Recommendations from health and fitness experts is that one should walk 5 miles daily – even at 60+; I can’t do that with my gimpy leg.
WALKING BENEFITS: https://www.healthline.com/health/exercise-fitness/average-walking-speed#takeaway
But I think I should be
able to handle 4-miles without inflaming that piriformis muscle.
So that is what my starting point
is … and I got that underway this morning.
I stopped at the Short
Stop Store, across from the Boondox, to grab a quick bite; it’s been a while
since I’ve been there. It was strange walking into that store without Bob –
I’d always been with Bob and the kids (all the kids; grands, includes).
For 44 years, Bob and I had stopped there, off-n-on; getting from point A to
point B along Ocean Beach Highway. Walking through the door went okay:
my stomach did not get queasy, and tears did not sting my eyes. I found I could
speak without a shaky voice while the cashier checked me. My heart is
healing.
It was 60-degrees outside,
and the Plan was to walk Lake Sacajawea, because that is a guaranteed 4-mile
hike if one walks the entire Lake Trail. The trail was workable today (flood
waters had abated) – parking was not. I drove around the lake three
times hoping for open spot to slide into, before going elsewhere to do my
4-mile walk. There was curb-side parking, but I would rather park off-road,
in the little off-road parking lot.
I left downtown Longview,
and parked in the parking lot on 30th and Pacific Way; to walk that
end of the Pacific Way Trail.
I didn’t get
very far into the hike (31
minutes – 15 minutes walking, turn around; 15 minutes back), before I
had to leave due to drifting smoke on the air.
I was really
beginning to think my walking aspirations were jinxed: no parking at the Lake … and now being run off
the Pacific Way Trail by smoke.
But
I was determined to get my 4-miles in!
So far, I’d
only managed 1½ miles.
After
the drifting smoke clouds forced me into the Highlander; I drove to Willow
Grove, which is closer to home.
I added 2 more miles to my goal 😊
After collecting the mail,
and parking in the carport at home; I decided to relax my leg a bit. I balanced
the checkbook, shredded the junk mail, and checked social media messages before
putting my coat on and walking the final mile around the Park.
It was close to the dusking
hour, but still light enough to walk without a light source.
The setting sun was lovely
at the far end of the Park.
Walking a daily 4 miles is doable without stressing that gimpy leg – and if necessary, I can
even break it down into a 2-mile walk/twice a day 😉
