March 20th was the official first day of Spring and with the lighter days and even a bit of sunshine in Scotland it is time to step up my fitness game.
Back in 2012, I was a national Step Count Champion before becoming a try-athlete (I would try any sport), but various life events, from the pandemic to working from home, knee pain, broken bones and recently, the return of Optic Neuritis, have led me to become more sedentary than I’d like.
I’ve been searching for something to help me maintain my fitness drive, and I remembered what kickstarted my success back in 2012.
Walking.
The Power of Walking
Walking is much more than a way to get from one place to another. It is a lifestyle choice that lets you break from daily stress, soak in nature, and improve your overall well being.
Walking is a natural mood enhancer. When you set off on a brisk walk, your body releases endorphins and serotonin—those feel-good hormones that help lift our spirits. This daily activity not only reduces stress but also clears your mind. Imagine the calm that comes with leaving behind the task of work for a few moments of nature’s embrace.
Walking acts like a gentle meditation often creating a quiet sense of inner peace. It gives your brain the chance to reset, resulting in improved focus and reduced anxiety. When you are immersed in the sights and sounds of nature, you will discover a well of positivity and gratitude. This emotional uplift can be transformative, helping you face daily challenges with a refreshed perspective while providing you with a greater sense of stewardship for the world around you and the wonderful creatures we share it with.
And physically, walking is a powerhouse. It is a low-impact exercise that improves your cardiovascular health, tones muscles, and boosts overall fitness. It is an effective way to manage weight and lower the risk of chronic illnesses. When you choose to walk to and from your office or take regular strolls in your local park, you are actively investing in your body’s long-term health.
As much as you can walk on your own, walking with a loved one, friend, or colleague transforms exercise into a social activity. It is the perfect chance to catch up, share laughs, and build stronger bonds. Walking together provides mutual support and encouragement while walking with a friend or in a group also adds a layer of security.
Walking My Way to Fitness
I always do better when I set myself goals. I usually start small and then increase the challenge. My first goal and the foundation of success was consistency. I would walk a minimum of 7500 steps a day, every day, and then increase it to 10,000.
Working at home for half the week doesn’t help, so I built in time to walk before starting work, during lunch, and after dinner. Pre-breakfast and pre-lunch walks are generally short but completing both helps me reach midway of my daily goal.
My days in the office are when I bank some miles, walking the 2.6 miles to and from walk and often walking during my lunchbreak. The recent weather made this easier, but having lived in Glasgow most of my life I know that the rain is never far away and it’s return is not a surprise.
And that’s where my role as part of the adidas blogger community helps. I cannot allow rain to derail me or give me an excuse not to walk
I am absolutely obsessed with rain, so it might not come as a surprise that I have added waterproof trainers to my kit, thanks to adidas.
I picked up, again thanks to adidas, a Terrex Rain.Rdy Cap to keep my face (and primarily, my glasses) reasonably dry. In Glasgow, the rain comes at you from all directions and this will no doubt be used in conjunction with a hooded jacket
I mentioned earlier that my approach would be to gradually increase my goals and while I love walking, I also want to get back on my back and again, I’ve taken steps to reduce the likelihood of me finding excuses not to and that means also adding another waterproofing piece of kit.
Wanting a lightweight jacket that would protect me from the elements, I went searching for a suitable adidas jacket. With its drop tail hem, adjustable hood, elastic cuffs, and inner pocket, the Five Ten All-Mountain Rain Jacket seemed a perfect fit. And it had to be. I am still far heavier than I want to be and having it available in an XXL was both welcome and currently necessary.
As much as I wanted to get back on my bike, I enjoyed the walks in the sunshine and despite losing 12lbs (and 4 inches from my waist) from my heaviest at the start of April, I still don’t feel ready to switch gears.
But I have ensured my bike is road ready, checking brakes and tyres. I’ve walked over 600,000 steps so far and I’m aiming for 1 million by July. I’ll hopefully also continue to lose fa, increase my fitness, and rid myself of the Optic Neuritis which has returned, before resuming my try-athlete ways.
I’ll do an update in July and hopefully this approach of walking my way to fitness will be successful.
This blog was supported by adidas as part of my role in the adidas blogger community.
