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How to Walk (12 miles a day)

walkingtheworld.substack.com

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Re: How to Walk (12 miles a day)

#221

Post by akshatmittal108 »

georgeoliver wrote: post #220

I love to walk, I think people should walk more, but I'm baffled by the logic(?) when the author writes, > Walking twelve miles takes about three and a half hours. Most people don’t have that time, not people with kids, commutes, and full time jobs. A more realistic goal is around seven miles, which takes about two hours. Maybe they mean spread out over the course of the day?

I think the idea is to walk for a longer time rather than in chunks to engage in deeper thinking. If the purpose is fitness, then I agree it can be spread out over the course of the day. Little breaks in the middle also help in thought process but for me it usually leads to focussing only on the immediate problem at hand without allowing the thought process to meander a bit so as to gain a different perspective.

Re: How to Walk (12 miles a day)

#222

Post by jasonwatkinspdx »

nahmean wrote: post #128
timerol wrote: post #36

I find the anti-backpack mindset interesting, because I started urban walking after getting wilderness backpacking experience. I can't imagine walking around without a daypack, and I often bring it with me even when it's empty. On my morning commute today it held a Kindle, a spare set of headphones, and a plastic bag for when I buy more groceries than can fit in the pack. I'm probably not going to use any of those be…

Perhaps an odd thing to ask, but what are you packing in your backpack for coffee? That sounds lovely, but between the need for hot water, the subpar quality of most powdered coffees, etc, it has seemed out of reach.

For wilderness backpacking I'm a big fan of Jet Boil and their clones. You can make your own freeze dried / just add water meals pretty easily, only using it to boil water for that and drinks. They make a french press insert that actually works ok. Personally I just converted over to earl grey tea. It's crazy convenient to just do one boil for food, one for coffee / tea, and nothing to clean or pack out but a zip lock bag.

For urban backpacking the more high end thermoses are really effective at keeping stuff hot once you've made it.

Re: How to Walk (12 miles a day)

#223

Post by ck2 »

While walking is better than sitting for three hours, if your heartrate is not getting out of zone one you are doing virtually nothing for your health.

Jogging for 45 minutes daily will actually improve your health.

Re: How to Walk (12 miles a day)

#224

Post by wenc »

aerostable_slug wrote: post #111
dionidium wrote: post #83

> I will end by saying, as a guy, I have never had any problems from other people. In all my years walking all over. But that it is sadly very very different for women. He's either only walking in exceptionally safe areas, he's very large, or I have a particularly punchable face. I biked every road in St. Louis a few years ago, which required biking every street in some high-crime neighborhoods. I was frequently made…

I would invert your statement and posit you were riding in very dangerous areas. Most of the US is very safe compared to St. Louis, Chicago, Oakland, Richmond (CA), Detroit, Atlanta, etc. Don't go to stupid places filled with stupid people doing stupid things and you'll likely be okay — and this includes bars after midnight just about anywhere. Nothing good happens after midnight, but I digress. I agree with you that…

I live in a downtown Chicago neighborhood. I would say that outside of certain neighborhoods, it’s pretty safe. I go for long walks all the time with no concerns. Time of day matters somewhat too. I rarely venture out after midnight.

I’m not a particularly imposing person but I grew up in a big city so I know how to navigate one. Less savvy people might have lower thresholds for safety.

Re: How to Walk (12 miles a day)

#225

Post by wenc »

gautamcgoel wrote: post #148
aerostable_slug wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would invert your statement and posit you were riding in very dangerous areas. Most of the US is very safe compared to St. Louis, Chicago, Oakland, Richmond (CA), Detroit, Atlanta, etc. Don't go to stupid places filled with stupid people doing stupid things and you'll likely be okay — and this includes bars after midnight just about anywhere. Nothing good happens after midnight, but I digress. I agree with you that…

I'm from Atlanta, and it's interesting to see ATL on this list. Does ATL have a reputation as a "rough" city? Not offended, just curious.

I stayed in downtown ATL for a bit and it seemed pretty safe. It’s not a particularly rough city. Downtown isn’t particularly walkable though, with its 4 lane 1 way streets. I ended up driving a lot.

Re: How to Walk (12 miles a day)

#226

Post by p00dles »

bmj wrote: post #40
timerol wrote: post #36

I find the anti-backpack mindset interesting, because I started urban walking after getting wilderness backpacking experience. I can't imagine walking around without a daypack, and I often bring it with me even when it's empty. On my morning commute today it held a Kindle, a spare set of headphones, and a plastic bag for when I buy more groceries than can fit in the pack. I'm probably not going to use any of those be…

I cannot deal when a backpack when the temperature is above 65 degrees Fahrenheit, for the very reason Arnade gives -- a sweaty back. I've been using a Nittany Mountain Works fanny pack on bike rides recently (the larger model will carry A5 notebooks, which is plenty big for my non-work commuting since I'm remote full time now). I guess I will still deal with a sweaty lower back, but that's better than my entire back…

Sir/madam, have you ever tried an Osprey that suspends the weight of the bag off of your back with a sturdy piece of mesh and very minimal metal internal frame?[1] (I think Osprey pioneered this, other manufacturers now have it too). It has been life changing for me. I use it daily for commuting, and just finished 3-week tour through 3 countries with laptop, Kindle, and everything else packed inside this one bag. I’m sure Osprey has smaller versions if 34L is too much.

[1] https://www.osprey.com/us/en/product/tropos-TROPOSF19.html

Re: How to Walk (12 miles a day)

#227

Post by littlecranky67 »

bmj wrote: post #40
timerol wrote: post #36

I find the anti-backpack mindset interesting, because I started urban walking after getting wilderness backpacking experience. I can't imagine walking around without a daypack, and I often bring it with me even when it's empty. On my morning commute today it held a Kindle, a spare set of headphones, and a plastic bag for when I buy more groceries than can fit in the pack. I'm probably not going to use any of those be…

I cannot deal when a backpack when the temperature is above 65 degrees Fahrenheit, for the very reason Arnade gives -- a sweaty back. I've been using a Nittany Mountain Works fanny pack on bike rides recently (the larger model will carry A5 notebooks, which is plenty big for my non-work commuting since I'm remote full time now). I guess I will still deal with a sweaty lower back, but that's better than my entire back…

I fixed that by using a small gym sack for longer (mostly urban) walks and hikes. There are some with rather thick ropes, and they are quite comfy if you don't pack them too heavyweight. Also lets your back breathe due to the smaller area covered, and the ropes are narrow enough to not leave a sweatmark (as opposed to straps).

Re: How to Walk (12 miles a day)

#228

Post by pbhjpbhj »

js2 wrote: post #156
pbhjpbhj wrote: post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How many hours walking did you do to go 105mi? I'm finding that hard to believe. 200mi in a day, wow, but what's the record for walking, yours has to be close?

I was a little ambiguous there. It was a 24 hour race around a 1.5 mi loop. I completed 105 miles in a combination of walking/running, probably about a 50/50 split between the two. Stopped only to use the restroom and for shoe/sock changes. The race supplied food and drink. I've also completed 12 hour races (I get to around 62 miles/100 km), and I've done distance races of 50 miles and 100 miles. My best time for 100…

Crazy! Thanks for a very full reply.

Re: How to Walk (12 miles a day)

#229

Post by dkersten »

stevesearer wrote: post #61
dkersten wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree completely. I used to listen to music and stuff a lot while walking or even commuting but a few years ago I decided to give up on most idle listening, preferring to listen to music or podcasts with intent now: eg to enjoy some music, not just passively. I used to walk a lot (I still walk a good bit but because I work from home I don’t walk to work each day anymore) and I found the quiet time to be the best ti…

When you set out do you have a mental agenda or do you find that your mind gravitates toward worthwhile topics once you're walking? I'm more a mind wanderer, though for a season I tried to mentally prepare myself for the transition from being at a controlled work environment to walking into a house with two young kids at the end of the day.

Unless there’s something specific on my mind beforehand (eg I’m trying to solve a problem I’m working on or having), no, my goal is generally not to purposefully think about anything and let my mind wander instead. I found often my best thoughts come in their own, when I’m not actively trying to think them.

Re: How to Walk (12 miles a day)

#230

Post by dkersten »

lupire wrote: post #94
dkersten wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree completely. I used to listen to music and stuff a lot while walking or even commuting but a few years ago I decided to give up on most idle listening, preferring to listen to music or podcasts with intent now: eg to enjoy some music, not just passively. I used to walk a lot (I still walk a good bit but because I work from home I don’t walk to work each day anymore) and I found the quiet time to be the best ti…

> > process existing thoughts as opposed to consuming more inputs > I agree completely. > preferring to listen to music or podcasts with intent now: eg to enjoy some music, not just passively. That's the opposite of what parent suggested.

Sibling comment is correct. What I meant is I don’t listen to music/podcasts by default: when I walk, I walk in silence. I don’t use audio as background noise.

Instead, when I listen to music, it’s usually by sitting down deliberately to exclusively listen to music. The music isn’t idle background noise but rather the point of that activity. I enjoy music a lot more now, I find.

In general I try to have silence where in the past I would have had audio playing in the background. So definitely while walking but also while working (since I’m working from home and don’t need to drown out office noises).

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