Friday, August 25, 2006

Walk, don’t run

OK, my promise to myself that I would get back to the gym this week hasn’t quite worked out, at least not yet. Mostly because I can't find my trainers. But the week hasn’t been a total washout, exercise-wise, because I have walked home from work every day this week so far. I’ve been having fun geeking around with the Gmap Pedometer to work out how far I’ve gone:

On Monday, I got the route slightly wrong and walked slightly further than I needed to (2.9528 miles or 4.7511km), but the more direct route is only a little shorter in real terms (2.7932 miles, 4.4943km). I’m walking fast, and I’m warm when I get home, although not as warm as I’d be if I’d been running. I’ve been wearing Skechers which are kind of a cross between trainers and street shoes, and my feet seem to be quite happy. I don’t get home from work all that quickly, but more quickly than if I’d gone to the gym, and I’m guessing that the calories burned are probably about the same: I go more slowly, but it's sustained. And I get to read as I go (at least, once I’ve got out of the crowded part of town I do.)

Tonight, weather permitting, I’m going to walk a slightly different route which goes around Arthur’s Seat for part of the way, and comes to 3.1178 miles, or just over 5km, bringing me to a total of 14.4502 miles or 23.2504km…

Blast that pedometer! It’s addictive!

4 comments:

Rosemary Riveter said...

What a great idea. I think if I got a pedometer I'd be depressed by how LITTLE I walk living in this car-based city.

Future Me said...

I love the pedomter! It's so fun to see how far you've gone. Well, mostly when you've gone a very long way I guess. Keep going!

BethK said...

I used the Gmap Pedomoter *a lot* when I was training for the 3-Day. You're right. It is addictive.

Wow. I can't even read when I walk on a treadmill. If I tried to read an walk on the street... I'd be under a bus in no time.

Jennette Fulda said...

That site is totally bitchin'! Now I can figure out how fat I've been walking on the trail.