Wednesday, November 07, 2007

A Long Walk...

What's the old joke? Take a long walk on a short pier. I'll pass on the pier, but I do need to take long walks, and I need to do so at a brisk pace. Even if it is on the treadmill. This posting is for me. When I think to do something I am not terribly likely to follow through. When I tell another person it becomes more likely that I will. When I tell you all...well, it is going to happen (I hope...and digress).

I was a marathon runner not too many years ago when a ruptured disc took out some nerves and left my left thigh permanently weakened. I was unable to run further than 25 yards. My level of exercise fell dramatically until I found kayaking, but it hasn't been enough. Where I used to have a resting heart rate of 50 (35-40 during sleep), I now seldom have rates below 70...and that alone is a risk factor for heart disease and diabetes. At my age, I need to act and to act now.

So, I've committed to walking some on every day I don't paddle. I will start slowly and build up to an hour of brisk walking. When weather is bad...and I mean lots of snow that makes it hard to use the bum leg...I will do the walk on a treadmill. Enough said.

Good to see JB posting again. He is a source of common sense and tons of knowledge in navigation and the business end of the business. His blog today is universally timely.

Time to brew the coffee (okay, so it's instant) and stretch out my back. Not paddling today, but there was something else I was going to do. If only I could remember.

Paddle safe...

DS

3 comments:

Michael said...

OK, we're watching... Don't ya mess up now, 'cause, well, just 'cause! Good luck. We'll encourage you now and then to keep up!

Silbs said...

I welcome the encouragement. I already took a brisk 30 minute walk for today and just might paddle Thursday.

Captn O Dark 30 and Super Boo said...

I'm with ya...
Doing an every other day thing as well. Bad knees bad back and terrible neck problems...

Brisk walk and some hill work: Mon - Wed - Fri.

Paddle: Tue - Thu - Sat

Sunday rest, unless the weather Gods make an offer that can't be refused.

Boo and I are paddling the Lake Country area this weekend. Interested?