| 6/27/2014 10:10:18 AM |
Walking for Fitness |
|
clarencec
South Yorkshire
United Kingdom
59, joined Oct. 2008
|
Do any forumites partake of this most basic form of fitness activity? If so, please feel free to share your impressions and ambitions. I've been walking for fitness reasons since the end of January and have lost about 42 pounds in weight so far and become quite interested in getting faster. My current best, achieved a couple of days ago, stands at 2:06:10 for ten miles, which is an average of 12:37 per mile. I find it really hard to walk fast and get the legs operating at a rapid cadence like bees wings, which is what various web resources on the subject advise as a route to speedular nirvana. What would be really good is to break 2 hours for ten miles. I'm not sure if that can be done without breaking into a jog or getting into that bizarre looking hip rotation technique that race walkers do. I admire that those guys are able to reach incredible walking speeds, but don't think hip rotation is for me. I'm too inflexible, and anyway, people will laugh even more than they do already when seeing me pad earnestly down the road.
Here's a dead badger spotted during one walk. Indeed, I'm not yet too fixated on the search for speed to commune with nature, note the premature demise of the odd mammal and sigh wistfully at the brevity of life. 
Meet singles at DateHookup.dating, we're 100% free! Join now!
|
| 6/27/2014 12:30:03 PM |
Walking for Fitness |
|
badchevy4x4babe
Fort Worth, TX
28, joined May. 2011
|
i don't know if i would encourage the extreme hip rotation required with getting faster. that will be working against the body's natural gait, and i fear could be damaging. I'm not an expert, but just food for thought.
is there some reason why you're not trying to integrate some jogging intervals in there? there's a lot of research and information out there with interval training and it's benefits, just curious to know if you can walk that briskly and have that kind of stamina, why you're not attempting to jog a bit too
|
| 6/27/2014 2:19:43 PM |
Walking for Fitness |
|
josecuervosilv
Downey, CA
42, joined Jun. 2010
|
Uphill speed walking is great too, for those with less time. It can even be done on a treadmill that inclines at home in front of the tv for 30 mins(for those with every excuse in the book to not exercise). Maybe we should post this in the lazy weightloss and dieting group. Lol.
[Edited 6/27/2014 2:21:48 PM ]
|
| 6/27/2014 2:28:36 PM |
Walking for Fitness |
|
xashax
Union, NH
45, joined May. 2009
|
Uphill speed walking is great too, for those with less time. It can even be done on a treadmill that inclines at home in front of the tv for 30 mins(for those with every excuse in the book to not exercise). Maybe we should post this in the lazy weightloss and dieting group. Lol.
Thats what I'm doing right now but I only have a 10% incline on it. I guess every little bit helps though. I do like 45 min at 10% and never below 2.5 mph and up to 3.7 in shorter sprints.
|
| 6/27/2014 9:57:00 PM |
Walking for Fitness |
|
josecuervosilv
Downey, CA
42, joined Jun. 2010
|
Thats what I'm doing right now but I only have a 10% incline on it. I guess every little bit helps though. I do like 45 min at 10% and never below 2.5 mph and up to 3.7 in shorter sprints.
You can put a stable block or whatever underneath the front end of the treadmill for a higher incline.
|
| 6/28/2014 4:53:38 AM |
Walking for Fitness |
|
xashax
Union, NH
45, joined May. 2009
|
You can put a stable block or whatever underneath the front end of the treadmill for a higher incline.
Never thought of that. I'll take a look at it today. I don't want to break it though. Thanks.
|
| 6/28/2014 5:14:21 AM |
Walking for Fitness |
|
clarencec
South Yorkshire
United Kingdom
59, joined Oct. 2008
|
.
i don't know if i would encourage the extreme hip rotation required with getting faster. that will be working against the body's natural gait, and i fear could be damaging. I'm not an expert, but just food for thought.
Yes, that sounds reasonable to me. The hip rotation thing is presumably to extend the stride to its maximum extent, yet sites I've perused for fitness walking advise short, rapid steps with the focus directed on extending the phase in which the foot pushes backwards. I've tried that in spells but most of the time just walk in the way that feels most natural, although I do strive to achieve a rapid cadence.
is there some reason why you're not trying to integrate some jogging intervals in there? there's a lot of research and information out there with interval training and it's benefits, just curious to know if you can walk that briskly and have that kind of stamina, why you're not attempting to jog a bit too
I tried integrating sprints into a couple of six mile walks back in May. This was after reading an article advocating the fitness value of doing short, very intense intervals. It made my groin area ache a bit after, no doubt due to the unaccustomed intensity. Jogs would probably have been more sensible. I used to run in the 1980's and feel curious to try it again at some stage, but I do have a history of mild arthritis, which is why I laid off running circa 1989. The last time I tried running was 2007, and I recall after my furthest effort of 8 miles I suffered a bit of hip pain that felt arthritic. The good thing about walking is it's much lower impact than running and puts less stress on the ol' joints.
[Edited 6/28/2014 5:14:35 AM ]
|
| 6/28/2014 9:46:07 AM |
Walking for Fitness |
|
xashax
Union, NH
45, joined May. 2009
|
You can put a stable block or whatever underneath the front end of the treadmill for a higher incline.
Na seems risky. What I might do is see if anyone wants to buy this one at a 10% dirt cheap and then I might invest in a newer model that goes to at least 20% incline.
|
| 6/28/2014 11:42:34 AM |
Walking for Fitness |
|
badchevy4x4babe
Fort Worth, TX
28, joined May. 2011
|
Run on grass or dirt. Avoid pavement and asphalt and cement. Look towards a support running shoe, even for walking, to provide cushioning.
|
| 6/29/2014 3:06:53 AM |
Walking for Fitness |
|
josecuervosilv
Downey, CA
42, joined Jun. 2010
|
Na seems risky. What I might do is see if anyone wants to buy this one at a 10% dirt cheap and then I might invest in a newer model that goes to at least 20% incline.
|
| 6/29/2014 5:23:51 AM |
Walking for Fitness |
|
clarencec
South Yorkshire
United Kingdom
59, joined Oct. 2008
|
.
Run on grass or dirt. Avoid pavement and asphalt and cement. Look towards a support running shoe, even for walking, to provide cushioning.
Good advice. Where I used to live there was an enormous grassy school field with a perimeter of about a mile. When I used to run I'd do 8 laps of that on some days to recover from pounding the pavements. One of my favorite runs was a 10 miler that incorporated dirt tracks — including a path alongside a river for about a mile. That was good.
I Googled about shoes some weeks ago when seeking a new pair and was interested to find that some athletic shoes are designed specifically for walking. They tend to have a less flared and built up heel that running shoes, and also a more flexible forefoot area because of the different impact and toe-off characteristics of the walking gait. Reading about the shoes was fun but they're seemingly more difficult to source in an actual shop than the proverbial rocking horse excrement. They need to be ordered online, which didn't enthuse me 'cause I like to try shoes on in a shop and preferably compare 'em with alternative examples. What I ended up with was some Brooks Glycerin running shoes from a specialist running shop in Epworth. They're comfortable and give a cushioned "ride". The only thing is they sprouted holes on the outer side of each toebox area after a mere five weeks use and 264 miles walked — or at least that's when I first noticed. Weird. I reckon the fabric is poorly designed. It isn't as if my feet are bursting out of the shoes like when Bill Bixby turns into Lou Ferrigno in The Incredible Hulk..
The Hulk yesterday..
|
| 6/29/2014 12:41:08 PM |
Walking for Fitness |
|
vickie0621
Las Cruces, NM
37, joined May. 2014
|
No walking this weekend and probably rest of this week... cirtisone shots in my both feet... stuck at home being a couch potato...
|
| 6/29/2014 7:11:39 PM |
Walking for Fitness |
|
badchevy4x4babe
Fort Worth, TX
28, joined May. 2011
|
I mostly run in brooks shoes and have never had that issue. I usually replace my shoes at the 350 mile mark though. Wondering if you might need one with a bigger toe box. Or even a wide
|
| 6/29/2014 8:41:27 PM |
Walking for Fitness |
|
teeheehee_
Montreal, QC
35, joined Jun. 2014
|
"Do any forumites partake of this most basic form of fitness activity"?
Yes! It's the best. I used to run ( never competitively) but there was always pain somewhere feet/shins/thighs/ lower back., etc. i gave it up. I love walking though. Usually 45 mins 3x per week. 
|
| 6/30/2014 6:12:18 AM |
Walking for Fitness |
|
clarencec
South Yorkshire
United Kingdom
59, joined Oct. 2008
|
I mostly run in brooks shoes and have never had that issue. I usually replace my shoes at the 350 mile mark though. Wondering if you might need one with a bigger toe box. Or even a wide
I like Brooks shoes in general and had some Brooks Chariots in the 80's that were very good. The shop didn't stock wider fitting shoes (I asked) or I would have tried some. Next time I might order shoes online where there's more choice and see how that works out.
Replacing shoes at 350 miles is a wise move. Apparently, shoes may look okay on the outside, but the midsole loses much of it's shock absorption characteristics after about 400 miles.
|
| 6/30/2014 6:18:45 AM |
Walking for Fitness |
|
clarencec
South Yorkshire
United Kingdom
59, joined Oct. 2008
|
"Do any forumites partake of this most basic form of fitness activity"?
Yes! It's the best. I used to run ( never competitively) but there was always pain somewhere feet/shins/thighs/ lower back., etc. i gave it up. I love walking though. Usually 45 mins 3x per week.
This is very true. Running is hard on the body and niggling injuries are very common unless you're lucky enough to be physiologically bulletproof. My worst injuries from running were when I in turn badly sprained each ankle in two successive years. It took ages to get them feeling right again. Going over on the ankle while walking is usually less disastrous.
|
| 6/30/2014 2:41:21 PM |
Walking for Fitness |
|
artist820
Tehachapi, CA
60, joined Jan. 2013
online now!
|
That is great that you lost weight walking up an incline.  I went down to a size 8 one year, but now I'm back up because the weather has been so warm and I moved further away from the mountain. With the weather change I'll have to use a machine on an incline this summer. I have to in shape to hike past the 60 year olds at Mammoth camp. As far as the "hip rotation" that is the only way I've seen fast walkers get their speed up. I'd rather jog than hurt my hip.
|
| 7/1/2014 12:05:20 AM |
Walking for Fitness |
|
rdeffley
San Jose, CA
36, joined Sep. 2009
|
Incline treadmill walking is AMAZING for fat loss and cardiovascular health. Plus it's low impact. Just make sure that you DON'T HOLD ONTO THE TREADMILL.
I'll set the treadmill at the max incline of 15% and set the speed @ 2.8-3.0mph. On flat ground this is a slow pace, but it's relatively fast and difficult walking uphill. I'll go for two mins straight, and then step off onto the sides to rest for one minute. I'll do this for ten rounds/30 mins. I'm drenched with sweat by the end and it keeps the HR at an average of 160-180. The calorie burn is around 400. Not bad for 30 mins of walking..LOL
|
| 7/1/2014 9:01:26 AM |
Walking for Fitness |
|
luckylouie42
Cedar Grove, WV
74, joined Mar. 2008
|
even if you don't loose a lot of weight with your walking program, you will definitely become more mobile by regular extended walking exercises.
|
| 7/3/2014 5:31:36 AM |
Walking for Fitness |
|
xashax
Union, NH
45, joined May. 2009
|
Yes I cant help but think it will help him tremendously with his flexibility and arthritis which sounds more minor so should respond well to exercise. I'm wondering if he should also be on one of those joint supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin. I was at the dentist a couple days ago looking at magazines in the waiting room and they had an advertisement for one called "Osteo Bi-Flex" but I'm wondering if he requires something more concentrated with this much walking at a fast pace almost daily.
|
| 7/9/2014 6:13:56 PM |
Walking for Fitness |
|
teeheehee_
Montreal, QC
35, joined Jun. 2014
|
Going for a walk now!
|
| 7/10/2014 3:20:45 AM |
Walking for Fitness |
|
josecuervosilv
Downey, CA
42, joined Jun. 2010
|
Incline treadmill walking is AMAZING for fat loss and cardiovascular health. Plus it's low impact. Just make sure that you DON'T HOLD ONTO THE TREADMILL.
I'll set the treadmill at the max incline of 15% and set the speed @ 2.8-3.0mph. On flat ground this is a slow pace, but it's relatively fast and difficult walking uphill. I'll go for two mins straight, and then step off onto the sides to rest for one minute. I'll do this for ten rounds/30 mins. I'm drenched with sweat by the end and it keeps the HR at an average of 160-180. The calorie burn is around 400. Not bad for 30 mins of walking..LOL
Much of the masses who don't like to run don't know much about the time-efficiency, convenience and benefits of treadmill uphill walking. And instead, they do nothing.
|
| 7/10/2014 5:28:14 AM |
Walking for Fitness |
|
xashax
Union, NH
45, joined May. 2009
|
It's very difficult. People don't realize. I only can do the 10% incline but I leave it on that a full 50 minutes and I'm doing that daily. It's pretty intense. In fact I'm off now.
|
| 7/10/2014 10:53:38 AM |
Walking for Fitness |
|
clarencec
South Yorkshire
United Kingdom
59, joined Oct. 2008
|
All I asked of these Brooks Glycerin shoes is that they last indefinitely without developing any visible signs of wear and they couldn't do that one simple thing. Yes, a bit unreasonable I s'pose, but this is what they're wearing like after a mere 8 weeks and 390 miles walked (with the very occasional jog). Look at that wearing through of the outer sole on the ball of the foot area, right shoe. Am I toeing off more powerfully on that side or what?
Another thing with these shoes. I don't like how they slip in the wet. It always feels like they're slipping backwards in the toe-off phase and losing traction. Maybe that's normal though and I'm complaining unduly. Don't racing car tyres have special rubber for coping with wet roads?
[Edited 7/10/2014 10:54:47 AM ]
|
| 7/10/2014 6:42:57 PM |
Walking for Fitness |
|
cupocheer
Assumption, IL
68, joined May. 2010
|
Clarence -- I'm curious --- what do you dress up as on Halloween?
|
| 7/10/2014 7:55:11 PM |
Walking for Fitness |
|
ragin_gaijin
AndowjCesena
Italy
24, joined Jun. 2014
|
Stop trolling DH 
|
| 7/12/2014 8:53:53 PM |
Walking for Fitness |
|
cupocheer
Assumption, IL
68, joined May. 2010
|
Clarence? Have you walked out on me?
|
| 7/14/2014 2:54:21 PM |
Walking for Fitness |
|
teeheehee_
Montreal, QC
35, joined Jun. 2014
|
^ lol 
Have you walked today?
|
| 7/15/2014 8:22:56 AM |
Walking for Fitness |
|
dixie_dancer
Kansas City, KS
28, joined Feb. 2013
|
With your speed walking your foot pivots more than simple running. I've had shoes with double the mileage on them from running look twice as good as yours.
Now something to think about is your route. If you make more right hand or left hand turns or curves. That can explain uneven wear. Honestly the other shoe looks like it's about ready to let loose there in the toe box portion as well. I can't say its too terribly different wear wise.
|
| 7/15/2014 7:43:03 PM |
Walking for Fitness |
|
spankedspoiled
Louisville, KY
47, joined Mar. 2014
|
I've been pace-walking, running. 3.5 miles a day, next week I will repeat the routine twice daily until I'm up to ten miles each day. Currently wearing nike air max, what is a good shoe for a female? I'm buying new shoes every two months
|
| 7/16/2014 1:04:58 AM |
Walking for Fitness |
|
clarencec
South Yorkshire
United Kingdom
59, joined Oct. 2008
|
.
With your speed walking your foot pivots more than simple running. I've had shoes with double the mileage on them from running look twice as good as yours.
Me too. I have a pair of Asics Gel 1110 shoes which have done 456 miles this year in addition to some running a few years ago. Not sure about their total mileage but the soles still have plenty of black tread.
A new pair here. Look at those "Go Faster" stripes.
Now something to think about is your route. If you make more right hand or left hand turns or curves. That can explain uneven wear. Honestly the other shoe looks like it's about ready to let loose there in the toe box portion as well. I can't say its too terribly different wear wise.
My routes are quite long circuits with no sharp turns in any preponderant direction, so that prolly isn't a contributory factor. My hypothesis is that I toe off harder with the right foot, this being the dominant one, hence there's more wear. They still feel okay to walk in but I'm gonna seek out some new ones when time permits. Perhaps something like this. I was perusing a race walking site where favourite shoes were being discussed, and they were enthusing about racing flats for runners and their desirable attributes for a walking gait of a low heel and flexible forefoot. And look at those colours. 
http://www.barringtonsports.com/products/asics_ss13_piranha_sp_4_mens_running_shoes_-_neutral_speed_2012/17165/view
|
| 7/27/2014 8:08:33 PM |
Walking for Fitness |
|
clarencec
South Yorkshire
United Kingdom
59, joined Oct. 2008
|
.
I've been pace-walking, running. 3.5 miles a day, next week I will repeat the routine twice daily until I'm up to ten miles each day. Currently wearing nike air max, what is a good shoe for a female? I'm buying new shoes every two months
Good luck with that. Twice a day walking sounds ambitious. I walk once a day and vary the distance between six and ten miles. I dunno if it's Big or Clever to do so, but I just like to impress myself with miles covered per week, in addition to striving for a fast pace. I started this latest fitness campaign at the end of January, and couldn't handle ten milers until April, but now I can do several in a week, if desired. Recently I narrowly failed to string together seven tens on consecutive days, but it was fun trying. Mostly. The calorie burning possibilities of being a mile monster are good too.
Replacing shoes regularly as both you and badchevy4x4babe do sounds sensible. I must admit to not changing mine often enough. These are the soles on my Brooks Glycerin's after 10 weeks and 527 miles walked.
They still feel reasonably okay despite the evident damage, except in the wet, where they don't feel grippy enough. I dunno what is a good shoe for a female, or any walker or runner in general. People have different gaits, sometimes with motion control issues, and prefer to walk or run on different surfaces. You could try consulting walking websites and Running mags for ideas on what to seek in a good shoe, and then maybe visit a specialist running shop and see what they have to offer. Specialist shops will often offer gait analysis and recommend shoes designed for a neutral footstrike or to control excess motion if needed. Sometimes an excess of pronation for instance, which is the tendency of the foot to roll inwards after the heelstrike, can cause pain and injury issues further up the leg. It's technical stuff. I reckon my footstrike is neutral. I tried motion control shoes in my running years in the 80's, such as Brooks Chariots with their patented "Diagonal Rollbar," but I reckon the nicest, most responsive shoes I ever owned was a pair of Adidas TRX Trainers. They were a simple design, almost minimalist, comprising flimsy uppers, a fairly firm rubber midsole, not much heel flare, and a charismatically studded outer sole.
I nostalgically Googled 'em recently and found Adidas re-released 'em in 2009 in a reissued edition of historic footwear dubbed "Adidas Originals." If my desires had been athletically engaged at that time I woulda bought some. Seemingly they're all sold out now and reconsigned to the dustbin of history.
In view of the projected imminent demise of the Glycerins and a continuing need to replace and renew shoes, I've been researching the topic recently, and partly inspired by misty eyed nostalgia at memories of my Adidas TRX trainers, have felt very enticed by the design philosophy of minimalist, so called "Zero Drop" shoes. These have the same height from the road from the heel to the forefoot of the shoe - the intent being to simulate running or walking barefoot. Makers of such shoes stress that although this may be more natural, it's also something that may require getting accustomed to, because essentially it calls for a different kind of footstrike to that allowed by shoes with a built up heel - like more of a landing on the midfoot. One thing I find enticing about the shoes is the forefoot flexibilty. There's a Youtube video where a reviewer demonstrated the flexibility on offer by rolling up a shoe. He's reviewing the previous version here - similar features though.
Merrell Road Glove Review
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVHNBzpptb8
A walking gait requires more flexibility in the forefoot than a running gait, so maybe this design of shoe will be more responsive than traditional designs and enhance speedular aspirations. Plus, well, they're just lighter than traditional shoes. Maybe it will be like attaching a pair of Mavic Ksyriums and lightweight tyres to a carbon framed racing bike.
Walking and running doesn't lend itself to equipment fetishism to quite the same extent as cycling. Basically, shoes are about it. Otherwise the human body is the main piece of equipment where performance gains can be sought.
Anyway, curiosity got the upper hand and I ordered some of these shoes from Amazon a few hours ago.
Product Description
Specially designed for natural running on hard surfaces, this easy-wash, zero drop Road Glove barefoot shoe sports a supportive, breathable fabric/mesh upper with a super snug fit, reflective details to keep you visible and 4mm of uniform, toe to heel light cushioning to buffer impacts. Long-lasting M-Select FRESH naturally eliminates sweat and its odour-causing bacteria with reactive, friendly microbes that break down perspiration on contact with natural enzymes.This shoe features a Vibram outsole, with a lug pattern that provides stability in all conditions, with no lugs placed under the arch, so your foot flexes more naturally for greater comfort. The rubber compound ensures traction on both wet and dry surfaces in even the most extreme temperatures.Features:*Mesh and TPU upper*Protective toe cap*Reflective details for increased visibility in low light*Wash as needed in cold water, gentle cycle and air dry*0mm Drop / 4mm Cush / 9.5mm Stack Height
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Merrell-Glove-Running-Shoes-J06247/dp/B00FYQGU3Q/ref=sr_1_1?s=shoes&ie=UTF8&qid=1406509005&sr=1-1&keywords=merrell+road+glove+3+running+shoes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZanURsX3fc
[Edited 7/27/2014 8:11:39 PM ]
|
| 9/27/2014 6:29:31 PM |
Walking for Fitness |
|
maviebaby400
Salt Lake City, UT
54, joined Mar. 2014
|
I walk everyday
|
| 9/28/2014 1:07:22 AM |
Walking for Fitness |
|
dougiem
Tucson, AZ
36, joined Aug. 2009
|
Anyway, curiosity got the upper hand and I ordered some of these shoes from Amazon a few hours ago.
Let me know how those work out for you, man. I have a pair of Nike Shocks that absolutely suck and I need to replace soon, especially since I plan on upping my cardio.
|
| 9/28/2014 10:50:41 AM |
Walking for Fitness |
|
clyde222
Minooka, IL
53, joined Dec. 2012
|
When I first started my weight loss program, I started walking first. I would walk on my breaks at work. Could get around the building 2x's in 15 mins. Now 2 yrs later and 90 lbs lighter I can make it 4x's around in 15 mins. I have expanded from walking to going to the gym to work out. I've expanded to a personal trainer. She really kicks butt....but it is really sculpting my body like it's never looked before.
|
| 11/11/2014 2:45:08 PM |
Walking for Fitness |
|
nicela
San Francisco, CA
62, joined Sep. 2010
|
I love walking - looking for a walking buddy nearby in San Francisco or Daly City. 
|
| 4/1/2015 6:54:51 AM |
Walking for Fitness |
|
clarence2
South Yorkshire
United Kingdom
59, joined May. 2011
|
.
Let me know how those work out for you, man. I have a pair of Nike Shocks that absolutely suck and I need to replace soon, especially since I plan on upping my cardio.
I liked the shoes once accustomed to them and got my 10 mile walk Personal Best down to 2:04:52 (12:29 per mile average), but last September I was stricken with patellofemoral pain and haven't done any significant walking or running since then. Instead, I've been doing remedial exercises in the gym since September to build up the vastus medialis (inner thigh muscle), 'cause this approach worked 10 years ago for a similar injury of the same knee that developed after a prolonged habit of industrial grade cycling activity. What can happen with certain forms of exercise (like cycling) is the outer quadriceps muscle can become stronger than the inner one and pull the patella (kneecap) sideways, making it mistrack in the femoral groove, resulting in irritation to the underside of the patella.
&
Anyway, the knee has felt improved over the past week or so and I even did a few bike rides with no adverse reactions, So I'm hoping to soon resume some form of endurance exercise on a regular habitual basis.
|
| 4/7/2015 8:55:11 PM |
Walking for Fitness |
|
ladybugruth58
Patton, PA
58, joined Feb. 2014
|
last year I lost 60 pounds walking and exercising... gained 10 over the winter... just started walking outside again yesterday... it feels so good afterwards...
|
| 4/9/2015 10:32:46 AM |
Walking for Fitness |
|
clarence2
South Yorkshire
United Kingdom
59, joined May. 2011
|
last year I lost 60 pounds walking and exercising... gained 10 over the winter... just started walking outside again yesterday... it feels so good afterwards...
60 pounds weight loss is a laudable achievment. And from my own experience of switching from positive to negative thinking mode, the weight gain winter phase is understandable. Good luck with this year's campaign. I'm trying to get in the endurance exercise habit again but my right knee is still playing up and protesting by feeling mildly disturbed or painful. Maybe I could hop or something.
|