as PP says take your time, just starting 3 miles will take about an hour 1.5 at steady pace.

Walk loads. Low energy, but tiring. You get used to it (just like you do with longer riding distances). If you are not used to it, the skin on your feet will probably be 'soft' (I know mine was, biking obviously doesn't help here) and you need to be careful with footwear choice.

6-10000 steps per day. Rarely see a fat postman.

Walk most weekends, typically 7-10 miles although occasionally it’s got up to around fifteen. At around the 10 mile mark I tend to start dragging my heals a little and benefit from a little snack, that picks me up again.

I’ve got walking poles, I thought they would help spread the load a little but I find them utterly pointless and just another thing to complicate an otherwise beautifully simple activity.

3 miles is a decent start, keep it up and in a couple of months that sort of distance will hardly seem worth putting your shoes on for. I’d agree that maybe taking it a little slower to begin with might be a good idea. Try and vary your route. 3 flat miles is very different to 3 hilly miles.

I started walking when we got a dog.

As he was a puppy we both built up gradually, I'm averaging 400,000 steps a month now (over 3,500 miles in the past year).

I think it's helped both my physical and mental health - taking time each day to get out of the house.

3 miles is good going for a bloke who had his hip done 6 weeks ago well done Tony 🙂

I would struggle to do that at the moment as I've twanged my Achilles tendon 🙁

yep I do a fair amount of hiking, hiked up Cadir Idris on New Years day, was a bit windy at the top 😯 a couple of mates and myself go on hiking holidays and will be on our feet for six or seven hours a day. So far we've been to Snowdonia a few times, Western Highlands, Austria and Corsica, seen some amazing places and views. I'm definitely a bit knackered after 12miles and over 1000m of ascent and there's nothing better than tucking into a few whiskies afterwards 🙂

Slow down and take it easy and you'll get the same benefits

I don't think you will. Brisk walking with a long gait stretches your muscles and raises the heart rate.

A couple of years ago I walked to the station and then from waterloo into the city and back on my commute, so nearly 2 hours walking a day, in decent walking shoes, and it didn't seem to do a lot, in fact I got a fair bit of myofacial and muscle pains just the same as for a prolonged period of no exercise.

I typically walk 5-9 miles a day on work days as a postie, it's the call rate that massively affects the distance, all those pathways to doorways and back to the road pavement add up.

Like any new type of exercise, it does take a while for your body to adapt, so stick with it. 😉

Don't forget that if you want a record of what you have done, you can always use Strava on your mobile/gadget and change the sport type to "walk."
Or as I found recently, Ghostracer app uploads to Strava give the option of extra info (steps per minute, pace). You can even see how your ticker does, if wearing a HRM.

muppetWrangler - Member

I’ve got walking poles, I thought they would help spread the load a little but I find them utterly pointless and just another thing to complicate an otherwise beautifully simple activity.

It's clearly a personal thing, but I find poles can help a lot. On a challenging (i.e. 25 mile hilly) walk they help a lot. On a less challenging walk a single pole is good for getting branches out of the way, checking the depth of muddle puddles, and discouraging cattle from getting too close to my dog. Osprey packs have a very useful loop on the shoulder straps that allows you to store and access poles without taking your pack off (most other packs have a pole loop on the back which is more difficult to access).

Usually do 6-7 miles a day in work over a 12 hour shift.

No issues there but dodgy back and knee means anything over 15 miles hill walking and I'm really struggling these days.
Very slow too ATM.

You have to really build up to it.

Poles make a massive difference.

Give us a shout if you fancy a stroll round Hurstwood anytime.
Loads of brilliant walks round here.

I don't think you will

You're right. The guy who's just had the hip operation and has never walked any significant distance before should stop whining like a big crybaby and just push through that shit. 😉

It's probably for the best.

Walking can be as hard / harder on your feet / joints than running - tend to use a longer gait and take bigger impact on the heel - build-up slowly and use well-cushioned shoes, particularly if walking on pavements / hard surfaces. I'm training for a long-distance event and often break into an easy-jog to ease the pressure on my muscles / joints. Hoka Tor Ultra boots, Injinji toe socks for blister prevention recommended!

Walking poles can assist in terms of extra propulsion / all-over work-out with the right technique - I can add an extra km/hr to my speed i.e. 6 to 7 km/hr - which is quite substantial over 10 hours. Most people I see walking with poles appear to be using them as a fashion 'accessory'. Get ones with a Nordic-style grip and strap - Alpkit have adjustable ones for £35.

I easily do 10,000 steps a day simply walking the dog, and general bumbling in a day. I've got a 66km 'foot' event in the Arctic in February - was originally down to do 150km but an injury has curtailed my training. Having done some multi-day arctic winter ultras on bike, the guys doing them on foot face a tougher challenge.

I used to walk 6.5 miles a day to work and back for a year. I spent more on shoes than I would have done on fuel. I was permanently knackered & it ruined my knees.
Wont be doing that again.

I walk a lot and really like it, gives me a chance to look at the scenery, have a think about things and relax. Does help having dogs I guess.

Walked 3 miles to work and 3 miles back home for a few years. I enjoyed it apart from when pissing down or when boiling hot and turning up at work sweating or drenched.

Tony, like anything you need to build up to it. I hadn't done any "serious" walking for a few years (probably since before my THR), last summer I did a bit of Munro bagging - my legs were shot for days!

Give it time mate.

[quoteCaher - Member
6-10000 steps per day. Rarely see a fat postman.

That would be the easiest round ever!!, I have set my fitbit up properly (not just factory settings) and register between 21,000 and 29,000 steps on my round and up to 11ish miles a day. I'm not exactly slim either at 5'10" and 15st8lb (46" chest 34" waist).

I most often walk at lunchtime, a couple of miles, to make up for my sedentary daytime existence.

In the evenings and weekends the dog gets me out of the house, to the extent that I now do less cycling than before we got her. I think I just like being out in the fresh air, whether it's walking, running or cycling.

I occasionally walk to work and back (1.5 miles each way), takes a few weeks before your muscles/tendons etc. get used to it. I stopped (mostly) as it's a lot of hassle for not much reward (in terms of burning calories) but will hopefully start again in spring as it's better than nothing I guess (the hassle part is mostly I like to pop home for lunch but as it's 25 minutes to walk each way I can't do that)

I occasionally walk to work and back (1.5 miles each way), takes a few weeks before your muscles/tendons etc. get used to it. I stopped (mostly) as it's a lot of hassle for not much reward (in terms of burning calories) but will hopefully start again in spring as it's better than nothing I guess (the hassle part is mostly I like to pop home for lunch but as it's 25 minutes to walk each way I can't do that)

On walking poles: I have a mate who is an orthopaedic surgeon in Switzerland and who once told me that a large proportion of hip replacements he’s done were due to people using walking sticks on flat even surfaces where they are not needed.

On walking poles: I have a mate who is an orthopaedic surgeon in Switzerland and who once told me that a large proportion of hip replacements he’s done were due to people using walking sticks on flat even surfaces where they are not needed.

Really? Poles take some weight off your legs and help you balance. I'd be very surprised if that caused problems. Sounds like a pole hater trying to justify their opinion to me.

Happy to be proven wrong if there is evidence though.

On walking poles: I have a mate who is an orthopaedic surgeon in Switzerland and who once told me that a large proportion of hip replacements he’s done were due to people using walking sticks on flat even surfaces where they are not needed.

😆

Not arthritis, fractures or general wear and tear?

I love walking. The purchase of el dogio fuelled this passion further but he can be a bit of pain due to his "attitude" but it still gets us out. 2 of the best things I've purchased for the wrighty clan walking wise were decent boots all round and the os maps app which is brilliant. There are footpath gems within 2 miles of my house that I didn't even know were there till I got it.

boriselbrus - Member

On walking poles: I have a mate who is an orthopaedic surgeon in Switzerland and who once told me that a large proportion of hip replacements he’s done were due to people using walking sticks on flat even surfaces where they are not needed.

Really? Poles take some weight off your legs and help you balance. I'd be very surprised if that caused problems. Sounds like a pole hater trying to justify their opinion to me.

Happy to be proven wrong if there is evidence though.

It does sound like nonsense. A large proportion? Not likely.

People who have bad hips will use walking poles to help ease the pain they had when walking. They then have a hip replacement and the Dr asks if they use anything when walking “Yes I use a pole as it helps”.

That’s about it.

Caher interrupts his friend’s words that this is the cause.

Yes, when you have not done a lot of walking, it is hard work - so you are not on your own. Poles can help a lot - especially if the walking is hilly.

Walking, the cornerstone of strength and fitness imo, usually walk at least 3 miles a day with my hound.

He was talking about the twisting movements people use when they walk with poles. I cannot be bothered trawling the net for evidence as this was told to me over a casual conversation and it’s up to you what you want to do.

I get sore hips after 8 or so miles. I've been gradually building up longer walks this past year and my best was 30ish miles over 24 hours and was shattered after that. Managed 15 miles round New York recently and was sore the next day. I think it's a great compliment to riding for exercise and you do tend to see and hear more.

Caher - Member

He was talking about the twisting movements people use when they walk with poles. I cannot be bothered trawling the net for evidence as this was told to me over a casual conversation and it’s up to you what you want to do.

Probably for the best, as I'd be amazed if you could find any :roll:.

The twisting movement when I use poles seems pretty minimal. I guess swinging your arms more (than you would without poles) will create a twist of some sort. I would have thought that the reduction of load would at least counter act any damage caused by the twisting motion.

Drac - Moderator

People who have bad hips will use walking poles to help ease the pain they had when walking. They then have a hip replacement and the Dr asks if they use anything when walking “Yes I use a pole as it helps”.

That’s about it.

Caher interrupts his friend’s words that this is the cause.

So error by Chinese whispers?

i came off my walking sticks today, and now ache a lot more than i have done since my op (6 weeks ago).
the walk was done without the sticks.
Alpkit poles ordered.

[i]So error by Chinese whispers? [/i]

misinterpreting the data maybe?

Does walking with sticks cause conditions that require intervention or do people with pre-existing conditions that may require intervention start using sticks in an effort to avoid the subsequent treatment they then receive.

So error by Chinese whispers?

Swiss.

Twisting movement? It’s the same movement as walking except that you put your weight on the poles.

I walk with physio, nurses, Dr and consultants some of them use poles to aid their walking. Why are people handed out walking aids by physios if it’s bad for you? Weren’t some poles also developed physios.

It’s not up to me to support your claim that’s yout job I suspect you couldn’t find any evidence so gave up.

But https://www.graphyonline.com/archives/archivedownload.php?pid=IJPTR-122 you’re a mile off.

Anyway Ton here’s some tips that might help with your recovery.

https://www.arthritis-health.com/blog/hike-better-health-nordic-walking

I've done plenty of trekking, last big one being the CTC last year over 14 days, 15-25 miles a day. To prepare we did consecutive day walks at the weekend, and a few hours after work here and there. Most of the prep was to get our feet ready for long distances day after day which is difficult to get used to. Aerobic fitness not really as issue, but you build up the endurance.

Whenever I go to a new city with work, I usually take a day, pack my laptop and walk around the city working in various places. I did 36km around Paris in April and a total of 47km (two days) in Seattle in July.

My shoulders usually hurt on the day (it's a ****ing huge laptop) and my feet the day after.

You do get used to it.

I like a nice walk, problem is sometimes it's so slow that I wish I was on a bike just to speed things up. I prefer walking in places that I can't cycle, or would be so technical I'd have to be hike-a-biking anyway.

I prefer cycling with the dog than walking him (in my local park anyway). It's quicker, more fun and he runs more

I once did a 28 mile day with the dog doing some coastal walking (Folkestone to Dover, along the white cliffs and back again). I was walking like John Wayne by the end of that, absolutely killed me. Quite hilly too. Dog was fairly tired by the end!!

Drac, thanks for the link mate. perfect

No problem hopefully it’ll help you recover and get some fitness back.

Ton - Nordic walking is different to simply walking with poles.
Start off with 1 mile on the flat. Walking briskly enough that you are slightly out of breath.
Build up slowly from there.
Where decent boots.

Enjoy the scenery.

If working at my normal office I walk there and back and normally have a stroll during my lunch hour. Normally this amounts to 13,000 steps or so.

I have a Garmin Vivoactive HR which records steps, heart rate and lots more and uploads it for analysis. It is quite addictive and I also use the Stepbet app which sets you targets over say six weeks and, if you hit them, wins you money (you can also lose :-)) On my last one I won $10 plus my $40 stake. It did get me out walking on slack days and was more about not losing my stake but it did work.

I do think that walking is not really a good exercise for me personally - my heart rate rarely gets into a zone that stresses it but that is ok as I do not want to be a sweaty mess. If I want exercise I now either cycle or do kettlebell workouts.

I would say that maybe the op does not need to go out for long walks but maybe just try to hit a step goal each day. Walking to the local shop twice a day knocks off 4k steps for me. A few more brief walks around the block and target would be hit.

I walk into town which is a mile each way, I’m accustomed to walking three or four miles on a Sunday, I’ve walked nine miles before now, and me with osteoarthritis in my left knee.
I usually have a walking stick when I’m out in the countryside, mainly to help with stability and support on slippery slopes.
Walking distances is easy, you just concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other and admire the view as it passes by, after a while, a lot of view has passed; at three mph, the average walking pace, a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon you’ve walked six miles.
Piece of piss!

I cannot be bothered trawling the net for evidence as this was told to me over a casual conversation

How long did you spend looking for evidence and not finding any, before you decided to say you weren’t going to look for evidence ?

😆

Ton,Until last year I hadn't done any proper walking for years,but in July I did the Tour De Mont Blanc trek.
I built up the mileage just walking around here West Lancs which is flat countryside.The longest day I did was 25 miles but it was all quite flat.
After doing the stuff on the flatish countryside around here I did the TMB no problem.One thing that I thought helped me over in the Alps was the pair of walking poles I bought.I never used them over here but I'm sure they saved my creaky knees on the descents in the alps.
Try & find a route with a couple of good pubs en-route,it's good motivation!

If coming back from surgery or injury, take it easy at first as you've got to get back home.

I had to ease in after breaking my spine and was told to make sure you can make it back.

You're right. The guy who's just had the hip operation and has never walked any significant distance before should stop whining like a big crybaby and just push through that shit.

irrelevant comment - you implied that if he walks the same distance slowly then he will get the same benefits, which in my opinion is not true. walking the same distance quickly will be a different load to walking it slowly, it won't produce the same results.