27 Comments
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Michael's avatar

It’s amazing that something simple as walking can have long term benefits to your health. Especially if you add weight while you walk. I am an ER nurse and usually get 12k steps on the days I work. I also take the stairs and recently added weight and in my backpack I carry into work to make the 0.3 mile walk from the parking garage more beneficial. All thanks to your newsletters and books. Keep it up. Looking forward to the next book.

Alfredo Moreno's avatar

Reading Comfort Crisis really awakened me to the value of getting your steps and jump-starting your physical fitness engine via the intentionally long parking lot walk. For starters, it's been so much more relaxing to just pull immediately into the first spot I see at the back of a busy lot, instead of circling around waiting/hoping to find the perfect close-proximity spot. But especially on a day where I haven't been killing it fitness wise, that sneaky long/vigorous parking lot walk often jump starts my mood and inspires me to go further and do something more that day. Nature is king, but don't underestimate the impact that (formerly crappy) long parking lot walk can have!

Megan Purcell's avatar

More photos of Duke please!!! And now I'm going to go take my dog for a walk 😀🐕‍🦺

Dawn Smith's avatar

Fantastic reminder, as always. The trail was covered in frozen slush this morning—it took my husband and me 10 minutes longer than usual to do our regular morning walk—but it's always worth it to start the day covering ground outside!

Kevin Bowman's avatar

My walks are frequently tied with my 🐕, who’s less concerned about cadence and more with who peed last on that stump.

Michelle Hamerslough's avatar

My mother was a dedicated walker, nearly every day for as long as I can remember. When she couldn't walk anymore because of arthritis she switched to exercising in a pool. She lived to 99 years and most of those years she lived independently in her own home. She wasn't a health nut at all, but I think that keeping active - the walking and she also did gardening and all her own housework - that kept her in good shape physically and mentally for many years. It's been an inspiration for me and I've been a walker, hiker, gardener, and so-so keeper of my home for a long time and hope to reap the benefits as I think my mother did.

Michael Easter's avatar

Your mom leaves us all with a great lessons.

My grandma's best friend walked 5 miles a day up until her low 90s. She's still as active as she can be—and nearing 100 now.

Team Freyta's avatar

Love this! Can’t wait for the new book. And we are stoked for the new pup! After we lost or last GSP I was really bummed at home by myself at times Sammy found a GWP and I’m never bored anymore!!! He’s my trail running buddy when Sammy is working.

Love you. Don’t die.

-Dave

Sam Alaimo's avatar

Thank you for this. I sent it to my mom. And for those whose professions are phone based, I cannot recommend a walking pad enough. Given Michael's info here, it is life changing—and apparently it is life saving.

Michael Easter's avatar

I love hearing that you sent this to your mom.

Sara Tucker Howe's avatar

LOVE THIS!! I was just thinking, oh its kind of cold today, maybe i'll skip my walk. As my 9 year old german shorthaired pointer is looking at me, I now think its time to go walk her, all bundled up. No such thing as bad weather, just bad gear :) thanks for this article and the reminder that the simple things are really the best things.

Dom Sutton's avatar

Walk with vigor!!

Alexa Linscott's avatar

Always inspired by walking posts, I know it’s good to walk but sometimes you need the reminder!

Michael Easter's avatar

Haha that's EXACTLY why I run them. We often forget that the simplest stuff is most powerful.

Marnye Langer's avatar

You have inspired me since I read the Comfort Crisis!

Michael Easter's avatar

Thanks for reading the book!

Ross's avatar

I love walking, it’s the one form of exercise I consistently do, I have two dogs and one’s a 10 month lab/pointer cross, so I understand your situation completely. Mentally I always feel better after a long walk and rucking makes it even more beneficial.

Recently I did a 10 mile ruck with 35lbs in 2.5 hours. I wfh but can’t walk around to take the calls so I walk outside of my working hours and it’s been a lifesaver, sneaking them in during lunch breaks or in the time before or after work.

Don Rush's avatar

What is the equivalent miles or steps if you walk with weight? Is walking 3 miles or 6000 steps equivalent to 7000, 8000, or is it the same?

Lex's avatar

“Solvitur Ambulando”- It is solved by walking - St Augustine

Michael Rogers's avatar

What's the current "wisdom" on listening to music/podcast/audiobook while walking? When hiking or walking the dog, I usually don't listen to anything (I'm either enjoying nature or talking to the dog, lol). But a walk alone through the neighborhood is sometimes more enjoyable with a playlist (and a ruck, of course).