Taking a gentle night trail

I FELT a shorter route with a more gentle pace might be nice this evening, so I set off for a half-hour walk at about 7.45pm. It was dark and I stuck to pavements in residential areas – very much an urban expedition! 

There are differences walking in the dark, of course, not least because if you want to see where you’re going you need light. This is where street lamps come in handy! It would be spooky, not to mention potentially dangerous, walking around a large unlit park at night! I did actually venture down an ally, but it can feel uncomfortable.

Air of mystery in the dark.

Walking is easy to do and great fun, but you still need to take safety and comfort into account. If you ever venture out at night, then you at least have to take sensible precautions, and perhaps even go with someone else. One of the benefits of walking over jogging in the dark, is that it can give you a little more stability - and thinking time? - should you step into that pothole or stumble upon uneven ground.

Everything takes on a different, more mysterious, form once the sun has gone down: shadowy youngsters whooshing past on their bikes (with no lights!); people unloading shopping, bathed only in the yellow glow from their homes.  On one corner, some lads were returning from playing cricket, and were still in their whites. A couple of them hid in a hedge until a younger member appeared.

‘Whaaaaaaaa!’ exclaimed one, as he leaped from the shadows.

‘Aaaaaaaagh!’ shrieked the startled victim.

It may have been dark but, from the reaction of the ambushed friend, someone went home as pale as the clothes he was wearing!

This time the brownies won out!

MY fruity goal was not achieved tonight. I was involved in the private view of a photography exhibition and had to run off copies of a leaflet giving exhibitors’ names; print fliers; sort other arrangements and prepare certificates. 

Oh! I also took some of my wife’s delicious brownies, as she had baked them especially for the event. She makes killer brownies, even if I say so myself!

You're allowed a chocolaty treat now and again!

The exhibition went very well and attracted a good attendance. A number of the group were asking if they could carry on with photography next year.

So there was plenty of running around – but not on my usual route along pathways or in the park.

And as for my fruity energy consumption measure? Well, on this occasion, I enjoyed real brownies instead. I can always burn off any excess tomorrow!

When pears become apples

WELL, what a disappointment! After today’s ‘pound around the park’ I arrived home and consulted the app on my mobile – only to learn I’d been out for 31 minutes, completed 2.5 miles and burned two apples’ worth of calories! Pah! Technology doesn’t know what it’s talking about! I’d actually been twice as long and walked twice the distance. Yesterday I’d earned four pears for the same route, and today a measly two apples? Outrageous!

Unfortunately, the app had somehow switched off – perhaps I knocked the button – and only recorded half the journey. Ah well, what’s an apple or two in the broader scheme of things? Even though I didn’t 'earn my pears,’ it was an exhilarating walk. 

A couple head for the park on a sunny evening.

I missed this morning, so went this evening instead, starting at 6.0pm. Immediately noticeable was the traffic. Early in the morning there’s hardly any, whereas at this time the roads are choc-a-block and there are distinctly more fumes. But I was soon weaving my way along residential pathways after crossing the car-heavy main road.

It was one of my favourite skies; milky gold around a lightly-veiled sun. That put me in a good mood from the start. The park itself teemed with life. The bright colours of soccer teams, exercise groups, dog walkers and others speckled the expanse of grass like the hundreds and thousands sugar decorations you see on cakes.

Marshalls in yellow fluorescent vests brandished clipboards, obviously awaiting some group or other; yet other enthusiasts were deep into stretching exercises for Nordic walking. Assorted walkers, joggers and runners formed a sort of circulatory system of their own, pacing out their routines, moving in a steady flow around the park, determination and persistence etched on their heated faces.

I couldn’t believe it when I saw only half the route recorded on my mobile. But it’ll give me something to aim for tomorrow . . . a couple more apples? Pears? Bananas, perhaps?

Shadowy trees loom in the mist

Tree silhouettes on part of the route taken for this walk.

HOUSES were shrouded in mist and shadowy trees loomed as I set off yesterday (Tuesday) morning. I managed to avoid the turn I took on Sunday as I strode through the residential areas. Thankfully, this meant no ‘circular tours’ around unfamiliar streets! As I approached the park, I wondered whether going in an anti-clockwise direction would make any difference.

It was mild and the sky was white with mist. Occasionally trees disappeared into the ghostly cloud. There was a waft of lavender, and standing proudly under some trees in a field, a piebald pony. Its black and white pattern contrasted with the subdued grey-green tones of the surroundings.

Relaxed pony enjoys a healthy diet!

The walk went well. I wore short-sleeved shirt and jeans and had soon warmed up. It was quite busy with people exercising. I was walking almost as fast as one jogger - which actually doesn’t say much, as she was moving quite slowly! Maximum speed was 8.7 miles per hour. I’m not out to break any land-speed record, but like to have a little burst now and again!

It’s surprising how much propulsion your arms can give you. It’s like having a turbo charge. You can be gently strolling along, then swing your arms, and whoosh, an acceleration boost. At one point, I felt as if I could take off! (Shucks, I knew I should have moved my arms like pistons rather than flapping them like wings!).

I was back in just under an hour, which I was happy with. I wouldn’t want that circuit – a little over four miles – to take any longer.

As for the anti-clockwise route? Well, it felt comfortable; I’m in good company as athletes tend to run in this direction; and I finished on time. There are theories about why anti-clockwise is the norm but, for now, I’ll leave that side of things to the scientists!

                                                               

Monday 26: Set out for a walk in the afternoon, but the sun was too strong for my liking. It was hot and shining straight into my eyes.  I didn't fancy being baked and blinded, so did a 20-minute lap of the block. Used up about a tomato's worth of energy. That's not going to win any prizes! Not the best walk. But, hey, it happens.

Don’t lose out on life by wanting 'only the best!'

WITH walking, like any other pastime or hobby (or professional pursuit), there’s gear – and there’s more gear! Take up any activity, and you immediately enter a world of ‘must-have’ and ‘can’t do without!’ The trouble is, the list is endless.

Getting the best quality you can, and gradually accumulating what you need over time as you become more experienced, makes sense.  Rambling across desolate moorland or clambering over hills and dales with little more than trainers and a can of lager is asking for trouble.

But, equally, you can wait forever before you get the ‘right gear’ to make a start. And then it becomes a barrier. ‘I’ll start tomorrow when . . .’ or ‘I just need that fantastic pair of scientifically-engineered all-weather aerodynamic boots and I can really get going.’ No! You won’t! Because there’ll always be something else. There’ll always be that extra bit of equipment you need before you’re ready.

You DO need to think about what you’re embarking upon; you DO need appropriate gear; but you don’t need the latest and most expensive.

If you can afford it, and feel committed enough to justify the outlay, that’s great. But if it’s everyday stuff that’s comfortable and does the job – and you’re not too concerned about looking the part - then that’s fine. You can get started straight away. 

You could add years to your life in the time it takes to decide on the right pair of shoes!

Measuring steps in fruit

YAY! Burned off four bananas’ worth of energy today! I range from a couple of cherries, a plum

or two and maybe the odd grape up to a whole bag’s worth of oranges, a clutch of avocados and a basket of apples. Well, maybe that’s a slight exaggeration. I think I’d have to walk half

Winding through trees en route.

way to Scotland and back for the equivalent of that much produce. But the point is, the fruit provides an entertaining measure of how well your walk’s gone in terms of calories used. A free app on my mobile tracks performance, and the little fruity icons appear when I finish the workout. I like them, although seeing the occasional solitary strawberry, or whatever, is a bit sad and makes me think along the lines of the old school reports: ‘Could do better!’

I took a rather long-winded route this morning after choosing a wrong turn - and completing two different circuits on a housing estate before eventually finding my way out.

I completed a good lap of the local park, however, which was my goal, before eventually arriving back at base – actually a nearby garage for milk and bread! – at spot on an hour: 1hr 36 seconds, to be precise. Very satisfying! And apart from the slight detour, hadn’t slipped on a single banana skin!

                                                                 

Footnote: 'Fruitometer' is just what I'm calling the quota of fruit recorded on the app after each walk!