My friend in Pittsburgh recently invited me to participate in his company's "Walk Across America" challenge. As part of this challenge, for the next few weeks I am wearing a pedometer and recording my steps in an online fitness journal. The pedometer looks sort of like a beeper so I feel very "official."
To kick-start the step recording, I decided to get all of my errands done and go to the gym while enjoying the nice weather this past Monday. With my pedometer snapped on I walked to the metro, worked out, and then walked to the grocery store, drug store, and home. I kept watching the steps increase on the pedometer and kept getting more motivated.
I enjoyed the gorgeous weather (before it dropped over 30 degrees!) and the neighborhood while fitting in exercise and finishing my errands. I could have easily jumped in my car and drove around town-- and my number of steps would have reflected. Walking and taking transit really do make you more active and help you get in the daily recommended 10,000 steps. Even today, a routine workday, I've logged nearly 6,000 steps before 5pm and my gym workout.
I'm really enjoying this challenge- it's like a game each day to see if i can get more steps in (except for Sundays when sleeping in is the main priority!). I keep thinking about how I can increase my steps. Any suggestions? How do you get your 10000 in?
I've lived in Arlington for five years and don't find it a friendly place for walking. Typically, I take the Metro home and jump in my car to run errands as there is almost no retail between my Metro stop (Ballston) and my house in Waycroft-Woodlawn. There is no enforcement of the crosswalk law and sidewalks are inadequate. And don't even get me started about the Metro. Commuting from Ballston is excruciating as too much high-rise development has poured too many people into infrastructure that wasn't designed for this population.
Posted by: Leslie Miller | February 23, 2008 at 10:15 AM