Things I Learned from Walking 5 Miles a Day for 1 Year

Lately, I’ve been waking up in the middle of the night with sudden thoughts. Things like jokes, ideas and writing prompts. After the idea strikes, I go back to sleep, but in the morning I remember. So far, I’ve followed up on everything.

My first midnight prompt was what my husband should give up for Lent (we’re not Catholic). He was out of town and it seemed so humorous that I texted him in the middle of the night. The next morning, with a little clarity, I realized my joke was not that funny. 

Next, I had the idea to plan a fun week for my daughter who is several states away and was feeling down. The next morning I ran the idea past her and she was game. So I proceeded to arrange lunch with a friend, send her on a sort of scavenger hunt and lay out visits to a museum and a unique bookstore. 

My latest inspiration is the title of a blog post: 5 Things I Learned from Walking 5 Miles a Day. I woke up with this, turned over and went back to sleep. So in the spirit of following up, I’m writing. 

Back Story

Here’s how my walks began. 

I took a stand on Memorial Day 2020 after more than 2 months of quarantine. For weeks I’d stocked the pantry with chocolate-covered almonds, baked too often and moved too little.

I remembered my boys’ football seasons and their summer 2-a-days. So I committed to my own 2-a-days: 5 to 6-mile walks. (with Sundays off)

After a week or so, Scott joined me. Every day we walked. Rain or shine. 80% humidity or not. We doubled my goal. Seven hundred miles and 10 weeks later, we’d walked holes into our shoes. 

Connect to Nature

The first morning, I walked out my front door, behind the high school, into a grove of towering oak and maple trees, sun dappling through the leaves. So many leaves. It was a burst of nature. 

One evening, as the sun disappeared, I saw a tiny flash of light. And then another. And another. I stopped to watch the lightning bug show. Or do you call them fireflies?

It took me to summer nights that don’t cool down. When my brothers, sister and I played hide and seek with neighbor kids. 

I walked from summer into fall. The grove of trees went from green to yellow, orange and red. 

Connect to Other People

We noticed an older gentleman on our walks. He sits in the morning shade with his newspaper and phone. He catches the evening shade in a different spot.

The sight of him conjures my dad and I try to greet him even when he is deep into his crossword puzzle. 

We’ve seen him walking, shoulders hunched, with deliberate steps on the gravel path.

Yesterday on our walk uphill, he approached us going down.

He spoke first, “Good Morning, Fellow Travelers.” 

His words seemed steeped with the wisdom of someone who has traveled the good road. 

Three days later our friend was in his usual spot, working his crossword puzzle, a Panera bag near his chair. We stopped to introduce ourselves. He turned up his hearing aid. 

We learned what he did for a living, that his children live near and that his wife passed away a year and a half ago. Which is why he spends his days at the park.

Mornings and evenings watching the deer, turtles, rabbits and birds. Then mid-day he explores other parks.

He wears her ashes and wedding ring on a chain around his neck.

He wished us ‘Happy Trails’ as we walked away. I wished the healing of being present in nature for him. I hoped for more of our own happy trails. Like those he walked with his wife. 

I read that walking after eating, among other benefits, regulates blood sugar. So my husband and I hold hands and saunter around the block after dinner. Our block is a mile, but even a 10 minute stroll is enough for the benefits. It feels good and it’s a nice way to connect at the end of the day.

Community

Walking is a good way to meet people. At first, they’re just the people I always see. Like the older man I saw picking flowers for his wife or the man and his adult son with special needs who walk holding hands. Or the woman with long hair who walks a little dog. I see them every day and wave and smile. I talk to some.

I’ve made a friend this way. He is a stay-at-home dad with 2 daughters the age of my grandkids. We stop and talk for a few minutes and I love seeing the girls. He asks me for advice and even asked me to be on call when his last baby was due. It’s a boost to connect, even casually, with people.

Connect to Me

Nearly 4 years later, I’m still walking. Only I’ve switched coasts. Today my walks are under palm trees and past almond orchards. Some of my best thinking happens during my morning walk. 

I read that the hour after walking your creativity is heightened, which I’ve found to be true. On my best days, I use that time to write.

Self Care

Whenever I feel stressed or uneasy, down or anxious, basically any unpleasant feeling – I get outside.

It’s my top feel-better hack. I walk outside and take it in. What do I see and hear and smell?

I tell my kids to do the same. Even if they have 2 minutes. Feel the breeze on your face. See the blue sky. Smell the air after rain. Touch the grass with bare feet.

And feel a little bit better. 

Connect to God

Sometimes I just walk and soak it in and see Him everywhere. Bonus if I take in a sunrise or a sunset.

Sometimes I listen to a talk or a podcast or the scriptures. It seems to seep in more easily when I’m moving outside. 

I’m surprised by the inspiration that comes outside when I move. Just this morning, a few came. Bring some flowers in, send an encouraging text to a woman I don’t know well, text personal invitations for a youth activity, memorize The Living Christ, and schedule a few writing goals in the next few weeks. 

I’ve gained a lot from walking, but I’ve lost some things, too. I lost the pandemic pounds. Good riddance.

A few final things

• The hardest part is putting on your shoes
• The payoff is pretty quick
• Benefits are physical, emotional, spiritual and social
• This can be a solo time or a way to socialize
• You can do it anywhere, anytime
• Start with a tiny goal: every day for 10 minutes
• You’ll continue something that makes you feel better right then