For the past three weeks, I’ve been getting up an hour earlier three days a week, at 430 instead of 530 to walk three miles.  It has never been a challenge for me to get up because I have someone I walk with.  She motivates me to put my feet on the ground when that alarm wakes me from a sound and relaxing sleep.  It would be SO easy to turn the alarm off, roll over, grab my covers and fall back to sleep but the pressure of knowing I’ve made this commitment motivates me to get up.  I can honestly say that if I didn’t have a partner to walk with I wouldn’t be motivated to do so.  I’ve noticed progress too.

When we began walking a few weeks ago, it would take us about an hour to do three miles.  Last Friday (August 10) we shaved about ten minutes off our time and mph has been steadily increasing as well.  We started out walking between 3.5 and 3.75 mph.  On Friday (again the 10th) I noticed our mph was up to 4.1.  We’ve discussed looking for others to join us but if there is ONE thing about the two of us that is challenging it’s that we don’t like when someone is dragging us down.

In other words if someone is not keeping our pace we get agitated.  Personally, I know that if I’m out on my own and simply walking through town or walking ANYWHERE for that matter and if someone is in front of me and just taking their time and slowing me down, I can become quite frustrated, especially if I can’t pass them.  My normal gait, while not 4.1 mph is a bit faster than your average person and I REALLY get frustrated when someone is holding me back.

I think now that I’m actively walking three days a week and building up my endurance, my gait may pick up a bit more.  If that’s the case, I’ll have to be more cognizant of other people because I’ll naturally want to be walking at a quicker pace now that I’ve been able to build my overall endurance.

I notice now as I’ve been exercising on a more regular basis, the muscles in my legs are straining to keep up with my endurance.  They are aching a bit for the first few hours after I’m done.  That’s a good thing though, because it shows that I’m actually using them and as I walk more the ache will dissipate.

So who motivates you?
What are you doing to improve your own health?

Be Happy!  Be Well!  Be Positive!
Blessings to you.
—
Chris