Put your best foot forward
We spend much of our day going from A to B, some of which we do using the car or public transport but a lot of it is using your own steam to get there by walking. We don't even realise we're doing it we just get up and go.
It's recommended that we walk around 10,000 steps a day, which sounds a lot but you'd probably be pleasantly surprised just how many steps you take doing your daily routine. Walking at a good pace swinging your arms will burn around 200 calories an hour, it's a great fat burning exercise and a brisk half an hour a day walking will help to halve your risk of heart disease.
New research has shown a link between obesity and commuting to work by car so perhaps it's time to leave the car at home for a few journeys you make and incorporate a little more walking into our lives.
Walking has many advantages, such as:
- Counting towards your daily exercise.
- Improving your health and wellbeing.
- Reducing the amount of sickness you have.
- Improving your concentration and mental alertness.
- It's free! You don't need any equipment or pay for expensive gym memberships, you can walk anywhere at anytime that suits you.
- If you swap the car or bus to walk it will save you money on fuel, fares and car parking fees.
- It's a planet friendly activity.
Did you know - you breathe in more air pollution when you're in a car than when you are walking next to the road!
A few more reasons to help convince you that walking is great
- Time is of the essence - you'll get to places on time! There aren't any unexpected traffic jams or roadworks to worry about.
- Wake up call - walking helps to wake you up mentally in a morning, making you more productive.
- Stop and smell the roses - you don't have to be super fit to take part, you can walk at your own pace and stop to smell the flowers if you want a rest.
- Buddy up! - if you walk past a friend or colleagues house then why not walk together and have a sociable chat.
- Lead the way - if you live too far away to walk to work you could always go for a walk in your lunch break to burn off some calories and get a breath of fresh air.
- Day dreamer - walking can help to give you some "me time". Get out your mp3 player and listen to your favourite songs, plan your weekly shopping or even just simply daydream.
- Eye spy - never noticed those flowers or the architecture of the buildings on your way to work before, it's amazing just how much detail you miss by being in the car. Walking is the perfect time to look around you and absorb your surroundings, you never know what you'll see.
- Walkie talkie - walk and talk, give a friend a call and catch up.
- Power trip - want to boost your fitness, you could try power walking, it's a great way to get rid of your negative feelings as you stamp your way purposefully down the pavement.
- Pow wow - we spend an estimated average 1-2 hours a day typing, re-writing, reading and sending emails. Cut down on internal emails one day a week and go see the person instead.
- Every step counts - get off the bus a stop or two earlier than usual and walk, it's simple yet effective.
Want a walk with a purpose then try a guided walk. Join one of the many FREE guided walks available as part of the Peak District's Historic Border Country Walking Festival taking place from 15 to 23 May 2010.
Take things at your own pace and try a self guided walk, pick up a leaflet from Chesterfield Tourist Information Centre.
How about an audio walk guiding you round the history and life of Chesterfield town centre or a range of locations in Bolsover and North East Derbyshire.
Take your little adventurers out and explore some of the local countryside, here are some suggestions.
For more information on walks and trails for both walking and cycling contact Derbyshire County Countryside Service.
You'll never walk alone
Join a walking or rambling group such as Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire District Ramblers Association or Dronfield Footpaths and Bridleways Society, which are just two of the groups in our area. They offer several walks each week of varying lengths and for various abilities. It's a great way to meet new people and improve your social life.
There are Walking for Health Groups that offer walks for all abilities several times a week at various locations in the district.
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