walk 13. 6 am and really dark

met a friend. walked and talked. the lights across the sound and a few stars in the sky were so beautiful. it was also nice watching the light turn from night to day. i think we will go again. i'm trying to recruit someone to do this with me. 40+ minutes, 2.5+ miles.

p.s. i can't wait until daylight savings time. just 10 more days.

walk 12. same walk as yesterday

this time with dravus stair pics! and even more sunshine. i should have worn a lighter coat...

and taken a better camera. i think this will be my usual, everyday route. weekends will be for urban hikes or actual hikes.

walking for funsies

once upon a time i lived in SF and for a while i lived with my good friend christine. hello christine! i was thinking about her and thinking about walking and i remembered that we used to take a ballet class together (at the academy of ballet) that was about 3 miles from where we lived in russian hill. and sometimes, just for funsies, we would walk home after class. we'd walk past muni stops and bus stops probably with a fastpass in our pocket. i think we'd walk up fillmore and take pretty much the same route as the 22 (i hope i'm remembering correctly).

here's what it looks like inside the studio. i miss that class. and i miss walking with christine.

walk 11. sunshine happy

walked north up 35th, left on dravus to magnolia blvd, enjoyed the sun, blue skies, pretty water views along the bluff, then across the ravine bridge, left to village, and home. 50 minutes, 3+ miles.

the mental game

okay, so what is it? why don't i want to go for a walk again? the cold? or is it the feeling that i HAVE to go....since i've committed myself to doing this. the thing is, walking is easy, or it should be. i manage to eat, check my email, brush my teeth, etc. every day. going for a walk shouldn't be any different. here i have a healthy body that was designed for use...it's supposed to walk every day! anyway, i don't know why my mind is getting in the way. why 355 walks to go seems so scary. i just need to put my head down like i'm on the trail and take one step at a time....

walk 10. 45° and kinda windy

walked from our house up bertona (including the stairs) all the way to magnolia blvd. then magnolia blvd across the ravine bridge, took a left at the stop and walked home through the village. walked a little over an hour. stopped a lot to take instagram pics. sun came out at the end of the walk. 3.5 miles.

i'm freezing

i don't want to go walking today. but here i go anyway. (is this what discipline is all about? sheesh)

walk 9. to met market for bagels

walked in the morning mist to metropolitan market for bagels, cream cheese, tomato (kumato? produce guy recommended them. brown but taste best right now, he said.) and cucumber. good morning! 2 miles roundtrip. (i'm getting faster. it only took about 15 minutes each way.)

Why walks?

It's easy. Just put on my shoes and walk out the door. No class to get to (no driving!), no start or end time.

It's free. No monthly fee or dvds or equipment to buy. Except shoes. but I already had those.

It's outside. Fresh air. Nature. Etc., etc.

When I'm walking I take deliberate and deep breaths. This is very helpful for my anxiety.

Endorphins

I need a way to self soothe that doesn't involve looking at a screen or stuffing something in my face. The kids or E are welcome to join me, but this is something ultimately just for me. I know that sounds selfish, but not taking a little time for myself every day hasn't worked out so well.

It's a challenge. A challenge (mostly mental) that my bod can totally handle! But it still feels like a challenge nonetheless.

It's out of the house. This is different than being outside. No little one can interrupt me with their needs because I'm not there. Nothing can distract me (knock on door, ringing or beeping phone, etc.). I'm literally walking away from the stresses of life for a short time.

walk 8. rainy magnolia

walked about 45 minutes with j in the stroller and s on her bike. in the rain. we didn't think it was too bad, but we all got soaked. walked along magnolia blvd.

After a week...

This is what I've figured out.

1. Any length walk counts.

2. It has to be outside. no walking on a treadmill.

walk 7. magnolia blvd

walked about 2 miles along magnolia bluff in the rain.

walk 6. our house up the hill to ella bailey with s & j.

good to get outside after early morning flight. cold and grey, no rain. stopped at our park then up the steep hill (j walked the entire way. and was racing to try to beat s.). played hide-and-seek at EB, and follow-the-leader from the park all the way down the hill. about 1.5 miles.

walk 5. riviera palm springs hotel to past the marilyn monroe statue

left early again. fun to explore palm spring's busiest/trendiest street without the crowds. prob walked 3.5 miles.

Walk 4. Mecca Hills slot canyon

Walk 3. Whitewater Canyon to PCT (loop trail)

Started around 7:30 am. First walked along dry riverbed then went up switchbacks (300 ft elevation) to view of canyon. Made a wrong turn and headed down PCT south. figured out mistake after walking 20-30 min (we were headed farther into the canyon instead of looping back). Lots of cool rocks and lizards along the trail. I think we walked around 5 miles.

Walk 2. Indian Wells Hyatt to Palm Desert Starbucks

Left around 7. Lovely sunny day. Walked along winding sidewalk beneath palm trees. 4 miles. It took about 40 minutes each way.

Walk 1. Joshua Tree

What a great place to start. Hidden Valley 1 mile loop at Joshua Tree.

And so it begins...

February. Seattle. The days are short and the grey is endless. Mid-winter break beckons. Sunshine. Time to refocus. A wellness break to reset our lives. But I need something simple as my unhealthy habits are too ingrained and overwhelming to go cold turkey.

Walks.

Could it be that easy?

I think it just might be.