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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)

#51

Post by dkersten »

stevesearer wrote: post #8

After walking to and from work for 5 years along the same route, I found that I prefer walking without listening to anything on headphones. Just thinking increases awareness of my surroundings, allows me time to process existing thoughts as opposed to consuming more inputs, and connects me to the people I would inevitably see on a semi-regular basis. Personally, I have found that 1 hour + is a good threshold to aim f…

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 time to come up with solutions to problems, to reflect on my life or day, to just wind down and switch off, to enjoy nature (when I walk to walk, as opposed to walking to reaching a destination, I typically walk along a river near my home). I think we are overstimulated far far too much and some quiet time and boredom is good for the brain and certainly it’s good for creativity.

Re: How to Walk (12 miles a day)

#52

Post by imoverclocked »

stevesearer wrote: post #22
astrobe_ wrote: post #18

As for safety, always look left and right when you cross, just like how your were probably taught as a child, really . Because of today's rise of mostly silent electric vehicles, and because of drivers distracted by phones sometimes, you should not cross "by hear", if it ever was a good idea (I used to do that), even if you have the green light . Be extra cautious if a large truck or bus blocks your view. Remove your…

Another benefit of regular walking is that you grow more attentive and courteous to pedestrians when you are driving.

So much this; It's really easy to be upset at others for not conforming to your expectations in a car. Stepping into another mode of transportation (walking/cycling/even a different kind of motor-vehicle) can do a lot to expand your awareness of others constraints.

Re: How to Walk (12 miles a day)

#53

Post by zdragnar »

stevesearer wrote: post #24
TrevorJ wrote: post #3

Taking walks with friends or colleagues is a vastly underrated activity and leads to some great conversations.

It is interesting how much more natural a side-by-side walking conversation feels than a sit-across-the-table coffee shop conversation.

I had a manager who (back when we were office workers) liked to do outdoor walking 1-on-1 meetings. TBH, I really disliked it, but not enough to ask to stay indoors. I found the noise and sights rather distracting.

Re: How to Walk (12 miles a day)

#54

Post by lacrosse_tannin »

subroutine wrote: post #20

I know it's not really the point of this missive, but I average right around 12 miles per day at my treadmill desk. So for anyone who'd like to multitask their walking and work, I'd highly recommend trying it. After about a month the walking bit really becomes second nature.

Can the treadmill go backwards?

Re: How to Walk (12 miles a day)

#55

Post by darrenf »

balaji1 wrote: post #26

Great article hashing out the details of implementing regular long walks as a habit. However, it would be cool if there was a way to get paid for walking. That would motivate a lot more people, even if it is minimal pay. Walk-to-earn crypto game anyone?

Sweatcoin are launching a token later this year. https://sweatco.in/

Re: How to Walk (12 miles a day)

#56

Post by saiya-jin »

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 am coming from same path as you describe - hiker to the core. Be it 2 hours or 3 weeks in himalaya. That's my past 14 years of life described (with some climbing, ski touring and few other sports on top, but this is the solid base).

I have 2 small kids now, and they are really not in best shape for long hikes or anything more extreme. Son on baby backpack would be 20 kilos without any further equipment/food required.

So I switched to long evening walks during work week after they go sleep. 2-3h, up to 10km. Luckily there are some nice options around me, so I try to variate things a bit every time, join things in loops and so on. Often music in the ears, very dark, walking in the forests where path surface is not really visible, rather than just very weak line and I trust my feet (and know the surface is not really tricky since I walked it 100x already).

Walking fast, as fast as my legs allow it for prolonged time (one gets this sense after some time spent doing it, pushing oneself too much is very bad idea). Also not fan of backpacks for this, rather stuffing pockets of jacket with everything required.

Its magical, clears head, tons of ideas come to me, for family, work, anything. Sometimes I struggle to write it all down and not forget anything. Sometimes smoking a bit of weed which makes this process more smooth. One activity that keeps such previously-active person as me still sane, even if kids sometimes try hard to push me the other way.

Re: How to Walk (12 miles a day)

#57

Post by dinkleberg »

balaji1 wrote: post #26

Great article hashing out the details of implementing regular long walks as a habit. However, it would be cool if there was a way to get paid for walking. That would motivate a lot more people, even if it is minimal pay. Walk-to-earn crypto game anyone?

What service does you walking generate for others that they should pay you to do it?

As a daily walker, I have to say it is its own reward.

Re: How to Walk (12 miles a day)

#58

Post by tailsdog »

balaji1 wrote: post #26

Great article hashing out the details of implementing regular long walks as a habit. However, it would be cool if there was a way to get paid for walking. That would motivate a lot more people, even if it is minimal pay. Walk-to-earn crypto game anyone?

> However, it would be cool if there was a way to get paid for walking.

Dog walker

Re: How to Walk (12 miles a day)

#60

Post by kingaillas »

hombre_fatal wrote: post #49
werber wrote: post #41

This has been my norm for most of adult life, and I recently discovered Chaclas which kinda feel like a cross between Birkenstocks and Teva and are a breeze to walk 15 to 20 miles in. Highly recommend checking out their sandals

Can you link to the sandals you’re talking about? Only thing that comes up for me are the misspelling of chanclas, the generic word for sandals in spanish.

Not the OP, but maybe they meant chacos? (https://www.chacos.com/)

I have a pair and as an avid hiker and trail runner... I'm not sure I'd walk 15-20 miles in them. I have other better-suited footwear for that!

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