Street Walker

I have to admit, the gym is not my favorite place to be. It's full of people. And they're sweaty. Ewwww....

So instead of the Y, I have adopted the south side neighborhood as my personal playground. Wednesday morning I was up early, meeting the sun as I pounded pavement. This morning, between an unscheduled puppy pee and rain, I opted for another hour of sleep and made my rounds tonight.

I can't help but feeling that walking, regardless of how much I enjoy it, how far I go or how much I sweat, is an inferior workout to lifting or intense cardio. Incredible shrinking husband (down 20-or-so pounds since losing his appetitie on I94, along with a few layers of skin), back in his four-mile days, basically REFUSED to walk with me, saying it wasn't "enough" for him. But I can still get the tingly, muscle-lengthening feeling from a longer walk that I do when I go hardcore on the elliptical.

The pups accompanied me tonight, and my route is not dog-friendly. Not only are there lots of other dogs to bark at them, but the traffic on State Street is such that I have to stay very alert and keep them close. I prefer my walks to be mindless, nothing more tasking than singing along to Dolly and Cher, breathing in and out like an alligator. Plus, the pooches got stickers in their feet. It was a good workout for all of us although about halfway through they were ready to get back on the couch with dad.

I downloaded some new songs to entertain me in the morning (Welcome to the Jungle, some Lil Mama and When I Grow Up) and organized my favorite songs into a "Going Fast" playlist. That way I won't come across any relaxing tunes when I'm trying to walk my heart into gear.

I feel like these walks are a step in the right direction. It doesn't necessarily matter what I am doing as long as I enjoy it, since that is the key to continuation. Maybe as I get in better shape - hopefully before snow flies, as that will end my street walking days - I'll be more open to lifting and running again.

But for now, these shoes are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do.